During 1941--when most U.S. 1942 models were introduced, there was no need to paint the trim. The country did not feel at war until 7 December. I think I have read on the web someshere the exact date that various marques quit producing passenger cars, and I assume for this model it was very early in 1942--probably AFTER this beauty (#161) was produced.
Here's what I sincerely believe occurred, and it speaks to both the plastic, the metal substitution, and the painted-over trim pieces. Chromium was already in shorter supply, and nickel had been used for trim in the 1920s and some in the 1930s. Some trim pieces were nickel, some even stayed in a base-metal alloy (cheap looking, also called pot-metal). Now plastic was not so common then, it was also not so malleable (look up "Bakelite" sometime). So it would have been scarce and ill-suited to this grille. Painted metal instead of ANY chrome trim came on in late 1942, then 1943-4-5, when the only U.S. production of civilian-type passenger cars was limited to military staff cars and a few exceptions such as medical doctors, etc. No chromium or nickel could be used. Trim and even hubcaps and bumpers were then painted with the body color paint. There are thousands of Plymouths, Packards and Buicks seen on the web with that treatment--it also was important that the cars not be shiny--snipers? Anyway, this pic makes me want to look further and see whether the beige colored grille bars are backed up by a clear story! By the way, you should see a rear view, the woodwork is very rounded and extreme on the 1942 T&C, unlike any later Woody Chryslers.
