'62 grill bar

[Jerry M.]

When I removed the grill bar from my '62 to have it plated I noticed some slight waviness when siting down its length, which was not noticeable when it was installed. Would this be typical on an original bar? I've owned this car since 1977 and it's the one that was on the car although it looks like it may have been re-plated. It does have the v notch on the bottom.

I'd like to confirm originality before I spend the money to have it plated.

[Terry D.]

Re: '62 grill bar

What does the Judging Manual say?

[Jerry M.]

Re: '62 grill bar

Judging guide doesn't address this issue, one way or the other.

[Pat H.]

Re: '62 grill bar

My guess is that none of these bars were perfect. The original plating wasn't what shops do today. copper,nickel and chrome. II had my 59 bar replated and the plater told me that it look like the orignal plating. I never notice the waviness on my bar, but many original bumpers had the waviness and even after replating they are still wavy

[Jerry M.]

Re: '62 grill bar

Thanks for your input Pat, I appreciate it.

[Keith K.]

Re: '62 grill bar

Interesting - I looked at the grill bar on my 62 (not rechromed) and I do see a bit of waviness as well. I hadn't noticed this before, but as Pat says, I have seen bumpers like that.

[Frank D.]

Re: '62 grill bar

That is nothing but a sign of an original piece, you should see the waves I had in my 61's front eyebrow surrounds....

[Jerry M.]

Re: '62 grill bar

Thanks Keith and Frank. That's exactly the input that I was looking for. Interesting indeed.

[Don L.]

Re: '62 grill bar

OOPS, one last word. Helpful, I think.

The 61-61 TIMJ provides pretty specific identifying info on the 62 Grill bar.

"V-notch in bottom center of bar- added early during 1961 production to identify bottom side of the bar (E-10-4)."

So, if your bar has a V-notch its probably an original 62 (never say never on NCRS issues).

Further info: the 61/62 center bar is widely available as a reproduction item. In the last 2 years, I shopped it expecting to save $ over having my 62 original bar rechromed. However, none of the repos I looked at had the v-notch of the 62 original.

Don (9915)