Ok. Need inspiration/ideas for ‘’other makes’’ grill shells for hot rods. Would like to see something new/something different. And no, not the tractor kind. Anybody have some coolness to share?
There is also the "total phantom" approach: a marque which never was. I've thought that bits of VW rear fender could make an interesting grille shell in a sort of Lagonda/Voisin/Bean/Lorraine-Dietrich vein. I was also eying modern hatchback frames a while back with similar in mind.
Well, there must be other cool things than the old model a and 32 shells. I really love that narrowed 37. And have seen its over the pond twin also, the fordson/thames one. The idea in my head now is a model a coupe, chopped about 4 inches, a bit of a raked channel, hood sides and something different in the shell departement. More salt flats than model a strait and flat shell. Maybe the thames/37 truck one could be made kool, like narrowed and cut down to fit.
I always liked the grill shell on Jim Ewings Super Bell Coupe, it wasn't for everybody and most ether loved it or hated it. HRP
My favorite hot rod grille shell of all time is on The Emperor - the car that won AMBR in 1960. First saw it in a comic book featuring Clint Curtis, my hot rod hero and was blown away when I found out that it was a real car.
Ther s a thread on here somewhere with a car that has a heart shaped one... If I find the thread I'll put it up. Not my cup of tea but lots of guys seemed to love it. Pun not intended
Here it is https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/brewster-car-company.1293040/page-2#post-14871117
The center section out of a 37 Oldsmobile, is a nice center piece, but you would have to fabricate something to encase it, I sold this one to a guy here on the H.A.M.B. that really needed a nice one. The grille and shell out of a 1938 WHITE ( brand, not color ) truck is a cool one as well. I always thought a 50 Nash grille, mounted vertically would make a very cool grille, but it would take a skilled metal worker to adapt it to a cool shell. Your results may vary.
There was a time, not all that long ago, when Mercedes W110/111/112/108/109 grilles were all over the place. As '50s/'60s parts they're a bit short, but they can be modified. They can also be hacked about and their origins somewhat disguised.
You need to be more specific. What kind of car? Some of the suggestions may work on an early 30's car, but some like the Packard would be too big and totally over power one. Having said that, a 41 Clipper grille is quite small. But in general, big car things don't often work on small cars. I should be noted that Jake narrowed the 37 truck grille to make it work.
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