VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 '48 Fleet with a '42 Grille???

Greetings all! I'm new to the forum, and new to my obsession with 2-door Fleetlines!

Here's the deal: I'm looking at buying a Fleet which is advertised as a '48, but this car's got a '42 grille (and the kid that owns it apparently doesn't know the difference).

So, here's the first things I'm needing help with from all of you authorities out there:
First, how many grille designs were there on the '42-'48 2-doors? I've noticed three...the '42s, the '47-'48, and something else that I'm assuming is the '46.

Second, are there any logical explanations (factory wise) for this grille ending up on this car? Or perhaps a repair decades ago that led to the wrong grille being put on this car? Are they interchangeable? What about turn signals/wiring? They're in different locations...weren't the wire lengths different?

Third, are the fenders the same for '42, and '46-'48?

And lastly, I want to ask the owner to e-mail me pics of all the numbers (pillar, tag in engine compartment, etc). So, where are they all, and how many different number sets should I be asking for?

He claims that it's the original engine that's been rebuilt, and that the numbers match.

Sorry for the "windy" post, but you can now see where I'm coming from.

Thanks for all the help!

Steve in San Jose

By the way, I realize the fenders are the same with regard to the tooling they were formed with...what I meant was, were there subtle cutout differences as they related to the grille changes and turn signals through the years? The grilles seem to "lay" into the fenders differently.

Thanks again!

The grill is a different style on every year...You can look at them by checking photos of pic's on your PC...Just type them in...None had what you refer to as turn signals...That's something you had to add yourself via the parking lights...'42 grill on a '48...? Got me stumped on that one...Didn't think that was possible...Maybe a '41...? Still don't think it would work...

As far as fenders, '42 only, '46 only, '47/'48 same. You have it correct in your second post.

The cowl tag on the passenger side upper firewall will give you the year and body style and color and trim color. The car id is on the passenger side pillar. The engine id is stamped on a pad just to the left of the distributer.

Good luck and welcome.

If the car was a 1942 the serial number plate would be under the floor mat, right side, next to the door opening.
If a 1946-1948 it will be on the right front door hinge pllar.
If it is a 1948 (or 1949) block there will be a raised circle next to the fuel pump with an * in the center. Also will have the mini-8MM spark plugsif head is correct.

Don't "show-off" that 8MM plug, lest you want to be "laughing stock"...lol Screw them back in carefully...

Great stuff. I have my investigative work cut out for me.

Near as I can tell, the '48 grille looks much like the '47 but with a large vertical bar down the middle....does this sound about right?

Yes...

The parking lights are smaller on the 46, compared to the 47-48.