Projects The Best 1955 Cadillac build

Hey, Roger, I'd really love a ride around the block in that car if you bring it to Salina! So far, I'm looking to be there with my Plymouth pickup, barring some catastrophe in the meantime!

 

Looks like you'll have this wrapped up in no time. LOL! I know its been a long project as they always are. My immediate reaction to your teaser shot was to box up all my Pontiac project pieces and ship them your way, HA! At least there would be progress! Looks grrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!

 

What year Pontiac bryan...??? I just picked up a '60 Catalina Safari 9-passenger wagon that needs a few things...box 'em up...!!!

Patrick666, look me up in Salina (you won't be able to miss me)...I'll be the middle one of three Caddys -a '54, me, and a '56 Caddy...!!!

Thanx guys...

R-

 

Looking forward to seeing it in Salina in July !!

 

Wow. Your caddy is looking great. maybe if I hump my roof I can get a little further along with my cars. Just joking convoy. Looks great Rojer

 

Thanx John, but I don't think "humps" on the roof will look good on a delivery...you may need some other type of motivation...like cash...that always works.

R-

 

I really like your Cadillac. Great example of a home built, do-it-yourself Kustom!

 

Is this BECAUSE you're a bachelor, or WHY you're a bachelor? LOL



Great build and I can't believe I haven't found it until just now.

Love the colour. How close is it to Steve Wertheimer's (El Jefe?) '57 Cadillac in terms of the colour?

 

Kinda personal isn't it Brootal...??? Well, I'll tell you...I was married for a lot of years (had one of each type child...and now have two grandsons and a granddaughter on the way). I met my wife because of cars, but over the years it became apparent that my hobby was interfering with her lifestyle...I'm no youngster anymore and I'd rather live alone than listen to someone bitch at me constantly about my hobby...so to answer your question, it is because I'm a bachelor and why I'm a bachelor.

Steve's Caddy color is much lighter.

R-

 

Good answer.

Look forward to seeing the rest of the build, although it looks like there's not much left to go.

 

You know what I'd love to see at one place at one time, all completed? Your Cadillac, the Mack in Ontario, the "four-door Belvedere" build, and the two-month red '55 Chevy truck build (I am terrible with people's names!). All four of these builds really represent what I believe the HAMB is all about - taking one's imagination and applying it to a project with the talent and wherewithall to get the vehicle DONE and ready to hit the road in style!

My hat is off to the four of you, especially, because I like all four builds for slightly different reasons each, plus what I've already mentioned.

 

nice build way to go

 

Roger:

Thot I would check in on progress and what do I see....

Last time I checked in after Michelle asked if you had gotten your car painted yet. That was a month ago. She will approve of the color, no question! Look forward to seeing it in Salina.

Saw Dan's Cad on the front page of the Denver Post. Saw it again later in the day in Loveland, but missed you both. Noted that yours was absent...so figured you were in pieces or paint. Spent more time in the swap than looking at cars. Too many muscle cars for my taste.

Looking forward to seeing you guys again now that spring is FINALLY here.

Tom

 

Damn Roger your car just keeps on getting better and better. I am full steam ahead on my super secret new project. Probably gonna sell my 55 as roller project or part it out. Making jigs to do a poor white trash frame rack. I will keep you posted

 

The Caddy is looking good. Can't wait to see it in person.

 

Closer...CLOSER...!!!!

OK, time for an update and another teaser shot ... or two...

Well, I'm on the down hill slope now...and the days are dwindling down to a precious few...(hmmmm, that line should be in a song somewhere...or was it a poem...???)...no matter at this point...it's true...



As you can see, the painter takes all necessary precautions when laying paint...here he is mixing the final color...and at this point I can tell you the paint is gorgeous...and the car is at home...however, it'll be a few days before I start hanging stuff on the car...gotta let it set a bit...

I'm still waiting for several pieces of the car to return home...the trunk and fender skirts...once the trunk returns, I'll hang it...then I think I can start assembling the whole car...





