i agree that thing is gettin nosebleeds as it sits right now sell half the trim and doorhandles and use the cash for omehting productive sit it down and itll look cool
Thanks guys! I had not yet thrown too much thought yet as to the look I wanted. I have never seen another '60 DeSoto or Chrysler with any look other than "stock" and had no vision of where to take this car. My interior is red, and I saw a black 59 Impala that had the red wheels and I tought it looked very good. I also half-considered painting the fins red. That is a very '50's Mopar paint scheme, though not stock for a 1960 DeSoto. I am very grateful for your thoughts and I love the photoshop concepts some of you provided. Here is the one my friend did for me. -Slim (yep, I've designed fountians............some real big ones)
i think you answered your own question there, it's not a 50's car, it's a 60's car...ditch the lower trim, lower it, pop the caps and put some spiders on it. if the wheels need paint, paint 'em nice and shiny and BLACK. if you need to paint something, blend where the door handles used to be and 'flake the roof.
Whoa, thats a cool car, I would definately stay away fron the whole red wheels black thing. give that baby some full caps, belflower tips, a candy paintjob, and a flaked-out roof.
Jesustapdancin'christ! Don't paint your wheels RED! If you insist... you may as well also cuff your jeans, put grease in your hair, roll up the Camels in the sleeve of your white tee-shirt and have a wallet chain... ;D Anyway, it's what the poor kid has to work with... so lets do some thinking for him... My vote would be for some other color wheel... say bright yellow. Then throw a set of Moon's ripple caps on her, some rim to road whites and have a pretty damn cool ride... even if it is a four dour...
That car looks to be in beautiful shape! Remember, it's only original once. Those Chryslers had so much going on with the body style (swoops, fins, angles, chrome), that I don't think you'd really need to do much to it. You need to accentuate what it has. It'll stand out on it's own. I'd have to agree with everyone else and say it needs to be lowered. Before you do that, think about the ride now, and what the ride will be when that's done. Decide if you can live with that. Before I pull into my driveway, I have to kick everyone out, pump up the front bags, and go slowly at an angle to avoid bottoming out. Unless the body is in bad shape, or something about just bugs the **** out of you, I'd concentrate on the running gear first. Doesn't matter what you do to it if won't roll! Who cares if it's a 4-door! If that's something that's really going to bother you, either move the chrome into line with the door handles so it blends, or remove the rear door handles. IMHO, I'd keep it black. I can just see my grandparents in that, all dressed up and heading out to the local Eagles Lodge for ****tails and dancing!
Here's a picture of my '60 Chrylser I put on the road last year. The car is a blast to drive! Spent a lot of time trying to get the brakes working. I'm planning on putting discs on the front before spring.
Of course, the bottom line is to make it how YOU want it, but since you asked...It appears to be a cherry pie, so if it were mine and I wanted to keep it... I'd take care of the mechanicals first - go through it and make sure everything's up to snuff (starting with brakes, steering, etc, then a razor sharp tune-up). While I was at it, I'd lower it just a few inches - wouldn't want anyone to think I was taking my 4-door TOO seriously... I'd go with silver or grey wheels (whatever matches the interior or some other contrasting color on the car), with some beefy blackwalls and dog dish hubcaps - kind of a Highway Patrol/ fleet/ performance option look...Then I'd drive it everywhere, while searching for a 440/727 combo to make it into a sleeper (always wanted a sleeper, but just don't have the discipline yet)... No matter what, just make damn sure you're having FUN with it, and don't sweat the peer pressure...Enjoy.........................................................
I think 4 doors look better with tinted windows, takes away from all the gl***...I added the wheels from another post, to keep it kinds "60's"...
Even though the interior IS RED.... I hear a big "NO" on the red wheels. I hear a big "NO" on the fender skirts. Do I hear a "yes" or "no" on the red painted fins? I hear a huge "YES" to lower it. I guess it is time to start workin on it.......... P.S. Southsider....that 1960 NewYorker is beautiful!!!
Slim, I have a suggestion. Rather than build your car by consensus, really decide what era you are re-styling within. Since this is a traditional site, we'll probably offer up traditional suggestions. In your case, that would be late 50s - early 60s. Doing this means picking up some of the old magazines (Car Craft, Rod & Custom, and endless other smaller names) and books such as those by photographer Andy Southard for design cues. So rather than taking polls, which may leave you more confused, do the research and make a plan. You only start with a stock car once.
Southsider, I saw your Chrysler at the Flying Eyeball in Iowa back in August. That kar is soooooo *****in'! I've been looking for a '60-'62 Chrysler for a while now. It seems like when I have the money, there are none around. When I'm broke, they are everywhere! Funny how that works, huh? Nice ride..........................E