Topic: Shelby Hood Grates

[J_Speegle]

So unpainted, very dark grey almost black like a charcoal colour. Would that be similar to phosphate look.

No would not describe them as such - darker than the phopshate your likely thinking of

[carm]

But since the grates were unpainted metal, what gave them this dark look?
No need to mention that unpainted metal will rust.

The ones on my car are painted black. I assume that the someone painted them because they probably started showing sign of rusting.

[Bob Gaines]

Finally I know the truth about the colour of the Shelby hood grates. Actually I wasn't  looking for this detail at all, as I was under the impression that these hood grates were painted black.
So unpainted, very dark grey almost black like a charcoal colour. Would that be similar to phosphate look. They would eventually rust, wouldn't they?
 And was this also the case for the grates in the front fenders and side scoops.

This is a durable industrial plating applied to the screen mesh that the hood ,scoop and fender grills were made from. Black oxide or black chromate most likely.

[Coralsnake]

I actually believe some of the service parts are silver, this may be adding to the confusion

[carm]

Thank you Bob......and Thank you Mr. Snake.

[tobkob]

I actually believe some of the service parts are silver, this may be adding to the confusion

+1... I have some NOS ones that are silver or aluminum color..

TOB

[Bob Gaines]

I actually believe some of the service parts are silver, this may be adding to the confusion

The silver service ones I have seen also have a slightly different mesh design compared to original which further makes it undesirable.

[carm]

Found this picture of what looks like a silvery scoop grate. Now it could just be the picture tint. Looks really nice but.... does it look original?

[carm]

I was going to ask if this was the way it was done at AO Smith, but obviously not,since the grate were treated and not painted.

[J_Speegle]

Found this picture of what looks like a silvery scoop grate. Now it could just be the picture tint. Looks really nice but.... does it look original?

It's the lighting and the angle as the grills on that car were a dark grey/black.  In person it appeared like original.

Here is a weathered original example

[carm]

thank you Jeff. That was fast. Obviously you have a system.

[carm]

Would I be safe to assume that these grates were cut from the same stock that was used for the trunk lid and endcap lace? If that is the case, then I would have an excellent example of how they should look.

[J_Speegle]

Would I be safe to assume that these grates were cut from the same stock that was used for the trunk lid and endcap lace? If that is the case, then I would have an excellent example of how they should look.

Never laid them side by side and measured the feature but believe the material was at least from the same supplier and finished in the same way.