The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 1949 Chevy/GMC radio grille & ashtray - chromed or painted?

I replaced the chopped up dash board in my 49 GMC 1/2 ton with a whole one, and am ready to installl a new glove box door, radio grille, and ashtray in it. All the pieces came from different places and either they don't match now or those pieces never did and it's ok. The glove box door is stainless steel and takes a high polish. Looks great. The radio grille and ashtray were painted. Did those grille parts ever show up chrome plated or even stainless to match the glove box? There are stainless strips above and below the grille and ashtray cover. I know when the Korean war started, vehicle manufacturers cut down on chromium because of defense needs. I've been using parts from a derelict 53 suburban and all of the dash pieces are painted.

I do not believe the center piece of the radio grill was ever originally chrome or stainless, just painted. The paint continued over the stainless middle portion of the glove box cover, leaving only stainless strips top and bottom clear across. I suppose if you really like the entire glove box shiny like it is now, you could have the radio grill piece chrome plated, but I am not sure how that would match the stainless piece.

Thanks, Brian. I was doubtful that chrome would look good next to stainless. Thought if those other pieces had ever been stainless, chrome would be the nearest match.
I'm gratified to get your information about how the glove box door was painted, since I've never seen a very clear picture of the original dash scheme.

There is an excellent article on Jim Carter's Antique Truck web site. I think it is www.oldchevytrucks.com It goes into detail about the restoration of the radio grill and glove box door. You are right, the radio grill never came chromed from the factory but they sure do look good chromed. If you are going for "original" the aforementioned article will tell you how. Otherwise have it chromed.

Retread;
Did my on my '49 GMC. Looks great (I think). Check it out:
http://home.mindspring.com/~starkmr

Chrome looks fine next to polished stainless. Not knowing that they might not match, I did mine this way and they looked great next to each other.