1939 Cadillac LaSalle Coupe Grill repair

[topdog1211]

Would anyone have information that they can provide me with a referral on repairing and replating a 1939 LaSalle center grille?

Thank you,
Jerry
topdog1211
membership #34863

[Tom Boehm]

I had the grill to my 1940 Lasalle replated about 10 years ago. In my opinion, 39 and 40 grills require the most skilled craftsman to do right. It requires lots of attention to detail and lots of time. It is difficult to work between all the thin lines. Be careful who you choose. Get plenty of references and look at all their work you can. If you have confidence in the place you choose, it is worth it even though they may be very expensive. Ask to see pot metal pieces they have restored/repaired/replated.

My experience has been chrome plating is a gamble. I sent some really rough parts from the running board first as a test. I used "P's" in Evans City Pa. The first batch came back looking great. So with greater confidence I sent the rest in. I was extremely disappointed in the second batch. It looked like melted ice cream. They buffed too much between the lines and each line turned out tapered at the ends. The short version is they eventually did other pieces for me at no additional cost to me. These were barely acceptable. I was not thrilled.