In my restoration process I have been learning many things on how different 68’s and 69’s really are.. My passenger door is not quite the piece I would like and was looking into a full aftermarket door shell. In asking questions about quality of this it was brought out to my attention that the aftermarket door shells have incorrect body lines.. Nobody was really able to confirm what the true differences were or send me closer pics. I attended a car show last week and it started to make sense.. In looking at Chevelles at the show it appears the body line that was pointed out is on a 69.

The 68 body line does fade back from the fender till about ½ way or so down the door towards the quarter.. The 69 body line goes back and curves up towards the window (just past the pillar)as AJW described..

I went to NPD last weekend and had them pull out some skins and shells and these were my findings..

1968 Door shell made from Dynacorn has the 69 body line
1968 Door skin made from Dynacorn has the 69 body line

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/Picture_133.jpg

1969 Door skin made from Golden Legion has the correct 68 body line.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/Picture_136.jpg

I did not have the guy pull the 69 Door Shells (he was getting frustrated with me) although it was also made by Golden Legion

He also stated that everything he had in the back for 68’s were in Dynacorn Boxes and everything else was Golden Legion.

See pics attached.. and I guess my question is HOW could they get these Backwards and no one has caught it yet??? Or am I going crazy????

Looking for more input from you guys, would you mind going out to your car to verify this Body line issue.. 68 vers 69 and does anyone know if Golden Legion has full shells for 68's??

Thanks, Dave

Anybody :confused:

Did I post this in the wrong section???

interesting observation.

I have a spare 69 door, i'm going to compare it to my 68 when I get home today.

Also, there should be some kind of law or team chevelle rule about having pics with ford parts in them. :D

Oh I do recall there being some differences because of the wing window. But I thought that was mostly inner structure differences.

glad you brought this up-im going to super chevy tomorrow looking for sheet metal for my 69
i wonder if the wing window is the reason the skins are diff, or they just figure what the hell their both close so we'll make something in between

My guess is the guy who decided to re-stamp the door skins said, "oh, no one will notice the difference, 'cause 68s and 69s are almost the same anyway."

Are they notched for the quarter window?

My guess is the guy who decided to re-stamp the door skins said, "oh, no one will notice the difference, 'cause 68s and 69s are almost the same anyway."

Are they notched for the quarter window?

Yes the Dynacorn 68 Skins/Shells have the Vent window provisions - but in the theory as pointed out the body line is incorrect.. But the 69's have the 68's body line with no vent window as a 69 should..

Can anyone with a 69 verify by looking at their doors and comparing with the pictures :confused::confused::confused:

Heres a couple pix of my 69. (original, right door)

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/000_0433_Medium_.JPG
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/000_0434_Medium_.JPG

I had a 69 once with one 68 door on it.
I never noticed any difference other than the vent wing.
:confused:

Here is a pic of my 68 doors supposed to be original with the vent windows.
Only thing is my car was a late 68 built in June.

i think the guy should be more than willing to help since you are there spending money. if going for a big resto correct appearing parts count and you should get what you want.

My 69 built last week of Oct. 68 has the body line shown in the second picture of the door skin, fading about half way down the door. Tried to take a picture but couldn't get the body line to show. That first picture of the door skin looks like someone was trying to cut down production costs.

My 69 built last week of Oct. 68 has the body line shown in the second picture of the door skin, fading about half way down the door. Tried to take a picture but couldn't get the body line to show. That first picture of the door skin looks like someone was trying to cut down production costs.


I wonder if we are on to something here?? I went to a show and there were (2) 1969 Chevelle’s in attendance.. BOTH had the bodyline that turned up towards the pillar.. I did not have my camera to take pics.. So after reading this got me wondering if the design was changed mid thru the 69 model year.. Since you have a early 69 and has the straight body line.. I wish more 69’ers would chime in here.

My July '69 built '69 has doors more like the first picture.

My July '69 built '69 has doors more like the first picture.

Looks like there may be a theory to this… Still don’t help me because I haven’t found a correct aftermarket 68 version yet.. But this thread is becoming educational..

Any more pics or input??