1962 lower frt eyebrow opernings

[Larry C.]

Following a front-end collision with my '62 some years ago, I discovered holes drilled at a slant going backwards in the lower eyebrow openings as you can see from the photo. Since I have owned the car since April 1965, seems to me that the holes were drilled at St. Louis sometime before the painting process. In this case, the holes are approx. 1/8" in diameter with seven holes on the passenger side and six holes on the drivers side drilled in a random pattern. By the way my '62 is serial #13078 with a build date of 6-22-62.

My speculation is that the chrome pieces when installed would tend to hold water from rain or car washes and this was a way, maybe based on customer complaints, to allow the water to drain out the back instead of being trapped inside the eyebrow openings.

Following my accident, I purchased a near-complete front clip from another '62 but there were no similar holes drilled in the eyebrow openings.

Has anyone seem other '62s, or '58 - '61 cars for that matter, that had similar holes drilled in the fiberglass?

Sorry the photo is so small but all I had was couple of old 3.5" x 5" photos which I scanned for this attachment. Any information on this will be appreciated.

Larry

[Mike M.]

Re: 1962 lower frt eyebrow opernings

doubt those drain holes were drilled at st louis. at least none of my 61's or 62's had such holes. regards,mike

[Wayne C.]

Re: 1962 lower frt eyebrow opernings

I have 13053 with original panels and no holes behind the eyebrows. wayne

[John F.]

Re: 1962 lower frt eyebrow opernings

Car #00029 - no holes like that.

[Mike E.]

Re: 1962 lower frt eyebrow opernings

I would say your speculation "doesn't hold water." No way that is factory, based on the 100's of 61-62 cars I've studied over the past 40 years.

[Larry C.]

Re: 1962 lower frt eyebrow opernings

Hey, Mike,

To use your phrase "doesn't hold water" is exactly what I was speculating. Seriously, everyone who has responded is right on but someone during the period of June 1962 - April 1965 had to do it because the holes weren't drilled during the past 49 years I have owed the car. Not sure what other 1958 - 1962 owners have observed, but after washing my car over the past many years, water does seem to seep from behind the lower chrome brow because depending on the fit of the brow to the body, it could easily trap water, rain or wash, behind the chrome brow. When I first removed the brows, it did not appear that they had ever been off the car before but it is possible that the holes were drilled from the fender well area to allow water drainage. It's almost certain someone did not drill the holes for "no" reason.

Thanks for the responses.

Larry

[Jerry K.]

Re: 1962 lower frt eyebrow opernings

I have #13280 and have no holes but it sounds like a good idea, curse those water marks after a wash or rain!!!