You might try painting it with a clear coat paint. Talk to a local painter or the paint jobber where you buy the paint about the exact prep you'll need to do.

look into some of the chrome spray paints like from rust oleum, some when applied right really look like the part has been chrome plated, I have used this paint with good results and a lot cheaper then having the part plated. 

Posted by: @dennis-zelman

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look into some of the chrome spray paints like from rust oleum, some when applied right really look like the part has been chrome plated, I have used this paint with good results and a lot cheaper then having the part plated. 

What paint did you use? I've never seen a "chrome" paint that actually looks like chrome.

There was a spray chrome Jay Leno was endorsing and he did a video on it showing how to use it. It has been several years but you might be able to still find it.

Dave

Posted by: @david-dunton

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There was a spray chrome Jay Leno was endorsing and he did a video on it showing how to use it. It has been several years but you might be able to still find it.

Dave

I remember that. I believe it was a coating for chromed interior parts (knob, handles, levers etc.) if I remember right. It's a coating but not paint and, if memory serves correctly, not intended for anything exposed to the weather. I looked for the video you mention and can't find it. I did find an AACA thread discussing the stuff. The video attached to the thread isn't available. Reading the thread I see the stuff is not what it was originally thought to be. <CLICK>

@tiny

With my bumper I went down the road of 'chrome' spray paint.  That was to far gone to save and I wanted it at least silver.  My experience was that Silver paint looked better than the fake chrome. 

We are still debating on what to do with this grill.  One of the kids said it may be best just to clean it up every so often and let it be.  Better looking old than fake.   Might go with that.  

I go to Lowes and get METALLIC spray paint and have at it if I do not want it just a two tone color scheme to accent the body color.

I had rusty grill and other metal rust on my 41. I have successfully improved the appearance considerably using very fine steel wool available at Lowes. I put several drops of oil on a small pad of the steel wool and scrub it. It takes the rusty color from some of the pieces, but of course, can't do anything for the pits. I would try it to see the result. Mine appears much better now. My car is not a show car, but a survivor so the appearance isn't that critical. The obvious best fix is to have it re-chromed, but I suspect that could get expensive.

Thinking outside the box here.  Wondering if using aluminum peel and stick duct tape would work for a driver quality fix?  During the Covid lock down I spent time making a variety of yard ornament whirly gigs.  One made used an old bicycle wheel without the tire.  Copper foil tape was used to make the “prop”.  After nearly 4 years the tape and shine has held up very well despite being outdoors nearly the entire time.  The attached photo shows it soon after completion.  Today it looks much the same.  My guess is the shiny aluminum peel and stick duct tape would weather at least as good?  Using the tape can be tricky, but a bit of practice and some “do overs”, as needed, got the job done.