1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red repro

[Scott S.]

I read in the archives that the color of the left-hand flag on the nose emblems was orange-red for 1963-1965, then changed for 1966-1967 to a darker red, closer to maroon than orange.

One of the reproduction companies makes both the orange-red and the darker maroon-red, both for the 1967 model year, and calls the orange-red example "approved".

The NCRS Judging Guide says "orange-red":
"This emblem is in front of the hood on the wind split and does not vary with engine options. It consists of the Chevrolet crossed flags. The left flag contains the fleur-de-lis and has an orange-red background. The right flag is the typical black and white checkered flag with the black square starting in the upper corner and ending in the lower corner." - p. 58, 4th Edition


The picture below has a maroon-red repro (top emblem), a GM service replacement (NOS) that was in the old light-blue, white & black GM box dated "12-6-76" (middle emblem), and an orange-red repro (bottom emblem).


Which one was actually ORIGINAL for 1967, orange-red or maroon-red?

[Robert G.]

Re: 1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red r

My emblem, which was removed in the 80's has a faded maroon color. No mistaking it for having the slightest bit of orange in it. But I'm not a judge, so I can't weigh in on what is generally accepted as correct.

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red r

My emblem, which was removed in the 80's has a faded maroon color. No mistaking it for having the slightest bit of orange in it. But I'm not a judge, so I can't weigh in on what is generally accepted as correct.

Hi Robert, thank you for the reply. Are you the original owner, or can you otherwise be certain that the emblem you removed in the 1980s was the original?

The reason I ask is because I thought the nose emblem I removed from the '67 I'm restoring (has been in the family since 1976) was original, but when I checked it against the receipt history file, I found that it had been replaced in 1979:

)

So, the NOS nose emblem in the middle of the picture in my first post is actually 3 years older than the one that came off the car (pictures attached below).

[Gerard F.]

Re: 1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red r

Scott,I think the judging guide is wrong about the nose emblem color. At least on my 67, it was more of a maroon red rather than orange red. I spent considerable time trying to match the red color of my gas tank lid emblem which is the same as the nose emblem. Came up Colorado Red, which is more maroon than orange. I left the nose emblem alone, even put a Pantone chart on it (forgot the number), but it is more maroon than orange.

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red r

Scott,I think the judging guide is wrong about the nose emblem color. At least on my 67, it was more of a maroon red rather than orange red.

Hi Jerry,

Having owned your car since 1968, and being unlikely that the emblem was replaced during the car's first year, it sounds like a strong case for the dark red.

I spent considerable time trying to match the red color of my gas tank lid emblem which is the same as the nose emblem. Came up Colorado Red, which is more maroon than orange. I left the nose emblem alone, even put a Pantone chart on it (forgot the number), but it is more maroon than orange.

I found your Threads on color matching for the gas door emblem flags, very interesting and great information!

[Robert G.]

Re: 1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red r

Hi Robert, thank you for the reply. Are you the original owner, or can you otherwise be certain that the emblem you removed in the 1980s was the original?

The reason I ask is because I thought the nose emblem I removed from the '67 I'm restoring (has been in the family since 1976) was original, but when I checked it against the receipt history file, I found that it had been replaced in 1979:

)

So, the NOS nose emblem in the middle of the picture in my first post is actually 3 years older than the one that came off the car (pictures attached below).

I can't prove it's the original. There are markings on the back of it, one of them says 'General'. I suppose those marks could tell, but I don't know what the original is supposed to say. When I bought it in 1983 the car had been unregistered since 1979, so we are getting back there in years.

[Gerard F.]

Re: 1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red r

Scott,

Here's some photos, you probably did not see in the archived posts:



There is a slight difference in the gas lid and nose emblem color on my 67.
But the nose emblem is no where near red-orange. It is badly oxiidized but it is closer to the maroon red, or cherry red in the gas tank lid.

Here's the experiment where I came up with the Colorado Red:



The nose emblem remains the same today as in the picture above. I didn't want to ruin the patina. But the gas lid looks like this:



Having fun,

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red r

I can't prove it's the original. There are markings on the back of it, one of them says 'General'. I suppose those marks could tell, but I don't know what the original is supposed to say. When I bought it in 1983 the car had been unregistered since 1979, so we are getting back there in years.

Thanks for the follow-up Robert, I'm not sure what an original is supposed to say on the back either.

The 1979 and 1976 examples that I have appear to be identical, except that the white in the checkered flag has turned into more of an off-white color on the emblem that has been on the car since 1979. In the remaining spots where the color hasn't worn away significantly, the color of the red flag appears the same as my NOS example.

On the back side, the positions of the p/n (3894544) and "Detroit General" are the same, and the part number itself shows the same imperfections on both pieces ("3" is leaning right toward the "8", the "945" is leaning left toward the "8", and the "44" appears to be about level, if a line was drawn under the entire number), so it appears the tooling was the same for these two examples.

I don't have a more recent GM NOS example or a Trim Parts example to examine for comparison.

[Scott S.]

Re: 1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red r

Scott,

Here's some photos, you probably did not see in the archived posts:

Thanks for re-posting the pictures Jerry, I think I have seen the middle picture or one like it (and maybe the last picture), but I had not seen the nose emblem/gas lid comparison picture in the archives before.

[Gerard F.]

Re: 1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red r

Thanks for re-posting the pictures Jerry, I think I have seen the middle picture or one like it (and maybe the last picture), but I had not seen the nose emblem/gas lid comparison picture in the archives before.

Scott,

The Gas lid emblem and nose emblem in the picture are untouched originals on my 67. I still haven't repainted the nose emblem yet.

[Ray G.]

Re: 1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red r

Scott,

The Gas lid emblem and nose emblem in the picture are untouched originals on my 67. I still haven't repainted the nose emblem yet.

Hello Gerard;
May we add the fact that orange, yellow, and red are the first colors to fade(change shade) in the color spectrum. Even when not exposed to direct sunlight. Don't know the technical reasons. Maybe a paint expert will chime in here.

Just my 2 cents.
Ray

[John H.]

Re: 1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red r

Scott,

The Gas lid emblem and nose emblem in the picture are untouched originals on my 67. I still haven't repainted the nose emblem yet.

Jerry -

My originals are the same maroon shade as yours.

[Ray G.]

Re: 1967 Nose Emblem -comparing NOS (1976) with current dark red repro & orange-red r

Jerry -

My originals are the same maroon shade as yours.

Hello John and Gerard;

Thanks for your posts and pictures.
Very valuable information.

Ray