Projects A late introduction-Junior Conway coupe build

I would also add that between the picture above, and the front 3/4 shot, it would appear that somewhat drastic measures were undertaken to get a couple more inches...judging by the lower (and level) rocker panel to earth relationship. May just be the angle though.

 

its also on grass, which makes it appear lower

 

True, but it appears to be tucking more tire (look at top of the white wall) in the color photo...like I said, may be the angle.

 

i think there are several of things in the 3/4 color photo that make the car look lower than the side profile black and white pic...

there is more shadow showing in the side profile pic making it appear higher

and in the 3/4 view, the wheel looks turned to the right slightly, perhaps hiding more whitewall

 

Great photo details of this build.

 

Those are obviously bogus photos, RB. Have you no shame? Everybody knows that real pinup girls are chubby, wear funny clothes and have lots of tats all over.

Don't try this trick again.

 

Very cool ride, and a great project to have your son's involvement. Reminds me of a 55 chevy my father and I worked on together. Dad is gone now, and so is the car. Wish they were still both around. I agree with those who suggest you reconsider selling the car, if possible.

 

This is an awesome frame...

 

This is another shot from the archives that gives a look at the lowering issue. This is an early pic that I think represents the car at its lowest. Its tempting to go after this lowering issue now because it would make this replication of Jr's coupe come alive. It looks like whats needed is there for the taking. But, it still needs to be loaded (on a trailer) and go for an interior, glass, pin striping etc.. So self control must take precidence.

 

Wer'e getting ready to go to the trim shop next week. I think the grille is in for the last time. My goal is for the exterior to be pretty much complete. I'm still waiting for the new brass inserts and the f bumper (as well as the ripple lakers) is still at N. Texas Chrome. I'll try to get them first of next week. And so it goes.

 

This looks wonderful, a childhood vision come to life ! Make sure you find an exceptional pinstriper who can replicate the original perfectly. Tell the guy to stay on the gold on top of the front fenders. This is one area where you have to be in the trade to know what Im talking about but its definitely worth paying alot more than what ya think its worth.

 

10-4!

 

OO MACK, just thought I should mention (remind everybody) that the scallops are hard lined. The paint is sitting on top of the base color. So the pinstriper has to stay on top of the ridge or this early paint technique doesn't work. The pinstriper was an essential part of the material build up to make this look and feel right. Just a few years later painters were loading up the clear over everything so that there was no transition with over lapping colors.

This is on the way to that time when the explosion of the artsy part of custom painting really took over. So I guess you could say that this is a transition vehicle in that regard.

 

HEY!!! Some nice clean pieces. We rollin now! Thanks Nofin!

 

i have talked with acouple of uncles on both my wife and my side. they used to hang out at the barris shopand others. they all said pretty much the same thing. when it came time for pictures. they would load the car up with what ever thay had. they would also run on the bump stops for shows. ive looked at a lot of old photos of cars and you can see the change in hight.

 

Another inside look at the culture of the time. Thanks alot.

 

constantly amazes me in the detail,inspirational.

 

I am sorry for getting into this thread so late, don't know if this will be too late or not: 1951 glove box key/lock buttons would have a flush surface [where the key goes in] and I think the overall dia is the same, not sure if harder than what you are using to set up with micro switch..I have a Fenton 3-carb fuel block if you still need it...More of curiosity and do not take this as ridicule but why did you not do the suspension mods [since you knew what the height should be] before you did all the paint and body work? Gonna be real irritating if the paint gets dinged because of a zig instead of zag..I guess v-butt windsheild [was jr the first?] were around alot longer than I thought..

 

This has been trailered to a exhaust shop and now the uph. shop as well. Do you think they could have done that with a car that was lowered in that way(an soon will be as well). This build has been great, and thought out perfectly.

 

Hey Seb. I think the '51 is different. Thanks for the offers.

It gives me comfort knowing that I have some cushion regarding accessability to the underside. Jr said that he had to use 2X4's forced under the car to be able to lift it enough to get a jack underneath it. Right now I can get it on most any trailer. When this thing is as low as it needs to be I'll need a (enclosed) low trailer with a ramp (door) and shims to slide the car into place.

Wer'e collision repair guys and this color is fabulous to work with.

 

Well it's lookin like Thursday for the trim shop. The f. bumper/lakers won't be ready till next week. It really sucks not having a tow setup thats mine.

Eric, you were right about the exhaust tips. If this r. bumper assy were on the car at that time we would have caught it.

 

""This has been trailered to a exhaust shop and now the uph. shop as well. Do you think they could have done that with a car that was lowered in that way(as soon will be as well).""

Yes..Some well placed wood blocks would have brought the height back for non-road travel, i.e., trailering..IMO..

 

I forgot to ask if v-butting the windsheild was common on builds back then? I don't remember if doing it was ever mentioned in the "little books"? Late eightys the magazines started mentioning it, or thats just when I noticed..Maybe Jr was the first.?.Also seems that the windsheild is more flush than a stock ford weatherstriping would hold it, might be just the pic..Post #582 pics are terrific, two are hot and one is way cool, like what would have been in Life Or Saturday Evening Post [ah just thought maybe it was?]..wish I could make posters..Having read this entire build last night [hours] makes the phrase "Ya Gotta Wanna" stand out..Thank you for sharing... ..

 

I'm sure that the v butt w/s was not new with this car. I'm not the historian but I think this was being done in the 40's.

We might snag a historian and find out. You never know.

 

I'm not sure when the first one was done with the v-butt windshield. But I do know that the Hirohata Merc had in done. That was in 1952. I never really payed much attention to it... but will from now one. So there some more info coming about this at a later stage.

 

v-butting is one of those things that was actually done back then, and is in fact period correct(obviously), but i still don't like it..and wish it wasn't done haha i suppose one of the reasons it was done was to "modernize" your car and make it look like it has a 1 piece windshield. however, to me it makes the windshield look like aquarium glass. that being said, i appreciate that conway's car, the hirohata, and many others have v butt windshields, that's just one small preference which i where my opinion sways away from vbutt.

 

You know as I think about it I remember that the car culture was taking clues from Detroit when they would come out with something new. After awhile of course it was the other way around. I think Oldsmobile came out with the first one piece w/s in 1950. It was a BIG deal. That spurred the imagination of the customizers.

The easy way to have a one piece was the v-butt, the hard way was what Leroy Goulart and his brother did on thier famous '50 cpe. They incorperated a complete cowl section and a portion of a '52 ford roof to get that look. Very subtle and radical at the same time. Almost as much work as a chop.

 

This first pic shows before radical body work (w/shield). The second pic shows after grafting the w/shield section into cowl area. Hey! Maybe I am a historian.

With the help of mr. Hoving.

Iv'e got the pics reversed.

 

Both versions of that car need to be cloned, as well!

 

How many of us remember the first real bath (hot/soapy) our new kid got?