The 1968 Barracuda grille, originally designed as a painted ABS grille, was chromium plated for a special springtime model release. This was the first plated ABS automotive grille in the industry. A composite plated coating of bright acid copper and three nickel coatings was used. The plated grille was placed in production in December 1967.
Although the field service period has been too short to be conclusive, at this date, the application appears very successful. This paper provides a fresh insight into the close interdependence of the vendor and the manufacturer in automotive plating.
