After owning the 57 for over a year. yesterday I finally made the move towards taking it from a g***er look to a nose down, lowered all the way around, hotrod or mild custom (that is still open) (similar in stance to the 53 wagon I had) Last weekend I got an offer to sell the front rims and after getting no response on selling the car I took the offer and sold them forcing me to make a change. So today the car is sitting on blocks with no front rims and it will not go back together until the balljoint spacers and Big block springs are out and fenderwell headers gone plus more lowering (and probably a disk brake kit) No pictures as it just sitting on jack stands. I am hoping this is the begining of a journey that will lead me to actually liking the car and wanting to keep it. I have always had three styles in my head for it but never sure which way to go 1. Big window halibrands on blackwall tires (skinnies up front, 8 rev out back) 2. chrome reverse with blackwall biasply and cheater slicks (5" front 6" rear) 3. painted steelies, whitewalls and hubcaps (57 corvette) I am going to order a set of chrome reverse steelies for it (once I figure out who from) since i have those tires already, but not sure what the other option will be..
"I am hoping this is the begining of a journey that will lead me to actually liking the car and wanting to keep it." I think you are ****ed in the head. I liked that car just the way it was. But...shiny black with some Hals out back would be cool... See ya, -Abone. PS. Post a pic anyway.
This one is one of my favorites. You could do this same car with a set of Halibrands..maybe a chrome roll bar.. -Abone.
Public approval is always handy, when building a hot rod for yourself. But with over six thousand posts I'm sure you figured it out already. Or maybe not.
Flamedabone, if you like it, you should be buying it.. for me, i am tired of the previous look and prefer it to be hammered on the ground (dragging bumpers if possible). I really like the 16x8 reverse offset with tall rubber in the rear and 15x5 front with the sheetmetal hanging over the rims.. to go with my BBC and Hilborn set up I now. Henry, I am going to install most of the trim and bumper plus windshield stainless. (may not put the upper rear qtr side trim (qtr panel) and just have the single spear look Sawzall, you are correct but since that is a few yrs from being finished I need something I can enjoy now and I was not doing that. It will be getting some colored primer on it also. and finish the interior and that will be about it (basically building a 57 version of my wagon).. Building a new garage for the other project...then it comes home. Finnish, was not looking for which one folks thought were best, just stating the looks I am considering but have not made final yet (except for the chrome reverse and blackwalls)
This car really wowed me when I saw it this spring. The photo makes it look wavy, but it was dead straight -- just reflections of trees and stuff. The colors and the stance were just right on the money.
50.. lower that one about few inches and if would be sitting where I want mine (would want to tuck the front rim edge and center cap on the rear rims) Sam, I get scared... what I really worry about is modifying it to much and never being able to sell it (and i usually dont keep them for more then a year or so unless I flat love the car). I have come to realize that tri-5 owners are more particular (****) then I thought regarding stock bodies.. and the ones that are not usually dont have the money to pay over 10 or 12k for one. Tonight I bought the book Kustomland that covers the kustoms from 55-59 and have been looking it over.... for that period, whitewalls and hubcaps are correct with bellflower tips (and mild shaving). (I would love to find a set of 57 olds fenders to cut the headlight openings off and put on mine) I am a Hotrodder (go fast) guy at heart but love the hammered on whitewall and hubcap look Sam, talk me into it if you can....
The Jalopy Journal
