GT4 egg crate grille question

On an early 1975 (Dino badged) US market GT4, what are the correct color and finish for the front grille? All information, experience and advice are appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Well Jack, on my old one, all 3 of the grilles (front, hood, and engine cover) were all a semi gloss dark gray metallic color. They appeared matte black from a distance, and I think most owners just re-sprayed them matte black.
There have been a few threads on this before and the answers are all over the map, and sometimes a little heated!
Joe

 

Thank you, Joe. I guess I missed those threads when I searched. I've seen a few with silver colored, satin finished grilles which in my opinion makes the front of the car more resolved as it softens what appears to be a large void when the grille is a darker color. Plus, it gives the Bertone design a touch of Pininfarina by highlighting the traditional egg crate grille.

 

As an example here's a MY79 with what appears to be a silver-painted grill. Image Unavailable, Please Login

The other two grilles are black, either satin or matte finish, I can't tell for certain.

 

You are selling it now?

 

No. Did I give that impression?

Repainting.

 

I misunderstood.

That car is on BaT now

 

Correct. I just used the picture to illustrate what I was asking about.

 

Having looked at a few dozen GT4s on the Internet (not the final authority, to be sure) it appears that the grilles for all model years were black, U.S. market cars as well as ROW. I imagine it would be simple to change colors, so it could be that there were some with silver grilles from the factory and were painted black later. My "Original Ferrari V-8" book is 500 miles away, so no reasonable way to check that right now.

 

I believe US series 1 cars were black anodized grills, Euros were greyish

 

Not sure I follow the question, a US series 1 has a narrow grill that is more horizontal slats than egg crate. Series 2 as pictured has full width egg crate grill but your car is a series 1?

 

series 1 were not egg crate grilles, that was 76 on Iirc

 

You're right. I was using incorrect nomenclature. I haven't seen pictures of any early cars with silver(ish) front grilles.

 

Yea not sure ,,some details escape me some times. but im pretty sure the front and rear deck euros were silver at some point.

 

The 208 GT4 grilles were silver, and had a black dash fascia and black steering wheel.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login Ferrari.com describes the 208 as having "a plain aluminium (sic) finish to the louvres on the front lid and engine cover" but does not mention the grille. The picture from the web site would lead one to believe that it was also plain aluminium finish as the edges are visible, but it almost appears like the photo was altered.

 

Per the Bluemel's 308 book:

The front radiator grille on Series 1s was a horizontal, narrow-slat design in plain aluminium on European cars or matte black on US models. European cars had rectangular auxiliary lights mounted in recesses in the surround panel, but US versions and Italian 208 GT4 models lacked these Series 2s had a full-width egg-crate grille in plain aluminium for all markets.

Please let me know if this is allowed on the site. If not, I will happily remove.

 

Thanks, Spencer. That's very helpful.

 

Off topic, but since it came up in the discussion.....

What is the chassis number break between series one and series two? Is there a source that accurately describes the differences?

Thanks.

 

NOT ANYTHING CONCRETE FROM WHAT IVE READ HERE. damn caps!!!!!!!!!!! sorry