FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

This will be an easy one for the Gurus.......

Did the FC front bumper come with a number plate surround?  I just got a heap of spares and all the bumpers - front and rear - have the big chrome surround.  All these parts are supposed to be from an FC special but I got a feeling there is a  lot of FE stuff too.

Cheers Nige

nige  
fc doesnt have number plate surround on front  but does  on back
i think front & back surrounds are the same (one for the real gurus?)

 trev

I've been told that the chrome front surrounds were sold as a accessory for FC.
Front and rear are the same. ;)
ACE 8)

hope your right ace    mines got one on the front bumper but its not on the fc accessory brochure
 cheers trev

My June '59 original doesn't have a surround on the front bumper - see pic on the left

If they were sold as accessories then that's news to me.  Of course, they were a standard available part, being used on the back bumper of all FE and FC Sedans and Wagons, so you could certainly buy them over the counter at the local dealer.  But you'd have to drill holes in the front bumper - "Hello, Mr Rust", not to mention "Hello Mr Cracked and Peeling Chrome" - unless you replaced the centre bar with a rear one (front and rear is the same part - only the ends are different), and then you're talking about cracking the rivets that hold the bumper together as well.  You'd have to be awfully keen ::)
And speaking of awful, that's how FCs with number plate over-riders look - sorry Trev! - because they're just too much with the heavier, lower FC grille.

I think it's far more likely that FCs getting about with number plate over-riders are doing so because the bumper was replaced with an FE unit.

cheers
RET

very hurtful  ret :'(    it was on the wgn when i bought it...i like it...even if it is off the lesser model
  :D   cheers trev

Sorry Trev.  Will a hug make it all better? ;D

People have been drilling holes in Bumper Bars for years, and if it is treated properly there is no problem.
I think "Holden" used to sell anything they could as an accessory. :)
Have a look in the original advertisements and brochures section with the heading "NASCO"
Yes it's an FC with a chrome number plate surround attached to the front bumper bar. :)
Regards ACE 8)

For the benefit of RET and Ace's discussion:

I have a June 1958 issue of Modern Motor magazine that features the "New 1958 Holden" on the front cover and in an article inside. The front bumper bar is definitely "clean", i.e. no number plate surround.

I can't prove it - no digital camera (can't afford one - all my money goes into the car)

Martin

haha  thanx ret    all better now :D :D

martain not only have ewe got a incomplete fc but ewe too tight to buy a digi camera  ;D ;D ;D ;D





kiwi bird with digi camera

If I had an FC with no numberplate surround on the front then I would leave it that way, I would not drill the centre bar just for the sake of putting one on, as they were not used in production on FC front.

If however there was one on there when I got the car, then I would probably leave it on there.
I reckon it would be harder to find an original undrilled FC front centre bar than a drilled one.

Gary

Nige
     For what its worth I am with Ret on this one. To the best of my knowledge the FC front bar was bare with no overider's or number plate surround.
Just one more reason why they are Fairly Common.


Cheers
Sarge

no  no   no  sarge     no number plate frame but fc s do have over riders.....& lots of other UP-MARKET FEATURES
if they made fe premiers,  the fc would be it!!
  ;D ;D trev
ps  nige   you said this was an easy question to answer ???

I have a accessories booklet from C.V.Holland Holden Dealers of Rockdale Dated 1st May,1959.
With the heading RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR NEW HOLDEN.
One of the accessories listed in this booklet is "Licence Plate Guard" ;D
Now to answer you question again Nige. Yes the licence plate guard was an accessory for FCs ;)
I've had 4 FCs over the years with these fitted and still have 1 now but i wouldn't go and fit one to a FC that didn't have one. ;)
Regards  ACE 8)

Kiwi

Ozzie birds don't really need cameras because:

1. we always tell the truth and don't need evidence;  and
2.  we can read words and don't need to read the pictures (except, of course, in some "special" magazines)

Martin

Reader of words

I'm with Richard on this one. I do not believe any FC rolled out of the factory with a front # plate guard fitted. Sure, Holden dealers such as CV Holland may have fitted them, but the same Holden dealer could have fitted a Vauxhall bonnet emblem....wouldn't mean it belonged on an FC....even if it is a Nasco part.
This debate is all speculative as there are many examples: FC fins on FE's. Tilly flashes fitted by dealers, etc. Dealers did what the customer asked and if they could make a buck they would.
Regards
Alex

which is a good point martain BUT
ewe is from south australia and can only take photo TO REMEMBER when ewes had the grand prix
2/ ewe is too old to look at them magazines unless the viagarara had kucked in







kiwi virile young bird !!!!!!!!!!

custom_fc,
I didn't say that FCs rolled out of the factory with a "LICENCE PLATE GUARD" fitted!
I said they were sold as a accessory!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Regards ACE 8)

gday guys
sorry .... but cathy knows how much i like shiny chrome bits so she bought me the surround. i went out drilled two holes in the front bumper & bolted it on.
                     I LIKE IT
the wagon looks naked without it
                         8) 8) 8)

A number of FC's did get number plate frames fitted by dealers, just as FE's got FC rear fins fitted.  They are not a genuine accessory, but then neither are Wilsonia guages and they are certainly popular!!!
The thing to note here is that FE standards and commercials did not have the number plate frame fitted but they DID have the holes in the bumper bar for it to be fitted if desired.  This is a mistake that a lot of restorers make (myself included on the 3 door FE van) that the front bar should have holes in it for the frame.
Ken