Early series 3500 Grille

[MikeMelb]

Probably 20 years ago I acquired a spare grille set (from a car in a wrecking yard) which some time ago I shadow painted, masking the headlight surrounds and the outer edges.

Doing a bit of fiddling yesterday decided to replace the original grille with these. The left hand section with the 3500 badge went in without a problem, but then the right hand section did not fit around the lights and would not fit generally. Then noticed it was about 10mm longer at the right (mudguard) end than my original grille.

That would suggest it came from a wider car, something that seems inconceivable. Ours is one of the last early series, bought in London in August 1970.

Any answers to this mystery gratefully accepted!

 

[colnerov]

The headlight spacing and position are different between 2000 and 3500 grilles on the series 1, because of the wider rad behind. Check them against each other to see if they are a pair of not.

 

[mikecoombs]

As above but just adding the move required a recess in the front guard lip so you can get to the mounting/adjustment screws. The S2 cars all have the wider spacing in my experience but that may just be a NZd built thing.

 

[MikeMelb]

The headlight spacing and position are different between 2000 and 3500 grilles on the series 1, because of the wider rad behind. Check them against each other to see if they are a pair of not.

Thanks Chris that would explain it but the donor car was a 3500 and the left hand sections of both grilles are identical.
It may not be clear from the attached pics, but the distance from the edge of the grille to the headlamp surround on the original is 15mm whereas it is 25mm on the red painted one which suggests came from a 2000. I can't remember whether the grille was installed or just lying somewhere inside the wrecker car.