I have been working on my '56 pickup a little more lately and a theme that has developed from my desire to mix in period parts from other GM cars is a distinct Cadillac theme. So far I have a '51 fromt bumper and a '56 dash, cluster, radio, autronic eye and headlight rings. It's amazing how the parts all nearly bolt on to the pick up as they are VERY close in shape and size. I'm thinking I may want to run Caddy caps (but I have chrome reverses and spiders) and make a Cadillac tailgate with raised letters that look factory. I'm also looking at adding the '56 rear A/C scoops to the front fenders like a '56 Corvette and am looking for a Caddy steering wheel and front seat lower trim to Caddy up the interior. I have a pair of steel quarters I cut off a chevy panel to make a one-off steel Cameo, but now I'm thinking I could add a '56 El Dorado or '57 caddy fin and rear bumper to that set up- any thoughts? Thanks Jim
why do I see the cheech and chong panel with caddy fenders... that is some interesting ideas Jim.. cant wait to see a pic of it. (fender scoops are the only thing I have a hard time visualizing)
The fender scoops are the small ones that sit on top of the fenders near the windsheild- I like 'em on Vettes, so I really think they will work- more sporty than spots because I don't like taildragger trucks. Mines low, but lower in the front than back like all kustom trucks were back in the day. The fins won't look like Cheech and Chong- the bed won't be made for a while- just going with the original with a kustom bumper and taillights for a while. Thanks Ji
I like the idea Jim, very cool. I think the AC vents on the fenders might be too much, but I'd have to see it. Maybe if they were placed fairly close the the cab?? I think the Eldo rear bumper with the exhaust through it would be ***s! I just traded away a '56 Eldorado I really liked. I'd be very interested in following this build. Good luck!
I'm gonna mount the scoops far back on the fender and maybe section them just a little before molding them in. Anyone have a '57 Caddy 4-door with quarters to cut up???
How about some of them El Do turbine wheels, think they repop them in gold? Bling!..............OLDBEET
HMMM. i like where your heading with this train of thought. i would love to see some pics and/or sketches.
I'm more after something that looks like it came from the Caddy design studio as if they melded Chevy truck framework with Caddy add-ons the same way they did in the '90s to present.
I'd love a sketch too, but I'm not "hooked up" the way I used to be. This project is kinda a lost orphan as the Cl***ic Truck magazines aren't too interested in a "traditional kustom" and the Traditional Custom magazines aren't very interested in a cl***ic truck. Back when there were only a few magazines Kustom trucks were a total fit in a kustom magazine, but now things are so segmented that if it's not a 1949-1964 p***enger car it can't be in a "custom" magazine- but I don't think very many (if any) true KUSTOM fans are reading the "blingie and bagged" truck books with the latest on techno-vomit graphics and ball-milled cruise control/air bag/body drop/full-wrap tweed tech stories. I don't make the rules, and ultimately the rebirth of a new "Dream Truck" was stillborn despite some serious interest from readers and manufacturers alike. I could have done MANY stories on my truck that would have applied to "kustoms" in general, but the powers that be set me off on a completely different path that I have yet to fully realize. I may be bringing these ideas and stories to light in my own journalistic vehicle.
Hey jim, I'm likin the Caddie proto/truck idea! the scoops, on top of the fenders maybe tough to balance, in scale with the flow of the fender tops. Tough, but not impossible. The right grill, a balance of Caddie, GM Truck and 50s kustom, together with the "Dolly- Partton" '51 Caddie face bar, will make or break this kustom. S****ey Devils C.C.
I'm suprised people are having trouble with this- Scoops were IN during the late fifties and I'm going for a factory look just like the '56-'57 Corvettes. Just a small detail- not something IN YOUR FACE like that pink Chevy with the Mopar nose and fins.
Sorry bout that. I was only kidding. I understood where you wanted to go with it. I think it's a worthy idea.
Fine idea. Reminds me a bit of http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3070&highlight=el+morocco but the truck version. It wouldn't surprise me a bit to learn that GM did a styling exercise on Chevy trucks using Caddy parts. The Cameos were pretty sleek, and they were production jobs...imagine what Style and Color might do for a show truck.
Thats a stretch Zerk. You have to remember that a truck was a truck back then. No way in hell. It sounds like a good idea Jim. Hope it works out for you, I would love to see it. You arent planning on all that work just to crash and burn with a chevy small block are you? Hyfire
Great theme. I had a '55 Caddy sedan and was a great ride. I don't know if GM did any Caddy trucks, but there were definitely some aftermarket jobs in the fifties. I have seen Caddy woody station wagons, El Camino type Caddies, and of course, he****s and flower cars. I realize you are going for the pickup style. I could see something like that being built for an architect to take clients to job sites in the fifties. Here in Pennsylvania, Derham of Rosemont, was still building conservative customs for Philadelphians as late as the fifties. I know they built a few wagons and maybe a truck or two. Check out Hess & Eisenhardt, also. They were famous as professional-car builders, but they built one-offs and limited production cars for GM. I owned an '84 Toronado special-edition car customized by H&E. Keep us posted on your progress.
For economics sake- I'm sorry to say yes. I just got my fully detailed retro small-block installed along with a new 200R4 trans. I love the idea of a dual-quad Caddy engine with the cool air-cleaner, but I just don't have the money for that set-up.
The transmission was a '53 And the motor turned out to be a '73 And when we tried to put in the bolts all the holes were gone. So we drilled it out so that it would fit And with a little bit of help with an A-daptor kit We had that engine runnin' just like a song Now the headlight' was another sight We had two on the left and one on the right But when we pulled out the switch all three of 'em come on. The back end looked kinda funny too But we put it together and when we got thru Well, that's when we noticed that we only had one tail-fin I got it one piece at a time And it didn't cost me a dime You'll know it's me when I come through your town I'm gonna ride around in style I'm gonna drive everybody wild 'Cause I'll have the only one there is around.
Well... At least it's GM I have to admit I have had un-natural thoughts of a 454 in my 1951 before.... At any rate... It looks like a great project. Fins are cool... anyway you do them. Here is a shot of the '51 style & '57 Eldo fins... The other reverse slope '57 fin on the standard caddys is really cool too... and much easier to find. Hyfire
A new expression of the Cowboy Cadillac! Don't suppose you'd be interested in longhorns, six-shooters and silver dollars?
I worry about the scoops only because the fenders on the trucks are taller then those on a caddy or corvette (those were sleeker). Not saying if would not look good, just having hard time picturing it... just dont put 59 caddy tail lights in the fenders...or 90's versions
NOOOOOOO!!!!! Did you see that "rat rod" this summer in Ohio that the front looked like a Locomotive and the rear had late-Caddy taillights? Looked like a VERY confused mini-trucker on WAYYYY too much meth. I have a pretty neat little taillight set up worked out for the taillights on the stepside version- maybe it should be my first "HAMB-tech" story now that I'm a free agent!
Jim, I'm sure we both wish I was a better Photoshopper. You'll have to squint. As for the magazine, I hope you can find one that would cover the story. I'd be interested in watching that buildup. Hell, I'm from Texas, we love trucks here. Or creating your own magazine seems like an ambitious project too. Good luck.
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