Correct Front Grille Surround Fitment

[RobSirg]

Guys,

It was once pointed out to me (by a concourse winner) that the front grille surround should have a gap between the chrome edge and the body of the car - down the side and across the bottom. I don't doubt this to be correct, but how much gap? - what is correct? Nearly every car I have seen has had some frontal body repair over the past 45years.
Eg: If I look at my 1969 I can see the Grille surround is fairly 'flush' (no gap) with the body across the top and side, and has a few mm gap (b/w frame and body) across the bottom. However, when I look at my project car (1970) I can see it is also flush across the top but has a more pronounced gap between grille and body down the side and bottom....perhaps up to 5mm.  Not too clear in the photo's but I hope you understand my meaning. Would be great if we could have consensus at the end of this post as to what is the correct fitment gaps around the Grille Surround.

thanks in advance.

Rob

[Jonny B]

Very hard to photograph, but I have included a few shots from my 280 SL, which has the original fitment. Even that has to be taken with a grain or two of salt. Remember there was a fair amount of hand work done for the final fits of the body work. It is not unusual to see grills that fit one car not fit another.

[49er]

My grill fits pretty snug all around (can't get a fingernail between the body and the grill except on the lower edge where the grill protrudes slightly). There is a slight flare on each upper corner.

John

[RobSirg]

Thanks John (and JohnnyB),

Was hoping to receive a response from you on this - your description matches my blue '69., and JohnnyB makes a good point about the variances. I cant say I've seen headlight notches that are identical from one car to another.

I'm comfortable that my 2 cars roughly match your cars and I feel as long as I stay within those tolerances I should be OK.

Rob

[Jonny B]

That types like a pretty rational approach to me.

On restored cars, I have seen the headlight notches anywhere from not there to 5 cm (!) long. There is some variation, but not 5cm worth!!

[stickandrudderman]

When I restore cars I offer thr grills up and ensure that I get "best fit" before paint or chrome. No two cars are the same but some grills will fit other cars to an acceptable level. What is "acceptable" is entirely subjective and I would question a concours judge who said otherwise.

[RobSirg]

Sounds like good advice - I will make certain he has the required trims before final paint.

Agree with you Jonny on the headlight notches - I saw one recently that looked great in shape but was over 5cm long...more like 7cm....just wrong.

The guy who recreated them on my '69 did them a little too rounded in my opinion - I think he tried to match the outside of the headlight in shape. (which in theory sounds plausible I guess)

The ones that appear most original IMO were short and sharp.....say 2 to 3cm?

Incidentally, I had the opportunity to visit the MB museum in Stuttgart a few years ago and I lent over the barrier rope as far as I could to get a good look at the notches on the display Pagoda there. I thought they were a fairly poor recreation and one side looked significantly different than the other side. I didn't bother taking a photo.

Cheers

[Jonny B]

Had to go check, on my 280 SL, they are about 1.5 cm.