Bugeye dash grab handle

[TulsaFred]

I'm working on my dashboard, and my grab handle is a little pitted. A couple of questions:

1. Are the repro grab handles any good?

2. How is the grab handle installed? On mine there is an old piece of plywood behind the dash acting as a backer to the grab handle. What does it look like originally?

thanks!
Fred

 

[Gerard]

From memory... laminated plywood, double thick around the edges, making a pocket in the center. The corners are cut off at 45 degree angle as I recall. Only two holes for thru pegs.

 

[ichthos]

I have two bugs. Mine both came with the set up that Trevor described.
Kevin

 

[smaceng]

Interesting enough, when a radio is fitted, most often the plywood piece needs to have a chunk cut out of it!

 

[Jimflorida]

I am having mine re-chromed. Haven't gotten it back yet, but the cost was $65 or $75. Jim

 

[TulsaFred]

Well, I guess my wood backer for the grab handle is original, since it is as described. It does have a chunk cut out of the corner for the radio, too!
It's delaminating, so maybe I'll try to re-glue it and reuse.

Jim, are you having your grab handle rechromed because you don't like the quality of the repros?

thanks
Fred

 

[Jimflorida]

Well, I already had the grab bar, and figured that a good chrome job would probably be nicer than a repro. Don't know yet if I that will in fact turn out to be right or not. Probably won't make a whole lot of difference. It's not like I have a show car. Jim