I have a '71 that has a tailgate that looks like some previous owner hit the gas with a 55-gallon drum full of lead in the bed. Slide. Crash. Bent tailgate. All the possible junkyard donors have been curved to varying degrees. I can probably find another straight used one eventually but I would like to know if anyone has bought/used/seen the 'complete' '68 tailgate now being sold by Original Parts Group. I'll be changing to a '68 tailgate anyway because I like the way the '68's look without the back-up lights in the middle of the tailgate.

Anyway, the person I spoke with at OPGI wasn't sure if the entire tailgate was metal. He seemed to think that the shell is fiberglass with a metal skin but that they were so new he hadn't had a chance to give one a good look.

Either good, clean and straight tailgate shells are hard to find or I'm just not looking in the right places.

Clues anyone?

Louie Hammel

Rust free ANYTHING is hard to find here in PA... i know i definitely wouldnt want a fiberglass/metal repop that no one has ever tried before... i'm already having bad dreams about the fit and quality of that one! GM Carlisle is coming up in 2 weeks... or try posting in the wanted section.

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My 69 SS Elco (http://members.aol.com/joeybsyc/elcooutside.jpg)
engine (http://members.aol.com/joeybsyc/elcoengine.jpg)
interior (http://members.aol.com/joeybsyc/elcointerior.jpg)

sorry, i see youre from CA... a little far to PA for a tailgate...

If your just looking for a Shell try looking for the same year Chevelle Wagon.I did that years ago and it was a lot easier than trying to find a El-Camino.
MIKE

68-72 Wagon gates and El Camino gates are nowhere near the same. Trust me. Not even close.

Nate

I saw one at the Goodguys Pleasanton swapmeet last weekend. It seemed to be a pretty nice piece, however, I didn't spend a lot of time looking at it since I have a 68, and that tailgate was a 69-72. But the price wasn't too bad, $259, and it looked to be all metal.

Steve R

Steve R, was that an OPGI tailgate? If not, which company was exhibiting? The OPGI catalog I have lists a complete tailgate for the '68 only.

Thanks,

Louie Hammel