67/68 gray wheels and front?

[dave6672]

I think I've seen this discussed here before, but couldn't find what I needed in a search.

I've seen 67's and 68's with the steel wheels painted either white or gray and the area around the front grille painted white, gray or body color. What dictates this? I'm looking at a 67 that has gray wheels but body color around the front grille. I realize that over the course of 50+ years may things could have been changed on a truck, but am wondering if there was some sort of package or RPO that dictated the color of the wheels and grille surround area?

['68OrangeSunshine]

Stock *2WDs for MYs '67/'68 had Argent Silver wheels -- which would look grey after 55 years or so. White was not stock on wheels... I re-engined my '68 C/10 in 1977 and -- while it was ''down'' -- spray-painted the OEM wheels in White, which I thought looked better with the Whiteface trim on my Stepside. [*Stock 4WDs got Black wheels.]

Someone at the Factory decided what accent colors went with certain body colors.

In the Model Year '67, only Grille Molding rings and the Headlight Bezels got the contrasting color. The Grille was the same solid body color.

With MY '68, the Grille itself got accent colored, and the above parts were a bright anodized aluminum. Plus more trim out of the same anodized aluminum covered the fender ''eyebrows'' and leading edge of the hood. [Some early '68s had no trim.]

GM Parts only ever carried the 1968 anodized aluminum trim pieces as replacements. [Their cross-section is a kind of Z-shape.]

The Factory 1967 hoop-like Grille Moldings were steel, painted in the accent color. The were a shallow D-shape in cross section. They were never available as replacements. Before repop vendor catalogs, it was ''hip'' to get the 1967 hoops chromed. So junkyards quickly became devoid of such pieces.

Color contrast schemes, as I remember were:
[BODY COLOR/trim color]
ORANGE/white
MED METALLIC BLUE/silver
BLACK/white
BLACK/orange
BLACK/silver
BLUE/white
RED/white
YELLOW/black
LT GREEN/white

That's not the total of all the combinations.
It's only what I can remember at 72.

[67C10Step]

This what you are looking for? My truck was stock with the gray in the grill so it matches up with the wheels nicely. At least I think it does.

[67 twins]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Stock *2WDs for MYs '67/'68 had Argent Silver wheels -- which would look grey after 55 years or so. White was not stock on wheels... I re-engined my '68 C/10 in 1977 and -- while it was ''down'' -- spray-painted the OEM wheels in White, which I thought looked better with the Whiteface trim on my Stepside. [*Stock 4WDs got Black wheels.].

Not exactly 67 two tone 2wd came with body color wheels.

[dave6672]

So then, from the factory:

67 front - always body color
68 front - body color, white or silver/gray?

67 wheels - silver/gray or body color (never white?)
68 wheels - silver/gray, white or body color?

I'm curious what would dictate the color used from the factory.

[72c20customcamper]

My 68 had grey wheels and white surround on the grille but mines a golden so it had a different paint treatment anyway

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by 67 twins

Not exactly 67 two tone 2wd came with body color wheels.

Life is a learning experience.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

My 68 had grey wheels and white surround on the grille but mines a golden so it had a different paint treatment anyway

1968 was Chevrolet's 50th anniversary, so your truck was painted in the Golden Anniversary Edition colors of Gold/White.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by dave6672

So then, from the factory:

67 front - always body color
68 front - white or silver/gray [Argent Silver]

67 wheels - silver/gray or body color (never white?)
68 wheels - silver/gray, or body color? [4X4s were Black]

I'm curious what would dictate the color used from the factory.

Over Half A Century later, it's still a mystery.
I suspect, since women were employed in the Trim Shop, some feminine agency was at work here. But in truth, I'll never know.

[67C10Step]

My truck is stock painted 67. The roof was once white I believe but the inside grill shelf area is definitely silver. Not sure if that was done by a PO but it sure looks factory.

['68OrangeSunshine]

The air deflectors inside the Grille on my '68 C/10 Stepside are original. Truck has original 516 Orange exterior, Orange/Fawn interior, and Whiteface grille. Tailgate letters are white.
The Deflectors look charcoal gray now, but I recall they were originally Black. I bought the truck in 1973 in California. It has since spent most of its time in the intense sunlight of Arizona.

On the other hand, I have a '67 K/10 Suburban. I hit a deer in 1994 and had to replace the Grille with one from a '68 Sub. It's Argent Silver, the donor was light metallic blue. OK. So I guess the Silver Grilles got a silver-gray finish.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

1968 was Chevrolet's 50th anniversary, so your truck was painted in the Golden Anniversary Edition colors of Gold/White.

That’s why I said it was a Golden

[Jason Banks]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

The air deflectors inside the Grille on my '68 C/10 Stepside are original. Truck has original 516 Orange exterior, Orange/Fawn interior, and Whiteface grille. Tailgate letters are white.
The Deflectors look charcoal gray now, but I recall they were originally Black.

Wow, those air deflectors sure faded. I've only seen them with the thin black paint like used on the core support and inner fenders.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Jason Banks

Wow, those air deflectors sure faded. I've only seen them with the thin black paint like used on the core support and inner fenders.

No, the ones in my second picture were from a Grille I salvaged from a '68 Suburban, after I hit a deer in my '67 Suburban and smashed the original. That truck was light metallic blue and had an Argent Silver Grille. The deflectors were not black on that one, but a silvery grey.

[dave6672]

Most of the the trucks I see that have either a white or gray/silver painted front seem to be 68's and also have and stainless molding around the perimeter of the grille area that marks the change from body color to white/silver. The stainless molding is part of Z61 Custom Appearance Package, I think? Maybe that package dictates the white or silver/gray front? And then the wheel color matches? The first three pics are of 68's that have that trim piece.

