Early 1946 Mercury grill surround question
 

A friend gave me a ad for the 1946-48 Mercury. The grill surround is painted and has 3 ribs on the sides of the surround . I first thought that it was an Artist rendition. Then on the HAMB I saw on the 1941-48 Ford Mercury picture thread a 46? With the grill painted the same color as the car . If also had 3 ribs on each side of the surround . So were the first 46 Mercurys have a painted grill surround ?

Re: Early 1946 Mercury grill surround question
 

A friend of mine had a 46 Mercury convertible, the grille surround was body color & the 3 ribs were chrome.

Re: Early 1946 Mercury grill surround question
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1773744337

1946 Mercury Sedan Coupe showing correct painted Grille Surround.

Re: Early 1946 Mercury grill surround question
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1773744760

1946 Mercury Front End

Re: Early 1946 Mercury grill surround question
 

Thank you everyone for your input and pictures

Re: Early 1946 Mercury grill surround question
 

Photo of my recently finished ‘46 below. It has a serial number that is pretty late in the year. A few years ago, I saw a coupe just like it with the ‘46 grill features, and the owner got a bit testy with me when I said I liked his ‘46. He corrected me and said it was a ‘47 and he had the title to prove it. I can only assume that it was an early ‘47, with carry-over ‘46 grill pieces. I can’t recall checking door locks, headlight rims or horn button, etc. to see if they were indicative of a ‘47. He was so grumpy that I moved on.

I think the chrome ‘47-‘48 grill surrounds are a bit too much, and I prefer the look of ‘46s. But I’m biased…and I’d love to have a ‘48 convertible.

Re: Early 1946 Mercury grill surround question
 

Re: Early 1946 Mercury grill surround question
 

Thank you everyone. For clearing up this for me and hopefully others . I don’t understand grumpy people. I feel like if they were to gently inform and educate others about their car instead of growling at them . There might be more old car enthusiasts. But that’s just my opinion. I have a small home made tractor that I bought from a friend. He was the second owner. I put an engine on it that it was built for and a large cooling tank . I was at a tractor show . A guy walked up and proceeded to tell me everything that was wrong with it . After he left an older gentleman walked up who pieced together motorcycles from the 30’s and 40’s . He studied it from front to back . Asking questions about what was used to build it . I answered the best I could. He gave it 2 thumbs up before he walked away. It made my day . I really miss Bud .

Re: Early 1946 Mercury grill surround question
 

'46 and '47 Mercurys (until April of '47) had body color grille surrounds with three chrome bullets on each side.

Re: Early 1946 Mercury grill surround question
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1774490665

In addition to the Chrome Grille surround, the Late 1947 - 1948 Mercurys also got a short chrome strip on the Hood plus a Mercury nameplate.

Re: Early 1946 Mercury grill surround question
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1774491169

Close up of Australian 1948 Mercury showing revised strips on Hood.
Note, all Australian 1946-1948 Mercurys got modified 1946 Ford Bumper Guards.