Hood difference 72 / 73 LeBaron

[Marv]

I just recognized that the 72 hood has a stamped grill a the very top whereas the 73 doesn´t.
Small detail but why is that ? Was it just part of the annual facelift or is there a reason for it?.
Many cars of that era have these stamped grills, I always thought their purpose was to vent the engine bay and release hot air from it. If so why would they refrain from that feature in 73?

 

[ceebuddy]

Chrysler did away with the slots across all C-bodies in 1973. So you won't find any on a 1973 Chrysler or 1973 Polara/Monaco or 1973 Fury either.

I guess it was found that the pressure resulting from the air being compressed by the windshield of the moving car was enough to push air into the trough in the cowl, so why waste money for tools to stamp slots into the hood sheetmetal, plus having a cleaner, more uninterrupted look, too.

 

[78Brougham]

Never noticed that either. Guess I was more focused on those hideous rubber tits!

 

[CBODY67]

The slots on the concealed-park wiper cars, of any brand, were more of a gesture toward the prior exposed wiper cars that came earlier, more than anything else, I suspect. There is a very high pressure area at the base of the windshield, which was used to duct air into the air cleaners, even with the then-unusual reverse hood scoops/cowl induction hoods. ONLY on some Mustangs, was it necessary to raise the rear of the hood for better engine cooling performance. There usually is a thin weatherstrip between the hood and cowl on these concealed-park wiper cars, too, which limits any air exiting at the rear of the hood center section, but only at the outer rear edges.

Cosmetically, the non-slot hoods give the car a much longer look, which can be important to some.

Enjoy!
CBODY67

 

[Mr C]

Yup, just like the 73-74 Chargers...same thing.

 

[ceebuddy]

I don't think the slots were designed with engine air intake or engine cooling in mind. I assume they were merely made for HVAC air intake.