56 bird restoration of chrome/stainless trim

[Paddywake]

I own a 56 bird and im getting it ready for a semi/full restoration. Im trying to save money and im getting ready to de-trim the car and get it ready for paint and body work. If its stainless, I plan on buffing with a buffing wheel and compound. I really would rather not pay to chrome all those little pieces.

Is the trim stainless or chrome plated?

By trim I mean:

• all the trim around the windshield (inside and out),
• outside door handles,
• the trim around the top of the door/windows,
• wind wings frames,
• Tail lights
• all six anchor plates for hard/soft top hooks

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[Dale Leonard]

Take a magnet and check to see if it sticks to the pieces that you are talking about. If no rust and no pitting then they are probably stainless.

 

[Hadderz]

I've used a buffing wheel on most of my side trims (1962 Bird) as they were stainless. Cleaned up prety well too! My headlight surrounds were a sort of alloy chromed affair which I thing are a cast 'pig iron', often used on badges too. Don't use too much force on this type as its brittle and you can burn through the chrome outer.

 

[CSPIDY]

The stainless steel was chromed from the factory when new