I'm looking for ideas for my 53 Chevy Custom. I am going to install a 57 Olds grille (which I aready have) and I need some inspiration on how to fill the large cavity in the grille. I removed the stock grille backing, lights and Olds lettering. My car isn't goint to really have any parts on it that are newer than 1957 or early 1958. I have been looking at old magazines from the period and can't really come up with anything I like. I know some will say who care about being "period correct". It's your car do it the way you want. Well... Period correct is what I want so enough of the PC bashing. I'm working on this in my head and I can't seem to come up with anything. I was thinking possibly a tube grille (I didn't really start seing those in magazines till about 1960) Or a mesh with different size bullets. I don't know. Give me some ideas!
The current Issue of Rod & Custom has a 58 Chevy on the cover. I kind of like the tube grille and stock running lights behind it but I'm really not sure. The rest of my car is parts from 57-58 and back. 58 Motor, 55 Olds headlights, 57 Olds grille, 55 Desoto dash, 51 Chevy Quarters, 55 Olds 98 taillights (Frenched in ike the Paul Bragg Merc) 55 Pontiac rear bumper, 51 Ford rear window, ribbed lakes pipes and so on... Just want to stay with the early to mid 50's theme...
maybe you would be better off if you use two upper grill units instead of using upper and lower, that way you wouldn't get that split in the middle by the licence plate opening
Merc-o I hadn't thought about that. I do really like the lisence plate surround. I have a set of 53 plates that have never been on a car. Still in the original plastic with the paper between them. I really want to run them both.
it doesn't show too well in this photo, but one of my all-time favorites is '58 Ford mesh with '59 caddy bullets. The same combo was used for the grille of the "Eclipse".
I think period "custom" for that time would be mesh with drawer-pull knobs. Tube was pretty much on it's way, though. Either of those would have been the "hot" item due to the versatility. Here is from 1961. I know...I read the ***le, but check out the bottom of this page.
I was looking around and found this. The 57 oldsmobile Golden Star by John D'Agostino. Love the Drawer Pull grille!
Of co**** everyone loves moon glow which is on the bottom right of this page but I liked the top right as well. It's the car you find in Jeffries Or Watson pics often painted blue.
Not quite... here is where I got the pics. 57 Olds. http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=MO10&CarID=r262&fc=0 http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7717202 Do a Google search on 1957 Oldsmobile and this car is the first picture
Here are a couple more ideas...still from '60-'61ish. I also understand you have a 57 grille....but all I can find right now is 56, sorry.
Joe and I are not saying the car is a 58 buick, Its obviously an olds, just that grill could possibly be 58 buick
The one on the left? I think thats Tom Liechty's 54 Chevy... not 100% sure since I have never really researched the car enough... I don't have any other photos of it at this moment though. EDIT... found some TwoChops Collection Before it was really wild I always liked this one. This one from Japan is wild as well.
You could chrome the grill and add 3 or 4, 1" painted horizontal bars. Maybe place the Chevy emblem in the upper center.
I like the Edsel grills turned inside the '56 Olds grill. Never would have thought of that. Edit: Woo Hoo, post # 420, hehe
I have some old magazine I keep around here for ideas , I took my camera out and took acouple of pics for ya....the first , a '58 Impala , and then , my favorite , a '59 chev grill in a '51 Chev..
All this one needed was the canted quad lights... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1954...9865985?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item20b540a481
Thanks for the photo Saxon but it doesn'y help here. I'm looking for a way to fill my 57 olds grille on my 53 chevy. Not change it to a different one. Anyone else?
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