Triumph Dolomites Wearing a Hudson Fencer's Mask

A flash styling fad in America that lasted roughly 1935-1937 was the "fencer's mask" grille that I discussed here.  Such grilles had bowed out, convex shapes that suggested fencing equipment to enough observers that the term can still be seen.

Most such grille designs were fairly sensible and modestly attractive, as you can see if you scroll through the above link.  The strangest design was found on the completely restyled 1936 Hudsons.  Descriptive terms that come to my mind include: fussy, complicated, mannered, awkward and outrageous.   Hudson management, perhaps influenced by feedback from potential buyers, saw to it that the design was toned down for 1937 and replaced in 1938.

Not everyone got the message.  A grille design almost surely inspired by Hudson's appeared about a year later on 1937 Triumph Dolomite 14/60 automobiles.  This Wikipedia entry states that this new Triumph line's design "was overseen by Donald Healey and featured a striking new design of radiator grille by Walter Belgrove."  Belgrove surely was aware of 1936 Hudson styling because Hudson was a well-known and respected American brand in England in those days.

This is documented in the images below.  While the Dolomite grille is not identical to Hudson's, the Hudson theme is clearly used.

Gallery

A photo I took of a 1936 Hudson featuring the grille.

The grille on a 1939 Triumph Dolomite 14/60 Drophead Coupé, auction photo.  Hudson similarities include the wedged waterfall central element and flanking areas with a contrasting pattern.

Another view of the same car, providing more context to the grille.

Lacking crossbars and other non-ventilating parts on the waterfall element of the 1939 grille (that first appeared for 1938) is the grille on this 1937 Dolomite 1 1/2-Litre Saloon (Bonhams photo).