1968 grill. What color ar the shelves behind the chrome.

[georgieb51]

I do not have a truck to look at but I am creating a 1968 front grill with white paint with aluminum hoops and aluminum hood bar and fender eyebrows.on a medium green (503) color truck. I realize the white is an off-color white but today I began to wonder what color the "shelves" are painted behind the inside of the hoops.

I have been looking at a lot of photos. Some trucks look like the shelves are black. Others show the shelves painted the same basic color as the rest of the truck (green in my case). Are the shelves ever painted white? I wish I knew what was correct-- what GM did at the factory. It seems like it would have taken a lot of work to paint these shelves anything other than white.. But I do not know so that is why I am asking. Please post phots of what you have done.
Thanks, george

[pjmoreland]

Based on the 1968 sales brochures for both 2WD and 4WD, the grilles and shelves both appeared to be painted matching silver. I don't know how reliable the sales brochures are as a reference for what they did in production though.

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-...ruck_FL-2.html

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-..._Truck_FL.html

[georgieb51]

Thanks PJMORELAND. I foulndt the brouchres interesting but not neccesarily infomative. Te be specific I tried to find a two tone truck depicted and could maybe find just one and it was a red truck and I could not be sure if it was white I was looking at or whether it was a glare off the roof.

As you say it looks like all the grill areas are pained silver-- I am guessing Argent Silver that Chevy seems to use a lot of.

On the other hand I like the orange pickup depicted next to your name (your Avatar, is that what it is called) and it looks like you carried the orange back onto the shelves. Did you carry the orange back into the engine compartment as well (radiator support, etc)?

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by georgieb51

Thanks PJMORELAND. I foulndt the brouchres interesting but not neccesarily infomative. Te be specific I tried to find a two tone truck depicted and could maybe find just one and it was a red truck and I could not be sure if it was white I was looking at or whether it was a glare off the roof.

As you say it looks like all the grill areas are pained silver-- I am guessing Argent Silver that Chevy seems to use a lot of.

On the other hand I like the orange pickup depicted next to your name (your Avatar, is that what it is called) and it looks like you carried the orange back onto the shelves. Did you carry the orange back into the engine compartment as well (radiator support, etc)?

The grille that was on my truck when I bought it a little over a year ago had the center horizontal bar cut out of it and it had a chopped up 71-72 egg crate inner grill zip tied in there instead. The turn signals were held in with bailing wire and had no lenses on them. The bumper and the remnants of the original grille were painted a color similar to Argent Silver, but it wasn't original (so were the bed steps and mirror arms). I found an original grille locally and had it painted body color, including the shelves. I left the radiator support and inner fenders black. I second-guess my decision to go with a non-original color scheme from time to time. Personally, I think white looks better than silver on the front of these trucks.

[67C10Step]

My 67 is bone stock for appearance and was vermillion in color. The inner grill looks argent silver like the rally wheels I have. Not sure if it is exact, but it's gotta be darn close.

[the67Beast]

Here's my stock 67 farm truck. Blue with white top.

[68PanelTruck]

This is my 68 Panel. I'm not sure if it is different from the pickups. Inner part of the grille is black.

[72c20customcamper]

My 68 is black the white hasn’t been touched on the truck so I doubt someone painted the inner part black

[3757chevy]

My 68 is black on the shelves.

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

The grille that was on my truck when I bought it a little over a year ago had the center horizontal bar cut out of it and it had a chopped up 71-72 egg crate inner grill zip tied in there instead. The turn signals were held in with bailing wire and had no lenses on them. The bumper and the remnants of the original grille were painted a color similar to Argent Silver, but it wasn't original (so were the bed steps and mirror arms). I found an original grille locally and had it painted body color, including the shelves. I left the radiator support and inner fenders black. I second-guess my decision to go with a non-original color scheme from time to time. Personally, I think white looks better than silver on the front of these trucks.

Wow! What a transformation. I agree with you about the white vs the argent silver, but I can understand why it was done. Cost. Your grill is an inspiration.

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by 3757chevy

My 68 is black on the shelves.

This is amazing. This is what I am aiming for even though I have a 67 and it was not offered like this in 67. I have a 503 green truck and I will do the white center, but will paint the shelves the same 503 green sort of like what you can see on pjmoreland avatar.

All these photos are really helping me cement my decisions because paint will start next week and I need to be firm in my decision. I only want to do this once.

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

My 68 is black the white hasn’t been touched on the truck so I doubt someone painted the inner part black

Amazing grill, and truck too. Someday I need to drive down and see what you have going on if you do not mind. I do not think we are too far apart.

[toms68cst]

I'd say white face, black inserts. Mine are black and is original paint. Probably flat or chassis black semi-gloss.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by georgieb51

Amazing grill, and truck too. Someday I need to drive down and see what you have going on if you do not mind. I do not think we are too far apart.

The hall of fame is about 2 and 1/2 hours from my place . Would be great to meet you.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by georgieb51

Amazing grill, and truck too. Someday I need to drive down and see what you have going on if you do not mind. I do not think we are too far apart.

The hall of fame is about 2 and 1/2 hours from my place . Would be great to meet you.

[CG]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

The grille that was on my truck when I bought it a little over a year ago had the center horizontal bar cut out of it and it had a chopped up 71-72 egg crate inner grill zip tied in there instead. The turn signals were held in with bailing wire and had no lenses on them. The bumper and the remnants of the original grille were painted a color similar to Argent Silver, but it wasn't original (so were the bed steps and mirror arms). I found an original grille locally and had it painted body color, including the shelves. I left the radiator support and inner fenders black. I second-guess my decision to go with a non-original color scheme from time to time. Personally, I think white looks better than silver on the front of these trucks.

From the angle and distance in the pic that grill doesnt look half bad

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by toms68cst

I'd say white face, black inserts. Mine are black and is original paint. Probably flat or chassis black semi-gloss.

I think you are correct!

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by CG

From the angle and distance in the pic that grill doesnt look half bad

It was an interesting idea. It was just poorly executed.

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by 3757chevy

My 68 is black on the shelves.

That seems to be the way they were made. thanks, George

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by the67Beast

Here's my stock 67 farm truck. Blue with white top.

I love the look of your truck. Nice combination with the medium blue and white.

[KQQL IT]

Our 68 was black, at some point it was repainted white

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

Our 68 was black, at some point it was repainted white

That white gives a clean look to it all.

[KQQL IT]

Originally Posted by georgieb51

That white gives a clean look to it all.

No bowtie either.
I considered another one but found pics like 73 was was missing then so it stays missing.

[Cash3481]

Here’s my 2 trucks. The black ones been repainted. The 503 green one is pretty original but has been touched up so not sure I’m helping your question but allows you to see the 503 with the shelves painted body color.

[special-K]

I think in '67 the shelves were painted to match, either body color or grille color with chrome trim, and '68 was black