50 -53 Willys Grill Assy

[jw1954wagon]

Asking for someone else, this appears to be a 50-53 Grill for Wagon or Truck possibly. They are interested in selling. How rare is this and what is a good value in the market today? I havent seen a lot of 5 bars out there. It doesn't have any rot and really needs a good home vs hanging on the wall.

 

[53WLLYZ]

I think it is a 50 1/2 to 52, Willys went to the 3 bar grille for the 53 model year. That said it looks pretty good aside from some surface rust on the bar. Would fit up to 56 with no problem and would work on 57 to 64 if you don't use the fresh air heater.

 

[timd32]

Grills are probably $150-$250 range.

I found atleast 6 on FB on the first page with lots more if I expand the area. But the right buyer is out there.

The later ones with the fresh air hole are more common around me.

The really nice ones are around $500, here an example off FB, (not mine)

 

[cwdtmmrs]

I think it is a 50 1/2 to 52, Willys went to the 3 bar grille for the 53 model year. That said it looks pretty good aside from some surface rust on the bar. Would fit up to 56 with no problem and would work on 57 to 64 if you don't use the fresh air heater.

I think the 3 bar grille came out in 54. Anyway, it looks like it came off of 6 cyl. The shroud isn't long enough for 4cyl. That would be 148 or a 161.

 

[hallout]

I think the 3 bar grille came out in 54. Anyway, it looks like it came off of 6 cyl. The shroud isn't long enough for 4cyl. That would be 148 or a 161.

My 53 has a 3 bar grill, so at least some of the 53s got it. It's possible some 53s didn't get the 3 bar grill because Willys was still using leftovers from previous years, as per their MO.

 

[cptlogger]

Well maybe. Your '53 might have had the grill replaced with one from a '54 at some time in it's life. They do bolt across. IIRC, '54 is the one year that had a 3 bar grill.

One of my '56s had that grill. I do know that it had been replaced at some time in it's life because the 3rd owner back from me had been in an accident & she told me so. It was done so well I never would have known otherwise. OTOH, That '56 was actually produced in '55 but titled in '56. I saw no need to correct the paperwork, neither did it's new owner when I sold it. Now, fifteen years after I sold it, it still has that grill & is registered as a '56.

Personally, I want my rigs to run well. I do not care if the grill is correct nor do I care if it has the correct horn etc. As long as the horn beeps I am fine with it. When I find a rig that is almost completely correct, I try to find someone that cares about that stuff to sell it to. The correct ones should be saved by folks who really care, not "butchered" by the likes of me.