Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Giles 4]

Radiator styles.

The most easily distinguished feature of older cars is the radiator or its grill - one glance often establishes the maker and often the model.

Has anybody thought of producing an illustraed guide to these? The old Children's Encyclopaedia edited by Arthur Mee had at leat one page of illsutrations including such long-gone marques as Bean, Arrol-Johnson, Swift etc.

This book is long out of print and something comprehensive and brought up-to-date would surely be very welcome to many enthusiasts. I live by a road sometimes used by older vehicles on their way to rallies and am often intrigued by an unknown or long-forgotten radiator.

Such a volume if produced would surely be of great interest to many

Giles4

[PAUL BEAUMONT]

Sounds like you got yourself a project!!
Paul

[poodge]

Depending on how far back you want to go,this would be a volume of monumental proportions.Certainly an interesting idea,as the grille is one of the main parts of recognition.
Another part possibly useful would be taillights.This would be somewhat smaller,as most of manufacturers bought in taillights from an outside source.But most were of an individual style,at least from about the 30's onwards.

[Giles 4]

Yes - tail lights another very distinctive feature. We often followed other vehicles for miles -sometimes far too many miles if we were in a hurry and the other driver wasn't- whereas radiators flashed by in the opposite direction.

No doubt any collection on either subject might need dividing into volumes. I do wish someone would do it!

Giles4

[peter scott]

Hi Giles,

Welcome to the forum. A good suggestion and as Paul suggests "it sounds like you've got yourself a project!"

Poodge has also highlighted the equally important view from the rear so in boringly predictable style I have to add the importance of the side view and the identification of hubs.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Giles 4]

Something about the size of the Encyclopaedia Britannica seems to be evolving!

ATB

Giles 4

[Rick]

So are you planning on creating such a book?

R
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[Nic Jarman]

This is close.
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1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

[Brian M]

For me a book would be useless, I need a searchable database.

When I see one of Rick's mystery cars, one or two makes may come to mind and so I check my copy of Georgano's and if I am wrong, I have to give up.

Now a database, using physical attributes, (round top, square top, curved top corners, central vertical divider, vertical or horizontal slats, etc etc) would present the nearest 10 matches from which the correct radiator could be selected.
_________________
Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

[Giles 4]

No not planning to compile the book myself - though might have done twenty years ago. There are plenty of sources and references but they are rather scattered and would need a greatd eal of organizing.

The database idea is good - one that a number of people could chip into. Some care would be needed about using (or not using) copyright material

[doctorwhen]

I wonder someone really clever could use that "face recognition" technology they use for Passport metrics and the like to make an automated database?

That way, you could snap a camera-phone photo of a car's front or rear and upload it for instant clarification!

Now there's a challenge!