Shortened Cars

You have no idea what went into building this car.He built it all in his garage with a limited amount of tools. I guess if everyones car looked the same it would be a pretty fucking boring world.

 

Has it been painted yet? It's hard to get a good grasp on the proportions with the patchwork.

 

Nope.No paint yet.It's looks the same as it did at the Hot Rod a Rama.Plans are to paint the top black with a white bottom.He ended up cutting 36" off the back of the car and moving the rear wheels forward 27".I think.I can't remember the exact numbers.The only part of the original floor boards that's left is a section about 2 feet long behind where the rear seat would have been.He made all of this and the wheel wells by bending the steel over the side of his work bench.The ribs on the tailgate is the section that was removed from the roof.it kinda gives it a Nomad look.The list goes on and on.

 

I've seen a few shortened tri-five Chevys. I've seen a shortened 69 Nova. I've seen double ended vehicles too, but I never thought they were worth a picture, never mind actually building one!

 

I don't get it. With the exception of a couple of those cars, what is the purpose of shortening. Like I said, with the exception of the Hupster and maybe the '62 wagon, I don't think it looks so good.

My two cents.

 

I think this one turned out nice ....



(346)

 

How about a good profile view in primer?

 

That's all I've got right now.I'll see if he's got any,and I'll post them

 

Here is a Dodge I built for a guy back in the early 90's. It was shortened 8" behind the door. (among other things) Not H.A.M.B friendly but when I did this for a living I did whatever the customer wanted and was happy doing so. Unfortunately he had an inexpensive paint job put on it before the body was ready (gaps etc).













Check out the airbrushed bumper.....

 

Personally - I don't get it!

 

There is a 59 Chevy shorty wagon that runs around Spokane...I have never got close enough to it to takes pictures due to my overwhelming fear of the clowns that could pop out of it!

 

Well, he won't see another one like it at any car show he goes to, will he?

Just like this guy .....



(355)

 

I wonder why he didn't section it too.

(356)

 

In general this is obviously a bad idea. However if anybody can find photos of of Joaquin Arnettes '34 then you will see that this can be done and still look good. Sorry if this has already been mentioned.

 

That car is a local car. He also has a red one. There was a article a few years back in a local newspaper about the cars a the man how built them. He cals them the Roncamobles. he takes them to a lot of the cruises around here. Matter of fact that picture is from Macungie Pa.

 

Heres a shot of my buddies 58 Mercury he shortened and narrowed 18"




He wanted to build a lil open wheeled truck. Didn't end up liking it and has since thrown the body out!

-Shiny

 

Man that thing is wrong in every way, what waste of a Mercury Truck

 

An off topic ride, but cool none the less. A friends burb...shortened, made it into a four door (burbs only have three), suicided the rear doors, pillarless when both doors on a side are open. Plus a ton more work going on.

 

I've seen this one, and it looks pretty good.....the guy also did very nice work.....It doesn't look "odd" like most shortys......Those 60's 4dr wagons were a mile long, now this one looks like a sporty mid-size.....

 

Gee, I kinda like it!

 

A little O/T but weird also

 

A guy who does body and paint work for me loves shorty wagons. he has 3 or 4. We trade back and forth, fab work for paint and bodywork. He just stripped my Willys coupe body, did some bodywork and put it in primer. In the past he has done a full paintjob an my 58 Mercury wagon and the same on my 63 Comet. Here are a couple of wagons I shortened for him several years ago in trade.

 

Shortened and narrowed '57 Caddy

 

.....

 

How about an elongated & shortened Lincoln - this thing kept drawing me back to it!




-

-

-

-

-

 

I guess this is'nt for everybody,

 

^^^^^^
I still like it, here is what I would do:
Put the body on a level frame and move the front axle a little aft (the frame lines and the body lines don't work for me)
Chop it 2-3 inches, it needs to stay tall, but not that tall
SBC or Nailhead with a ton of polished and fined parts
A milk crate full of polished carbs w/ scoops or helmets
Dark blue or sun burst orange, either with a liberal dose of metal flake
White diamond tufted interior w/ white roof insert
5 speed with a '39 styled swan neck shifter w/ a glass knob that matches the exterior color
Mags would be nice but you could go with steelies painted body color
I can't decide on a grill shell, the classic '32 would be too round for the squareness of the body and I just cant see an A fitting right. You made need to go with the original T style, I'd be sure to paint it body color.

You would nail the 60's show car theme and it would still be drivable and a real attention getter no mater where you went. No matter which direction you go be sure to keep us updated. A build thread might be nice for those of us who would like to follow the progress.

 

How about a finned Mopar? The fins make it a real wedge shape!
I think it would have looked better as a convertible?

Rather than keeping the tall windshield graft on a modern convert windshield and lower it behind the hood to hide the wipers etc. and use the modern top frame?

Almost did this to a 56 Chrysler 4-door hartop back in the 80s. Used a photocopier and a pair of scissors to play with the idea. Looked darn good and I got the car for free. (Bought the car for $500 sold the wire wheels for $600)