<VV> Re: vv diff between Corsa and Monza

[airvair]

ALL the dealer books refer to the 500 having body color grills and the
Monza and Corsa models having silver grills. However, some of the
"accessory" brochures and pictures in the dealer books are retouched
photos or inaccurate paintings and should not be relied upon.

I think it's safe to say that the designers intended the above paint
scheme, but sometimes the factory didn't always build each car
accordingly. There have been cases of other "goofs" occurring, like
Monza steering wheels on 500's and vice versa. Add to the repaint issue,
and it's understandable that 40-some years later, there would be some
confusion.

For historical accuracy, I'd go with what the designers intended in all
cases.

-Mark C

Tony Underwood wrote:
> 
> At 05:21 hours 12/20/2005, Norman C. Witte wrote:
> 
> >snip
> >
> >  The lower  grill piece on
> > > the 500 and monza
> > > (in 1965) was unadorned and had  a pair of small grille
> > > openings stamped into
> > > the center parts of  the lower section. The whole section was
> > > painted body
> > > color, including the  stamped portions.
> >
> >I always understood that the grille area on the Monza where the Corsa
> >inserts would otherwise be found was painted silver on the Monza.  Chuck
> >Armer used to have a low mileage '65 madeira maroon Monza convertible, and I
> >believe that the insert area was painted silver on his convertible.  I
> >recall that the car did experience some pretty serious collision damage and
> >was repaired and repainted, but my understanding was that the silver was
> >correct.
> >
> >Anyone out there own an original paint '65 Monza?
> >
> >Norm Witte
> 
> Been there done that.   A  buddy and I parted out several  '65 Vairs
> and one of them presented a bit of a problem with "factory" equipment.
> 
> One, a very ragged '65 convertible,  was something my buddy picked up
> for a song and a dance since it had flunked a safety inspection
> (rotted floors and front crossmember) and the girl who had it didn't
> wanna mess around with it.   Faded factory maroon paint, black
> interior rather worn, top patched with black cloth tape of some sort,
> but it ran well (110/PG) and drove OK.   Also had some rather severe
> rust holes in the front fender doglegs and around the wheel well lips
> in back.   I recall the deck lids being OK as were the doors but the
> other sheet metal had issues.   Still, it was a decent parts car so
> it got parted out.  The original paint was still fairly decent on the
> sides but the paint on the tops of the deck lids was worn thin enough
> to sport a patina of surface rust.    The original rear grill was
> there, looked as it had never been off the car, and it had no silver
> paint on the grill areas like I'd always seen on '65 Monza rear
> grills, and this car had never been repainted.   No silver on the
> grill.    I brought this up once before and someone else mentioned
> that a '65 Monza in the family that had been purchased new also
> didn't have any silver paint on the rear grill mesh area.
> 
> Evidently a few '65 Monzas got out the door with rear grills not
> painted silver.
> 
> Either that or someone coincidentally swapped them for non-silver
> painted grills at the dealer before the cars were sold, which I
> consider to be rather unlikely.
> 
> tony..
>