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1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1968 Mustang => Topic started by: toohey on March 28, 2010, 07:42:06 AM

Title: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: toohey on March 28, 2010, 07:42:06 AM
Hi Guys,

Can anyone tell me what paint colors were used on the grill of the 68.5 Mustang and the areas to which it was applied (Dearborn, May Build)?

Thanks Again
Matt

Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: DTruitt on April 03, 2010, 10:33:45 PM
Outside the large corral and inside the small corral is black.  Inside the large corral it is a light metallic blue (similar to the 65 grill paint, but not exactly).  I am sure others will chime in.

Danny
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: toohey on April 04, 2010, 07:24:07 PM
Thanks Danny.  NPD have listed a Charcoal Blue paint for the 67 and 65 grilles, has anyone used these? Would the paint for the 67 be a closer match?

Thanks
Matt
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: Oz390 on April 06, 2010, 05:51:31 AM
If it is the same charcoal blue I bought a while back it is far too light for the '68 grille.  It is almost a sky blue, and the grille is quite dark.  I have a NOS service replacement '68 grille (dated early 70's, '70 or '71 IIRC) and the color of the NPD grille paint was nowhere near correct when I compared the two....
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: toohey on April 06, 2010, 06:50:04 PM
Thanks Oz,  I've purchased a can of paint for the 65 grille, the shop called it gunmetal blue.  I'll see how it looks and make a decision whether or not to use it. 

Matt
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: J_Speegle on April 06, 2010, 08:16:21 PM
Thanks Oz,  I've purchased a can of paint for the 65 grille, the shop called it gunmetal blue.  I'll see how it looks and make a decision whether or not to use it. 

Matt


Good idea IMHO - since some of the rattle cans can be way off

But of course (to help others) let us know what you find
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: toohey on May 10, 2010, 04:46:04 AM
Well I've finally got back to the grille.  I'm as happy as I can be with the color, it's quite dark and doesn't jump out.
What do you think?

(http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/gg449/toohey_photos/DSC01059.jpg?t=1273477080)

Matt
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: Sunlitgold68 on May 10, 2010, 09:39:35 AM
Is this blue colored section correct for all 1968 grills?
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: CharlesTurner on May 10, 2010, 12:52:53 PM
Is this blue colored section correct for all 1968 grills?

No, just GT's.
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: Oz390 on May 15, 2010, 11:33:14 AM
Quote
No, just GT's

????

Never seen reference to a painting difference on grilles for GT vs. non GT before...
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: CharlesTurner on May 15, 2010, 01:43:16 PM
Are you saying fog lights were a regular production option for all Mustangs in '68?
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: Oz390 on May 17, 2010, 03:53:11 PM
No, I know fogs were GT or add on and not standard. 

I have a '68 Ford service replacement non-GT grille and it has the black/blue two tone, which you indicate is GT only, yet it  has no fog cutouts...

Am wondering if it was a one-size-fits-all replacement that is "incorrect" for a non GT car. (its a 70 or 71 mfg date IIRC) And if so, why Ford would go to the expense of painting two tone if it was only correct for GT's... which were a smaller percentage of cars than non-GT...  would not seem logical to me to make a service replacement for the smaller production configuration.

???
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: CharlesTurner on May 17, 2010, 04:15:26 PM
Seeing as this is a service replacement grille you are using as an example, I don't think it is a good reference as we know there can be many varieties and quality levels of service parts.  I would just chalk up the service part as an odd-ball and cut out the holes for fog lights if you need to use it for that.
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: Oz390 on May 17, 2010, 04:26:50 PM
I have a non GT '68 I bought it for, guess I'll stash it and use a restored OEM painted SGB, as it appears a non GT would get dinged as incorrect for blue on black...

Thanks...
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: Sunlitgold68 on May 17, 2010, 07:54:26 PM
might be getting too technical but I discovered satin black was actually a closer match than semi gloss for the 68 grill. I guess either one would work though.

Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: Oz390 on May 19, 2010, 05:35:48 PM
Never too technical, thanks for the tip.  Have some VHT Satin Black I use quite often, like the look and finish as its pretty good for rattle can I can find here...
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: dan green on May 21, 2010, 11:35:57 AM
I used an original grill and found a dupont color to be a very good match.
It is code DM467J.  You should be able to have this mixed and put into a spray can at your local dupont paint jobber.

If I am correct the entire 67 grill is this same color.
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: gtamustang on May 21, 2010, 02:42:28 PM
My experience is that the 67 grille is ligher in color than the center part of the 68 GT grille.

Regards,
Pete Morgan
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: dkknab on April 17, 2022, 12:11:17 AM
I know this is an old thread but I had to ask if the gun metal steel blue like color on the gt grill also applies to my 68 Sprint B? I was deducted points at the Florence MCA show.  And per the judges form it makes reference to the bluish tinted color inside the main corral but on GTs. My car isn't a GT but does have fog lights as a part of this special model.
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: ruppstang on April 17, 2022, 12:57:36 AM
I would say yes it does Ford made only the standard and GT grills. If your car has fog lights it is a GT grill.
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: dkknab on April 17, 2022, 10:50:03 AM
Thank you Marty. After close inspection of my grille, I would definitely have to agree. I'm guessing the dirtiness and rough look of my grill was in part why I loss the 2 points at the MCA because the blue inner section was not recognized. Here's a good picture of the grille showing the inner part of the corral is definitely lighter color as compared to the outer section above. Thank you again.
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: ruppstang on April 17, 2022, 11:20:47 AM
Here is a picture of a restored GT grill. I would say the lighter color was not 67 blue grey but dark argent.
Title: Re: 68.5 Grill Color ?
Post by: dkknab on April 17, 2022, 12:29:56 PM
Very subtle difference between inside the main corral and outside. I'm going to try to get some of the paint that you had specified earlier in this thread and see what that does to the inside section. Thank you again.