1932 Ford "Winter" Grille

Either Ford or an aftermarket company produced a grille insert for the 1932 models that featured swiveling slats to reduce flow over the radiator and warm up the engine faster in the winter (I know, make a flathead heat up, funny huh?). I thought this was called a "Pines Winter Grille" but a few Google searches yielded nothing. Can anybody give me a little rundown on the history of this good-looking item? I'm sure they're not being reproduced, but is this something that could be fabbed up if someone wanted to invest the time? Does anyone know how the slats were originally controlled? I have this image of something like a choke knob leading to the grille, but I really don't know. I'd post a pic, but I couldn't even find one of those!

 

I'm sure tommy will be posting a picture of his sometime soon.

The pines grill subject came up last night at our EFV8 club Christmas party. The guy who hosted the party has a nos 1937 Caddy La Salle Pines Grill hanging on his wall. No it's not for sale.
The trivia here is, why did the Pines grill company go out of business? I don't want to hijack this post so I'll tell you the ansewer. They went out because some guy invented the thermostat in 1937.

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23341&highlight=winter+grille

There's been several threads on them here.


Mutt

 

Bigcheese...I too love the winterfront grill! But I'm too cheap to buy one. They bring crazy money!

I have the parts to make one and will one day when I get some time. I have a grill for a 32 Chrysler that has the same slats as the winterfronts do. I'm going to use it along with a junk 32 insert to make my own. I also have a Pines winterfront from a teens car for the badge.

I've got $10 in the badge grill, $20 in the junk 32 insert and I got an NOS Chrysler winterfront for $20 to replace the Chrysler grill. Not too shabby for $50.

The slats can be made to work by cable. Some originals worked by a thermostat.

This is Tommy's winterfront. He's got a cool story on how he got it.
Clark

 

Mutt ...that's my old post. Didn't think it was still out there.
Clark

 

There is some info and a picture of a complete setup in the last couple issues of V-8 times. I'll try to lookemup. From memory, there were two setups, cable operated and fully automatic. The picture of the full auto setup is an incredible mess--huge vacuum actuator hanging over the engine and complex hookups to hoses to work thermostats. I guess if you bought the cable setup, it would have been a good idea to also buy the accessory '32 temp gauge...
This tech was common on expensive cars of the period, like Lincoln, but they had a simple thermostat actuator bolted into upper radiator tank to do the job.

 

Here's a couple pics of my Pines Winterfront, not the best pics, the closeup of the emblem shows the slats pretty well. I'd sell this one if someone wanted it, not sure what it originally came from, I bought it because I wanted to adapt it to my '26 T, since the T doesn't have any grille bars, just an exposed radiator and I've never really liked that.

 

A friend has a Pines Winter Front on his '32 3Window, found it in the original box at the curb on metal trash day years ago.

 

Not a lot of that kinda junk here in Texas.

 

i have one on my 25 t pickup, the thermostat is a coil in the back that sits against the radiator tank and the metal spring gets warm it pulls a arm that opens and closes the slats,

 

I saw a pines winter grille for a 36 ford at a swap this year, it had big doors rather than the slats,and i think it was just fastened over the top of the normal grille..still in its original box and i didnt buy it....what a ****head i am. does anyone have a picture of one of these? Im hoping like crazy the guy has it at the swap this year.gotta be quite rare doesnt it?

 

There was one on my 1929 Model A RPU. Sold it pretty quickly.

 

your right , for a `36 it just fastened over the original grille. i don't think they are rare for a `36....i see them sell on ebay for $100-$200 all the time.

this is what it looks like:

 

I p***ed up one of these at Indy several years ago and the guy was asking like 600 bux for it and i just didnt have the money then.....I've been looking for one myself ever since ....

I saw one on e-bay pull like 2500 bux...

Much like the grill,,,i hope to find a nice body too...lolol

 

I saved these pictures from eBay auctions.

Dave
http://www.roadsters.com/

 

The badge on the flip up crank hole cover says Pines winter front right on it. Made in Chicago The badge is particularly pretty. It has that fancy lettering of the 30's that is pressed into the metal.

37kid Is that the 3W highboy that comes to York? If so it's *****in'.

 

Damn it man,,,i want to find one of these...lol

 

I could have sold you one a few weeks ago.....
I got it with a grille shell at Hershey about 15 years ago....the guy was from New Hampshire...

SOLD it to a antique guy......and I mean SOLD IT ...

He saw it when he was looking at some other 32 stuff I was selling....and he had to have it.

I never really liked them......for me.....but they are real rare in the SouthLand......

 

I almost posted on them a couple of weeks back,,,,I guess i should have!
lollol

 

Deuce Roadster....Noooooooo!!! Oh well I'll just stick to building my own.
Clark

 

Found the V8 times picture, about two issues back in an article on a German custom bodied '32. There was a big vacuum can hanging over the engines as actuator and a thermostat apparently affixed against the back of the radiator.
It all looked about as great as a '70's GM cruise control--I'd opt for the cable control just to get that junk outta the engine room! The cable control was mentioned in another recent issue, but can't locate that. I'm sure there must be a detailed article on these things somewhere in the back issues.
1930's cl***ics that had similar arrangements OEM had a big thermostat/actuator bolted into a special hole in the top radiator tank. Naturally, that thermostat is now just about impossible to find in working condition.
How about an air door flap thermostat from a VW beetle as a controller? It would just have to be blaced in the hot air moving through...

 

Anyone ever seen one of these animals for a 1933 ford ?

 

LB...my shoulda coulda woulda...guy wanted $800 for it. Didn't have the pines badge. I also didn't like that it sat on top of the original grill. If I coulda seen it on the grill I may have liked it.
Clark

 

I've helped my father in law restore the same kinda thing on his old tractors. THe John Deers come with the nicest ones I've seen. Of course it wouldn't fit a car but a guy wanting to make one could use the linkages and stuff to build his own. Seems like they are really resonable. Just an idea.

 

This one is hanging on a wall in here in Norway

 

Oh, lucky guy that norwegian, must be a nice guy...?

 

Nah. The guy sounds like a ****...put it on a car and drive it! It won't melt.

 

Git him Tommy!...

 

if he deside to use it on the car people wount ewen notice
they probably gona go right to the engine.......

oh yea he is a ****...with to mutch stuff laying around
moore than most of us dream of.......I hate him hehehe

 

Don`t listen to him... Nobody hates me, i have boose!!