Topic: 67/68 Rocker moulding reproductions

[preaction]

Has anyone come across a way to identify a reproduction moulding from an original ?

[RoyceP]

The reproductions are not as good as the originals with regard to the smoothness and contours. Look at them side by side - easy to spot the differences. Then you will see reproductions from 20 feet away. You will rarely see nice restored originals that cost 10 - 20 times more.

[ruppstang]

Reproductions are at least 25 % lighter ga. when on the car you can see a raise at each clip.

[70cj428]

If i remember correctly, there's a noticeable difference in the way they are formed and finished at the ends between the repros, the late service parts, and the early service or assembly line parts. I don't have any repros on hand, but I might have some NOS ones to take a couple pics ....

[KevinK]

I believe I heard the repros have a tendency to fall off. 

[midlife]

I believe I heard the repros have a tendency to fall off.

LMAO!

[Anghelrestorations]

The reproductions are distinctly different on the ends especially the front leading edge versus an original, especially when compared side by side.  Can post photos if needed....

[67gtasanjose]

The reproductions are distinctly different on the ends especially the front leading edge versus an original, especially when compared side by side.  Can post photos if needed....

[/b][/u]

Please do. As a judge for 67-68, most of these on the show field may be the reproduction ones (wheel arch, opening moldings also). It would be good to be able to better describe what differs between the ones we find.

[Anghelrestorations]

Its pretty simple to see the difference once you know what to look for.  The original rocker mouldings are flush to the body at the leading front edge while the reproductions have a very distinct cut.  See photos here for what I am talking about....the reproduction is the shiny new one.

20221003_143335 by Marcus Anghel, on Flickr

20221003_143418 by Marcus Anghel, on Flickr

20221003_143425 by Marcus Anghel, on Flickr

[preaction]

Thanks for posting the side by side Marcus. I was under the impression that the difference was seen from the back side and how the metal was folded over its very clear in your pics.

[Anghelrestorations]

Yes...this is actually super easy to spot.  You just walk up to the car and look down and you can see if it has this detail or not.  Im not sure why the reproductions have that cut in the front but its not needed for the body lines. 

[8T03S1425]

Can original rocker panel moldings be restored to remove dents & dings, and to restore the bright finish?

Steve

[Bob Gaines]

Can original rocker panel moldings be restored to remove dents & dings, and to restore the bright finish?

Steve

Technically yes . Economically no from my experience especially if you want to get it to at least as good as original NOS ones. If you have a nice set of cores to start with you quickly can exceed the price of NOS ones after stripping the anodizing off, removing dents and dings ,polish and then have them "Brite Dip" anodized (different then regular anodizing. This not to mention the logistics and time involved from start to finish. Others may have different results. 

[67gta289]

Bob, I failed at my first few attempts because the original ones right behind the tires had too much road rash, but the experiment was less than $50.  I found a pretty nice set (little road rash) but had severe dents and dings.  I've not taken pictures next to an NOS set, perhaps this week yet.  But they are indistinguishable.  At at a much lower cost than what an NOS set is going for these days.

[Bob Gaines]

Bob, I failed at my first few attempts because the original ones right behind the tires had too much road rash, but the experiment was less than $50.  I found a pretty nice set (little road rash) but had severe dents and dings.  I've not taken pictures next to an NOS set, perhaps this week yet.  But they are indistinguishable.  At at a much lower cost than what an NOS set is going for these days.

There is always that one guy . I am happy for you if you were able take severe dents and dings and make something good out of it for 50.00 that you are happy with.  I can only assume you didn't brite dip anodized them like original. That process alone is 3-400.00 each last time I checked. Regardless you may be giving someone else a unrealistic expectation IMO.