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Hey guys, my car is in the shop for a complete body restore and repaint. I have all the chrome and trim in my possession for safe storage - so I’m cleaning them up. I’ve noticed on that the 442 badge on the trunk and front grill that the numbers aren’t straight - even though they are cast as one piece. I don’t have the fender badges with me to inspect. But is this common? Were some made this way? Should I try to bend it straight? Here’s an online image that shows the same thing.
—Billy
The emblems on the front grill are curved. The emblems on my trunk are straight. There are some factory stamped/punched holes that the trunk emblem fits into.
I wouldn't try to bend them straight. Use them as they are.
Note the fender numbers are not cast as one piece - they are individual numbers. Does your car have the original W36 stripe? If not and you are planning on going with the W36 stripe, note that the fender numbers are located in a different place on each fender for the stripe. It's a common mistake that a restorer wants to add the W36 but they use the location of the fender numbers without the stripe.
Does your car have the original W36 stripe? If not and you are planning on going with the W36 stripe, note that the fender numbers are located in a different place on each fender for the stripe. It's a common mistake that a restorer wants to add the W36 but they use the location of the fender numbers without the stripe.
I guess I’m being particular about the badges. I want it to be perfect.
Yes my car came with the W 36 stripe so it’s closer to the door where it should be. Thanks. I will reference that schematic to make sure the stripe is correct. —Billy
Here’s another strange thing I noticed about my badging. My badges on the grill and trunk are chrome and the inside painted black ( as you see in my photos above) but the fender badging is just chrome without the black inside. I am definitely painting the inside black but I’m very curious where these might have come from because in catalogs I don’t see any other cars that would have used non painted numbers. Anyone have a clue where these are from? —Billy
Here’s another strange thing I noticed about my badging. My badges on the grill and trunk are chrome and the inside painted black ( as you see in my photos above) but the fender badging is just chrome without the black inside. I am definitely painting the inside black but I’m very curious where these might have come from because in catalogs I don’t see any other cars that would have used non painted numbers. Anyone have a clue where these are from? —Billy
All 68s had black-painted emblems from the factory. If there is no paint, either the black wore off or they were polished or re-plated and have not had the black re-applied.
Back in the mid-70s, I saw a 68 442 in Boston that was all black with the emblems painted red-orange-yellow instead of black. I'll never forget how cool that car looked.
Back in the mid-70s, I saw a 68 442 in Boston that was all black with the emblems painted red-orange-yellow instead of black. I'll never forget how cool that car looked.
The 68 Ocean Turquoise 442 3 speed convertible with the white top that Dean Franco bought from John Ebbs had the same color emblems.
