The CF Bedford Rebuild Begins

Part 14: The rebuild starts - XC Fairmont grill and headlights

I wanted to keep the original Bedford grill for some reason, for my last custom CF Bedford I used a XC Ford Fairmount grill with rectangle headlights.
So keeping the grill I could add an extra set of lights and still retain the Bedford look.

Well I started to do one side and after tacking it all in I stood back and thought hmmmm. Looking at the two images above I reckon the single headlights may have the better look.

I guess it may look different with the bonnet and front spoiler but am really undecided on this. I really need the front wheels to set the headlight heights so may leave the grill for now.

I've decided I don't like the twin round headlights now, am going to find a XC Fairmont grill.

Updated: I finally found a black XC Ford Fairmount grill with rectangle headlights :)

The XC Falcon grill was used a lot in the 80's, it is a nice shape and doesn't require a lot of work to fit in the hole. Cut the headlight panels out, widen the hole, make some mounts ...

I wanted to weld in the panel between the bonnet and grill but if I do I wont be able to get the grill in and out.

I ended up welding the strip between bonnet and grill to the bottom of the bonnet, this way I only get the one gap (above the grill) which I would of had anyways.

I was stuck for a while as I hadn't done the front spoiler, once that was mocked up the grill kind of fell into place. The biggest problem I had was fitting and removing the grill. The headlights are mounted to the grill which I didn't really want to cut. I ended up mounting the headlights seperate and cutting the grill, now it just slides in and out if needed.

The front spoiler page (page 22) has a better front on picture