355 Rear - Body Color Panel Or Challenge Grill?

The might be the hardest poll I have voted in...

I like them both so it would just depend on the color and car if I was to buy a 355

 

Funny, this is one of the easier polls for me. I have a yellow 355 spider so the black challenge grill was a must- goes perfectly with the black interior and top (in my opinion anyway ) I sourced a new challenge grill when I bought the car and still have the original panel.

I had a red 360 coupe and my wife and I thought about the challenge grill, but pretty quickly both came to the same opinion- on that car it looks equally good with the stock or challenge, so to save about $1,100 and keep the stock body color was an easy decision.

On the 355 the offset of the black mesh with color of the car just looks right to me and is a unique attribute. Pretty much on any color 355 (kind of gets lost on a black car, so I guess on a black car I could go either way).

As an aside, I remember the (bad) imitation 355 kit cars that were made from fieros etc, and they tended to have the body color with four rear lights- I don't think I ever saw a fake 355 that also had a challenge grill/look. Probably too involved and difficult to attempt to replicate cheaply. So on some sublimital level in my brain, the challenge grill looks more legit/factory correct than the body colored panel on the 355. I know, I have some mental issues....

 

I have the stock panel.
But, if any of you black challenge grill owners want to sell your challenge grill for a reasonable price let me know.
Of course my reasonable might not be your reasonable..........lol.

 

True .......
But for $1200 I will pass, by next year that will sound reasonable to me..........hopefully.
Currently throwing money at mechanical stuff (engine out service) then the cosmetic stuff later.

 

The challenge grill looks like an old mach 1 mustang to me with the black rear body panel


xo

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I dont run a traditional challenge grill. I do have ducting in engine bay to move hot air where I want it. Seems to work quite well





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The original panel looks miles better than the challenge grill and I never had any problems with overheating on my 355 even on track days, so for sure the chanllenge grill is a big downsizing.

 

Correct but not until 98 or possibly 99 was it an option.

 

I have to get the pictures, but a buddy of mine has the Challenge grill PAINTED the car's colour [Red]. It looks great.

 

Yeah I am going to color match one to my wheels and exhaust, Yellow spider with white wheels, exhaust and possibly the interior also so it will look like a creamsicle I can see all the purests peeing themselves LOL

 

I had mine wrapped in carbon looks pretty cool I reakon
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I was thinking of sticker bombing a spare one I have