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Customs 1956 Ford Fairlane Club Coupe grille ideas...

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 1stGrumpy, Oct 14, 2020.

  1. ramblin dan
    Joined: Apr 16, 2018
    Posts: 3,609

    ramblin dan

  2. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    YES on the taping of the verticals... (if you MUST change that beautiful sharklike sculpture!)
     
  3. 6sally6
    Joined: Feb 16, 2014
    Posts: 2,459

    6sally6
    Member

    8.1Emergency eye bleach.jpg
     
    warhorseracing and 40StudeDude like this.
  4. 40StudeDude
    Joined: Sep 19, 2002
    Posts: 9,536

    40StudeDude
    Member

    Correct on the 'not '58 Impala'...and not custom made. Thanx for the compliment on the scoops-I like to consider them 'thinking outside the box"...!!! Believe it or not those are genuine GM scoops-1960 vintage...from the rear of a Chevy Corvair...now go try to place them...
    R-
     
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  5. T&A Flathead
    Joined: Apr 28, 2007
    Posts: 1,985

    T&A Flathead
    Member

    I was thinking of using a ‘55 desoto grille or a tube grille in my 55. I agree the original grills are attractive but when I finally rebuild this car that I have owned since 1990 I want to customize it. Swapping grills was one of the most common custom modifications on the 50’s cars. See the link below.

    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/desoto-grills.1107268/
     
    1stGrumpy likes this.
  6. IMO, if you want to mess with the most beautiful design ever to come out of any design studio just take it out and do not replace it with anything.
     
    lothiandon1940 and 6sally6 like this.
  7. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,378

    sololobo
    Member

    Mr. Conservative here, I love the original grille and taillights. I have seen the original taillights with that trim removed around the center section somehow as it has a tendency to lose it's luster. check out blacking out the vertical bars on the grille, I think cutting them out would not give it enough support. Very nice looking conservative custom and I know we all want to do some touches to make a car our own, best wishes on your ride.
     
  8. typo41
    Joined: Jul 8, 2011
    Posts: 2,571

    typo41
    Member Emeritus

    [​IMG]
    You could look for a 'Star' grill that was used in Australia on their Utes,, I think they came Canada
     
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  9. Fortunateson
    Joined: Apr 30, 2012
    Posts: 5,331

    Fortunateson
    Member

    As stated earlier, Meteor. IMO '56 is the best but '55 isn't too bad.
     
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  10. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,174

    Budget36
    Member

    I’m not a fan of a tube grille in an older vehicle, but flat- horizontal bars , in my opinion, look better. I like a ‘56 Chevy car grill with the vertical bars taken out. I might be off on custom touches, but just what I like
     
  11. sololobo... No, I'm not going to cut the grille. It's in too nice of shape to be cutting on it. I am going to either paint or tape the vertical's. I may look around for a '55 Plymouth grill, like Mick suggested, though.
     
  12. 0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Joined: Nov 12, 2010
    Posts: 1,782

    0NE BAD 51 MERC
    Member

    Grump, I am sure you will come up with something cool. I usually think a little more out side of the box and do not always follow the Hamb 64 and older rules . For example on my on my 51 because of the oval grill surround I built using another 51 upper surround and custom forming the radius outer corners kind a 53 Chevy style and being a mid 60's Mustang guy I took the center of a 67 mustang front bumper and optional 67 fog lights and created a 53 Chevy ish grill. Off topic styling here , but so is the 70's E body Mopar pistol grip shifter I am going to use, but I turned 16 in 1971 so I am off topic anyhow! lol Lots of combination's from the 50's and early 60's that could come together with out breaking the bank because they are the "traditional " choice's. I also get a kick out of the fact that guys like you ask about idea's to customize your car on a custom car forum and most guys say "LEAVE IT STOCK"!! What the H-----l o_Oo_Oo_O If it was a mint Crown Vic or a Convert I can see. But a 2 door post, or even a hardtop or convert that needs work is future custom dream material!:):) Go for it. Larry
     
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  13. Same thing I did with my very first car, a 56 Fairlane.
     
  14. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,179

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

  15. Got the 1960 Dodge Dart tail lights installed today, looks much better!
    100_1900.JPG
    Still haven't found a '55 Plymouth grille yet, though!
     
  16. Outback
    Joined: Mar 4, 2005
    Posts: 2,381

    Outback
    Member
    from NE Vic

    Looks good, what did you end up with for the grill?
     
  17. Still have the stock grille in it, haven't found anything suitable yet... 59.JPG
     
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  18. Outback
    Joined: Mar 4, 2005
    Posts: 2,381

    Outback
    Member
    from NE Vic

    I found your thread while thinking about custom grills for my 55 Ranch. 2021-08-06 20.26.24.png
     
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  19. quick85
    Joined: Feb 23, 2014
    Posts: 3,047

    quick85
    BANNED

    I think it's hard to top your stock grille, other than to black out the verticals.
    Too often it's just change for the sake of change and that's not always kool.
    Then again, the tube grille on the powder blue one looks awfully good. I also like
    the idea of the Dodge taillights. They don't have the lumpy look of the Merc
    units, no offense intended to all of you who've chosen them.

    I often wonder how the black plastic egg crate grille of a '67-'68 Camaro
    would look on a car like yours. With all the trick ways of manufacturing
    custom made car items, I'd thing there'd be someone with the ability to
    make a similar one.

    zzzzzzzs-l300.jpg

     
  20. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,801

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Takes work but a 58-60 T-Birds look great.
     
    1stGrumpy likes this.
  21. I've always thought a '58 Ford car front bumper would look nearly the same but less work. Cut away all but the top lip of the '56 grill, install the bumper and the grill/turn signals of your choice. The bumper may need slight narrowing, haven't done a measurement for that.
     
  22. crapgame
    Joined: Apr 3, 2014
    Posts: 23

    crapgame
    Member

    1st Grumpy, the front of your '56 Club looks like mine, except that you're one step (at least) ahead of me because mine has the hood ornament. I LOVE the look of the tube grill on the powder blue Fairlane you posted. Losing the bumperettes (is that what they're called?) and hiding the turn signals really clean things up, as well. Since it's your money and not mine, I really think you ought to spring for the $600 aftermarket tube grille. Then you can post photos after it's installed, and shame me into doing the same thing.
     

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  23. 03GMCSonoma
    Joined: Jan 15, 2011
    Posts: 314

    03GMCSonoma
    Member

    We did the same thing back in the 50's and 60's. It was a cheap tube grill.
     
  24. I like the Dodge taillights on a '55 or '56 Bird better than on a full size Ford. '59 Buick taillights are also a bolt on and look good.
     

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