Hot Rods 1932 Ford Chrome Grille?

Has any one ever heard or seen of a 1932 Ford Grille being chromed? I looked around and could not find anything. I'd be surprised if it was not tried at least once. Does anyone have pics of one to prove that I am not the only ass that thought about it? Throw them up if you do!

 

i dont have any pics, sorry. but ive seen a few
to me it brakes up the lines, i guess they were trying to make it look like a fancier car...but a 32 has such nice lines, chroming the grill i think makes it look like an A?
i think i saw one hanging on a barn wall in new jersey too, looked good there

 

This one belongs to a friend of mine:
http://www.starrworld.com/utilities/DisplaySlideShow(Auto).asp?Image=89&Path=/car%20shows/2007/dayton/

 

There was one on a famous New Jersey '32 3Window when it was featured in Hot Rod in the early 1960's. Just looks wrong, might as well hang a buffed 1930 Model A shell on it and save the cost of chrome.

 

I can dig it either way.

On one hand it breaks up the flow of the car... but it on the example wayfarer posted it really seems to fit. Gives it that elegant feel... like a higher end deuce...

so yeah, basically this post was worthless...

 

If you have the newest Rodder's Journal, page 37 has Russell Johnson's '30/'31 roadster with a filled, peaked, and chromed '32 shell on it. It's seems weird because you never do see it....but I don't think it looks bad.

 

Send Josh (corngrower32) a PM. One of the two 32 3 windows he and his pop recovered and help sell had a chromed grill shell. I am sure he has pictures.

Personal preference....I dont care for them, but that's me.

 

It looks good with those hood sides, too. Kinda like a more upscale 1930s car.

 

I think they look great on a full-fendered car. Not sure I like the look on a highboy, though.

 

Yeah, I am planning on running a '32 Grille shell on my '31 Chevy, and i thought that if I could bring in some of the character of the '31 Chevy grilles it would be kind of cool. I am not sure yet, as it would take some pretty heavy convincing to actually fork over the cash to get it done but the pics help.

As for the newest Rodder's Journal, the last one that I got in the mail was the one with the '32 Roadster pic from the mid 50's on the cover. I am going to have to call, but it funny that you mention Rodder's Journal because I started thing about the Chrome idea after looking at an issue from a couple years ago where the Wedge Roadster was on the cover. Any more pics?

 

Probably a good point.

 

He's an upscale guy, he's in the Doo Wop Hall of Fame!

 

guy that runs the body shop where i get paint work done has one hanging on the wall says he bought it at a swap meet years ago for 30$ & the guy thought it was a model a cause it was chrome ! some people have all the luck!

 

Heres a photo of the coupe Bob mentioned. Built in 1956 by Andy Kassa, it was the top show rod for many years all around the north east.
I took the b/w shots in 1960 or '61. The color shots are after it's resent restoration by a group in North Jersey.

 

I have the book Deuce: 75 Years of the '32 Ford and it has some pictures of then-new '32 Fords with chromed shells! They were done that way by the dealer to increase sales before the '33 models arrived.

 

Personally I think it looks better with no hood than a full fendered hot rod with a full hood. There were several way back when but I never liked them.

 

by Revell

Yat Ming Diecast

 

There's a coupe with chromed shell on the cover of a very early R&C...
Now, what was the actual question about...the grill or the shell or both?

 

The Shell really.

 

And there we go with the Chinese screwing something else up!

 

As noted, it's been done, occasionally. I don't care for them chromed, myself.

 

Yeah, so basically what I am gathering here is that most people thing it's sort of a bad idea. But maybe that because we just have not seen it in the right light. I was thinking about a nickel plating on the one that I have.

I wish I could get the look of brushed aluminum like on old hand made hoods so that the Hood flows right into the grille shell but that's a whole other topic.

More pics of Chrome Grille Shells Please!!

 

Don't worry about what everyone else thinks. If you like the idea, do it. It is your car

 

I know, I really never worry about what other's think. It's just that you start to realize that your ideas are not all that original. The reason that I have not seen more Chrome Grille shells is not because no one thought of it, it's because it's not widely regarded as a like feature....or so it seems.

 

Look at a Duesenberg J...very deuce-like shell, chrome. Good thinking point.

 

I don't like them chromed, but I'd rather see one on the Kassa coupe than the cyclops one!

 

Mad Fabricators Vol 5 has a car in it with a chromed deuce shell on it......

 

there is A pic of one in one of Don Montgomery books I just can't find it right now. but the pic is from 1948,ish

 

From what I've been told, it will be changed back to it's original chrome '32 shell very soon.

 

Here's a couple,although my choice would be to keep the Chevy grille shell. I think it makes it look like,you are trying to pretend it's a 32 Ford. It's more unique as a Chevrolet.