61 Olds on the road. Help me customize with a "K"

The first day we drove the Olds to work. It seems like it will make the trip to Vegas and we still have a couple of weeks to see what falls off. We are thinking of red metal flaking the roof and maybe the big spear along the side too. I have some Remingtons 3 inch white walls bias plys that may get run with fancy hubcaps. I do like the skinny whites too though. the rat rod-o-riffic red wheels need to go. But would like to hear your ideas. Let see some pics.

 

Black body (SHINY) Red roof w/Red flake, paint wheels to match roof and throw on some spider caps. Nose and Deck. Not too much, not too little.

and keep skinny whites on it.....

 

I am definately keeping the shiny paint. the front clip needs to be painted due to the fire damage. And there is some laquer checking on the roof. I like the spider cap idea but 5 on 5 spiders are scarce. Anyone want to trade a new set of Ford or Chevy bolt pattern spiders for a set of 5 on 5's?

 

i like you paint ideas .howz abouts some chrome reverse wheels ?....they would really look good on that car .... a nice mild 60s custom....congrtas on getting it on the road ....i love those cars! .....

 

Switchblade is close...

black body with red pearl over it. Red/Maroon that matches the interior flake roof.
Skinny whites on Supremes, Buick Skylark style chrome wires or round up some '61 Starfire deluxe wheel discs. they are way cool!
Lower it of course, and Bellflowers.. might need to massage the "fins" to get the pipes to tuck up there nice and close and level with the car, not the stock angle of the 1/4 panel fin.

Or
White pearl tuck & roll, white body with another color pearl over it and a silver flake over a color base that matches the body pearl color on the roof.

Or, if it doesn't have air, a white roof, maybe some pearl, but keep it light so you can maybe drive it in Phoenix in August.

Oh, and custom with a K, means something Kustomized by or in the style of Sam Barris on a car produced during the time Sam Barris was customizing.
A '61 Olds is too new to be customized as a Kustom.
(Just one old weirdo's opinion)

 

the stock hubcaps are cool but finding twenty clips to hold them on may be a challenge

I would go with a lighter color but those cars are so cool any shiny color will make it really stand out.

you could lower it a little but with smaller tires it'll be plenty low

no skirts, belflowers or any of that stuff just clean it up and put a nice interior in it, Starfire seats and console would be bitchin..

I've had a couple '62s but always lusted after the bubble tops

nice car!

Paul

 

Here is a pic of the interior. It is a decent vinyl and cloth tuck & roll thing. It is already getting a little crunchy in the desert sun, but it should be good for a couple of more years.

 

sweet,
black and red is classic

how about some red pinstripe?
like the batmobile, that'd be the Barris in it

seriously those cars had so much class it's hard to imagine improving on it

Paul

 

I really apreciate the input. I agree mild custom changes are what I have in mind. I can't seem to find Chrome OE wheels in 5 on 5. Any tips on who has them? I checked wheel vintiques but they only have dumb rally wheels in 5 on 5 bolt pattern. I need 15's to clear the front brakes too.

 

pete paulsen .... he advertises in r & c and custom rodder i think ...he makes to order .....keep us updated ....

 

Yee Haw! The crispy Olds lives.

Wheels: Ripple wheel covers w/ wide whites or some sort of shiney 5 spoke w/ skinny whites.

Body: Shiney black, red/maroon flake over red roof or shiney black, red/maroon flake over white roof.

Street is neat!

 

Right on! So hows it drive so far?


Repaint the black, clean the chrome and I have some vintage MetalFlake brand Glowble RED flake that might look killer on the roof! Oh and OE style wheels with a full CalCustom Spider set!

 

All black paint job including 15" steel rims, then run black wall tires and poverty caps and keep the factory trim. Gotta luv the factory lines on the early 60's GM bubble tops.

 

Forget the spyders unless they just happen along. Paint your wheels balck and do away with the hot rod vibe. Snag a set of chrome lugnuts and some chrome dustcaps for the front hubs. Cheap and quick.
I'd stay with the skinny whites or backwalls before I'd go with wide whites. '60s car, 60's style.

I'm all for cleaning up the paint if I didn't have time for the flake I'd at least blow some fresh black on the front and then wax the chit out of it.

Then point that bugger down the road and drive the devil out of it.

 

Metal flaked maroon, gold surround and white interiored panels where possible. Kelsey Hayes wires with either wide or skinny whites.

