I have a 72 olds supreme want to paint the grill make it look a little better, should the black paint be flat or gloss? what would it be originally?

 

Originally it was a silvery grey unpainted plastic (extrusion molded). The design for 72 is called 'eggcrate'

 

Almost all black paint under the hood was a semi gloss. Eastwood sells it as underhood paint, and most rattlecan semi gloss is pretty close for all but the ost expensive restoration.

 

I agree that the rad support and other metal areas should be satin black....I thought the OP's question was aimed at what color to paint the grills though......

 

Yes, it was for the grill. I was thinking about some of the supporting pieces and maybe confused the issue. Without going to the garage to check, is the back of the grill black?

 

No, it's the same color as the front (unless it's dirty )

 

my grill is definetly black, could they be ordered that way or were they all silver? could it have been an option? if not than I guess a previous owner painted it themselves.

 

The 71s had a black grill with silver in the opening. The 72s were just the opposite. Silver in the grill with a black opening.

 

There is a very real possibility that a PO painted the grills black to simulate the look of those in the 72 Hurst Olds. If they did that, check the rear tail light lenses and see if they have been painted black too. Do you have any pictures of your car to post so we can see what's being described?

 

'72 Supreme eggcrate grilles were painted silver, front and back, unless they were on a Hurst/Olds. Krylon Dull Aluminum is an extremely close match to the original shade.

Terry