Hey all, I have a 62 caddy I'm working up ideas for a custom grille for. I picked up what looks like a late 50's tube grille to cut down and fit between the dual headlights. But I've allways liked the cool chrome knob grilles I've seen on a a few cars here and there. Was the knob grille more of a 50's or 60's thing? Thanks for any feedback... bryan
50's and '60's. With the high price and shitty chrome quality of knobs these days you might conside a '58 Buick or '59 Caddy or similar grill cut to fit. A perfect, even high priced grill may end up being cheaper than a couple hundred times $2 each knobs that may peel and pit inside of a year because they werent' made to be out doors. If I had a '62 Caddy, I'd swap on the more dynamic "pointy looking" '61 grill or whole front clip if available. Should be a bolt on cept the trim. Those two are my favorite '60's era Caddys. (favorite is a '53 of course)
Yeah I love the 61 grille, but they are hard to find and expensive when you do! I found the simple knobs for .59 cents each, but I didn't think about them not holding up to the weather...especially since I don't have a garage! thanks bryan
Just for kicks, check out the December '59 issue of Car Craft....VERY liberal use of COLOR knobs, but still a fun cover article on bullet grille kits and an install on a 55 Chevy pictorial.... I'll ask Kali to post the article later if you are curious... Johnny
Johnny that would be cool...thanks. I was looking at clear glass knobs today at the hardware store... bryan
Ok so the guys above say that the crome on knobs today is crap, easy solution scratch them up a bit(so you know they have been rechromed afterwards) and send them to a GOOD chrome plater-shouldnt cost a lot. And another tip wax any thing chrome that is going to be exposed to the elements, chrome is pourous, it has tiny holes in it that allow water to get to the metal underneath and corrode/rust it -lots of wax will keep it good and corrosion free for years.
I just remembered some of the more WAY-OUT ideas and uses of hardware items- handles,drawer pulls, and the like......I remembered thinking, "Those REALLY look like kitchen drawer handles..." no matter what they did to 'em.... In any case, looking forward to your ideas and creativity.... Johnny
Here is a shot of the grille in the El Matador that I owned in the seventies. It was individual pieces cut and shaped from extrusion in the shape of a airplane wing. Lots of filing and shaping, but truly unique.
Never was a fan of the hardware store drawpull knob thing, guess it was a little before my time, seems to have hit it's peak around 1958 or so. Start talking handmade bar or eggcrate grilles made from plate and/or bar or round stock and you get my attention big time, probably because they really came into vogue around 61-62 or so, (think A Brothers or Fostoria Custom). Always loved grilles made with Desoto or Corvette or 54 Chev teeth, too. Been known to make a quicky grille out of expanded metal mesh on occasion though, looked pretty damn good actually, for something quick and dirty.
i always wanted to see someone use chrome motorcycle headlight buckets turned backwards. just an idea. probably been done too.
Another idea is those chainlink gate corner connectors, polished,turned point side outwards. You can hold them together with allthread,and short pieces of polished aluminum tubing in between. They look sort of like chevy teeth. Sorry no pic. Sparky. Also the potmetal fencepost caps,make good axle caps,when polished.
I need more info about this. My brain isn't coming up with a picture of that which you speak. Sounds very interesting though.
This one with its nice grill has been here before, but it's worth of showing again. More: http://www.trianglemotor.com/fi/custom.htm
tagman your car gave me an idea...see the pic below. I dont' want the knobs that dense but I photoshopped out the grille and the center bar on the bumper... opinions?
check out the grill on my wifes car on (new to the hamb profile) alex p.s. knob,s cost is about $1.00 ea. Iknow barris did the knob thing in the 50,s maybe even earlyer. but its def. a 60,s touch
check out the grill on my wifes car on (new to the hamb profile) alex p.s. knob,s cost is about $1.00 ea. Iknow barris did the knob thing in the 50,s maybe even earlyer. but its def. a 60,s touch
The Jalopy Journal
