ATTENTION Vette owners or Aficionados:

Good observation Chris.

Foreign formulated / made paint 😂

Instead of fiberglass, they are made out of a poly-plastic material and over time the paint reacts differently over it than the fiberglass.

@perrone1 Really, is that right?     YOU are the first person to tell me this.   

Therefore.... I can assume these "end pieces,"  when painted initially, were color-matched perfectly but OVER time their polymer/composite breakdown causes color distortions, correct? 

I mean, that WOULD explain this "ubiquitous problem"   that's baffled me for years.     THANK YOU Tony!  👍 👍 

@chris 

I've been out of touch with most things Corvette, since I sold my last one a few years ago. But while I was active in the Corvette clubs and received all the Corvette books, I remember this being an issue and that was the answer I recall being given. 

The 1974 was the worst since it's back cover was two-piece while subsequent models, '75 and on, were one piece.

@perrone1 Tony, I believe you are correct.  I remember this being a big problem, that when new they matched perfectly, but over time it would fade.  Really just needs to be repainted, but how many people really want to bother as it is a continuing problem.

I remember how shocked I was to see the design change of the Corvette tail for '74.  The years prior were gorgeous IMHO so this change, especially with the split down the middle, was a major disappointment which to my eyes radiated "cheap looking".  I still am impacted the same today.

Posted by: @jack-dodds

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I remember how shocked I was to see the design change of the Corvette tail for '74.  The years prior were gorgeous IMHO so this change, especially with the split down the middle, was a major disappointment which to my eyes radiated "cheap looking".  I still am impacted the same today.

Then in 1973, while the rear bumper remained, the front turned to the plastic incorporated bumper:

Then 1974 it got both ends covered in a composite plastic but the rear was a split two-piece affair with spoiler gone:

It wasn't until the 1975 issue that the car had matching one piece front and rear bumpers.

@perrone1   In my early years, I lived in Daytona Beach where I took care of a '72 blue t'top four days each week, while my friend flew back to Georgia.  On another occasion another friend loaned me his gold '72 Corvette convertible and during Easter break I met a girl from Ohio.  When I picked her up to go out for the evening, she said I had to put the top up, so her hair wouldn't get messed up.  I told her it was a 'roadster' and didn't come with a top.  I mean, put the top up on a 'Vette while driving one block off the beach on a spring evening?  Sacrilegious...

Posted by: @gdh

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@perrone1   In my early years, I lived in Daytona Beach where I took care of a '72 blue t'top four days each week, while my friend flew back to Georgia.  On another occasion another friend loaned me his gold '72 Corvette convertible and during Easter break I met a girl from Ohio.  When I picked her up to go out for the evening, she said I had to put the top up, so her hair wouldn't get messed up.  I told her it was a 'roadster' and didn't come with a top.  I mean, put the top up on a 'Vette while driving one block off the beach on a spring evening?  Sacrilegious...

Most of my '72 Stingray's life was spent in Florida - Palm Harbor, FL. That girl from Ohio would have been given the option to ride in the 'back'!  HA!

Posted by: @gdh

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"I mean, put the top up on a 'Vette while driving one block off the beach on a spring evening?"

Yep, I can relate!    I've had convertibles since I was 17 - BUT - my family NEVER wants (wanted ) the top down!    My wife is always concerned about her hair getting messed up and my son hated "hot"  sunlight on his head.   We've even been in a few parades and they complained!     If I had MY way, every car would be a convertible, and the top would be raised ONLY for rain.  😉 

@perrone1 Tony the '72 is my favorite Mako Shark Vette.  Furthermore any girl I dated that wouldn't cruise with the top down (car top....c'mon guys) would NOT be a keeper.

@chris   Which is why two of our fixed-head vehicles have a sunroof.

@jack-dodds 

Yeah, mine too!  Here's mine between our two Malibu's. The blue one was my company vehicle and the copper one was our family vehicle. 

Edit: It took me a minute to recall how we set this up. The area was near where we lived but more than walking distance. I drove the company car and my wife drove the family car down. Parked the company car, she drove me back to get the Vette and took them both down. Took pic and reversed the procession.