chrome knob grilles in 60's cars?

Here's my knob grille, '65 F-100. I found large lots of knobs on e-bay.

 

Check ebay, way cheaper.

 

'60 Chevy......Whoops, just saw that Cincy Slim posted my pic of his car from the '08 Pileup already. A second look never hurts....

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I will check out ebay.

Lets see more pics of customs with chrome knob grilles!

 

Ok - I got mine for free from my In-Laws but here's an idea.

Here in Edmonton we have a Habitat For Humanity Store where building supplies - new and used - are donated for resale.

you never know what you'll find there.

.

 

I found a source for perforated steel - McMaster Carr .com. Looks like they only sell to the trades, I'm trying to find a way around this via a buddy in their IT dept.

 

When did the idea of the grilles first come about anyone? cool thread!

 

i don't know, i'm curious too though.

 

Back in '78 I bought my first car ( '71 Datsun 510) it had been in a accident in it's past and someone made their own grill - they used the cooling lines from the back of a refrigerator turned sideways to make the lines horizontal.
Could work very well on a custom type grill instead of expanded steel with knobs to dress it up.

 

I'm pretty sure you can make an order yourself if you have a valid credit card. It's just billed to the credit card instead of using a purchase order.

I used to order from them for the company I worked for all the time and they don't get whiny about small orders like some outfits. They also have some cool stuff like long stainless steel piano hinges that you can't seem to find anywhere else. And the ss mesh I want for my project's grill but that isn't cheap by any means.

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I'm pretty sure you can make an order yourself if you have a valid credit card. It's just billed to the credit card instead of using a purchase order.

I used to order from them for the company I worked for all the time and they don't get whiny about small orders like some outfits. They also have some cool stuff like long stainless steel piano hinges that you can't seem to find anywhere else. And the ss mesh I want for my project's grill but that isn't cheap by any means.

Just a side note, I never saw the drawer knobs or pulls put on a grill that wasn't mesh like the 58 Ford grills or the perforated metal like the ones shown in Bad Bob's photos. Hanging them on other style grills just wasn't done, at least not on any I saw. Most guys painted the mesh behind the knobs flat black so they would appear to float in the grill.
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where do you get the mesh

 

Haha, drawer pulls? So that's how it's done. I've seen pics of these grills on here and always wondered how it was done. I felt stupid for not knowing so I never asked. I would have never thought of drawer pulls. Whoever thought that up is a genius in my book.

 

Here's an idea...don't know if it's a good one. An old hot rodder I know actually used fire-place grating on a Model A that he has. It looked thick and heavy enough to use for what you guys are doing. Maybe check out the fireplace supply outlets? BTW...I like what you guys are doing. I have always enjoyed the look of "jewlery" on the grille of a custom. Very traditional looking. - Rick

P.S. - I'll give him a call, and ask him where he got his. I'll post the info.

 

I'd never have thought of that! Bet it wasn't cheap.

 

I've always kind of wanted a grille like that but I don't own anything that it would look good in...

 

Someone asked about when this was first done. I would put this in the 'angel hair era' of customs, '61-'63. The little books were full of show cars with drawer knobs. I wouldn't consider it correct for a '50s era custom, but if you are going early 60's, as I am with my '60. Then I think it looks period. Sort of a poor man's '58 Buick grille; I guess they were hard to come by even by 1960.

 

I'll bet the manufacturer of that stlye knob looks at his inventory and says " We sell more of that knob than any other and I havent seen one on a cabinet in 30 years. Where the hell are they going?"

 

Very cool thread. Lets see some more.

 

Go look in your driveway.

 

What do ya think would be a good # of knobs to get if I can get them by the lot? I got a 54 Chev Del Ray with 56 Caddy Dagmars going on Her.

 

Wow I wonder how much unique spent on 168 br*** knobs all together.

 

My WAY O.T. daily....

 

It took 69 knobs for my grille, if that helps.

 

I've been contemplating on doing this to my 64 Deville but want to find out what you guys use for the backing? chicken wire perhaps? I noticed some milk crate looking things too. Please help!

Instead of using knobs I was thinking about 1" bullets. Let me know what you think.

 

My God, man! What were you thinking?!

 

Is that a '60 Buick front clip on a truck?

 

Here's mine! Got the knobs at a habitiat for humanity for a dollar each. Got the expanded metal from a friend for free! I made some aluminum inserts for the space betweeen the lights since the knobs didn't fit well. Lastly I grabbed some half moons for the headlights from wirths. All told I think I have around $80 in it total.

 

Thats funny. I'd crack up if I saw that in person. great stuff.

 

If I find myself ever junking a car in RI I'm going to make sure to make a point to not take it there.