Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

I have some nice headlight bezels or trim rings whatever you want to call them for my 50.But only one has a bracket to attach it to the car and I can't find replacements. I'm not sure if I even need this. But it's bugging me having the rings missing.

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Since you have an original one, looks like it's simple enough to fabricate one from a couple items from the hardware store. The cost of headlight trim rings on eBay are over the moon, even missing parts such as rubber seal, and brackets like yours.

Thanks Joe. I may have to try that. I'd just rather have OEM. But I know that's a long shot.

You might try Kanter. They show bezels on their website although sometimes their website does not keep up with inventory. It was a few years ago and as I recall, I had to wait while another batch was made for my 47 but they did arrive so maybe you will be lucky and they still offer them or have some for 50s in stock.

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I did look a Kanter's website. But I got lost fast. I'm not good with computers. And I don't really know what I'm looking for. The little dewhickey that goes in the bezel. I don't even know what to call it. But thanks for the information. I'll call them. I try to avoid calling because I'm hard of hearing and don't do well on the phone. I can't hear what they're saying. Too many years of loud music.

I think I see the issue. The bezel is held by a screw which threads into a press in capture nut and bracket that is part of the headlight bucket. That is the rusted part with nut in the left photo and it appears that item has broken spot welds and pulled off the bucket. If so and the bezels themselves are OK then you could make a repair by either drilling and using pop rivets or small sheetmetal screws to fasten the capture nut and bracket back to the bucket or maybe find another bucket that still has the hardware attached.

If the screw has rusted into the nut and cannot be removed you may need to supply a cage nut and screw. Do not recall the screw size -- probably 8 or 10-32 and I believe it takes a screw that has a head one size smaller than the screw size. Restoration Specialtiesrestorationspecialties.com has a few chrome screws with smaller head sizes and also various types of cage or capture nuts.

Check on your car and see if the little "w" shaped bracket is still on it.
It looks like on the left one, the bracket rivets pulled out. So if the right one was unscrewed, that part could still be attached to the car. There's no evidence of rivet on the right one, just a spot weld backing plate so the screw doesn't deform the thin SS.
I have rims off mine, so I can look and see how it's attached. I seem to remember though they just screw on. So the nut would be on the car, not the bezel. But it's been years, and the old man's memory fades. They're still around, but these are for 7" single lamp and are getting scarce, unless U find repops. They were made by the bulb companies, not car, if I recall and are more or less universal.