The semantic problem seems to be: there is no such thing as a "new OE" lower grille, they are out of stock and discontinued. Any "new" one you purchase is not OE, it is after market.
New OE parts are black molded plastic. After market will be whatever you pay for, possible made by the OEM.
There is a difference between OriginalEquipment and OriginalEquipmentManufacturer.

 

'Like' for lack of button to click.

 

Black is a funny "color." Lots of dark colors that are not black read black until compared with something blacker.

Some people paint their house shutters black when they were trying to match the classic look of "shutter green."

My SS came with black paint and the grilles don't look very black by comparison.

My lower has a small crack so I took notice when there was a closeout on Rock Auto, by "various vendors." By the time I decided to get it, it had dissapeared. Then it came back and I snagged it.






It looks like as-molded unpainted medium to dark gray so I thought, huh, looks like I'll have to paint it.

Well, from closely examining my grills on the car, I think maybe not. I just took a look at the car, and those grilles look gray, too, and don't look painted either, consistent withfiremangeorge’s comment #5. Also, a close-up with flash makes me think the is some metallic flake or dust in the formulation.







Will try to get the car and the new grille in the same place and see for sure if they match.