Features Grille ID help, please

Hello, I am new to this forum, but surely not new to cars. I could use some help identifying a grille. I think this grille is from a DeSoto. A relative had this in his garage, and unfortunately it is time to clean house. Looking up DeSotos, I feel it if from somewhere between 51-55. The front view makes me think 54, but the pictures I see online are usually longer, including the turn signals. Desotos had between 7-11 teeth along the years. This has 9, same as a 54. I know this is a popular style grille with the street rod crowd, especially for 50's Mercurys. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Kevin

 

Might be my view, but looks like 4 different grille’s pictured?

Which one are you referring to?

 

top and bottom view

 

You have a 1951 Kaiser grille bar with DeSoto teeth bolted to it. It's either '54 or '55 teeth that fit on the Kaiser bar, I want to say those are '54 teeth on that one but I could doublecheck to make sure.

The DeSoto teeth fit really well on the Kaiser bar, but the Kaiser bar had more peak to it, so you'll notice the outer teeth are parallel with each other but are not perfectly parallel with the center tooth. That's due to the extra angle.

 

Guessing Squablow got it. All I have to say is that it appears to be in pretty good condition too!

 

Wow Squablow I could not have put DeSoto and Kaiser and got that answer. Are you talking from experience.

Pat

 

So it's definitely the smaller center teeth from a '55 that fit, the '54 teeth are too deep. It does appear to be in really, really nice shape, appears to have been rechromed. Pretty worthless to a restorer, but for a custom guy it's a really nice piece that someone would love to have.

 

Wow, I would never have known about the Kaiser center bar. I do see what you mean about the peak being stronger than the DeSoto. Not seeing a DeSoto in person, I couldn't tell if it was just camera angles making the bar look less pronounced on the pictures. Thank you so much for the information. It was suggested to try asking here from a site I frequent called Moparts. I will let them know that there are some very knowledgeable and friendly people here. And also, thank you for answering my very first post on this site. I've seen where some places rather not be bothered. If I have information people can use, I am willing to share. Unfortunately I'm not up on the early 50's vehicles. Thanks, Kevin

 

Wow! I have a perfect 51 Kaiser bar , now I will be looking for Desoto teeth.