Others will surely provide a more historically accurate response. But I believe it depended on the paint color. A Polaris Silver car would have had black grills, I think - for contrast. And a black car would have had chrome, for the same reason. If this is not the "official" reason, then I guess it is simply my opinion.
https://www.e9coupe.com/forum/threads/is-the-grille-hood-black-or-chrome-if-the-color-of-the-car.989/The old debate concerning color of grilles !!!
Normally, 1st series till 10/73 had chromed hood+fender grilles + front alu grilles and then 2nd series from 10/73 black grilles all around .
But as modifications between the 2 series came progressively, there has been mixes . I mean 1st series with black grilles and front black grilles. It is something you can find out with part catalogues. Then, beginning of 1974, all black grilles were installed.
I'm glad you added this info. In fact, shortly after I'd posted, I saw what I believed to be proof that my theory was incorrect.Guessing aside, I can think of several exceptions to your general proposition regarding earlier models
As soon as I got my coupe back together I was going to go talk to a friend who has a C&C machine and see what it would take to make all the grills out of solid aluminum.
Oh goody I don't have to deal with that project.
If you go this way i'd be up for a set. Doing it aluminum would offer the possibility to have them anodized, matching it to belt trim. There was a member who made a set for his own coupe, I looked for it for half an hour but could not dig up the pics from the forum.
Not a fan of plastic, I see too much of it already around me.
Gary,
what about making a set and then cast them from an aluminum alloy
If you go this way i'd be up for a set. Doing it aluminum would offer the possibility to have them anodized, matching it to belt trim. There was a member who made a set for his own coupe, I looked for it for half an hour but could not dig up the pics from the forum.
Not a fan of plastic, I see too much of it already around me.