My cowl tag shows the X11 (style trim group) code but is NOT an SS. The "Camaro White Book" says paint should include "Black Body sill". I've never noticed this on any cars...and when I was into Chevelles that was a SS thing in '69. I'm trying to make the car externally period correct stock so I knew I'd be losing the black (SS 396) tail lamp panel... but black sills? Also would a Non-SS EVER have a COMPLETELY BLACK grill? I think mine should be silver with the surround area painted body color...true?

Check www.camaros.org (http://www.camaros.org) look for a section on the "X" codes and they have a chart that tells the exact differences for your car. The X-11 code (non SS 350 in your case) is the base car w/style trim. It would have the standard argent silver grill. The SS 350 would be black. My COPO is an X-11 coded car w/the silver grill.

Some of these Camaros did have the rear tailight panel painted black. I don't recall ever seeing one, but I've read about it.

As far as I know <---- disclaimer http://www.camaros.net/forum/biggrin.gif

An X-11 car should have a body color rear panel because it is a small block (SS or not).

Also, the style trim grille should be black in the center with the surround painted body color. The base cars had argent silver grilles (surround was still painted).

As far as the black body sills...most colors with style trim have the black sills. Only the dark color cars have this omitted.

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Steve McCorry - Central Ohio Camaro Club
'69 Camaro RS/SS-350 - Daytona Yellow
'95 Camaro Z-28 - Sebring Silver
click here to see my car ---> www.mindspring.com/~mccorry (http://www.mindspring.com/~mccorry)(updated 7/1/00)

[This message has been edited by mccorry (edited 07-01-2000).]

here's one with rear tailight panel painted black. ss 396 big block cars had this. only the dark color cars were omitted. the body sills should also be black, but was not repainted that way. my car started out with a black vinyl roof so the hockey sticks would of been black.

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To see a pic of my car, click here... pages.prodigy.net/mtbmtb/rf396ss.jpg (http://pages.prodigy.net/mtbmtb/rf396ss.jpg)

I checked out that web site. Great info! Added to my confusion. So I tried to re-examine/reinterpret some of the written materials I have here at my house, here's what I found.

My CAMARO WHITE BOOK states: "RPO Z21 (style trim) included roof drip moldings (exc conv)simulated rear fender louvers, wheelhouse moldings, black body sill, rear panel emblem, bright headlight and taillight accents; $36.90 with convertible."

No mention of grill color (though grill color is ONLY mentioned w/Z22 RS listing, not even w/SS... a pretty blatant ommission of info IMO) Also, the "rear panel emblem" makes me wonder...do absolute base cars have NO EMBLEM on the tail panel? I don't remember EVER seeing a Camaro that didn't have at least a Blue Bow-Tie on it's butt.

So then I went to my 1953-1975 CHEVROLET A BOOK OF NUMBERS, where it described Z21 in base Camaro as: "CAMARO STYLE TRIM GROUP (RPO Z21) INCLUDES...Fender striping, Bright taillights, Wheel opening moldings."

No mention of Black sill or Black grill. No mention of simulated fender louvers. And no rear panel emblem either.

So in same book I look up how Z21 would appear in a Camaro SS: "CAMARO STYLE TRIM GROUP (RPO Z21) INCLUDES...Wheel opening moldings, black body sill with bright molding, Roof drip molding (Sport Coupe)."

Now where SS is concerned it listed Black grill on all (though I think I remember reading elsewhere that Dark green and black SS cars got the silver grill...or was that COPOS or Z/28s...I'm getting so confused), and black tail w/396 ONLY.

So anyway the black sills, per this reference, are not part of the SS UNLESS WITH the Z21, and NOT part of the Z21 w/o the SS.

Honestly, it's not really a big deal. I'd just like to know what's considered "right" so I can make an informed decision of whether or not to veer from "Factory as-built" specifications from an appearance standpoint. Personally I LIKE the Black grill, so I'll likely paint the surround body color and move on. I'll probably go ahead and paint on the black sills...looks leaner/sportier/cooler.

I also own a highly modified '67 Corvette Coupe so I know how some people sneer at anything non-factory (though thankfully I've never known Camaro people to be the Asses that Corvette folks can be). Tell me, is there a last word/definitive answer/absolute authority resource or organization that keeps track of the nit-pickin' details we're talking about here? The Vette folks have the NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society). Do WE have something similar?

I'm about to put the latest of an unknown quantity and lineage of non-original motors in my car. I'll be attaching it to a non-factory transmission. Just THOSE two things mean my car can NEVER be Factory Original again. So I'm adding period correct options that I want, and doing mechanical/technological updates to make it easy on myself. Because after all it's MY car and I want it MY way. I'd just like to know the score.

You had it correct in your post. silver grill with body color around the outside. Black rockers on x11. body color tail with bowtie emblem. SS got black center grill and all RS.

My car is an X11 non-SS and when I bought it from 2nd owner in 1983 it had Silver grill with chrome trim and bowtie emblem. (She bought it in early 70s and it had never been restored.)

I'm pretty sure that the 'outer' portion was painted the body color. I no longer have it as it was broken. Pretty sure that the headlight bezels were silver as well.

You can see an old pic here:
http://chuckbro.smugmug.com/gallery/639518/1/27272094

Honestly, it's not really a big deal. I'd just like to know what's considered "right" so I can make an informed decision of whether or not to veer from "Factory as-built" specifications from an appearance standpoint. I'd just like to know the score.

What was original is all at the CRG (Camaro Research Group) website, www.camaros.org; click on the boxes at the top of the page and you'll find everything you want to know about how '67-'69 Camaros were configured when they were new.
:beers:

We used Krylon Dull Aluminum on my "Recreation"

Chuck

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Chucks%2069%20Camaro%20COPO%20Clone/HRPT0a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/CamarosRus/Chucks%2069%20Camaro%20COPO%20Clone/HRPT8B2005.jpg

I believe that Argent Silver was code 16? That number sticks in my head for some reason for Argent. Anyone know for sure?

The original silver grilles for base cars, COPOs, and Zs were molded in grey/silver plastic, rather than black grilles painted silver. Thats why there are different part #s for black and silver grilles. Black grilles were in SSs and RS Zs. Except for Black and Burnished Brown RS Zs, which had silver grilles. The later replacements all came black, with instructions to paint argent silver, if the application called for a silver grille.

The "surrounding" area was painted body color on all.

dave

Dave (and others) , What specific brand, source, are you using to replicate "ARGENT" Silver on grills and headlight surrounds ????? And then what about clearing it to help the durability ???????

I saw a 69 last year at Carlisle, where the restorer had used ARGENT silver aerosol spray bomb that EASTWOOD sells..........looked Good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!