Technical Custom Gurus- Grille swaps for 55 Fords

So, I am trying to become more educated on the "custom" world. I have a 55 Ford Customline that I would like to transition into a mild custom. Been collecting old mags etc. What were some of the easier swaps for grilles?

Thanks
Chris

 

55 has a really nice finished off grille opening so its a good candidate for a floating grille bar, 54 desoto fits in there nice with the parking lights, tube grilles fit well too, with or without the original parking lights.

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I know they've fallen out of favor, but I've always had a soft spot for perforated metal with chrome drawer pulls or even bullets. Some fab work required, but nothing too special....

 

I'm partial to the tube style grilles.

 

In the early 60's tube grilles seemed to be the hot set up, I know I thought they looked good.

 

Any pics of the tube grilles? The grille that’s in it factory is a nice piece.

Is the 55 too square for the floating grille with teeth?

 

Tube grill:


This is 1954 Chevrolet with extra teeth:

 

1955 Meteor (Canadian Ford) grill:

 

59 imperial

 

I always liked this one in 55 an 56 Fords

 

I just love that grill opening and it just screams for something different. I remember very well as a kid seeing those old Fords decked and shaved and with a different grill and thought that was just the best looking deal there was.

The tube grill I think are really cool and probably realistic today. That Imperial seems like it would work real well too. The 54 Chevy is the cats ass with those added teeth, so I think a grill bar would work too. Now with that said I also remember from back in the day when you could go to ANY wrecking yard and find plenty of old Chevy's and even maybe that Imperial as well to get a grill from modify it and you were done. Can you just imagine what one of those damn things would cost today? The Imperial would probably force you to take a new home loan out if you could even find one, and the 54 Chevy well you don't see those laying around either but you just may be able to find one.

 

Always been a big fan of tubular grills.


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Kid in high school had a bright red '55, nosed, decked, shaved handles, white pleats inside, and a tube grille. I always consider his car as one of the best done Fords of that era that I have seen; just clean and simple.

 

I'm going to use a 55 desoto grill in my 55 Ford.
Found these pics on the web.

 

Sorry for the poor lighting. I've posted this in other threads in the past. Took some fab time, but I'm really happy with the turnout.

 

To quote Hombre; Quote "The Imperial would probably force you to take a new home loan out if you could even find one," end of quote.
I hear this way to often. What we seem to forget is back then we were making and living on $1.50 an hour. It was dang hard to pay $50.00 for a Grill back then. Fun costs Money, some can afford more Fun than others. It's always been like that. Get used to it. It's the value of our Dollar that's gone to Hell.
The Wizzard

 

Somebody on here made a tube grille out of a stainless clothes rack from a store. It was square tubing, so it had a different look to it, I thought it looked pretty nice.

 

Outstanding, Jakes38.
Do you have a build thread?

 

The '55 Plymouth grille gives a great look to these Fords.

 

I have a tube grill for a 55 that I bought a few years ago and never used that I may part with.

 

I wondered about this. I had a 55 Plymouth grille in my Fleetline.

 

I like this one.

 

I don't, actually I should start one...

 

56 Meteor grille is one that was hot back when

 

I'm sure those are easy to come by.....

 

I'm really digging this one so far. Probably the front runner.

 

I would love to find a 54 Chevy grill and add extra teeth for my 56 Vicky build but I just may put in a report 55 Ford grill if I can find one!

 

I like the '54 Chevy bar and teeth as well, I'd like to see it with the ends worked into the original '55 Ford parking lights. I'm sure someone in the Photoshop thread could show what it would look like.

 

Here are a couple of Australian Fords.
A 57


And a 58.