1936 Buick Grille

This 1936 Buick grille is made entirely of pot metal, a material known for severe pitting, corrosion, and deterioration over time. To begin the restoration, the grille was electro-stripped to bare metal and glass bead blasted to create a clean foundation for repair.

Inspection revealed extensive pitting, several bent grille bars, and a crack in the lower center section. The bars were carefully straightened and aligned, while the crack was reinforced using a copper cable embedded into the repair area. The grille was then copper plated to seal the pot metal and prepare it for solder repairs.

Once the structural repairs were completed, the grille underwent multiple stages of sanding, copper plating, and surface refinement to eliminate imperfections and restore crisp body lines. Every visible surface, including the sides of the grille bars, was meticulously finished to ensure a consistent appearance throughout.

After final polishing to a mirror finish, the grille received nickel and chrome plating. An auxiliary anode was used during chrome plating to ensure complete coverage between the tightly spaced grille bars.

The result is a flawless restoration with no visible trace of the original damage. Once heavily pitted, cracked, and bent, this 1936 Buick grille now serves as a show-quality centerpiece worthy of the vehicle it was built for.