Received the OE GN dash plaque from Nick. Got a series of side-by-side comparison pics with the Parts Place reproduction - in daylight - sun and shade exposures. A special thanks goes out to
@m233roller for sending me the PartsPlace plaque for this exercise. It would not have been done without Mike's involvement.
For full disclosure, I did polish the shale grey area on the plaque I bought from Nick. Meguire's fine scratch remover glaze with a super-soft foam pad yielded the result pictured. Only go side-to-side, NO TOP TO BOTTOM OR CIRCLES WITH THE FOAM PAD. There is a side-to-side "grain" in the shale grey as GM applied it.
The shale grey area on the PartsPlace reproduction is done as printed lines, for lack of a better term. There is a space between the printed grey lines where the part's black plastic shows as a background color. The grey printed lines have a depth to them, feeling like raised ribs. The spacing of the printed grey lines allowing the part's base black color to show, yields a different grey. The grey also looks different in direct sunlight - possibly a function of the non-continuous covering of the grey like it would be if it were painted instead.
The Grand National insert piece - available as a separate reproduction part for about $20 - looks well done. On an original plaque, this GN insert would sit flush or slightly recessed as installed. On the reproduction, the GN insert sits proud - perhaps the pocket for the insert is not as deep.
The Buick wording on an OE plaque has a greater depth than the reproduction - both the black outline shadow lettering as well as the chrome mylar top letters.
The numbers and wording on the back of the plaque have been copied the same. The reproduction parts does have different size and location and quantity for the ejection pins (and marks) used to eject the part from the molding process.
The PartsPlace reproduction plaque is priced at about $120. Don't chase dash plaques on ebay. Pics are usually out of focus AND REMEMBER THAT ANGLES AND LIGHTING CAN MAKE THE PART LOOK TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHEN YOU SEE IT FIRST HAND IN YOUR POSSESSION.
After doing some experimenting with my original dash plaque, I believe the shale grey area can be restored if one has the skill, time and patience. Don't trash this OE part just because of some defects, scratches, gouges, or rub marks in that shale grey area.
Have an autobody supply store use their paint scanner to determine the exact recipe for that shale grey color and make a rattle can formulated as paint for plastic. The interior spray paint that all the vendors sell is the same paint, each labelled differently, and does not match anything.
Cover the Buick wording and the GN insert part. Scuff the shale grey with maybe 3000 paper going side to side. mask off the plaque so as to not get tape lines and lightly mist with color. Polishing glaze will knock down any ridge at tape line if you sprayed too heavily. Something to try
