The Dodge Challenger Message Board

I've got a 70 R/T Se I'm restoring . My question is the argent paint on the grill. It is faded but looks like a ruff texture silver argent, it seems to get lighter as it moves toward the bumper. Should it be the black argent color or the silver? I'd like to keep it the way it came. Anyone know where I can get that paint in the U.S.A? Also it has bright blue metalic paint with bright blue interior, What should the color of the dash be? Body color might look good, But what would factory be?

Most R/T's came with black grilles (although the center mesh was a natural metal finish) however I am unsure about the R/T SE. We need more input here from other SE owners.

If you are sure the car came with the silver grille keep it that way.

Mixing Argent paint. http://www.mymopar.com/argentformula.htm

Also; Argent silver MOPP4529876 Mancini restoration parts $9.95 per can although I understand the finished result is not so good.

Yes I'd keep it silver if thats what it was. It doesnt look like it was ever black. That pic of the bright blue interior looks just like mine! So would the dash metal be the bright blue body color too?

I just refinished my 70 SE grill and used argent paint from Totally Auto. It looks just like the original did 35 years ago. Never used it before and I found it easy to use. One can finished my all my grill and headlight pieces and the tail panel. Good luck.

Like Charlie Backes - I have used Totally Auto's paints - and yes they look great! Great price, and they're very nice and helpful too.

later

That brings up another thought, the head light bezels are black argent. Would it look right having black bezels with a silver grill? The car was in pieces when I got it so I dont know how it would look.

No. They should match the rest of the grille. Same textured finish.

You are sure the car came from the factory with a silver grille?

No not positive, but it looks like its not been touched and factory. Does the black argent have a ruff texture almost like wrinkle finish? If I have to paint it black like the bezels I will.

When the grille was black it was just a normal flat black if that is what you mean?

So would the dash metal be the bright blue body color too?

Yes but a flat (matt) version.

Totally Auto sells it. They refer to it as Black satin - used for 70 grilles and bezels. They know what they're doing - at least they seem too

www.totallyautoinc.com/

Well I have always painted mine satin black because i like that better but I thought they were matt black from the factory?

Thanks for your help, but it seems I need more! year one has 2 package trays light blue and medium blue. With my bright blue interior which one do you think would look better. Also the sail panels on my SE are 2 pieces insted of 1, is this right? Any pics would really help.

I am also working on my R/T SE, and the guy that runs this web site has been really helpful with interior shots and info. His name is Barnabas and his email is at the foot of the page. (He may even be a member of this board)?
http://mapleleafmopars.homestead.com/70rtse.html

I was researching R/T SE grille paints about 5 years ago, so my source on this memory has faded to oblivion, but the facts as related to me back then were this - R/T SE's with 440/4-bbl, 440/6-bbl and 426 hemi engines got the black grille and headlight bezels. R/T SE's with the 330 HP 383/4-bbl had grilles and bezels that were painted textured dark argent, the same paint as the rear finish panel gets. I can recall my source on this, I will post it, but I think it was from a professional MOPAR restorer out here in California who had just finished a 383 R/T SE.

That's the sort of information we need around here. Thanks Jack.

Neil just found this link. This stuff looks the business!

http://www.alltrim.com/ARGENT.html

And Jim Wilson got his paint from here http://www.rogergibsonautorestoration.com/

Hello, although it seems that the question was answered, I can tell you that my R/T SE came from the factory with a silver argent grille. The car has been in my family since 77 and was never taken apart before than, so the grille is the one that came from the factory. My challenger is a 383 car and was built in Hamtramck. The grille is the same color as the SE tail panel, if that helps you any. Good luck