Lots of chrome," is a phrase that can best describe the grille of a 1952 Buick, especially if you happen to be gazing upon it on a sunny day. Aside from the monstrous front bumper and two chrome barrels that contain the recessed turn signals, perhaps the most intriguing part of this Roadmaster's front end is the actual grille itself.
Back in the day, when vehicles were identified simply by their unique design features, Buick stood out with several immediate iconic features that can still be found on today's models. Take, for instance, the latest revival of the famed Buick VentiPorts and the ever-present tri-shield emblem. The "sweepspear" trim--later stamped body panels--also was an easy Buick identifier.
However, second only to the VentiPorts was the grille. Dubbed the "waterfall grille," it first appeared on the 1939 models. Perhaps one of the more popular Buick designs of the 1930s, the 1939 grille paved the way for its second round, which didn't arrive until 1942. Gone were the thin vertical bars, and in their place were substantially beefier three-dimensional bars set behind the bumper and equally famous Buick mustache.
Significantly more oval than its initial design, the basic 1942 grille design was first used on Harley Earl's creation, the Buick Y-Job. This grille design would be used throughout the later 1940s and early 1950s before finally being replaced in 1955. The stunning designs early on were negated by a virtual disaster in 1950 with the "Bucktooth Buick." The designers argued that the nine monstrous appendages that wrapped over the front bumper were cheaper to replace individually than as an entire assembly, but the buying public disagreed. As it turned out, so did authorized repair shops.
The oversized 1950 toothy grin was brought to an end, thanks to the 1951 redesign that, at first glance, carried straight over to this 1952 model. However, in the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi, "Your eyes can deceive you, don't trust them." While much of the trim differs between the two years, it is especially so when it comes to the grille.
In fact, the 1952 grille is different for several reasons: Most notably is the number of teeth, the nickname of the vertical grille bars themselves. Unlike the 1951's 25-tooth version, 1952's grille contains just 19 teeth. One vertical bar on each side of the grille is significantly shorter than the others due to the two outer bumper guards, which house the turn signal indicators, sitting on top of the bumper itself. These two vertical bars are held in place by one screw, have no backing, and are tailor made for the left and right side of the grille. With a lesser number of vertical bars comes a greater distance between them, in this case measuring an average of one inch. This allows for slightly more airflow to both the radiator, and the fresh air ducts, two thin-walled steel tubes, hidden behind the grille since the elimination of the cowl vent in 1942.
The vertical bars are set convexly--as they had been for several years--with a sharp bend at the top of each bar. This gave the onlooker the subtle appearance of cascading streams of chrome, which in turn, gave rise to the grille nickname.
Unbeknown to the casual observer, the vertical bars are not solid, but rather thin pieces of stainless steel molding measuring 1.12 inches wide, while 17 of them are 10.38 inches long, following the curvature. The outer two bars measure just 5.5 inches in length. Unlike the flat face of the teeth on the 1951-style grille, the 1952 version has a rounded face. Either version of the teeth has shallow depth sides, giving the onlooker an illusion of each one being a solid piece.
Behind the stainless steel trim sits a steel foundation for each bar, surrounded by an equally well-crafted steel frame. Each vertical chrome bar is held tightly in place by a metal tab at each end, while the vertical foundation is spot-welded at both ends to the surrounding frame. The overall width of the grille body measures 34.38 inches from the two outermost full-length vertical bars, with the trim molding in place.
The grille's frame itself has two surfaces to firmly hold it into place, the first of which is located at the bottom of the frame, with three steel tabs that slide underneath the top of the front bumper. Three screws, each 3/8-inch thread and 7/8-inch long, are used to hold the bottom of the grille frame in place. The inner bumper guards hide two of the screws, while one is placed in the top-center of the bumper. Small rubber shims prevent unwanted rattles. The top of the grille frame is held in place by two mounting screws, measuring the same as the bottom screws, on the far ends of the frame. Each end is attached to the backside of the outer bumper guards that, as mentioned, house the turn signal indicators. To cover this otherwise unsightly junction, Buick used a decorative upper grille bar, also called the mustache. Made from pot metal, this fragile and often hard-to-find piece could be considered by some to be part of the grille. However, this three-piece assembly is not part of the grille body itself.
There were subtle differences even within the 1952 Buick line. The featured Roadmaster grille will fit the larger series Buicks only, meaning that it shared its grille with the Super. The Special was the small series, and with its smaller designation, had smaller body proportions. In other words, while looking quite similar, the grille from a Special will not fit the larger series.
This is important when it comes to repairs or a restoration. Currently, the 1952 Buick grille is not being reproduced. Finding a proper fitting grille body will take some effort, especially with NOS parts becoming rapidly harder to find, though it's not impossible. While generally replaced as a single assembly, certain pieces of the grille can be found separately, such as the half-teeth above the turn signals. Perhaps the hardest pieces to find are NOS grille moldings (the teeth). Each piece can be replaced individually if they are damaged, and all 17 are interchangeable with each other. However, replating the grille moldings in many cases may be your best bet.
Today, the Buick's grille of the early 1950s can still be seen. It began its return in the late 1970s, especially on the Regal and Riviera models. Always visible front and center, today's "waterfall" grille is only a shadow of its former self that still manages to announce to oncoming traffic that they are looking at a Buick.
This article originally appeared in the July, 2006 issue of Hemmings Motor News.
Order Backissues of Hemmings Motor News
Subscribe to Hemmings Motor News