Heater control cover finish.

[ScottCLo]

Just wondering what the original finish was on the heater leaver covers on a 1973. Was it originally chrome? Every one i have seen online has a dull metallic finish such as the one on RealOEM. 

Almost looks like silver metallic paint? Mine look like this.

No sign of paint on it but it does seem to have a layer of copper under the surface layer witch makes me think it was originally chromed.

[Mike Self]

Original color was a brushed chrome (not painted) on the US cars (Federal requirement)--which as you found out rusts rather easily.  Euro cars had shiny chrome.  

 

I'm sure you could have the brushed chrome finished duplicated at a good plating shop.  If you didn't want to go through the hassle of plating, you could make a good duplication of the original with some Krylon "Dull Aluminum" spray paint, followed by a matte or semi-gloss clear coat.  

 

mike

[ScottCLo]

On 3/10/2017 at 8:55 PM, mike said:

Original color was a brushed chrome (not painted) on the US cars (Federal requirement)--which as you found out rusts rather easily.  Euro cars had shiny chrome. 

Brushed chrome it is! Never even heard of that before. I'm having some new lenses made for the lettering if anyone is interested. They will be 3D printed so i'm not holding my breath on the quality/clarity of the plastic. Ill make a post about it when they come some time in the next few weeks. Ill attach the FreeCad and stl files to this post just in case someone else wants to have them made. 

Edit: My bad to anyone who downloaded the cad files. They are wrong. 

 

 

Edited March 29, 2017 by ScottyC

[ScottCLo]

Just had a second look at the picture from RealOEM It seems there is a black paint line down the center. Is that correct?