This post features an Oldsmobile grille theme that lasted 1946-1957. I include grilles preceding and following that era to provide a little context for the theme.
Olds grilles in those years were simple in concept, framing being roughly semi- or completely oval -- deviations should be obvious in the images below.
I wrote about "The 1942 Oldsmobile's Complicated Grille" here.
That grille design was abandoned when car production resumed after World War 2. Framing might be characterized as "a flattened half oval, side and ends." This simple design theme evolved over the next 11 model years.
The design was only slightly changed for 1947.
Top-of-the-line Olds Ninety-Eights got General Motors' new, postwar C-bodies for 1948. The grille is simplified, and more oval if the "whisker" extensions of the upper frame are disregarded.
Lesser Olds' were redesigned the following model year and inherited the grille of the previous image.
Same design as for 1949, though Olds Ninety Eights had slightly different front bumpers.
Framing reverts to 1946-47 style, along with a new for '51 body design..
And essentially continues for '52.
Final year for pre-1954 bodies. Note the oval decorations on the bumper guards.
For '54 Olds got General Motors' new "futuristic" bodies with panoramic/wraparound windshields. For brand continuity purposes, carryover items included grille framing and those oval bumper guards.
Major frontal facelift for 1955. The grille opening is oval, as are the bumper guard caps.
Another facelift. Grille opening is nearly oval, but bumper guards and their ovals are missing.
Redesigned body, but the oval grill shape is retained.
All that is gone on 1958 Oldsmobiles.
2 comments:
The 1946-1953 Olds always looked sad or discontented due to that grille.
The 1958 is crucially lacking the chrome bar across the bottom edge of the hood connecting the side bars which would make it somewhat more like the previous designs. It does have the traditional high mounted round tail lights though, plus tons of extra chrome.
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