I found this car 11 months ago and have been diligent following up trying to buy it. Last Saturday the planets aligned and I bought it. This was it the first morning at my house. Needless to say the wife wasn't impressed. After a bath, changing out the rusty hubcaps with some I found in the trunk, and some chrome paint to the grill it looks a little more respectable. I live in a decent neighborhood and will do much of the build outside so I want to keep it looking decent. Bought a good driver quality front bumper from a fellow HAMBer so that will go on next. The plan. The trunk latch in the floor is rotten and gone and the floors crunch if you push down on them. They said they last drove it about 10 years ago and everything worked fine. This is a 2 owner car, first dad then son. Said it was moms favorite car to drive. 79k miles. So the plan is get it running, driving and stopping before I look at the floors. I don't want to put it into the garage, rip everything out, and the project stall. All projects will be done on the weekends with the goal of it still being drivable on Monday. I know myself and if I tear it all down I will never finish it. The outer rockers are rough and I am scared to lift the carpet or the trunk rubber mat. You can tell someone loved this car. I love the gold and white paint. said dad made seat covers but the originals are underneath. Not going to try to build an award winner, just something fun for the family. My 2 year old grandson loves it. It is a glide car so it has the better motor. Engine is nice and clean and appears like it should run. Originally from Ohio, so it has a TON of undercoating everywhere, even under the hood. Every little place they missed is rusted. I am stoked to take in this new project. Advice and opinions welcomed. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
So a neighbor approaches me want to know if I am interested in a project they want to punt, a great donor. 80's something IrOC camaro with a built motor, 5 speed complete but rusty as well. Runs and drives but the carb is jacked up. This could be a good marriage. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Congrats on your new ride - with little ones going to be riding in it go overboard to make sure that safety comes first
It's hard to believe that wives don't see a diamond in the rough when it comes to old cars! There's an awful lot of work involved to make a diamond into something our wives appreciate; it's the same thing with old cars is what I tell my wife. I also tell her, "you know where I am, what I'm doing, and who I'm doing it with, and there are a lot of guys out there that would be doing a whole lot of worse things", and she understands that last part very well from where she works (Indian Casino). For the most part, it looks like you have almost everything you need, it's mostly complete, and it's a hardtop, a rare find. Time to get National Chevy Association and Chev's of the 40's catalogs (ignore the "40's" part, they have mostly 49-54 stuff). Good luck, have fun, and teach the grandkids to be "hotrodders". I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
Hello, Nice project for you. the 53 Bel Air hardtop brings back many hours of cruising around our stomping grounds in So Cal from 61-63 in my friend's 53. The color was a turquoise/teal with a white top. The stick shift on the column was good and shifted well. The 6 cylinder motor was completely stock. Two things made his car stand out, the white tuck and roll upholstery including the pleats in the package tray and chrome reverse wheels on blackwalls. The muffler had that 6 cylinder whine and with a different muffler, gave it a different than stock, sound. It was a cruiser for sure. There were many memories of cruising down the street with the wind blowing all around the interior. It did not matter about our hair blowing around as we all had buzz cuts from sports. Of course, there were the requisite drag races against a stock 51 Pontiac, a 49 VW Sunroof, a slow 40 Ford Sedan Delivery, and a stock old Model A 4 banger...that was fun...But it was a cool, cruiser first and foremost. Jnaki A project always looks different when starting, but this 53 Bel Air hardtop has the looks of a cruiser. Back in 62, many times the windows were always rolled down, giving that hardtop a full air conditioning, in the summer, So Cal style. It even served as a surf wagon with two 9 foot boards sticking out of the back trunk. Of course, we had to pop out the rear seat back and using a red flag to stay legal with those longboards. It was hard to put the boards on top because the roll up windows seemed a little weak to hold the board ropes coming down from the top. We did try it a couple of times, but we got tired of holding the rope ends with the door shut and windows rolled up. Not such great results, so that was abandoned. Great project, great car.
If you were not so far away. I'd give you a good deal on my 54 parts car. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Just remind her how much of a diamond in the rough you were before you met, and make the connection to you and old cars
That entire car looks better than mine. I have been looking for a year for a 53-54 and prices here in Florida are rediculous. For what I paid for mine is what they ask for 4 doors in worse shape than mine. Just hoping the floors are not as bad as I think they are, but I have a funny feeling the carpet is holding them together. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Just a tip , be careful with NCA stuff. , look it over real good when received , I've gotten seals with cracks , dented , scratched stainless trim ( watch out for aftermarket crap that doesn't fit right ) . For the most part they're ok but just a heads up. , also there's the Truck shop Orange County for 53/54 stuff .
Thanks for the heads up 54fish. Not as rusted as I first thought. Needs floors, trunk floors, rockers and lower rear quarters. Considering getting a bead roller and some metal and just making them my self. Just trying to weigh the time to make them vs buying them. It's all basically flat. I'm much less intimidated than prior. Need to get moving in it. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Your welcome my brother , Prior proper planning prevents piss poor performance , 7 P's to live by , good luck to you on your project whatever way you go !
Thick factory undercoating holds a lot together too! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The Jalopy Journal
