No repro 2nd-gen grilles, ever?

[Cooter]

Besides, I isn't that Cuda grille a one piece design? The Charger has THREE (3) different pieces. That means three (3) different tooling costs. Not to mention the 1970 Will be a totally different SET of tooling costs.

True, it's 3 pieces, but so is the 1970 Road Runner grille & it's $494.99 including the stainless trim. I understand your point about the tooling cost & three different year designs, but the '70 RR is a one year only part. At least with the Chargers the '68 & the '69 would share the head light doors. The trim is already out there.

This is true, but the Roadrunner grille also fits GTX and Satellite Models. 4drs, Wagons, Convertibles, etc...That's ALOT of potential buyers for, Basically, the same grille.

The Charger was a bastard all to itself. No 4drs, no convertibles, and no wagons.

[Mike DC]

                     
Yeah, the original production numbers for a grille are more relevant than the dollar amount that people are currently paying for used ones. 


The mold tooling also has a lot to do with it.  The Charger grille is not only 5 separate plastic pieces, it's also a big complicated set of molds for 3 of the 5.

[Cooter]

Maybe they are waiting like AR did with the "Teaser" run of Vector wheels, so the average enthusiast will get off his/her ass and buy one even at $1500-$2000/Grille?

[JB400]

I've done some cheesey things to cars but I can't see myself cutting up a wallymart box fan to make a grille.   


But I do like the way you're thinking. 

I read in the latest issue of MA,  Plymouth took the egg crate grill from the fluorescent lighting, painted it black, and installed it over factory grill on the Rapid Transit RR.  I guess backwoods engineering grills isn't that odd after all.

[charger_fan_4ever]

Personally if i had no grille or a really bad one I would pay $1000 for a repro one. I'm by no means rich, but the longer the car sits the less we can enjoy them.

Pay $1000 or waste time and who knows how long searching for a "good one"
$0.02

[Mike DC]

I read in the latest issue of MA,  Plymouth took the egg crate grill from the fluorescent lighting, painted it black, and installed it over factory grill on the Rapid Transit RR.  I guess backwoods engineering grills isn't that odd after all.

That stuff once crossed my mind for a Charger grille too.  But the last time I picked up some of that stuff at a Home Despot it felt unusably fragile.  It felt more like styrene plastic than ABS.


---------------------------------------------


"What is the demand is for a $1000 repro?" <-- this is probably not the relevant question. 


We should probably be asking: 

"What is the demand for a $1000 repro grille, with some kind of obscure irrelevant little difference from the originals, which causes half the hobby to keep spending $2000+ worth of parts/hours trying to patch up old ones?" 

[bull]

I agree with the people that point to the benefits of 3D printing.  Yea, right now its costly.  With that being said, how long until kinkos has a 3D printer that you can walk in with a thumb drive and they make whatever you want?  Any plastic piece could be made.  It would be profitable for them due to the large amount of customers.  I wouldn't be one bit suprised if the grilles made are damn near better in every way over the originals.

The gun Nazis are likely going to start working on banning 3D printers now:

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/citizen-warrior/2013/may/9/us-government-shuts-down-3d-gun-manufacturer/
http://israel.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1121:rep-israel-announc

[Mike DC]

 
Stop the coming of cheap/available 3D printers?  Not likely.  There is way too much money to be made off them. 


Besides, a 3D printer can't do anything that couldn't be done manually by hand already.  It would be like banning Xerox machines because they could be used to print counterfeit documents & money.

[bill440rt]

$1000 bucks for an accurate, new repro (if it ever became available) is not bad when compared to busted up used ones going for the same price.

[bull]

 
Stop the coming of cheap/available 3D printers?  Not likely.  There is way too much money to be made off them.  


Besides, a 3D printer can't do anything that couldn't be done manually by hand already.  It would be like banning Xerox machines because they could be used to print counterfeit documents & money.

You're using logic. Logic has nothing to do with the way government works.

Anyway, you'd think someone would at least reproduce the plastic headlight surrounds since they fit 68/69 both. Too specialized you say? Well, AMD reproduces the metal frame for the grill and as far as I know that doesn't work on any other B-body. Yeah, it's stamped metal and pretty easy to reproduce compared to an injection molded product but still...

