70 rear license plate bezel

[Bill L.]

I installed a new GM bezel about 8 years ago. It has never gotten wet and I kept a coat of wax on it at all times.

The entire car is stored indoors with out heat or other climate control when not driven.

Now it is pretty pitted and I am wondering if I get it re-chromed will it hold up better than buying another GM NOS bezel?

All the other chrome is holding up very well.


Thanks,


Bill

[Joe L.]

Re: 70 rear license plate bezel

I installed a new GM bezel about 8 years ago. It has never gotten wet and I kept a coat of wax on it at all times.

The entire car is stored indoors with out heat or other climate control when not driven.

Now it is pretty pitted and I am wondering if I get it re-chromed will it hold up better than buying another GM NOS bezel?

All the other chrome is holding up very well.


Thanks,


Bill

Bill------


Keeping these 68-73 rear license plate bezels "pimple free" is a near-impossibility unless you never drive the car. I believe that exhaust gasses are the culprit. These same exhaust gasses also "do in" the exhaust tip bezels. Both the license plate bezel and the exhaust tip bezel are manufactured from the same substrate material----zinc diecast and, for some reason, the exhaust gasses get under the chrome, resulting in the condition you describe.

1963-67 cars face the same problem with the license plate bezel. These cars have anodized aluminum bezels but they're just as susceptible, if not more susceptible, to the exhaust gas problem.

I think you will find that it is difficult or impossible to restore the 68-73 bezel since once the substrate zinc diecast material is "pimpled". it's very difficult to repair/restore. It could be done but it's a lot of work and usually done by folks that specialize in this . Could one then rechrome the piece, possibly using a "triple chrome" (copper--nickel-zinc) process, and have the chrome "survive" the exhaust gasses? I don't know.

The real solution here is a bezel using substrate material of stainless steel and highly polished to simulate the chrome. The same thing would be best for 63-67. Of course, it would not be "correct", but it wouldn't deteriorate, either. However, I know of no such pieces on the market.

There are stainless steel reproductions of the 68-69 exhaust bezels, though. As far as I'm concerned, they're the only way to go and be-damned with correctness.

[Bill L.]

Re: 70 rear license plate bezel

Thanks Joe.

I did have the exhaust bezels re-chromed and will see how they hold up.

I will save the money on the license bezel for now.

The only solution that comes to mind is to have a bezel just for NCRS judging and one for driving. It is certainly easy enough to switch out.

Bill