I have been trying to decide what I want for a grill in my 51 Merc. I really want it simple like some of the examples here. Can anyone tell me what they are from? I know the one is made from a 51 Merc guard and I have one but I think I read somewhere that you need two to make it. If any one has made one I would like to here from you. Otherwise a nice simple chrome v shaped bar would be nice too but what cars are they out of? Also if you have any more examples show em to me.
I was with you on this, and was going to go Hirohata-style, 'till I found out they used 3 Ford grills to make the front end. I can't afford that in today's dollars. My suggestion would be to find one of the one-piece grilles offered as aftermarkets back in the day, that connected the "elephant ears", end-to-end, as one smooth chrome piece, (check e-bay) or go the full-custom route and make/handform/chrome your own incarnation.
i just bought a lower grill bar from a 51 kaiser. it's 44 inches long and 11.5 inches deep. it's like it was made for a mercury.
The grille bar on the Valencia Chevy is a one-off.The one on the gray Merc is indeed made from two '51 Merc accessory bumper guards.Gl***guy's Merc has one too... The pic of the Cheater's Merc was taken by me at Hemsby Beach...that brings back memories....http://www.thecheatersgang.com/2ndlaurentmercury.htm
From what I understand about the Hirohata grill is that the grill it self is a '51 ford grill with the bullets removed and then the wrap arounds on the fenders were from the other grills. But I don't know the construction of it for sure.
Try using two dummy spotlight buckets with a pickup tailgate protector in between. Just my 2 cents worth.
That one is made from -57 Caddy center bar and -48 Caddy bumper guard tops weldet to end of it.Guards are flipped 90 degrees. This is -51 Ford with bullets removed.
Ditto with Phatboy.I made a floating grill for my Konsul using a NOS bumper with a headlight bucket flipped round and welded in the centre,worked a treat!Poo,cant get the pic to load!
I couldn't find a good picture of a merc with one...allthough I have seen them before, but I like the way a '54 pontiac gill look in mercs and shoebox fords...
I made this one for my old shoebox from a 51 kaiser bar. I used a set of dummy spots for the end bullets, and for the teeth, I used olds fiesta spinner hubcap blades.
Floating bar grilles are understated and elegant. I like them, too. Next time you are in junk yard with some older cars, take a look at some of the compacts from the sixties and even later. The bumpers make excellent floating bars for bigger cars from the fifties. Think of the narrow chrome bumpers on cars like the Corvairs, Valiants, and early Mustangs and Camaros. Look at the European and Japanese cars, too. Some are small enough to run as is. Others can be sectioned to fit. Then folks will look at your car and say, "What IS that?"
Eyeball, I had an idea that dealt with combining the two ends of a 57 chevy grill piece through an extensionin the center...they seem plentiful and have anice peaked center to go well as an accent to some 56 olds headlights for a nice custom touch.. just an idea.. tok
Here is s a pic of our old pontiac, 54 grill bar and a pic of the Lincoln with a 52 lincoln grill bar.
Early Vette front grilles available as repops, late 60s Stingray rears and 68-73 Opel GT rears all make for good floaters.
i used a deluxe rear bumper guard from a 50 chevy. the front ones are shorter and just go straight across. but you can use them too
Eyeball Here is a grille that I haven't seen in a Merc before. I think it started life in a Chevy pickup. Ol Blue
here is a floating grille I made from parts of a 51 Ford grille and a 54 Ford grille . Its kind of hard to see whats going on , but you get the idea .
Tet**** Shot , Sweet ride. I'm surprised I haven't seen it around. I hit the Donut Derelicts fairly often as well as a bunch of other local shows. Hopefully, I'll run into you somewhere. I'd like to see it up close.
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