'67 C2 - GM vs Aftermarket Fiberglass Body Panels

[Bob S.]

Hello - Could someone please give me a refresher course on distinguishing between the O.E. and aftermarket/replacement fiberglass body panels on the 1967? I recall there were also some differences between model years on O.E. panels, but cannot remember whether it was in color or ??

Thanks,
Bob S.

[Joe C.]

Re: '67 C2 - GM vs Aftermarket Fiberglass Body Pan

OE panels were produced using very dark, charcoal grey resin. It could be called "black". This is much darker than the medium gray (battleship grey )resin which began appearing in (ABOUT) mid production 1965 to (ABOUT) early 1967. Prior to (about) mid-'65, resin was "cream" colored "off-white".

Original body panels were dated with an ink-stamp.
NOS/original body panels are very expensive (if you can find them).

Shermersheim's reproduction panels hold up very well, but do not hold up to careful, painstaking, and anal scrutiny from NCRS judges, like me, because the inner surfaces are gelcoated, hiding the nice glass strands from view.

Corvette Central only produces hand laid panels, which are a dead giveaway, but AOK for someone looking for a "el-cheapo" restoration.

Corvette Image reproduction panels look the best, and are VERY easy to spot. Just look for the bubbling and blistering which appears on the beautifully polished paint, after about 3 -6 months. Judges (like me!) can't tell that they are not original, because the inner surfaces look just like originals, except for the missing ink stamps! So, actually, they pass muster, because the $20,000.00 diamond glimmer paint job that you just paid for ends up lookin like s#$t, too............just like original.

joe

[Gary B.]

Dark gray resin started before '67 model year

Joe,

All of the panels on my original, no hit, July 20 build date '66 coupe are the dark, charcoal grey color, not the battleship gray, so the dark color resin started to be used prior to the '67 model year.

Gary