Wow, been working on this one on and off for 3 1/2 years. The owner brought it to me just for a freshening up, new paint, some new chrome, and an engine rebuild. Well, after I got the paint stripped off of it, it turned out to be "the usual" nighmare! Bondo an inch thick in spots, extremely poor bodywork & welding everywhere else. Floors, trunk and ALL body mounts rotted out. Funny, though, the car actually looked in good shape. The owner had it for over 18 years, pampered it, so it never came apart. So now, after doing a complete redo of the car, throwing in shaved doors, and hood, cruiser skirts, and custom paint, it's finished. The interior was practically mint, so when it came to choose paint, I refused to do in the stock boring colors. So I mixed up 2 batches of House of Kolor Pearl paints, to match the factory colors as best I could. This isn't easy...as the pearl colors change colors in different light, and angle of view. But I got it pretty close. My buddies at Bontemp Brothers Compe***ion did the engine rebuild, and it's dressed up in 3 deuces, and chromed T-Bird valve covers. Ed picked it up today, and you can't get the smile off his face! One more car out of the shop, and I get to finish up my 46 Chevy coupe!
Hey, Now that's some "cool'', there, and jus' in time for summer! And don't it feel great to see 'um leave the shop? S****ey Devils C.C. " Spending A Nation Into Generational Debt Is Not An Act Of Comp***ion! "
My buddy Stu Kuyat had the twin to your car in 1960 when we were in Columbia High in Maplewood, NJ. Seeing your's brings back tons of great memories.
There was a vertual twin to that car parked in my high school parking lot in 1961. Owned by a rich kid snob that couldn't get the hood open if he had to. Daddy paid the bills and the girls would drop their drawers for a ride. Frank
Hey Mark! Happy to see it done. Looks Great!I got the Galaxie on the road Now waitin on some semi warm weather to finish blocking it out.Im gonna go with PPG concept ss uro.GET ER DONE, then on to the MERC Later Mike.
Yeah, I just HAD to show you guys I can build something other than ****py old Kopper Kart clones LOL! The owner, Ed , really had definate ideas for building it HIS way. Nice to work for guys like that, but I would have done a few things slightly different, nothing big, though. I was hoping to get Anthony White to stripe the other Continental cover he has, but Ed really likes the mural. We also installed A/C in the car, and a high end stereo, so Ed can blast his DooWop at 400 Watts or so. Installed the radio in the glovebox, and Ron took apart the original one, and fabbed some pieces to put it back int he dash as a dummy, as the A/c unit wouldn't allow room for it. A public thanks to Vic, and Ron, especially, and the other guys who helped get it together. It's really great having friends help out, and have good time in the shop on weekends!
Love the 56 convertable and pictures show you did one hell of a nice job. First new car for me was a 55 then got a 56 but never a convertable. The owner should be real proud of that car for sure.
Nice...love the Cruiser's... R- http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=329070&highlight=the+best+55+caddy+build
Outstanding! The colors look really good on it. Never understood why Ford didn't split the two-tone down the middle of the headlight ring...
Very nicely done!!!.......it's sad in a way when ya finally finish a project and watch it go, but also very satisfying, at the same time, on a job well done!.....now back to-it!