 

Red top and Astro supremes?

 

PLEASE do not paint that chrome spear...polish it...unless...you're talking about painting the body recessed area red, then OK...

A kustom with a "K" needs to have a few mods...remove the door handles, remove the emblems, lower it, find some fender skirts and use either wide whites or the skinny whites...'61 was a transistion year for whitewalls...some cars had wide whites, some had skinnys...chrome reverse wheels were just coming into being...while others looked good with flipper hubcaps of some kind...Lakes Pipes looked good, but dummy spots were on the way out...twin angled back antenna were a big deal then as well...

I'm not sure where DrJ came up with this: Oh, and custom with a K, means something Kustomized by or in the style of Sam Barris on a car produced during the time Sam Barris was customizing. A '61 Olds is too new to be customized as a Kustom.(Just one old weirdo's opinion). I don't think Sam Barris ever said that...nor had a lock on what could or couldn't be done to a newer car and then called a Kustom. Besides, I always had heard (read) it was George Barris that coined the term Kustom with a "K"...

If you want to build a Kustom out of a '61 Olds, go for it...I think people like John D'Agostino, Richard Zocchi and Rick Dore have already blazed that trail!!!

R-

 

Runs like a champ. It really wants to go. I think it is geared pretty damn tall. It may get Brandi a speeding ticket like the 5.0 volvo did. I am trying to baby the motor for a few hundred miles until it all settles in. Then 100mph+ on the flat stretch between Kingman and Vegas.

 

Yeah, I meant flaking the body recess around the spear. Just an idea.

 

Hey Mike
"Trad is Rad" for the next project
Gear oil and old ford gear clusters all over the road, I can't wait. Keep the tow truck on speed dial....

 

HubCaps & Whitewalls?

 

Red panel on side?

 

I dunno about the rad panel, mayeb do the whole body black, and just use the red pearl on that panel? Hard to picture in my head....

As far as the crsipy interior goes, you shoudl be able to get some stuff to soften it back up so it'll feel better and last longer. I want to say saddle soap, but not sure if that's what i mean or not. That's what the wife uses on the pile of vintage shoes she keep bringing home......

 

that thing needs 22's.

 

I was thinking Daytons, OG style. You going to Vegas Ricky?

 

Here is the D'Agostino Olds from the Nov 1995 "Custom Rodder."

This is is one of my favorite cars. Pagan gold, narrowed '60 Mercury grille,
Buick bullet taillights, and those gorgeous Roadster wires (14x7) with 2.25 white walls. Skinny whites are too narrow and 3 inchers too big for this car, I think.

Dave

 

Ok, you axed.........I'd do nothing but "damage control" before the trip to vegas. First off, I'd slam the shit out of it. I once bought a 63 Starfire that sat on the ground. Guy said he'd cut the coils but I later found heated front coils and a trunk fulla busted up concrete!

I'd cut the front coils and heat the rears because I'd replace them with real springs when I got back from Vegas.
I'd DA the black paint down and spray the whole car with red primer, adding about 25% red paint to make the color redder and a little glossier than just flat primer. It'll go well with the interior. Use the skinny whites you have and paint the wheels with the car..same color. Hubcaps optional but I don't think I'd use any....maybe some chrome acorn lug nuts on all 4 and chrome hub dust covers on the front.
A little white striping on the hood and decklid would finish it off with an ebay shrunken skull hanging from the mirror.
Now comes the important part.............CLEAN EVERYTHING! I can see that car needs some cleaning in the nooks and crannys....spiff up the trunk and under the hood, bleach the whitewalls--touch-up the interior trim and dash...have the dash striped a bit when the hood and trunk get striped but be subtle with the striping.
Just this stuff will take up all your time before Vegas and you'll look great! Plus, you can undo everything after you get back to do "real" paint in black or whatever color you want

 

Hi Rocky, I actually know the history of this car pretty well. It was all re-built just before it caught fire. It has new brand new coils & shocks. The paint on the body is really nice except the front clip. It is a little dirty in the pic. It hasn't been washed in about a year as it was just ressurected. I think I am just going to paint the wheels black and drive it as is for a couple months until I get a plan on the facelift.

 

heres mine, its all blown apart right now getting all kinds of shit done to it,, so its not going to vegas.

 

god, they are always so fucking huge,,,