Questions about '63 white fiberglass

[Irby G.]

Hi guys...I've got a couple questions about the 63 white fiberglass (which doesn't appear 'white' to me at all).

First off, after crawling under my swc and looking around, the glass (which is suppose to be white) looks to have more of a light green tint to it such as the quarter panels on the right in the attached picture. All of the reproduction panels I see being made are solid white. Is the light green fiberglass correct for ALL the 63 panels instead of the solid white?

Second...if the light green panels are the correct ones, does anyone know where I can get a tail light panel? The one on my car has been replaced with a light gray one...needs to be replaced.

Thanks and aloha...Irby

P.S. I'm also going to need to repair the drive shaft tunnel behind the seats. Someone cut a small section out. It looks like they did it for better access for driveshaft u-joint replacement. Odd that someone would do that. Going to be a real pita to repair that now.

[Mike M.]

Re: Questions about '63 white fiberglass

depending on the build date of your 63 SWC, the fiberglass was either what I refer to as light tan(may have been white in 63) or light gray(late 63 production). I've had NOS service replacement panels, most notably the front parking lite panels, which were light green. green boys were never used in any production 63's. mike

[Bob R.]

Re: Questions about '63 white fiberglass

Irby
You don't mention if your car is early or late production but during the transition from white to gray glass most cars in the 10,000 - 12,000 range have some sort of a combination of white and grey panels. The location you need to repair is part of the floor assembly and you will likely have to just patch the holes with fabric and resin I don't think you want to cut out and replace in that area.

[Frank D.]

Re: Questions about '63 white fiberglass

My 63 had blonde glass except for the light gray rear valence (a May car); I wouldn't replace a tail light panel because it was gray...
I've seen similar combinations of glass on other 63s...one, a convertible, is a one-owner, local car with a history of originality...

[Irby G.]

Re: Questions about '63 white fiberglass

Irby
You don't mention if your car is early or late production but during the transition from white to gray glass most cars in the 10,000 - 12,000 range have some sort of a combination of white and grey panels. The location you need to repair is part of the floor assembly and you will likely have to just patch the holes with fabric and resin I don't think you want to cut out and replace in that area.

Hi guys...thanks for the responses.
Sorry I forgot to mention but it's a 21Dec1962 car (early).

So...the far right panels in the picture are not correct (color wise)?

[Frederick H.]

Re: Questions about '63 white fiberglass

Irby, I have a late March car and it has the cream colored glass underneath (floor wells, etc.) and the gray glass for the rear exhaust panel and front valance.

[Edward J.]

Re: Questions about '63 white fiberglass

Irby, take a couple of photos and post, and one of the bonding area . its easier to determine with photos at some point the light gray panel started to make it into production, very common to see a mix of both color panels as stated above.

[Keith W.]

Re: Questions about '63 white fiberglass

Pictures from my March 8th 63 SWC

[Tracy C.]

Re: Questions about '63 white fiberglass

Hi guys...thanks for the responses.
Sorry I forgot to mention but it's a 21Dec1962 car (early).

So...the far right panels in the picture are not correct (color wise)?

Irby, the far right parts in your picture are typical for early 63 such as yours. However, light gray ones like the middle pair would also be correct. Replacing your rear tail light panel because of it being light gray would be a huge mistake. The repop "white" panels aren't like anything that ever left St Louis on a production 63 from the stand point of color. As Mike said, tan is a better descriptor for the correct color.

No reputable judge will take a deduct for panel color variance between tan or light grey on a 63. In fact my July built 63 has dark gray hinge pillar panels residing under the paint. They have never been replaced and came from the factory as such. Panel color on a 63 is indeed a crap shoot.

Don't fret about these type of details unless you have obvious repro had laid panels. Too many other things to sweat about.

tc

[James G.]

Re: Questions about '63 white fiberglass

We pulled this one out back in 2016 - wrecked and parked in a barn in Colorado in 67... white /off white panels.