<VV> Late Grilles was Corsa/Monza differences

[airvair]

This is the most definitive answer, though I'd dissagree with his
termonology. What he calls "teeth" are the "grill bars" themselves, and
the area that is painted silver on a Monza is up to the "character line
break." The '66 Corsa's were painted only about halfway from the grill
bars to the character line. This was to prevent any "sloppy" look from
silver paint peeking out from under the insert.

What IS commonly seen are variations to this, and all can be attributed
to repaint jobs. The most common areas on ALL LM Corvair models to
incorrectly get a full body-color reshoot are the rear grill (Monzas and
Corsas often never properly reshot with silver per original look) and
the front valence (spoiler) panel (which was NEVER painted.)

-Mark

Brent Covey wrote:
> 
> In 1965 there are two grille styles, and two paint treatments.
> 
> 500 and Monza share one type of grille stamping, on Monzas the grille teeth
> are painted bright silver, 500's they dont bother. There are two distinct
> toothed areas on '65's.
> 
> '65 Corsas have the entire toothed grille areas cut out and 2 bright metal
> inserts which include teeth and a bit of the surrounding area and very
> closely resembles the other grille mesh is used. There are three peices to
> this finished grille panel, the main stamping and the two bright inserts.
> 
> All 1966 on cars have a different from '65 grille, restyled for one larger
> lower opening. 500's leave the entire thing body colour. Monzas have the
> teeth and (generally) the surrounding 2-3" or so recessed area surrounding
> the teeth painted bright silver to the edge of the 'bead' where the grille
> features meet the main body contours and exterior paint colour. Corsas are
> supposed to be silver painted just in the teeth area and have a bright metal
> bezel covering the 2-3" depressed area surrounding the grille teeth. The
> insert divides the grille mesh area into two sections down the middle. The
> idea is the Corsas are painted just in the area thats visible when the
> bright bezel is installed.
> 
> Many 1966 Monzas I have seen have inadvertently been painted to the Corsa
> spec from the factory, this was especially common in Oshawa production- just
> the grille teeth are silver but theres no Corsa type bezel, just less silver
> paint. I have also seen a few Corsas with the full Monza paint treatment and
> a bezel besides. Painting the grille Monza style means the silver paint
> covers an area larger than the bright metal Corsa insert covers and it
> doesnt look well finished. In 1967-1969 all the Monzas had the larger area
> covered with silver paint, thats to say all the teeth and the large area
> surrounding it outwards a few inches. 500's are entirely body colour every
> year.
> 
> The 1966 grille does not fit the 1965 but the 1965 grilles fit everything.
> 
> My Oshawa '66 Monza Convertible was Marina Blue and has the Corsa grille
> paint (just the teeth, not the surrounding opening) treatment from the
> factory and I always thought it was a nice look, it looks nicely finsihed
> without drawing attention to the grille, despite the fact its basically a
> factory mistake.
> 
> Hope thats some help,
> Brent Covey
> Vancouver BC