78-79 How many different grilles are there?

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DRIVEN

Geezer
Apr 25, 2009
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When it comes to a quick ID, I can tell the difference between a '78 and '79 from the tail lights. From the front, it's a different story. Were they used for both years but model specific? It's getting hard to tell what is "correct" for which models. So far I've found at least 8. Have I missed any?
3 panel waterfall-

2/4 panel waterfall-

Egg crate 20 square-

Egg crate waterfall-

Calais style 4 slot-

Calais style 6 slot-

Calais style 3 slot-

Calais style 2 slot-

Anyone know what the deal is? Is it like body braces -- whatever, whenever?
 

maven

Apprentice
Sep 23, 2013
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3 panel waterfall. 78 supreme
4 panel waterfall 79 supreme
Egg crate 20 79 Calais
Egg crate waterfall 78 Calais
2 slot flat 78 salon
3 slot flat 79 salon
4 slot flat 78 brougham
6 slot flat 79 brougham

This is my understanding/recollection on the matter. I've been wrong before. (Once, it sucked. :ROFL: )
 

Evan11

Royal Smart Person
Apr 17, 2009
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Southern Indiana
That's a lot of grille styles for those few years. I like the look of the 79 supreme grilles best probably.
 

Insubordination

Apprentice
Jan 13, 2012
72
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Norway
Do the front pieces interchange on a yearly basis? Ie. will a 79 supreme front fit my 79 cruiser?

Sent from my GT-S7710 using Tapatalk 2
 

DRIVEN

Geezer
Apr 25, 2009
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GM was pretty lazy/cheap so I would expect that everything ahead of the fenders and hood would interchange between models on the '78-'79. Not sure if the grilles alone interchange within waterfall header panels and flat-faced header panels, respectively.
 

maven

Apprentice
Sep 23, 2013
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I beleive with the excpetion of the eggcrate20 grille, the rest all interchange within their respective header (flat/waterfall)

This is why even though my first car I ever bought was 78 Supreme I still prefer Malibu hunting...so much easier :rofl:

(Need a Cutlass for th stable though....)
 

maven

Apprentice
Sep 23, 2013
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Pico79 said:
i purchased a header off of a 78 Supreme for my 79 and found that my 79 grills did not fit. The openings on the 78 header was bigger.
I stand corrected then....I couldve sworn I did this swap. (but we are going back 15yrs....)
 

Evan11

Royal Smart Person
Apr 17, 2009
1,259
10
38
Southern Indiana
That's the good thing about the 81-86 models, all grilles interchange & header panels are the same.
 

N3M3S1S

Apprentice
Mar 24, 2013
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Wilmington, DE
I don't know but I <3 my eggcrate front. It's my favorite of all the styles I've seen. Is it weird to see this on a Calais?

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