As for waiting for parts, the front bumper is not back from the chromers, yet...it should be here this week...they gave me a two week turn...and a week shipping both ways...I'll not name the chromer at this time as the outfit is new to me, so I'll reserve judgement on the finished product, NOT what the salesman fed me...!!!

My "local" chromer, an old biker named Smitty, has outdone himself on the smaller parts...the fender eyebrows and headlight rings are gorgeous, as are the roof scoops...not cheap, mind you, but the gorgeousness definitely exceeds the cost...matter of fact, even the stainless is polished and looking good...I'm even having the grille polished...I decided the "satin" look I had on the grille last summer simply wasn't going to work with all the "shiny" stuff...my stainless polisher sure wasn't happy that I asked him to do that (the center part of that grille weighs over 70 pounds -- how'd ya like to handle that and attempt to polish it...???)...but, ya know, money talks, BS walks...!!!



The first couple of coats went on very well...I love watching a "pro" work...sure wish I was as concious of what I was doing (all the time) as the painter is...




Here it is, sans a couple more coats of color (four total) and sans clear...and, of course, the polishing of said clear...

Now that the car is home, I'm trying to cram 6-8 weeks of reassembly into four weeks...the carpet is scheduled to be changed on the First/second of July.

The new windshield, sitting in a box in my garage, and tinted side glass and rear window are scheduled for the 8-10 of July...the power window motors are already back in (and I surprised myself that I remembered how they were affixed and bolted in...!!!) so that part of the reassembly is done..!!! After the glass is in, it's reassembly of the entire interior...but that's nothing more than a three or four hour job...I've still got to put the tuneage back in, I just can't take a 7-8 hour trip to Salina, Kansas, WITHOUT tunes...and I've decided it'll go into the dash...and be hidden so a modern stereo "face" won't look out of place...and of course, the CB has to go back in so I can keep in contact with my bro and our other Caddy pal, Ron on the trip...AND I'd like to get a few more miles on the engine (before we hit the highway for Salina)...since, at this point, I only have a total of 25 miles on it...

The A/C was put on hold (the going price of triple chrome plating ate up that cash...) so I'll have to suffer like my brother in his Caddy on the trip to Salina (and back home -driving west into the setting sun from Salina)...and the rest of the summer...of course, Denver and ColoRODo doesn't get sweltering like Kansas does...and most times, an A/C around here isn't needed...

So, IF all goes well and we don't run into any major stumbling blox along the journey...we should make Salina with the Caddys...wish me luck...

R-

 

May the force be with you during re assembly. Looks gorgeous Roger

 

Roger, you lucky dog! Your car is looking great and all the hard work is paying off. That purple is spectacular-

 

DON'T scratch it!

Can't wait to see it all together.

 

Thanks for the update, I was wondering about how much fun that the "Caddy Boys" wer having. Looks like you have a lot to look forward to... Good luck with the deadline.

See ya in Salina.

Happy trails, Mick

 

Damn... I might have to buy a plane ticket and fly to salina just to see it in person...

 

very nice.

 

Looking Great Roger!...The Lonely Knights will see you in Salina.

 

That's the sound of drool hitting my keyboard.

She is stunning. Roger, did ya ever reveal the origin of the roof scoops?

 

'60 Corvair.

 

Where on the body were they? The engine cover?

 

theres a whole lot of envy sitting on those 4 wheels lol

 

Just behind the rear window, ahead of the louvers on the trunk deck...

Thanx No Surf...you got it right...

And thanx to the rest of you for the compliments...I'm really pleased with the way it's coming out...

R-

 

Roger:

This thread is just like watching burlesque. A little tease here, a little more revealed there... You sure know how to play this out and heat up your audience. Like the rest, I can't wait to see it when the last bit of wrapping is removed!

Tom

 

Nice stuff Roger what a great surprise it was to see you and your brother in Lincoln Ne. for the Hot-rod show and so sad I will miss you guys and everyone else at Salina this year. I'm sure we'll cross paths somewhere before summer is over. Keep up the momentum on the Caddy. Looks great. Gary