Very interesting, I was assuming that GE went right from the chrome ribbed trim on the earlier model to the trim on this avocado model... it seems that they reintroduced it, validating the saying that what's old is new again! But it must not have lasted long, my house had a late 70s/early 80s model of this oven (in your favorite almond, Sandy!) and it has the wood grain handle, but no trim behind.
The dinner dial on the aqua set in the photo is the coolest set up overall!