Customs Trying to decide on a grille for mama's 55 Custom

The key is getting her what she likes. She doesn’t really care about if it has been overdone or not. Customs are all new to her. She just wants what makes her happy and I can understand that. At the end of the day, if she is happy with the end product then she will have ownership. Otherwise, it’s another one of my projects.

 

I haven't followed everything about this build of yours. Are you headed into a lot of custom body mods or just some mild clean up stuff? Grill, taillights, nose-n-deck stuff.

 

The 55/56 fords are pretty spot on styling wise from the factory IMO. Do a little lowering and the right hubcaps and you're golden. Maybe some Lee Lenses or wagon tail lights and a deck and nose if you wanna go a little more and call it a day.

 

I agree with less is best. I have seen the 54 Pontiac grill in more wrong cars than right ones.

 

It’s a mild custom, just nosed and decked, maybe shave the handles etc. it will be lowered and have lake pipes. Maybe a few body mods like frenched antenna etc. and of course a grille swap.

 

The grille pictured is a '55 model year, not a '56. The side bars are the same, but the center piece on a '56 has blunt front with a mesh insert. However, either one would look good. The below pic shows the center piece difference.

 

I like that plan. I've still been looking for a photo of this grill in a 55-56 Ford. I know it's been done and thought it was a pretty good choice at that time.

 

I know a lot of guys love the desoto grille, but I have always think they look too fat for anything except a Merc. I think the shapes need to compliment the lines of the car.

 

Here's one that's sort of like a '55-'56 Plymouth grille, but it isn't.

It is a narrowed-in-the-center '56 Studebaker sedan (non-Hawk) grille. I deleted the mesh, but you can still see it reflected in the top of the Stude grille bar..

It's kind of a quickie photoshop, so don't be too hard on it!

 

Use anything except draw pulls.

 

Ford in '55 has a floating bar, '56 the Beautiful 'shark' style. My '54 Ford grille has been used in '49-'50 Mercs without the center 'bullet'...Very 'tasty', 2 Barris Mercs used that one.
The '55 has a 'bigger bite' than a Merc, so something like the '56 Plymouth fits nicely.
ANYTHING but that hideous 'bar grille' in post #15. (no offense, just hate it)

 

Clean and subtle, fits nice in the wide opening of the 55-56 also.

 

You'd need a quartet of early Stude C/K pans to pull off that look. Good luck finding them affordably!

 

I like the stock grill to be different cut out the crate looking materal in the center and replace it with 2 or 3 tubes.

 

@Roothawg

I bet about now you are sorry you asked the question....

 

I like the look of a simple tube grill best in a 55 or 56. Funny but I think the 55 ford had one of the best grills ever. I put one in a 53 ford once. Wish I had a picture of it.