Also, unless something has changed they don't make a 3D printer big enough to make a full headlight surround, let alone the center grill piece. I went to see a 3D printer work and when I researched it later the biggest printer at the time would only make something like a 12" piece so you'd have to build it in two pieces and stick them together.

[mauve66]

I'm looking forward to exploiting the decreased interest in muscle Mopars in a decade or two. Very very few individuals my age (25) have ANY interest in an old mechanical beast.

I'd actually argue the opposite. I consistently have younger people and teenage kids always ask me about my cars and there's a reason...Pop culture is keeping muscle cars alive. Most EVERY action adventure movie has a muscle car somewhere in the plot or in a cameo and they show up in suprising numbers in music videos.

That is in stark contrast to pre-60's cars highlighted in movies...with the exception of American Grafitti and Christine, it never happened

Also there is the complexity. If one of our car is dead we have...what a carburator and 25 seperate wires to worry about? How many kids today are going to break out a multi-meter and start shooting HUNDREDS of wires, tens of relays and resistors and multiple computers to get a car running?

While we aint going to get rich, Our cars will remain desireable for many years to come  

P.S. I thought they were making '69 Grilles?

I always find it humorous in action movies, heroes will usually have a 60's/70's muscle car, top of the line (ss, r/t, etc) and proceed to bash the crap out of it/not treat it right......

aka Jack Reacher??

[Mike DC]

You're using logic. Logic has nothing to do with the way government works.

I'm following the money.  3D printers stand to be too useful for a bunch of industries to prevent them from becoming commonplace.  It might be a while before the consumer edition shows up at Walmart but they will be widespread enough to make them accessible for anyone who is halfway serious.

Anyway, you'd think someone would at least reproduce the plastic headlight surrounds since they fit 68/69 both. Too specialized you say? Well, AMD reproduces the metal frame for the grill and as far as I know that doesn't work on any other B-body. Yeah, it's stamped metal and pretty easy to reproduce compared to an injection molded product but still...

I agree, there would probably be more cost-effective demand for the side surrounds than the centers.

I would think that part could be made of fiberglass right now.  It would be complicated, perhaps even needing to be two-pieced, but I see no reason it couldn't be done.  

Also, unless something has changed they don't make a 3D printer big enough to make a full headlight surround, let alone the center grill piece. I went to see a 3D printer work and when I researched it later the biggest printer at the time would only make something like a 12" piece so you'd have to build it in two pieces and stick them together.

Agreed, 3D printing a grille or mold would still be a ways off.


I wonder if people might end up with a more feasible tooling method in future times by combining 3D printing + sprayed-on metal coatings.  Print the shape of the tooling in a lightweight & less durable material like plastic, and then spray on a thin layer of metal over the faces of the mold surfaces to make it hard & thermally sound enough to use for injection molding.  Seems to me like it might work with enough R&D thrown at it.

[Old Moparz]

Argue all you want, but my stance is is that the grille will be made at some point. I never expected any Mopar part to be reproduced 15 to 20 years ago & I can't believe all the parts available now. PG Classics seems to crank out new parts every week. I'm betting the grille will be made by a major parts supplier, regardless of all the production numbers. Premiere Plastics made the crappy Cuda grille & a few companies stated they wouldn't compete because the market would be flooded with a part for very low production car. Even though they knew the PP grille was junk they still said they wouldn't make it. Guess what? There are some nice '71 Cuda grilles being made now by other companies.

Give it another year or so & I'll bet you see a Charger grille. If not, dig up this topic & quote this & I'll buy a cold one at Carlisle then.    

[Cooter]

No argue, it's a Debate/Discussion..Huge difference.
Too late, Bobfist has already done the grilles. Not alot of positive feedback on them either. What makes anybody think it will be any different once a big company like AMD gets their hands in the mix and then prices begin to climb?

