Need opinions on a 'Before' & 'After' cosmetic modification

**Don M** · 09-14-2023, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by Desertnate

I like the black better.

I'm not a fan of murdered out vehicles, but in this case you are keeping the silver/polished surround on the bowtie so there is still some contrast which will make it stand out. The rest of your car is black with silver accents at the wheels and exhaust. The gold doesn't match or complement anything else on the car and stands out in a bad way.

Can you go one step further and remove it totally, or is it a part of the grill. I'm actually a big fan of de-badging cars. Often it cleans up the looks of the car, not to mention makes them easier to clean.

You're thinking the exact thing I was, which was why I originally blacked it out with Peel Coat that after a few years wore off. The only "chrome" on the car was the "CAMARO" on the front fenders, the taillight bezels, the ring around the front bowtie, the silver trim rings on the wheels and of course the exhaust tips.

I painted the taillight bezels gloss black the same time I originally did the front bowtie and removed the trunk bowtie (which really (IMO) cleaned up the rear end).

I have two options for completely removing the front bowtie. One is to buy a piece that fits in it's place (the grill has a 'cut out' for the bowtie, that looks horrid if it's not there). The second option is to get a Heritage Grill, which doesn't have a bowtie or anything else on it at all. The problem with that option is FINDING a heritage grill, since they stopped making that front end style in 2014.

But the MAIN issue with BOTH options it that in order to remove the bowtie and put in the filler piece OR to install a heritage grill, you have to remove the ENTIRE front bumper cover to access the fasteners for the grill. I may be a hell of a detailer, but disassembly, reassembly AIN'T MY THING!