Kustom grille surrounds. What have people done here. Lookin for pics and inspiration. Show em. Im thinkin about making mine of different tube bends to surround a floating grille. But like to see what others have done. Thanks
Use a 49-51 Merc. Very popular in the late 50’s on a lot of custom cars. Probably available as a repo.
Man, I don't think there is a better grille insert than a 1955 Plymouth. Think Frank Livingston. https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Frank_Livingston That's what I had in my Fleetline. It was fairly simple to modify and fairly inexpensive.
Here's some research material. https://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11...ke/chevy_custom_cars/49-51_chevy_custom_cars/
Frank and Kathy Livingston have been friends of ours for at least 30 years. I spoke with Kathy a few months back, and it appears Frank is having a pretty tough battle with life. So sad, as he has been a great friend, car guy, and Satin's Angels member forever....
Hi Lars !! Just thought I'd post a photo of a front end that Nick Smith and I threw together for Leland Grantz, who had owned this convert since new !!
This 50 Chevrolet Bel-Air Ht. was my dad's car, I believe it's grill surround is 49/50 merc ,grill is 54 Chev with extra teeth , this is the car he drove when he and my mother met and married...I always wondered if I was made in the back seat ...they say no .. I have one that I bought a few years back I have been collecting parts ,plan is to get it as close to his as I can,except the grill surround I'm planning to have a lip on the edge and following the shape of the grill to a point in the center, more like a 54 Ford surround. I even have a Corvette blue flame triple carb intake manifold like he had on his . I still need a pair of 56 corvette taillights have collected most everything else , also got the the hub caps from his car. But the car has not been touched in 2 or so years due to some health issues also my dad p***ed 1 year and 2 days ago and he had no interest at all in the project, he even expressed the fact at times , so there's a good chance it will never happen???
That’s too bad. I hope he gets squared away. Tell him that he shaped a young mind, whether he realizes it or not. I have studied that car for hours at a time. I still plan to build another Fleetline, if I ever get another chance.
I'm a little partial to the '53 grille with extra teeth...frenched in..Spendy though.. I have saved a '54 Willys car grille surround for years figuring someday...It looks a lot like the '50 Merc opening and if you find one not a bad price..
fastcar1953.....Beautimus ! You do know you will have to grind those teeth 1/4" each side to get 15 teeth into that shell don't you.. It was scary but that was the answer when building the Watson Tribute 'G****vine'
Yeah, that was taken a long time ago. They were very heavy when all put together. I since have a 54 chevy and will use 7 or 9 teeth on it.
I have a hard time linking threads on my phone, but @Speed Gems on page four of Roothawgs thread of “source for ribbed exhaust “ put a pic of a ‘41 Willys with a two ribbed grill. Looked nice to my eye, but I’m like that
Cant seem to find 53 tooths cheap enough, so either a extended vette grill like Jimmie Vaughan or maybe 54 chevy with lots more teeths. Thats my toughts now.
It's a complicated piece to fabricate in steel. Would probably have to charge as much or more then originals are going for to make any money and NOS one's still pop up on a fairly regular basis.
The Jalopy Journal
