So I couldn't find a set of stainless steel vent window frames

[Merc Cruzer]

I have been looking for a set of stainless steel vent window frames for my 53' Mercury convertible, with no luck. They came stock on the 52' Ford and Mercury's, 2 door hardtop and convertibles, but were later changed in 52', to pot-metal, due to the shortage of stainless steel, during the Korean war.

I am not surprised as to the unsuccessful search, so I looked into having the ones on my car chromed. A place in Sacramento wanted $150 each. Another place in Ogden, wanted $600-$650 each.

Since I had a back up set, I wondered if they could be sanded and polished. I completely dissembled the frames, then sanded and polished the main piece, then reassembled the frames with new crush rivets. Bottom line is yes they can. I did the back up set first, to perfect the process, then took mine off the car, and did them. They are better than the SS trim that I removed and polished.