Projects Which grill treatment on my 53 Buick?

Headlights will be frenched.

 

I like tacos too, and i like the top photo the best. I usually don't like Chev Teeth cause you see a lot of that. BUT, with that bumper...it looks GR8. Sweet car !
mike

 

It's actually a 59 Chrysler Imperial grill

 

Top picture looks like Chevy teeth to me. I had to look it up - definitively a 1959 Imperial grill. Still looks like a Chevy grill.

<flips coin - not happy with the coin toss...> <stares at pictures again> <one more look>

The Imperial grill insert looks a little bit busy, but I'm leaning toward it.

Personally not happy with the Dodge grill, something about 4 parking lights...

Consider just the chrome mesh in this opening - no grill. I haven't finished my first cup of coffee, so my judgment is actually worse than normal.

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT! I like your thinking.

Russ

 

I was thinking to use small domes/ bullet caps inplace of the Lancer markers. Like Itty bitty tity committee dagmars.

 

I'm liking the bottom one a lot better or would like the top one with the imperial grill if the bumper was cleaned off. I never have liked those round pieces on a stock Buick as they always look like added cutter for no reason.
To me a big part of doing customizing right is getting rid of unnecessary clutter that was stuck on because the designer thought there was too much blank space .

 

Do you not like the stock grill, or do you just want it to be different? Personally I like the stock grills on Buicks from the 1949 to 54 model years.

 

If you look at the bottom one with slightly crossed eyes, It looks kinda spooky

 

I agree with BJR. The stock grill is great to my eye.

 

Return to stock 53 Buick grill, don't french the headlights, as stock they are unbeatable. Nosed and decked, shaved door handles will clean it up. If you are looking for work put the dip in the doors and quarters like a Skylark, then you'll have a real good looking custom that's worth a lot. it's pretty easy to "Skylark" the doors and quarters like they did at the factory in 53, angle section the doors above the fender roll, buy some 57 chevy aftermarket rear quarters and blend them into the rear quarters to get the Skylark curve look there. You have a beautiful Buick dont mess it up.

 

Wow ! Love the entire deal, very cool.

 

The Lancer reminds me of my pup!

 

Keep the original bumper, grille and headlight bezels. A lot of guys paid good money to put that stuff on their cars. Back in the day at least. I always wondered how those headlights and bezels would look tunneled a little. Just maybe an inch or two.

 

Another vote for keeping the stock pieces.

 

I'm going to mold them in. Effectively tunneling about 2 inches

 

I was thinking there should have been 3 photos, one with a real shiny 53 Buick front.

 

I think you are misunderstanding what I meant. Shine up the bezels and create a tunnel around them. Just enough to screw with peoples minds. Sink the bezel and headlight. It would drive purists nuts. Customs of days gone by not only dechromed cars but added also. They also exaggerated lines as well as adding them.

 

need more options

 

Pay attention to John Lee Williamson as he is offering the best advice.
Neither one of the grille selections looks good. Leave the headlights alone.

 

I like the top one just as it is. The bottom looks like something was stolen off of it or its not finished, but what do I know.

 

The ones with the original grills above, look the best.

 

If you decide to go through with the grille/headlight swap, I hope the car in the example pictures isn't the one you are working on.

 

This is the car, the Merc trim and port holes are going away. The doors/ quarters are getting 2 piece Caddy trim and skirts.

 

Where are all these Imperial grilles coming from? Weren't they already scarce in 1959?

 

In person, the Imperial grille always looks good, and not at all like a Chevy. Much cooler and more elegant . That's my vote.

 

Strictly a matter of what some of us think would look the best of several choices.

 

I'm sorry, but that is a homely dog.......

Ray

 

A LOT of customs in the late '50s/'60s, too many, made many changes for changes sake with no real eye for aesthetics. In those days, customs were judged by the number of changes made, not the resulting appearance. Somewhat understandable, because there could/would be endless bickering about the results. But that lead to an abundance of atrocious customs, most of which soon disappeared.

Nonetheless, IMO, a Custom should improve the lines of the car and not be just a means to a questionable award/trophy. Even with that consideration applied, there still remains a lot of latitude for a creative mind.

Ray