Acquired this grille sometime back. Finally dug outa stock top plate and ***embled. It has been rechromed. One side says Drake and the other unmarked. The center is not like any I have seen, I compared all three pieces to a NOS original I have. Sides identical except chromed, The center is similar in most respects except the crank hole never machined and no bolt holes top or bottom-fits together as it should-anyone seen a center like this? Condition is excellent-just not a fan of chrome side pieces-may blast lightly and paint.
I've never seen one like that. I'm guessing somebody had connections at Drake or Vintique and pulled it from production before the crank hole got machined. Not really sure I'd be confident countersinking the top holes in the new chrome though. I'm also not a fan of chrome side grilles. Just looks like a gooked up JC Whitney wagon. Like the guys who add all the trim items they can screw onto their cars.
The way that I read it, the center piece is unmarked. I would have to ***ume that it's a reproduction piece from some manufacturer that gave the option of w/ crank hole or without, but the lack of drilled holes at the top or bottom is a little peculiar. Like you guys, I'm not fond of the chromed side panels.
I have an old Argentinean repop 39 standard grille center section,. very nice quality, cast aluminum and then chrome plated, its so old the chrome is peeling off of it. It even has an Alcoa casting mark in it. IT is also undrilled for the mounting holes. Perhaps this is another South American repop???
Not qualified or experienced enough to tell what I'm looking at , but nothing wrong with a nice full chrome grill if you have one ! But if mine was rough then paints the way to go . Honestly if a 40 has a grill I'm good . And as far as as add ons - do- dads ,I like em all ,grill guards , bumper guards , bumper ends (wings ) fog lights , licence toppers , yea buddy !
I have seen many Argentina pieces--this is not aluminum--it is cast pot metal as orig one I have and weight us the same. The fit is spot on and even has the casting nubs and marks on the backside as the NOS center I have in the orig Ford box--sides are excellent as well. I'm not sure about drilling top holes as of yet either the bottom two no issue I think. It lines up and fits great. Gonna take it apart and put in box back in attic til I decide what to do with it. You can see the orig NOS center and this one side by side in the one picture. The one on the left is NOS never installed-came in the Ford box with a receipt from a Ford Dealer in Oakland dated 1957-the NOS side pieces too. If I swap these pieces around several ways( mix and match) they all fit dead on.
Studied this one some more vs my NOS original. Fit is great on all pieces. These pieces were rechromed and still wrapped up. I recently inquired regarding chrome and the center piece estimates were $350-$500-I'm guessing about the same for sides? As said I would blast and paint them--have done several. Just gonna stash it for next project for now. I have a couple of decent deluxe hood/nose pieces but rechrome price is $500+!! Crazy-had one done and they destroyed it-not going there again.
Still playing with this std grille. Upon further investigation the mystery center has some differences. It is heavier than the NOS ford and somewhat different on the backside.The one with the box is an orig with Ford numbers on backside. I am using an orig 40 std top piece and a Drake chin to ***emble. The Repo one actually fits a bit better than the NOS one--go figure. I drilled the bottom holes thus far and fit is excellent-still don't know the source of this one but it is very nice as is the chrome. It is cast pot metal and not aluminum--I don't know the source but the fit and look is excellent-no crank hole is a bit odd too -as said previously never machined.
My '40 Deluxe hood ornament had a hole drilled in it by someone years ago. Like right in the middle on the rib. I sent it up to shop in Wi to see if they could save it. Cost me $500+ like you said, but came back close to perfect.
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