Went to the BIG-FREE ENTRANCE-FREE REGISTRATION-NO AWARDS SHOW put on by the Sunshine AACA Region Car Club at the Westfield Mall in Sarasota, Florida today. Of course the Fl. location helps in the Winter with perfect 70 degree weather, but a lot could be learned from the free registration as this show pulls in 1200 to 1500 cars!! Everything from Rat-Rods to Dual-Cowl Packards & Chryslers. The place is JAMMED! I told the owner that the H.A.M.B. (he never heard of it) could I.D. his grille for him by the Zephyrhills, FL. meet (Feb. 24th)where he plans to race the car on the dirt track. The grille is thickly cast (about 1/2"+/-)out of pot metal or aluminum? It looks like a Bugatti or early Mercedes of some sort. Lets help him out and get another HAMB member.
It may not be automotive in origin at all. It is possible that it is a bit of architectural art deco from a commercial building / department store. I've seen some beautiful HVAC ducts or elevator shaft air returns. Maybe even a speaker girll from a P.A. system?
The surrounding radiator shroud doesn't have nearly the same level of quality. Yup, I'm betting non-automotive in origin.
Bob's sugestion of it coming from a Cadillac could be on track, but as you can see from the photos, if it started out Caddy, someone did alot of work to modify it. The first one is a 1937, and the other 2 are 1938's.
It has some design lines at the top that you can barely see. Someone said maybe off a Tractor? Any Tractor "Nuts" out there?
The pop rivets down the center have me stumped- may have had a chrome strip convering it? Good idea to try tractor AND truck. Frenchtown- I don't know about AC/building, since it does have an overall "V" shape, but you never know. Rich, who's this Bob fella ?
The grill face it's self looks to be industrial or architectural in origin but I can't say about the shell. The car looks like it was put together as a hill cli^^ber or vintage racer at so^^e ti^^e.
To me, the grille "screen" looks like a cast piece, so finding out what the material it's made out of will give a good idea of it's origin. The "deco" pattern looks like they tried to class up whatever it was on so I would think higher-end automotive or even industrial truck....only if it is pot metal. If it is heavy on it's own, then I would suggest you look at tractors or non-automotive sources. That's my take. Whatever the case, the rest of the car isn't doing the grille any favors or justice.
Because of the "deco" look, I agree that it may have been on a "Higher-End" car or race car. It is cast.....? The old Tractors were also well made. Also agree that it belongs back on whatever it came off of. Take a look at the "roll-bar" mounts/doubt that they would allow ANY racing with the car...just some "historical" laps by itself. No one would want to race any where near him.
I saw that you said it was cast after I posted when I re-read it. I just never edited. Could you tell if the band with the "ketchup" & "mustard" stripes was part of the "screen" or an add-on?
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