Boring 4dr --but solid -- any creative ideas for rodding it?

I kind of think its terminal. All I need is another car to participate here.

But, given this to start with, what would you guys do with it to improve it, considering any look/genre of the craft? Even just a set of Buick ralleyes might help it.. but I'm having trouble visualizing -- not my strong suit.

In other words, is this just an unusable piece of historic***** to which no amount of creativity can save it, or, could it be a base for a rod in any way?

http://www.fototime.com/inv/A9FA95C5071B1F0

Sincerely, Chris

(BTW, this is not the precursor to some classified ad... this thing isn't and won't be for sale).

 

c'mon man! don't beat yourself up! just run with it! do what you like! drop it down a hair, put some wheels on it, crank up your stereo and cruise her! I started with a big ol more-door too, changed a few things and been having fun with it ever since......keep us posted, love the more-door stories....



Hami

 

60's style custom man!!!! AKA 70's style Lowrider! Don't forget to lower the***** out of the suspension!!!

 

Lower it, put some dual glass packs on it, and drive the wheels off the thing!!!

 

Purple metalfake with Pearl White roof and Pearl White scallops. Sitting LOOOOW on a set of Daytons with skinny whitewall tires. Then cruise.

 

But, given this to start with, what would you guys do with it to improve it, considering any look/genre of the craft? or-==============--Remove roof, shorten into a 2 dr, chop windshield & you will have the K@@lest roadster in town!!

 

Consensus says...lower it! And I'd do that first, then carefully go from there. Maybe wheels and tires next, then handles and emblems off. (Save everything you remove too!) You'll start to see things happen. Oh, and don't be afraid to let people see it. Pay attention to their compliments and criticisms. Have fun, and just don't agonize over your plans. Just do it!

 

ohh.. O dunno bout a consensus to drop it... I'd say go gasser. That front end looks awesome WAY up in the air. I say paint it white, thin chromies up front, wide steelies in back, and get that nose up, straight axle style. Stick some headers on it, and run em straight down. That'll get some attention.

 

Check out the 4 door Buick in the new OSR for some inspiration.

 

Looks like a nice, clean driver to enjoy as is. I think a stock 4-door is more sellable than a custom one, because the old people who had 'em new and want to relive the memories will look at them then.

Some candy metalflake paint wouldn't hurt, though - I don't care for that color very much.

 

Lower it, astros and skinny whites, metallic blue base, lace panels on the roof, stick the missus in the front seat and cruise it and have fun. If others don't like it, ask them to buy you another car.

 

Not really. All it takes is access to a computer.

All kinds of things can be done with that car, but I wouldn't be inclined to throw a lot of money at a '61 Buick Special four-door.

Dave
http://www.roadsters.com/

 

See the thread in my signature. It would not be hard at all to do if you can find the right parts car. You can't "shorten" a car into a two door, the cars are the same length. Take a side picture of the car and I'll show you what it'll look like.

 

So, how about his 64?

There's a 64 Buick Special 4 door about 15 minutes down the road sitting at a shop. Nothing done to it, just sitting. What is the look you want to achieve with the car?

 

short of making it a 2 door (which would be realy cool but alot of work) i think it prolly would lookbest as a traditionaly lowrider. or at least use some of the styling ques from that genre. lower it, shave it, astro supremes with thin whites. i can see it with multiple shades of blue in a panel style paint job.

right out of high school a buddy of mine had a pretty sweet 2 door 64 Buick Special. it was a fun car, i like em.

just do a little at a time to it while enjoying it at the same time.

or plan B could be to build it into a total sleeper/drag car. put a built up badass motor of some sort in it and beef up the rest of the drivetrain as necesary. if ya gotta build a cage make it as hidden as possible. leave it looking as stock as possible on the outside, hub caps and all. you could realy***** with the local muscle car guys that way... don't forget to put a realy quiet exhaust on it too.

just enjoy the damn thing. cruisin a 4 door is better than cruisin nothin.

 

I second the lower it into the weeds group.....and the 2 door conversion...and have one addition, I built a similar era (67 more door dart) and chopped the top 2 inches...(as well as slamming it and making it into a 2 door) and the mild chop made the difference...it wasnt glaring but changed the lines totally

 

id bag it on some radir tri-ribs w/ wide whites & roll it just like that

 

I would do one of two things:

1) Leave it bone-stock and enjoy it, the 225-cube 155HP 9:1 compression odd-fire 'Fireball V-6' that came in these cars should return an easy 20 MPG. Seeing cars in this shape after 40+ years is a rarity, that in itself makes it unique enough to really stand-out among all of the plastic look-alike cars on the road today.

