Design Stylists of the fifties, working with the materials / technologies available to them, the budget constraints and the timelines until production came up with a result. I imagine that management also had a say in it as well. The FJ Holden is an Aussie icon part of which is the grill design, taken as a whole it was a brilliant car for its time, it was an affordable, 6 cylinder, 5 passenger car with good fuel economy using a strong aero built body and It kept Australia moving along after the 2nd world war. Looking at the grill designs posted the word hideous comes to my mind also, bit I am reminded of a John West commercial that says "its the fish John West rejects that makes John West the best". I think the Design Stylists chose the best grill from the rest. Having grown up with the old Humppies I love them. I think a lot of Aussies do, warts and all. P.S. one thing I don't like is the way they drip oil!