Correct me if I'm worng, but I DO NOT see AMD making grilles for under $2000.00....CAD/Scanner Whatever, costs are too high right now to make it feasible. I believe that is the very reason they haven't done it before now. That and no matter how good a repro, there will always be the "Damn! They sure are proud of them ain't they" responses...

I give you their valve covers for example. WTF would buy a set of Repops when I have too many laying round as it is for way over the $25.00 I see folks trying to give them away every year at Carlisle?

[charger_fan_4ever]

AMD sells full 1/4's and fenders for ~$600. I can't see a grille being over $1000 is they make it. Just my 

[Old Moparz]

No argue, it's a Debate/Discussion..Huge difference.
Too late, Bobfist has already done the grilles. Not alot of positive feedback on them either. What makes anybody think it will be any different once a big company like AMD gets their hands in the mix and then prices begin to climb?

Correct me if I'm worng, but I DO NOT see AMD making grilles for under $2000.00....CAD/Scanner Whatever, costs are too high right now to make it feasible. I believe that is the very reason tey haven't done it before now. That and no matter how good a repro, there will always be the "Damn! They sure are proud of them ain't they" responses...

I give you their valve covers for example. WTF would buy a set of Repops when I have too many laying round as it is for way over the $25.00 I see folks trying to give them away every year at Carlisle?

I know it's not an argument, it was just the word that came to me.   

[F8-4life]

Good discussion on this. Personally I think the window is ever-closing on this idea...as time lays itself out, the odds are getting worse not better.

[ws23rt]

I see 3d printing as being a very real solution soon. The folks working on this tek. are not doing it with us in mind. The manufacturing world as a whole will benefit. Short run parts that used to be too costly would be made. Bigger faster printers are being made and when the makers compete the price comes down as the size and speed go up.
I am an optimist on this because I am truly amazed at what gets done when there is demand.(not ours but we will benefit)

[Baldwinvette77]

Remember 3d printing is brand new, with time, it'll become a very practical everyday item, like computers and cell phones.

[Indygenerallee]

I think within the next 4 years you will see something like a 69 Charger grille being easily made with the 3D printers now I can see just 3D scanning a good original grille and being able to "print" clone of the original.

[ws23rt]

There is always room for improvement as well. The new grills can be stronger and deer can be genetically improved to make them softer.

[bull]

Good discussion on this. Personally I think the window is ever-closing on this idea...as time lays itself out, the odds are getting worse not better.

I agree, simply because so much stuff has come available that I bet a record number of Chargers have been and are being restored. The sooner the better would be the time to do this (now). People aren't going to buy new ones and spend all that time taking the grills apart to replace the parts they've spent hours and hours repairing already.

[ws23rt]

I've read through this thread and see several references to us older folk moving on and the younger not filling in with similar enthusiasm. It must be true as life moves on. But there is something about the lines and history of these cars that make them lasting.
I have one of the new challengers. When it was new a woman flagged me to open my window. She said that was her sons favorite car. In the back window of her suv was a little face with big eyes. Is that your son? Yes how old is he? He is two. If a two year old knows what looks good it must be good. The same is for these chargers. They have something that will last a very long time.

[Cooter]

I highly doubt at 2 Y/O, he even made it past just being his favorite car because it came in his favorite color. No, I think there will always be the "Scew the norm, I'm gonna buck the system and drive a 60 plus Y/O musclecar" types out there in the future, but they will be less and less.

3D scanning/printing/cloning/etc; is very expensive today. I still offer Bobfist as an example. Someone's gonna pay foir that machine by buying 1968-70 Charger grilles. You might not think it, but that's how it works today. Instead of selling 20K grilles at $850.00/ea. The thing to do today is recoup all your money back within the first year by selling only 500 at higher pricetag.

[bill440rt]

If & when the grilles ever became available repro, I would hope a company like AMD would be the supplier. They have more resources at their disposal, etc vs a "mom & pop" operation. That would translate to a good product at less cost.
It is highly doubtful a large company is going to invest in an expensive machine for the sole purpose of just cranking out Charger grilles. The possibilities of even more repro parts are huge. Theoretically they could crank out repro grilles for any muscle Mopar for that matter, and other cars/trucks.