My question: is this an original 32 grill? (Insert) I’ve searched through tons of threads here, tried to order the recommended two part book ( their shop is taken down while they move locations ) and compared this grill to the one i know is original, and i just am not practiced enough to tell the difference. It’s definitely magnetic, just as heavy as the known original, but i keep seeing if it’s not painted steel it’s not original, hopefully someone with a practiced eye can see something im overlooking.
Looks to good to be an original although I've got one as good I've horded for 30+ years. Dales repro grilles out of OKC were as close to originals as I've seen both in fit and finish. Most of his had stainless bars. I used a lot of them. I've not had a chance to use a United Pacific grille yet. You can tell the cheap inserts, their bars are loose and can be played like a banjo.
After finally getting brave enough to pop it out of the shell, confirmed its 100% repro, at least its a quality one. My dad always told me reproduction was a dirty word, so It was hard to believe what my eyes were seeing. And he acquired plenty of rare things like the original wood floor from a model T truck in surprisingly good condition for 100 year old lumber, so it wasn’t crazy to think he scored a real nice original and hid it away at some point in his 70 years collecting. Thanks for the replies, currently trying to see what I’m missing for a 32 roadster build and didn’t want to cut up something original.
The first insert I got for my roadster was a cheap reproduction, the fit was terrible and when I strummed the bars it sounded like the Chinese National Anthem, it was returned and replaced with a Dales insert.
If you think Chinesium is bad you should have experienced the Argentine "hole filler" days! Unbelievable!
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