Changing that bumper looks like no small task though, isn't it molded in? It just amazes me that someone would take a bumper from the worst period of car design (especially the bumpers) and apply it to a car from the best period of design? Anyone who customizes anything from '57 is wise to tread lightly, aside from a little lowering, most any car from '57 really needs very little done to improve it.
X2 on this. The car that got me into customs was the '57 Buick owned by Bob Paladino on the cover of Custom Cars in Feb. 58 (which I understand he or his family still owns). It is subtle and timeless, and would be right in style today, 50 years later! (I'll bet one of the guys (rikster or twochops) has some neat scans of this car, yesterday and today) I'd bet your car was missing all the front and rear parts when it was "found", and built on a budget...all that chrome is expensive! But... If it drives well it deserves a second chance in the looks department. In my opinion as well as that of others, going back to near-stock is the way to go...as the budget allows, of course. Just my $.02
Thank you for the kind words. Yes over the winter it will be changed with stock chrome bumper . No big deal for me but I am a very good friend of Voodoo Larry and we were talking last night, he was ripping on me pretty good about it .He wants a crack at changing it ..
Bumpers aside, which '79 GM frame was used? That was a whole lot of work to put a perimeter frame under a '57 Buick! Was the original frame/suspension toast? or was the goal to improve ride/handling?
man... I unno. Not a fan of the bumpers/ grill rest of the car is tits. However, does it make you happy? if so drive the piss out of it and fuck all of us... (or save up some money, and get some major kudos for putting any bumper from the right era on there. )
Hey cool. I think youll be happy with Voo Doo Larry. He always seems to do something off beat ,traditional and different that makes you scratch your head till ya decide that its cool!
Jesus, the guy posts a kustom that doesn't fit "your" frame of what a kustoms is and all you old women can bitch 'bout is bumpers? Newsflash!! Eisenhower ain't in office no moe, and the world has been proven to be round! Great kustom, be sure to park it real close to all the '' cliche' kustoms" at all the shows you attend! Swankey Devils C.C. " Spending A Nation Into Generational Debt Is Not An Act Of Compassion!"
There is a '57 Buick in a local yard near me that has bumpers on it, I could go and take a look at them for you if you're interested. I'm sure they'd need to be rechromed but they might be good cores and they'll have all the brackets and shit on them. The guy is pretty reasonable too. It's pretty rare that I see any custom car without at least one thing that I would do differently, that's the beauty of customs. I think with the front bumper changed out (the back looks OK to me, gives a rolled pan effect) it'll be a really sharp car. I like the hardtop roofline with the 3 piece rear window, very pretty.
Gary Mundy A good friend of mine built the Buick. It is a great driver! Kongrats on the purchase. When Gary was building the Sled I told him that it was all good but the front bumper. He was determine to make it work and it looks ok. If it was mine I would change out the front bumper. Very kool Ride... Have fun with the sled! Happy Trails, Mick
Man, I hope you ain't drivin' around with that eyesight! Newsflash, customizing should improve the looks of the car, not just make it different! And he can park it next to me anytime. He seems like a real standup guy, and that bumper will make my car look a little better.
The Jalopy Journal
