So let me get this right...

[rltvader]

So, i want to be sure in this, im just wondering...
There are no reproduction grilles for 1967-1969 F100s?
I was told once that this was due to a fire that destroyed molds? I believe i read it ob this website.
I was just wondering.
Thanks.

[71fordkid]

That seems to be the globally accepted reason.

[240 Six]

Couldn't a manufacture or someone take a few original pristine grills and make new molds?

[72BahamaBlue]

Don't give up, there still might be an early style NOS grille or two out there.
I found one last year, and another this year. I'll tell more about the latest one soon.
Here's last years find...it sold on Ebay for an obscene amount...I'm still in shock about that.
They sure are nice to look at!

[TNIceWolf]

Couldn't a manufacture or someone take a few original pristine grills and make new molds?

Unfortunately it's not quite as simple as making a mold. From what I remember from my time in factories pressing out metal to various shapes it would take about 4 different dies of substantial size to produce one grille if not more. You would have a Draw die which would make the basic form from a sheet of suitable material. Then a Trim and Cutout die perhaps. Then probably a punch and/or curling die.... and finally perhaps a finishing die. If you consider that just having a single one of these dies produced can run literally into the hundreds of thousands of dollars....and then consider 4 or so dies for each year of grille style you can easily see that the investment in tooling that is only....a copy of original Ford tooling........ could easily get someone into a million dollar ( and probably much much more ) investment just in tooling. Never mind machinery....material......labor...polishing...anodizing...painting...packaging...shipping.....marketing..etc etc. The same would apply to the headlight doors....more dies ....probably the same steps roughly.... more money. Considering each year of grille is a one year only piece and the number of trucks produced in each individual year.....The number that have been lost to accidents ....and general scrapping.....It would be pretty hard for a potential investor to rationalize ever being able to recoup their investment or ever turn a profit on such an idea. You would have to sell an enormous amount of the grilles no matter what the price was just to break even.


Edit....It also occured to me that Ford could still own the liscence for the part......Would they sell it?..........and what would THAT cost?

[TNIceWolf]

oops..... double post

[rltvader]

Well if i had money to blow i would do it just for you guys.

I wish I had that power. Haha. After I go through college and get a large paying job!!! (possibly/hopefully) I will invest in these molds.
Maybe the bump community should take donations for a fund for grilles. That would be nice.