Most 67 pictures I've seen, show the front being body color. The last two pictures are of 67's and I know the red one has the the Z61 Custom Appearance Package but no stainless trim piece. Maybe the stainless trim piece around the perimeter of the grille is 68 only, and hence only 68's can potentially have a painted front?

[68bowtie]

1967’s had a body color grille with grille hoops only (chromed or painted).

1968’s had a white or argent grille with chromed grille hoops plus trim around the perimeter.

I’m not positive on the wheels, but I do think 67’s had body color wheels at least sometimes, but 68 was white or argent (to match the grille).

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by dave6672

Most of the the trucks I see that have either a white or gray/silver painted front seem to be 68's and also have and stainless molding around the perimeter of the grille area that marks the change from body color to white/silver. The stainless molding is part of Z61 Custom Appearance Package, I think? Maybe that package dictates the white or silver/gray front? And then the wheel color matches? The first three pics are of 68's that have that trim piece.

Most 67 pictures I've seen, show the front being body color. The last two pictures are of 67's and I know the red one has the the Z61 Custom Appearance Package but no stainless trim piece. Maybe the stainless trim piece around the perimeter of the grille is 68 only, and hence only 68's can potentially have a painted front?

Actually, it's Anodized Aluminum, not stainless steel. Stainless would be a lot more resistant to dings, but it is what it is.

But you are correct about the ''Icing'' trim being Model Year '68 only.
I have seen '68s w/o it, but I'm not sure if that wasn't a very early [during 1967] build, or the PO nixed such fancy foolishness at the dealer's. Or a collision shop didn't bother with restoring the Icing trim.

Also, I'm not sute if it was a custom job, but I have seen a Yellow '68 truck with a Black Grille.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by 67C10Step

This what you are looking for? My truck was stock with the gray in the grill so it matches up with the wheels nicely. At least I think it does.

Are your grille hoops and headlight surrounds silver painted steel, or are they aluminum?

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

1967’s had a body color grille with grille hoops only (chromed or painted).

1968’s had a white or argent grille with chromed grille hoops plus trim around the perimeter.

I’m not positive on the wheels, but I do think 67’s had body color wheels at least sometimes, but 68 was white or argent (to match the grille).

Attachment 2213873

Attachment 2213874

Bright Anodized Aluminum looks like chrome. The 1967 Grille hoops were steel, with a D-shape cross section. '68 Hoops were AA and have a raised ridge stiffener in cross section, like a Z. Only the aluminum hoops were available in aftermarket or as dealer parts.
[1967 steel D-shape hoops were a popular junkyard item to be chromed by customizers, but the only source was a donor '67]
C/ Series '68 trucks had Argent wheels, K/ trucks had Black wheels. White wheels would be aftermarket. Body color, I don't know about. Maybe an RPO or dealer upgrade.IDK.
My C/10 Stepside has a Whiteface Grille, and it originally had Argent 5.25x17.5 6-lug rims. My truck was a fleet order unit. No frills.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Bright Anodized Aluminum looks like chrome. The 1967 Grille hoops were steel, with a D-shape cross section. '68 Hoops were AA and have a raised ridge stiffener in cross section, like a Z. Only the aluminum hoops were available in aftermarket or as dealer parts.
[1967 steel D-shape hoops were a popular junkyard item to be chromed by customizers, but the only source was a donor '67]
C/ Series '68 trucks had Argent wheels, K/ trucks had Black wheels. White wheels would be aftermarket. Body color, I don't know about. Maybe an RPO or dealer upgrade.IDK.
My C/10 Stepside has a Whiteface Grille, and it originally had Argent 5.25x17.5 6-lug rims. My truck was a fleet order unit. No frills.

I’m having 67 hoops and headlamp doors chromed for my 68 bought the last year at SETN

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

I’m having 67 hoops and headlamp doors chromed for my 68 bought the last year so SETN

Cool...
Are the '67 Headlight Bezels also steel?

My '67 K/10 Sub had a Grille with the hoops and deflectors removed. They were still off the truck when I impacted Bambi's big brother. They were a dark blue. Truck and Grille were White. The HL Bezels were the '68 type anodized aluminum. I bought that truck in '93, so a lot can happen in 26 years.

Urban Dictionary won't translate SETN. 10-9?

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Cool...
Are the '67 Headlight Bezels also steel?

My '67 K/10 Sub had a Grille with the hoops and deflectors removed. They were still off the truck when I impacted Bambi's big brother. They were a dark blue. Truck and Grille were White. The HL Bezels were the '68 type anodized aluminum. I bought that truck in '93, so a lot can happen in 26 years.

Urban Dictionary won't translate SETN. 10-9?

Southeastern truck nationals lebanon Tennessee.

Yes the headlamp bezels are steel also

[dave6672]

Good info. here. Thanks for the responses.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Southeastern truck nationals lebanon Tennessee.

Yes the headlamp bezels are steel also

OK. Long way from Southern AZ.
Steel holds up a lot better. I still have my '68 original anodized aluminum bezels. I have to use washers between the screw and the bezel. Time and wind pressure have wallered out the holes. I could get repops, but these are Original.

[special-K]

In '67 wheels were either black or painted body color on fancier trucks. Hubcaps white. No trim surround for the grille area, so the grille area wasn't painted an accent color. The deflectors are not painted as trim.

'68 is when you saw the argent wheels and hubcaps, bumpers, etc. White was still used in some cases and that is what is unclear. Most believe that had to do with body paint color or 2-tone paint