Possible Answer to Old Debate. Hood vent grills: Red or Black?

[sixsixvette]

I've read all the threads and debates on wether the air grabber vent grills are red or black from factory. Alot of assumptions and real life knowledge for sure. I think the debate ended with early 69 air grabber could be black, but sometimes red. And then which factory was it assembled? Too many variables to land on any one definitive answer.

I want to point out something that I never heard reference to in prior discussions. I have a pair of survivor original hood inserts with the original factory grills. From close inspection these appear to be 100% original in paint and finish. The grills, from the factory, are black on one side, and red on the other. Could the answer be as simple as whatever way looked better depending on stripe package or non-stripe body color? Could the assembly line have made the call and flipped them one way or the other?

I am restoring a 69 GTX that does not have the hood stripe option, so vents would naturally be painted Fire Bronze Metallic in my case. I think the black grills look better against the paint than the red grills, and will probably go that way.

Just offering up my observation and not trying to beat an old dog.

 

[R/T Boy 67]

I know nothing on the subject, but it makes sense to me.

 

[R413]

Assembly line work was boring, monotonous, and hurried. If something got installed wrong there was not time to change it, just send it on. You think those guys cared what looked better? Haha. Maybe the new guy but after a while not a big deal to many,

Yes many possible theories as to what was what on assembly line.

 

[68BabyBlue]

The A4 silver air grabber car that was used to illustrate the factory sales brochure had red intake grates, no hood stripes. That being said, if it was possible to flip them one way or the other, who knows what color ended up on a given car. I've had many questions regarding position of the reflective tape stripe on the lower body blackout when I show my '69 at Carlisle. I owned an unrestored original 30 years ago that had spacing varying with each panel. I advise folks to do what they think looks best on their car. The factory sure didn't run exact tolerances.

Black was the default color on the hood scoop inserts on the non air grabber cars, regardless of body color. Like the lower body paint treatment, it seems to go well with any body color.