Hang tough, Hotdamn, do not cut it up. Don't shorten it, don't fuck up the rear end, don't destroy what you have to make all the lines line up. What will be the next suggestion from guys who don't understand or even like customs? Build it back stock?
Who pissed in yer wheaties? Most of us are just discussing the possibilities like we do on most threads.
Haha no worries my man, the more I dig into and sit with it the more I just want to finish what Chris started. I always deeply valued his creativity and how he wasn’t scared to cut a car 6 ways from Sunday. So for me this car is continuing his legacy and preserving a piece of my own history. I greatly appreciate everyone’s suggestions and frankly I think there’s been some really good ones but I want to finish this car, not build it if that makes sense? If I didn’t know the history on it then eh, it’s fair game I spose but knowing the history and Chris having had such an impact on me I feel like this is how it needs to go. That said there still plenty of things to finish and address before it gets there!!
The only thing cooler than cool cars are cool friends. The fact that you are motivated by the memory of a buddy and want to complete his vision for this car brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. We all love the car life but the friends we share it with along the way are what gives it soul. Grab a chair and a cold one. Sit down beside that project, remember Chris, and power forward together. Tim
HotDamn, man that car is cooler'n shit! Although it's not for everyone, it's not everyone's car... You like it enough to save it and I applaud you for that! For what it's worth, I vote take what you have, add the spirit of the designer and just keep going... refine the design, it'll be awesome! Oh and I like the long deck lid, and Merc lenses... maybe some thin polished stainless for accent and convert the port-holes to exhaust ports. Any ideas for bumpers? I'm eager to watch the progress!
Ive read thru this thread a few times, it's growing on me. Not that it really matters what I think. I'd get it running, driving, figure out glass etc, before changing anything else on the body. There's a lot of work getting all the other stuff sorted. Getting it out and showing it off is a great tribute to your friend. This area has me stumped, either close out the front of the quarter panel bubble or blend the door up to it. Putting a blend / rise on the door top kinda kills that nice swoop it has with the bodyline.
This seems like the way to go then, and I hope it comes together just as the original builder had intended.
I think you could build the door top up, keeping the window sill flowing front to back, while also keeping the swoop. Piss poor photoshop attached.
I think this is one of those things that doesn’t translate so well in a picture. There actually a scoop of sorts there coming off the quarter, i think it works well in person but I can see where it may look weird if you haven’t seen it in person. and I completely agree, I want to get it sorted mechanically, get the glass nailed down and then worry about all of the stuff with the body.
Chris Pekarek was from Long Island and was hands down one of the coolest dudes I’ve ever known. He oozed style in everything he did. he was extremely creative, was very comfortable getting waaaay outside the box (this wasn’t the wildest car he ever built) He was good dude, shared information freely, was always happy to answer my ridiculous questions and was 100% a car guy through and through. He worked for Master Power Brakes for years, eventually went out of his own. He was also a family man. He had a wonderful wife and 2 kids that were the only things more important to him than cars.
the portholes are intended to be exhaust ports!!! as for the bumpers the rear one has been molded in and I’m not 100% certain what the plan is on the front one yet. While I do think a stock one would work I feel the cars a little too wild to have just a stock 57 bumper
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/joannes-dream-54-olds-on-the-block.1041012/ ...and a Thread with a YT link to the restoration...
Just wanted to show a better pic of the scoops Also I don’t think I showed earlier but the hood has been suicided as well. and she’s dirty but it’s a ultra high compression 394 olds! and here’s a pic of the hood hinges, not sure where he got them from but they work great
The Jalopy Journal
