as you will notice, the grey nose pictured above is 'cut' exactly where the grille's end up.
on a 73, the nose is cut way deeper to follow the 'curve' until it ends where the 73 grille's start. in other words, it has way more depth.
I did not know before that 73 noses are a bit 'longer' in the center. it would be nice to see the difference. perhaps somebody can measure the top of the nose from where the centre meets the hood to the absolute farest point of the nose, both for a 70-72 as to 73?
it would be interesting to know the difference in numbers. I guess it would make a bit longer area for absorbing a collision due to the 5 MPH regulations, though it just as easily has to do with the need to extend the lenght due to the size of the inner bracing.....
I personally dig both noses, as the 73 nose shows more 'body' of the nose due to the deepness of the grills, on the other hand I like the 70-72 noses as the grills follow the entire shape of the nose resulting in a 'sharper' or 'more expressed' curve.
If I had a completely freehand resto body, I would love to put a 73 nose with a 70-72 metal lower valance panel, t/a front panels, base hood with 'ala' boss mustang air intake, t/a rear spoiler with a 77 rear bumper (not lights) in a 78 red paint with a white t/a center stripe and some old fashioned racing wheels with matte grey inserts. but I have way too much dreams, wishes etc. for fun......I'd be one of those 'peeps' having like 7 or 8 versions of 1 'model' in my garage (from every brand XD).
anyway, the red one definately IS a 73, and the grey one is I guess a 71 or 72, I'd guess its a 71 like mine as the 71 grille inserts (atleast the chrome part) 'bends' outward a bit following the curve alongside the center part of the nose. the 70 one does not have that minor outward curve at the center of the nose as it has a more straight shape (the grilles that is), IF i recall/observed correctly. I do NOT know however, if there are possibly even differences in a 70 nose and a 71-72 nose. perhaps somebody with experience can tell, but I haven't noticed/read about it before, so I assume not.
Grille 'mesh' has different designs through all years as well. the 73 has a 'eggcrate' shape, the 71 has a honeycomb-like design (dont remember the 72, i assume comparable), and the 70 has a 'rectangular' design if i'm right. So keep in mind that not only the nose itself, but the grilles are actually very different every year as well. then there are 2 different versions of the lower valance panel as one is in plastic and one in metal which have slightly different shapes. I believe the 73 lower valance panel is different to the 70-72 models as well. atleast I have noticed a difference on photographs. I even believe the lower t/a center spoiler of 73 is different then the 70-72's, but I could be wrong there.
I'm sure others on this board with actual experience on different model years can give input on this.
|