Art & Inspiration NOT a beauty contest: Pretty faces, part 3 - 1950s

As before: This isn't a contest, it's more like a conversation. I've been thinking about the cars I've seen in my life that have great faces -- grilles and headlights and stuff. I've gathered pictures of a bunch of faces that I think were outstanding designs in their era. I'm not soliciting comments on my choices, but if you'd like to add your own favorites, feel free. Stock or custom is fine.

This group is American cars 1949-57, when grilles really took on a life of their own. I'm sure there are some fans of '53 Pontiac, '55 Chevy, and others, but they're not my thing:

 

A fine group of front end designs - the 53 Studebaker is still one of my all time favorites. I also think the 56 Lincoln was very well done, even if a bit 'heavy' looking. (I need to sort out how to post pictures).

 

The 54 caddy grill is a masterpiece of chrome and style,the dagmars on the caddy give it a mean appearance but a defineable presence that not alot of cars have.

 

great thread, someone post some Hudson Hornets, i always liked the front of those cars.

 

I'm biased, but I think the '50 Dodges' had a great face.

 

Humm,

'49 Lincoln
'51 Kaiser
'53 Caddie Eldo
'55 DeSoto
'56 Lincoln Premiere
'57 Dodge & Plymouth

 

Tom and Larz, I agree that those Mopars were good-looking designs, and I've got a 4th part coming for the four-eyed era. From the '50s period when customs merged pieces from many cars, I like Spence Murray's Chevy with a Plymouth grille in a Merc housing:

 

I was worried that I might have to dig up pics of the '57 DeSoto and the '58 Plymouth to post here but I'm pleasantly surprised that they are both accounted for already. 61-62 Chrysler are also favorites of mine but if we're focusing on earlier stuff the above two are at the top of my list. I would prefer the '57 have the quad headlight option though.

As for the Caddy, I much prefer the mid-50's ones with the big Dagmars in the grille. That screamed Cadillac, where as the one pictured above (48? or 49?) is a little too generic for me.

 

You can say they're overdone, everyone has one, dare to be different, blah blah blah. But you gotta admit, this is a good looking car.

 

Harry Bradley designed and Sam Foose built 1949 Ford.
The center bullit of a 1951 Ford grille was used to built this scaled down 1949 version. The end pieces where shortened to fit in between the grille surround.
Parking lights where moved down to the reshaped bumpers.
Headlights are 52 Ford moved up and a small peak is added to the top of the front fenders. A new chrome trim piece was hand made to resemble the stock 1949 unit. but scaled done and refined.

Perfection...

Paul Kelly Photos...







Stock and custom compared

 

Rikster i would have to agree that 49 ford is a fantastic car,its radical but at the same time is very subtle and not over done,its a classy custom which looks amazing,very smooth indeed.Squawblow i think the 57 chevy is a great looking car but the 56 make better customs and the 57 make better stockers.

 

Hi, Rik, glad you joined the party! Yeah, I think Sam did a spectacular job on that car.

 

The cars in this era all had great design elements but to my eye, most of them can benefit from some customizing and swapping parts with other cars from the same era.

One that I love with no modification is the 57 Cadillac.

 

I guess it's no surprise that we own some of the cars that we put on these lists, huh?

 

yep...

 

I'm sorry, but I have aalways thought that 49 and 50 Forg grills, like the 54 Chevy PU trucks were butt ugly.

Beauty IS in the eye of the beholder.

Gimme that Stude in a heartbeat tho.....VERY pretty.

 

I like the '58 Caddy!

 

Or a '59 Chevy

 

Hey big guy, why so glum?

 

i always liked the 1950 buick

 

There has to be better wheels for that ride.

dka

 

1951 Hudson

 

oh i agree 100% its the best pic i could find,,,sorry

 

Tacky to show my own car, but I combined ingredients I like to "optimize" a '55 Ford front end, and I'm pleased with the result (concreteman photo):

 

When I decided to Kustomise the Kripple Kart, I checked out a lot of different ideas and decided to stay with the 56 grille that she came with and made me want to buy her in the first place, it's a real nice hunk of chrome. I've just put some P700 tri-bars in, shaved the turn signals, added a bit of gold annodised mesh along with a touch of "Christine".I just wanted to put one up for truck guys.





Paul

 

I prefer this one for obvious reasons.