Here is a shot from an old magazine article. I think I can almost convince myself that the bezels are ribbed??
I dont think it's looks bad, but it doesnt looked ribbed in my opinion in the old pic, too me it just looks like pixels in the low quality picture give it that look that its ribbed, even where the paint is reflecting has the same look as the bezel, again in my opinion
The blown up old picture to me looks like the inserts were just cut out of a flat plate, maybe they just made them. But it's too hard to say judging by that one picture. I like what you've got now, I'd stick with that unless you ever find out definitively what the originals were.
Looking at that zoomed in old photo, especially at the lower left side of the upper headlight, do they have a lip or raised edge around them?
I thought perhaps a closer look might help - even though these are less than ideal images and having no access to negs/prints (yet!). I does appear as thought there is a roll or bead around the perimeter of the "plate" and very, very subtle if any "ribs" (B&W photo). It looks too as though the lamps themselves are mounted in the canted position which has me wondering if the original units were vertical on the donor? It also seems that perhaps two styles of mounting fastener were used - a "dome" and "socket?". Having said all that - the units you've used look good in there Mark! Dave
I might sound like Mr. Obvious and it might a long shot, but if you could find a part number on the headlight buckets, then perhaps that would lead to what car the bezels came from? Assuming they might have used both parts. Awesome find, can't wait to see it next year at the revival.
I thought I was looking for oem bezels at first until I made a tagboard template to take to the junkyard last weekend. you would think that I could have just flipped it and fit it in the other side. It didn't fit, the drivers side opening is about 1/4 inch shorter top to bottom and 3/16 narrower. that is what led me to believe that either it was home made or trimmed down from a factory unit. the 58 dodge that I used were the only ones I found that had the proper spacing between the 2 lights
Mark, I looked at a 61 Tbird at the shop today....I really do think it's what your looking for. I can take measurements and send ya close up pics if ya want
How about a 61 Chrysler 300? I was watching a re-run of the BJ auction, and they had one on there. The ribs looked similar, only finer. It didn't have the 2 outside mounting points though. Given the time frame of the build, and their factory "canted" position, they could have been an option.
Nice car from "home", and done during my favorite time period too. I also think they were ribbed inserts. Plain flat stock would appear as an after though IMHO. The ribs also give continuity to the design or intent. I actually like that they're off a bit in size. No matter the fame or expertise, these guys who did this (all of em, not just the A bros) were human beings and had a shop to run, margins to maintain in cash flow and timing. They weren't gods after all, just all-in car folk like us. It's a touch of humanity not often recognized as such. Even the best of Detroit and the most fabled coachbuilders missed fractional precision by sometimes more that this one. The vaunted (and also O/T) 'Cuda of 70-1, the right wheel opening is 3/4" bigger at the bottom than the left. The rear wheel openings on F body cars from 69 thru 73 are off 3/8" from left to right. And wasn't it the late Von Dutch who told the angry biker "...you can't see both sides at the same time...", or something along those lines? Exponentially more soul than the CAD designed shit we're sold today. As was said, it's in good hands now. Props to you bud...
It went the perfect home........ I can only dream of how cool the "Atomic Yard Master" would look on a matching little trailer in tow to an event! Congrats! Flux ......
Just went to the shop, modified 1958 chevy? One picture looks like a 58 bevel cut down, the hunt goes on!! I met the Alexander Bros. In 1965. Nice young men. Don in Indiana
I believe they are Buick one year came with grid another with ribs .i have asset of ribs I think they are 58.
I was just about to post this. Here, take a look. And one other thing. I've heard rumors that these cars were so rushed that parts are not symmetrical from side to side. Just a thought.
Hopefully the white telephone is still hanging from the dash like in the 1968 show pix! Mark - This weekend I found a NOS chrome Briggs and Stratton cover. Now I have to build at least a sub atomic yard master. Damn you!
The phone was missing, I put a chrome one in it Good luck on your lawnmower project, here's a photo for motivation
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