2)Leave the perfect body and interior alone, keep the stock wheels and hubcaps. Install a near-stock Buick 455/TH400 combo, runs some really quiet mufflers. Keep the column shifter. Ultimate street sleeper, clean and reliable. Some front disc brakes from any '69-'72 GM A-body are a bolt-on, a good idea if you want to stop the beast.

The Special was the no-frills economy model with very little chrome trim, a great-looking 4-door car that easily gets by on clean styling alone.

 

nuttin' at all wrong with running around in a stock old 4 door. make it run and stop right and call it a day. on a car like that anything else you do to it would be a step in the wrong direction.

 

a thought on the 2 door conversion idea. i'm pretty sure the 4 door roof (particularly at the rear) is much different from the 2 door roof. i'm just going by memory of my buddy Joe's old 2 door and i think the rear of the roof was much different. just something to think about.

 

My two cents:

How much money do you want to spend?

I would lower it for sure, first thing. Then paint it flat black (rattle can if you're on a budget, satin if you can afford it). I can see a silver or off-white metal flake roof and a set of Radirs. Maybe a few metal-flake "ghost" scallops. Install glass packs and a pair of big, straight dual tips. Shaving the emblems and door handles would work, too. Install a stereo system and cruise.

Do not: install 80 or 100 spoke rims, vette-style side pipes, or hydraulics.

The nail head is a good motor, but a 455/th400 set-up could work very well.

 

All kinds of things can be done with that car, but I wouldn't be inclined to throw a lot of money at a '61 Buick Special four-door.

Dave
http://www.roadsters.com/[/quote]

If you throw any money at it, you're throwing it away.

 

Don't paint it, put the baddest Buick 455 you can find, along with at 200R4, some short gears, black steelies with dog dish caps, and just enough tire to make it hook. Then go out to teach some youngsters about old American iron.

After a little review of the previous posts, I suppose Draggin GTO and I are on the same vibe......

 

You'd honestly spray can this thing flat black, when it already has a respectable shiney paintjob on it? You gotta be kidding.

I do like the idea of keeping it all stock and using it that way. No one will beat you up for it being a four door if it's all stock, or maybe just some dual exhaust and a stereo. I guess that'd be my first choice, but if you NEED to customize it, then refer to my first post.

 

Hey , nothing wrong with more doors . In '65 , I picked up a '55 shoebox with a bad 6 cyl. so I did some horse trading and ended up with a 283 with all the early vette stuff and stuck a Muncie in it , a set of 3.90 gears , big and littles and jacked up in front 'cause the fenderwell headers hit the stock tires. Yeah, it looked like a taxi , yeah it was a sleeper and yeah it would haul 5 people to the Smoker's March Meet in comfort . Everytime a bunch would want to run down to the "Beach" or San Gabe , we broke out the more door . I wish I had it back !!

 

There are some terrific ideas in these posts for me. Thanks. I think lowering and wheels is the first step. Two door conversion is intriguing. Not enough skills yet for that.


Quick update. Saturday morning we started the motor, ran to the DMV and got plates, and spent the weekend breaking in the new motor.

Its the original Fireball V6, machined 30 over and 10 under. Kids and I built it in the basement. Also put a complete kit and band in the 2 speed. Runs like a sewing machine.

Wife even suggested we cruise to the local ice cream place it it. Unbelievable. Chick magnet. Gonna cruise it a while.

 

Dude! That car is so damn clean. Interior and paint is done. Slam the***** out of it put it on some Cragers or Astros, thin whites of course, with some Bellflower tips and you'll have a bad**** cruiser in no time. P.S. Don't forget the 60's style pinstripes.***** if you wanted to you could panel paint it.

 

Maybe put some chrome reversed wheels / wide whites, but respect and be proud of how clean that old Buick is man. That's a nice car. I guess I missed it in the post, but what motor ya got for it?

-Troy

Just read - you've got the original v-6.....

 

I dont get it, that thing is cherry, run it as it is. You will be suprised how people will react to that thing.

I would cruise it any day, any time.

Nothing wrong w/ a More-door.

If you dont want it...ill gladly take it off your hands.

...geesh, did I say it looked cherry?

 

I think it's a very workable car..I got tired of trying to stuff the ol' lady and 3 kids into some of the cars I had.so instead of a mini van we got a 61 4 door bel air.we all fit ,it is driven every day of the year.sits outside not in the garage.and i don't have to worry about someone leaning against it and me flipping out on em..it has been a rolling build .I do something to it as money permits and I do get my share of looks while I'm in it.lowered it kept the 6 banger (cheap on gas)and it's alot more fun to drive than a mini van!