36 Terraplane grille question

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Anybody know why the the outside portions of the '36T grille were painted to match the car and just the center portion was chromed?

I've seen one example where the whole thing was chromed and I thought it looked great.

jeremiah

Comments

  • dave s
    dave s Senior Contributor, Moderator
    I imagine to control costs. End of depression and there was not a lot of money around for buying new cars.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    I mentioned this before, but the center grille on the 1936, Model 61 coupe that I had, briefly, was not chromed. It was painted a silver color - I painted it with aluminum paint and it looked very nice.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • dave s
    dave s Senior Contributor, Moderator
    edited September 2011
    I have seen them plated and prefer sides painted. Looking at Scott's front end, I can see nothing wrong with painted. I hope mine comes out half as nice.

  • Richard E.
    Richard E. Senior Contributor
    When I bought my '36T 4 door sedan, a fairly original car. The center of the grill was a silver paint (per Alex) probably argent and the outside portions were the color of the car, which for mine was Glacier Blue. I have seen a lot of '36T's and this seems to be the way it was down. I chromed the center and painted outside color of car as per Dave's in the above picture.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    dave s wrote:
    I have seen them plated and prefer sides painted. Looking at Scott's front end, I can see nothing wrong with painted. I hope mine comes out half as nice.

    Who is Scott? That white car is beautiful!! Here's what I've seen. It may be a bit much for some people, but I kind of like it.

    jeremiah
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    Mine and Don Lamb's are painted. The only two 36 Sedans on the road in NYS
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Alex,

    I found this pickup that's both chromed and painted silver. Similar color to what you did?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Man! They're all beautiful in my book.
    Short ones, tall ones, skinny ones, fat ones....slim

    TriptoTravs-2008120-1.jpg
  • dave s
    dave s Senior Contributor, Moderator
    Scott White from Ohio. It is a 1936 Terraplane pickup that was feature car in the August, 2011 issue of Vintage Truck magazine. You can also view it on his webpage at http://www.whiteaeroltd.com/Terraplane.asp
    sshftn wrote:
    dave s wrote:
    I have seen them plated and prefer sides painted. Looking at Scott's front end, I can see nothing wrong with painted. I hope mine comes out half as nice.

    Who is Scott? That white car is beautiful!! Here's what I've seen. It may be a bit much for some people, but I kind of like it.

    jeremiah
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Same idea - tho reversed. The sides were the color of the car, the center grille was painted. I used aluminum which is close to what was on there already. No chrome at all on the grille.

    I wonder if that was common on the lower priced models - mine was a Model 61. Possible that those were painted - which, by extension would also apply to commercial Model 61's - while the more expensive 62's were chromed. 'tis a thought.


    It also had no water temp gage, tho it did have the usual idiot lights. Apparently came that way as there was no gauge in the instrument cluster.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    My opinion is strictly that, as I don't own a '37 (yet). Generally, I think they all look great, either with the sides painted body color, or with the argent silver.

    Specifically, I think the contrast with the body color sides and chromed center, gives the most pleasing lines, making the grille actually appear slimmer than it actually is. The slimmer lines, looks more regal, which these cars exude in spades.

    Can't really go wrong, though.
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    I guess I am with the folks that like all chrome. But, really, I just saw another opportunity to add my car photo to the list. I guess I also have to admit that mine is a Hudson---

  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Brownie-

    Since we are on the subject, and just out of curiosity, was your grille "all chrome" originally? Just trying to find out if some of them were actually done that way.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    edited September 2011
    This one says it's all original and just the outside rim is painted to match, but it's a RHD in Argentina.

  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    edited September 2011



    The British Coachbuilders did not use any consistancy when they were building their cars. One coachbuilder might chrome them (and the headlights) and one might not. Coachcraft (who built mine) did different plating on different models. All of their open cars had full chrome grills and chrome headlights. My full grill was replated two owners before I aquired it and he did the whole thing including the flashing along the side where the lights are. I kept the full chrome grill and painted the support area. I also plated the headlights because I like the way it looks.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    And only the Good Lord knows what nefarious things Hudson did in the dark of the night!!!!!

    As I've said before Dodge came up with those "Dodge - Different" commercials. Hudson was doing things differently than anybody else long, long before Dodges "Different" commercials. Like the ignition key, for example - why did Hudson, in some years, use the round head key for ignition, hex head for door, etc, locks when everybody else did it other way 'round.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
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