'72 - '74 Tail Panel

[Steve]

Hey guys,
I bought a tail panel for my project a year or so ago and decided to keep the original. The panel is decent but will need some work. For example, I would probably replace the license plate bucket with the patch piece from the Paddock. The tail panel is at the blaster to get blasted clean. the Panel is straight. We'll get a much better idea of what we have to work with when I get it back. I've attached a before pic...sorry, it's the only one I got. I'll post more pics when I pick it up from the blaster.  I thought I would offer it up here before I take it to the Mopar swap meet in Melbourne at the end of the month. Anyone interested?

[Steve]

OK...got the piece back from the blaster and needless to say, I'm not happy...but, maybe someone can use what's here?

BTW, When I bought this panel from an online vendor, they described the panel as having "one small spot of rust near the license plate bucket." 

[JCWCuda]

Damn that's about how mine looks 

[Steve]

Take a close look folks....this is what Tony's Parts describes as "one small area of rust"!

Of course, my friend at the blaster said, "Hey, there's only one small spot of rust, the rest is holes!"

[RUSTY Cuda]

Thats not that terrible, my 74"s tail panel is ok, but I have about 1/2" gap all across the drivers side to center where it meets the trunk pan. Rich.

[RUSTY Cuda]

Dang, I didn't even notice the holes around the lights, thats why I got the replacement!

Sorry, went off the deep end there, didn't mean to hyjack!  Rich.

[CUDAMAN1970]

That panel is in pretty poor shape.  I had a similar experience with Tony's Parts a number of years ago.  I needed a power steering pulley and a couple of a/c brackets.  The guy I usually get parts from was out so I called Tony's Parts after reading there ad in Collector's Guide.  They would not selling the pulley by itself so I had to buy the pump and pulley.  The price was more than double the market rate but I needed the parts so the money was sent.  What I got was the rustiest power steering unit I have ever scene!  For the price paid, the parts should have been at least average or better.  Never purchased from that vendor again.

I have an extra tail panel that is much better than yours but it will have some issues around the tail light holes (the metal is so thin there).  If the weather cooperates, I might try to sand blast it this weekend to see if it is good enough to use.