Customs What do I add to make this look better?

I just wanted to build a nice riding chopped custom car like I drooled over looking at car mags as a kid. The car was a field car with a caved in roof when I got it. I did ALL the work on it myself, except for the interior. Here are some more pictures before I added the Skylark wire wheels, I don't have a good straight on shot of the side.

 

Hello,

Thanks for the good reply. I must be thinking of other software- maybe SolidWorks.

I appreciate your Paint artwork. I also think that you should post that freehand artwork (I saved it to my computer) in a Friday show thread.

I'm thinking that every freehand artist must wrestle with the things they feel are insufficient, and those things might tend to become features, instead of bugs, in their artwork. In other words, there are several professional artists who post art in Friday threads that have quirks that not only work, but are their style.

But, I prefer using machines and haven't tried working much at freehand-ing.

 

PERFECT! It ain't pinner like a lowrider, ain't fat like an old man at a classic car club meet.

As a lifetime finisher I believe when you add an updated color like that to a car of that era the rest needs to compliment the choice. This does, you can't style the car in a 50s look with a color like that. 60s all the way. I would put the gravel guards on too.

 

Those polished wheel covers are just perfect to my eye.
I think they look great with the black walls.
I love everything about this amazing Buick of yours!
Thanks for sharing
from Dennis.

 

The flip up tail light to access the gas filler is power activated by a switch under the dash.

 

It seems that you should look for pictures of what you remember liking. And post them in this thread, if you want to.

That's impressive. Post a picture or three of what you started with.

It looks like it sets level.

Not just related to the stance: It's hard to tell that you were going for a custom look.

 

Here's where I got the idea for header pipes. I don't know if I like this car or not.



Here's more of a lowrider one; since people are talking about stance; IF you wanted variable ride height.

 

This is a good idea and then maybe a same color lace roof. Either the goldish color Vandenplas had or an off white.

 

Your car is gorgeous. Nothing wrong with the color..... repeat, nothing wrong with the color.... Next time you need tires, go whitewall. 49 Buick is a damn cool car from the factory, and with your chop, you don't "need" anything else.
My opinion is basically worthless, but dang, you've done a helluva job on your build. Before you start listening to more worthless opinions, just start building another car.

 

Your chop is so perfect it looks like factory. I had to look a couple of times when I saw it in other threads...
The 'photoshop' jobs really illustrated what it would look like in different wheel/cap/whitewall variations, so "It's your money...Do what YOU want with it!"
Beautiful Buick, kudos to you.

 

BJR glad to see the latest photo's, some ultra fine work on your Buick, truly an underrated body design that has finally come of age as attested by the most recent shows & awards, they were in a word custom right off the show room floor, requiring only slight refinements to fit the modern image. Nice job !

 

I’d drive it.







with the rear bumper bout to drag

 

This is a fun thread, lots of ideas. Hopefully they are helping rather than confusing the issue!
Nothing like a "custom by committee"!
Here's a rendering with the Skylark wires and a bit wider whitewall:


Skylark wires with wide whites:


And just for @Moriarity, I scabbed up some Fiesta flippers on the wide whitewalls:


All the above renderings show the rear end lowered a few inches, as per @anthony myrick .
@BJR - Add the whitewalls of your choice and if you don't want to drop the back end, maybe try it without the skirts as shown in the last pics you posted. That's a totally different look and easy to change out if you want to. Again, I really love the color on this car and I don't think you need to do anything drastic with it. If you do any striping or accents, I'd keep 'em subtle. It's a beautiful car with classic lines and I wouldn't want to detract from that.
Just another low-priced collection of opinions, YRMV.
Main thing is now that you have it on the road, have fun with it!

P.S. - As long as I'm spending your money, I think a white tuck and roll interior would look just bitchin'.

 

Like the bottom pic!

 

Nice car regardless if you make any changes or not! HRP

 

Traditional customs scream for white walls, but in my opinion wide whites are done to death. I now prefer the 1 to 1 1/2-inch white wall use more in the 60s. I checked the Buick out at back to the 50s and it is a very nice ride as is. My only drawback was the black walls. They give it more of a stodgy old man feel and cheapens the effect. Besides you can dam near buy all four 1-inch whites at your local tire shop for what one wide white would cost at Coker or Dimond back. The idea of the two tone below the trim has some merit, but I think the tires will get you where you want to be. otherwise, you painted the whole car and did a great job, so I am sure the accent color is a no brainer. Just my 2 cents. Larry

 

Seeing those 3 sample pics just hardened the cement around my boots, the thinner white is tits up fkn kool. I see it this way too. It's a classy chop, not too much. The color is pretty high impact, not necessarily subtle in any way. The Skylark wires are a nod to Buick's glory custom days (they even look killer bitchin on early Rivs). The thinner white checks every box needed as in not too much, a bit of respect to Buick, a bit of respect for early/mid 60s style (the color there too), and even a bit of respect for the lowrider art form having an element that works here as well. No other colors needed IMHO.

Yup, hardened. No, the cement around my boots, why ya looking at me like that? Whadya think I meant...

 

What theHighlander said. Go a bit further even and say drop the front a bit for a little rake, lose the skirts and put some OEM r-w-b Skylark emblems on the spinners to break up all the chrome somewhat.

 

Leave the rear where it is. Drop the front.

 

Leave the skirts.
Drop the rear.
Nose down rakes are for hot rods

 

Should you choose to part company with those Buick wires, your Buick deserves those deep-dish Buick caps as posted by stanlow 69 on the gold version

 

Torch the springs and add scallops

 

I had a’49 Olds 98. Same body as the Buick. You have lots of overhang in the rear. The fuel tank hang’s really low. I don’t like airbags but I had to use them. Try dropping it with sandbags and drive it up driveways.

 

saw your car at BTTF,
chop looks nice,
paint looks beautiful,

stance is awful.

doesn't matter how it happens, anthony is right, the rear needs to be way lower.

oh, and wide whites with full hubcaps.

 

Realizing it is your car, whatever makes you happy do that. Looking at it through my eyes (opine) here's what I'd have to do.

Buicks are big wonderful round girls. I love them. But a bright color makes 'em look like a fat lady in yoga pants. Scrub that Blue off of there, drop it to the ground, wide whites with the stock full caps and rings, polish all the brightwork and man that thing would be SEXY.

- Tim

 

I like large ladies in yoga pants.

 

Now you're talking

 

I blame the low rider magazines.

 

It needs a white interior, whitewalls, I liked the hubcaps before the wire wheels. White lace panel painting would be cool too!