The header panel in a car is located in the very front on the outside, just ahead of the hood. Also called a headlight-mounting panel, the part is where the grill and the headlights are attached. The header panel does not affect the car's performance, but is an integral part of the vehicle and must be replaced if it becomes severely damaged.
The header panel usually is made of sheet metal, although sometimes of plastic or fiberglass. It extends from side to side of the car's front end behind the grill. Without this panel, the grill and headlights cannot be connected to the car. Header panels can be bought new from dealers and used or rebuilt from shops or individuals dealing in used parts.
The marketplace for header panels of cars not being manufactured anymore is a busy place. The Internet has become the main supply source as well as for all other used car parts. This has made parts much more affordable for buyers, who used to rely on local shops for hard-to-find items. Most header panels as of 2009 were running well under $100, with exceptions for very popular sporty models such as 1960s or 1970s Pontiac Trans Ams or Chevrolet Camaros, 1960s Plymouth Barracudas and 1970s Ford Torinos. Header panels for these cars typically cost around $300.
Owners of older cars can encounter a challenge when looking for header panels. People visit online car enthusiast message boards trying to figure out whether header panels for different years, or even from entirely different models, will fit their particular car, or if it can be trimmed to fit. It can be especially tricky when people are also trying to find bumpers and headlight assemblies for vehicles which are no longer made.
Header panels can contribute a great deal to the car design, which is extremely important to collectors. You don't want to slap just any old header panel on a 1968 Ford Mustang. Header panel ornamental design emblems for some models are difficult to find, and can cost around half as much as the entire panel assembly.
Installing a different header panel is relatively easy, although time-consuming, for somebody who does maintenance work on his or her own car. Normally, the grill and headlight and parking light assemblies must be removed, and sometimes the bumper, battery and windshield wash container as well. Replacement instructions vary depending on the vehicle.
