Second Grill In One Week!


 
JSindorf

JSindorf

New member
I got my first Weber last Saturday, got my second today!
My name is Joe and I'm a Weberholic (welcome Joe)

The first one was a pristine, brand-new, still in the boxes, 1992 Genesis 2 Redhead which I got at a garage sale for $100.
Today's was a curb find. A 1997 Spirit 500 that needs restoration... but it was free.

My question... everything I see in brochures and catalogs online for Spirit 500s of this era show they were available in Red and Black. This one is neither of those. Since I don't know the provenance of the grill, should I suspect that it isn't original? Or is was this actually an option in 1997 or 1998?

Thanks!
 

Attachments

  • 495153612_3077022775779092_211902834211282399_n.jpg
    495153612_3077022775779092_211902834211282399_n.jpg
    153.7 KB · Views: 22
  • 495314096_614384654972035_5218967052577384844_n.jpg
    495314096_614384654972035_5218967052577384844_n.jpg
    145.2 KB · Views: 22
  • 494791542_537147826132914_3107966219204666536_n.jpg
    494791542_537147826132914_3107966219204666536_n.jpg
    126.4 KB · Views: 22
Thanks, Steve…
That Silver and my Spirit 500 look a lot alike. What is the difference between? From what I’ve read, the Spirit is the basic, lower cost Weber… is that correct?
 
I have seen burgundy lids on the earlier Spirits both 2 and 3 burners. I know they were available in 97 & 98, so it is very likely it was that way from Weber. If you can read the SN on it, you can decode it via Weber's site - https://www.weber.com/US/en/help/manuals/

The later 90's stuff typically decodes, sometimes it will tell you the lid color on them. Sometimes it doesn't.

Most of the parts on a 2 burner spirit will interchange with a Silver A. Except for the frames, and I am not sure what year they switched to the different frame.
 
JSindorf said:
Thanks, Steve…
That Silver and my Spirit 500 look a lot alike. What is the difference between? From what I’ve read, the Spirit is the basic, lower cost Weber… is that correct?
Click to expand...
The Spirit line was introduced as lower cost alternatives to the Genesis. Interestingly, Weber based the next generation Genesis line on the Spirit so a lot of parts from those grills are interchangeable and they look very similar.
 
I am really new to this Weber world (literally just over one week!). So every day I'm learning so much.
When you look at this panel for this 1997 Spirit 500, are those black knobs OEM or are they aftermarket knobs?
 
JSindorf said:
I am really new to this Weber world (literally just over one week!). So every day I'm learning so much.
When you look at this panel for this 1997 Spirit 500, are those black knobs OEM or are they aftermarket knobs?
Click to expand...
100% aftermarket. Well, I guess I shouldn't say that exactly. They may be Weber knobs, but they for sure aren't the ones that came with the grill.
 
Our 1993 Spirit 700 came with an aluminum grease tray. When I gave it to a friend a couple of years ago it was still there and working ok
 
Cody Bratton said:
I’d say you’re 110% correct. Not original on that grill. Is the slide out grease tray aluminum or porcelain coated? If it’s porcelain that’s a big win.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the slide out grease tray is aluminum. As I start cleaning this out, there was a ton of rusted bits collected in that tray. I guess from the flavorizer bars. The igniter box is pretty much rusted out, so I'll be replacing that too. But hey, it's my first rehab of a Weber, so I might as well learn by doing (and from learning how you with much experience have found to work for you all). Thanks again, Cody.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

 

Back
Top