Fix the mechanicals, electricals, brakes and upholstery to Your liking, paint the wheels, polish the stock hubcaps, buy a new set of bias-ply wide whitewalls, leave the exterior in the exact state it´s in right now, and drive the wheels off of it...Wear a straw hat while doing so.
At 62,000 miles I'd inspect the suspention, get new tires, rebuild the brakes, put new seals in everything I could get to and drive it just like it is for a while, (maybe a long while.) It'd be a lot of fun. Then I'd do what rustynewyorker said. Slick it up and sell it to some collector for enough to get a good jump on a coupe to hot rod.
I'm not a restorer but I am a Christmas Story fan and I'd keep it bone stock. You would be a mini celebrity driving it around the holidays as well.
Unless it's your dream car sell it and use the money to buy your dream car. Once you start to put money into it, it'll just keep on sucking up your funds. You'll need to rebuild the brake system and replace the tires at least, after you get it running. You might need a new electrical system too.But it looks way cool as is.
I think punkabilly 1306 has it - it would make a great fun run-cruiser type car-skirted,possibly visor on windshield cleaned up -it definetly looks do-able
I agree with the bomb treatment on this one. You anti-"more-door" guys consider this one a parts car only, but this is a perfect bomb candidate! I'd do what many have suggested - see if the engine can be started, and if not, I'd go with a 455 or a 403 Olds engine, or a 425 or 500 Cadillac engine (NO SBC!) and maybe a front sub and an S-10 rear axle. Keep the interior as stock-looking as possible, and accessorize it like crazy with skirts, foglights, spots, visor, wide whites on steelies with hubcaps and trim rings, and whatever other period accessories you can find. I'd go with a black and dark gray (or silver) exterior. Then, I'd drive it until the wheels fell off!
No stupid small block chevy - bow ties are reserved for geeks . Go late model gangster dark gray all the way
You must not have a wife. Mine never runs out of ideas of what to do with the stuff I bring home. I'd get it running. See if you can get the head off, fill the cylinders with mystery oil, diesel or whatever. Let it soak a few days. whittle a 2x4 downto the approxemate size of the bore, place the 2x4 into the bores and start tapping them loose. I know this isn't kosher but I have gotten engines running this way. At least it kept me in the shop and the ol' lady in the house, rattlin' pots and pans.Good luck, could make a nice ride.
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