And here is the earlier style grill. Notice the early grills have less reinforcement to the top ridge of the grill.
Both of my GS's were built in December, one with pointed lenses and one with flat lenses. One with a clear top radiator overflow, and one with a black top. And they both had plastic radiator covers. Both of the cars had the thin 1970 GS grill. Anyone else have any further information??
Is it possible that the ones with more reinforcement are the replacement or NOS grills, while the ones with less are the originals? Jeff
I dont think so. I believe the factory made the changes to the grills about the same time they went to flat guage lenses, metal radiator covers, and black overflow tank tops. I have a friend whos documented original 70 Stage 1 was built in 1970 and his car came with the reinforced grill. But I dont know at what point the change was made. I would say sometime in very late December, or during the run of cars built in 1970.
2 grills? This raises a BIG question, Did GM use two separate molds to make these two grills or did they modify the mold used for the early grills to make the second design? If there were in fact 2 separate molds maybe one mold still exist? Where these grills different because of two separate molders making parts for Buick? Did they change molders during the production year? Is this part of the reason for the change? Did the resin used in the grill change with the second design? Was there a recall due to grill failures that initiated the design change? With such a small run of GS cars in 1970, it "seems" unlikely that GM would invest in two separate molds, but you never know? Again, what prompted the design change? Are all the "service" grills (bought through parts until early 90's) the second design? Where all the "service" grills molded at the same time (date) or were there different "lots/runs" of grills molded as they were needed through the years? Do 1971 and/or 1972 GS grills show any running design differences like this change made in 1970? I certainly have a lot more questions than answers. How about everyone else? My October 1969 Built Stage 1 convertible has a 1st design grill as shown above.
I can tell you this. I have NEVER seen an N.O.S. early style 1970 GS grill. To be a 1000% correct car, would'nt the early GS's have to have the early grill. If one pops up, I bet it would be BIG DOLLAR, what with the late design grills fetching what they do.
As far as I am concerned, both variations would be acceptible in the GSCA Concours class. I have noticed variations like this before on many other parts. The 72 cars have 2 styles of headlight doors, 1 is thin at the top and one has a lip on it. I think they were having problems with the paint chipping, so they changed the part. I have also seen 3 different painting variations on these parts. Where we draw the line is on things like window washer pumps. All the originals had a white pump assembly, the only nos pumps available now are black, and not acceptable. As far as being 1000% correct for the car the original grilles were molded in Gray plastic, not black like the replacements. So if you wanted to be absolutely correct for your car the inside would be gray, not black. You should also have the correct Date Code on the part. Now you would be talking about a "Platinum Class" based on 1000 points. I could set up a class to judge cars that way, checking every date code on every part. These cars would have to be pre-regestered months in advance to give the Judges time to do their homework. The cars in this class would need decoded build sheets, and every option (No extra ones) they originally came with would need to be there. Also reproduction parts would be point deductions, only original parts are accepted. This includes the date codes on the tires. The only problem is that there is not a Buick out there that would survive such scrutiny. PS If you guys want to pigeon hole the date of changeover for the grille check the date codes on the parts. That is the only way to truly figure it out. Duane
Jim....My 70 Stage 1 was built 2nd wk of December...and has all of the previously mentioned early parts including the non-reinforced grill....I believe it to be one of the last early cars (before the revisions began)
One of mine is second week in December (12B), and the other is third week in December (12C). Both came with the thin grill. So it was after the third week that Buick made the changeover. My 12B car has the pointed lenses and clear top overflow tank, and my 12C car has the flat lenses and black top overflow tank. By the way, have you registered your car in the Stage 1 registry??
Jim... Yes... my car is there just above yours.... When the idea of a Stage 1 registry was being kicked around on the Old GSCA Board, I volunteered the info from my car to help Marco get started. It would seem that your 12B car has a latter VIN than mine... Did you say that it had, clear top, pointed face, plastic radiator top, non-braced grill? I previously stated my car has the non-braced grill....but I was wrong... checked it last night...and its braced... Its also interesting that your 12B car has a much later body #
No Jim, I can't be sure! but it appears to have been in there a long while...old faded and cracked in several spots, but still looks decent. I also checked the NOS one in the rafters...same type (braced). I got this thing from the second owner and have spoken to the original owner on several occations...I could ask both of them if you really want to know? GB
Hi Jim, I have nothing to contribute, but this is WAY cool. I and a couple others just figured out the NOS fender vs. original fender thing a few years ago and that was cool. Plus the fact that some "71's" came with a so called 72 front bumber and grille. Anyway great info.
Hey Jim, just noticed you have a strange looking "power steering" pump on your engine.:grin: :grin: :grin: You wouldn't want to divulge anything on that would you?
Wanted to bring this back up for discussion if anyone is interested other than me. Also, who is doing the restoring on the grills, Duane?? Also, is he swamped or does anyone know? I have an early grill I need to have done. Thanks guys.
Jim, Dave Tumas is the guy restoring the grills. He has a few threads about it on this BB. Guys, My 70 GSX, built in April of 1970, had a non braced Gray plastic original grill in it. I never checked the date code, but there was almost nothing left, so I figured it was an original. If you have a black plastic grill, you should consider it a replacement. As far as 70-72 fenders, there are 4 different styles. Each year fender, 70, 71, and 72 is different, as are the replacements. As far as 70-72 core supports, there are 3 different styles, 70, 71-72, and the replacements. I also had a very very late 71 GSX with 72 style T-3 headlights and a 72 driverside inner fender. The car was almost a 72, by the build date. There are a lot of examples of this "blending" of parts. Duane
