The grille pieces on my Stude are in really bad shape and being pot metal aren't super straight. Rechroming is beaucoup deniro, almost as much as I paid for the car when I first bought it. I'll pop for chrome on the bumpers because we can make then super straight and I plan to weld in the bolts and smooth the bumpers but the grille surrounds are another story. I have considered painting them body color. Here's a photoshop of a similar car with chrome and with paint. THIS IS NOT MY CAR. I repeat, THIS IS NOT MY CAR. Mine may never be this nice. I am planning a similar color scheme but in Seafoam Green. Body color or...................?
I dig the body color header panel. You can always change it later when you hit the lotto. I've also seen some decent looking powder coating that looks like chrome from a few feet away.
i think the average guy would never know , probably only Studebaker restorers would point it out. it looks fine to me painted
Body color looks cool and the reality of it is that you'll probably never be parked next to another one so who'll know the difference?
Just an FYI, the guy that really designed the '53 Studebakers, Robert Bourke, originally intended the '55 grille to be painted. The Stude execs insisted on chrome.
As much as I hate to admit it, I have always thought that massive chunk of pot metal should have been painted from the start. Getting all that square footage of rotten pot metal to not have any blisters would be a feat in itself, let alone getting it straight.
I had never thought of that on one of those. I can't believe what a difference it makes. Looks good. Go for it.
Wow,the body color one looks so kool it actually makes the factory original look wrong Who'da thunk it ? Paul
Try This http://coatofchrome.com/ My opinion is that cars from the 50s were the kings of chrome and that's what they should have.
I like shiney things. I'd chrome everything if as you note, I could afford it. Since it seems that you can't afford it either, your option to paint at least works in this instance.
IMO it looks better w/out that chunk of chrome. Studes could make nice custom/cruisers, but theyre often overlooked!
WAY better painted. Painted trim/bumpbers doesn't offend me on the right car, and your's is the right car. Brian
Rude, I think your problem is that you want to have it rechromed with De Niro. Chrome plating will probably work a little better than trying to stuff Travis Bickle in the chrome tank. Oh wait...dinero. I get it...! Yep- one of THEM days...
I'd love nothing better but no can do here in Illinois. You can't even have anything hanging from your inside rearview mirror anymore. Oops, but either way I still couldn't afford it.
Looks great painted. You might think about moving the parking lights down to the bumper. Just an idea.
No way I'm tempting fate by not running a plate on front. I got nailed by an ISP Stormtrooper a few years back for "improper use of registration" because I was driving my '62 Impala with antique plates but wasn't going to or from a show, parade, having it serviced blah, blah, blah. The way he ripped me you'd have thought I'd run down his Mother.
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