Customs Peaked hood styles

I see different styles of peaked hoods out there. There aren't a lot of articles/pics of them on here. I have a '54 chevy so I'm mostly interested in those cars but any pics/descriptions are welcome. I see some that start with a peak at the grill and the peak wraps til the hood straightens out and then ends. Others run the peak all the way to the windshield/cowl area. Was one more prevalent in the 50's? Reasons for different versions?
Thanks,

Scott

 

I believe the reason is personal taste. Just finishing up a long term project on a 50 Merc. The peak was addressed when we worked on the hood. I like subtle rather than in your face. The illusion of peak starts at the grill and runs up thru the hood which was sectioned to keep smooth lines and ends at upper trim on windshield which went from two pieces to one piece. I am willing to send images if interested. Seeing is probably better than my description.....Lou

 

Would love to see pics of your merc hood. Sounds interesting. If you want to email my email is jsfrazee26@gmail.com

Thanks,
Scott

 

Scott, I had a fellow do my 51 hood. I had an original center trim piece that was made longer with another piece added at the spot under the hood airplane. I found it on ebay many years ago. I had wanted to use it on the hood and then paint it in. Instead I went with using it for a peak. The guy who did it said he could, so I let him. I like it a lot.
Dom

 

52HardTOP, That looks awesome, so its just the stock piece filled in for the emblem? Was it braized into the hood? Curious how he attached it, how does the underside look?

 

Hey Greaser, the fill in piece was brazed in between the front and rear pieces. Then he welded it to the top of the hood. I may have a couple of shots I could add. I'll look.
Dom

 

Here's a pic that might show what your looking for Greaser.

 

Thanks, I love the finished look.

 

I have been considering doing as you did or going with the one piece chrome bullnose strip. Still undecided

 

On my 54 I keep eyeing that filler strip between the two hood pieces and thinking about how it would make a nice peak if I were just to weld it to the hood and finish it.

 

Let me give you guys another angle or two.

 

That's very clean-looking .

 

Very nice!! Is that the factory color with pearl added?

 

Here's how I did mine...used 3/16" cold rolled rod...welded both sides and ground the welds down...only did and inch or two front and rear and worked toward the middle to not to warp the hood...

If you want to see my complete '55 Caddy build, go here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=329070&highlight=the+best+55+caddy+build

R-

 

Thanks Allen

 

hey firengine, good eye! I'm not entirely sure. It may just be the lighter green for 51. I know there are two greens in 51. This lighter shade and a more metallic dark green. It's funny as I took the firewall vent doors off I came across the metallic dark green color as the original paint. This lighter shade does have some pearl added. The only thing I didn't do to this car was the body work and paint. The paint was mixed at Colorite in Bethany Connecticut. I've talked to them a couple of times over the years. I tried to get their formula for the mix. The paint was done so long ago that they felt it couldn't be matched with the current tints available. The paint on the hood is a 63 Chevy color with some pearl added to try and blend to the older color. It was the closest I could get with the paint on the gas door being scanned at the auto paint shop.
Dom

 

Wow, that's a lot of work you've done to your Caddy. She's a beautiful car. I like the young ladies in the pictures too!
Dom

 

Watson G****vine had a peak from the grille to the top of the hood and then faded off until the moulding strip behind where the ornament would have been...
you can barely make out the strip on flat top of the hood

......saves welding on the easily warped flat area.....

 

I like it a lot. I have a 53 with the two tone green, but yours look just a shade darker and the pearl really sets it off. Kind of makes me think of a Martini Olive Pearl.

 

I only peaked the front of mine and smoothed out the top of the hood.

 

Tin Can,
That looks good. Did you weld round rod to the hood to create the peak?

Scott

 

yea, I used a piece of 1/4" rod I think.

 

Is the top of the peak the actual rod, or is it filler or lead?

 

The peak is the actual rod. I may have used a rod larger than the 1/4" I stated. The rod I used sat in the gap between the two pieces and sat mostly on top.