Way before Smokey and the Bandit there was another famous firebird or firebirds. James Garner as Jim Rockford drove firebirds on the show The Rockford Files ... and he drove them HARD.
In my search today for a period correct firebird I was dismayed to find lots of Trans Ams and Formula Firebirds but not very many plane old Firebirds. It seems to me I appreciate the earlier roof style now as they have become less common. I would build a Rockford Tribute Car. Pontiac V8, automatic, ralley wheels ...1973 firebird To my knowledge, General Motors never mass produced a unibody pick up. Ford did and they look cool. I had a chance to buy a Mercury unibody a few years ago and passed on it, but I have thought about it more than a few times since. This one appears to be close to driver status and with a set of wheels it would be a cool ride.
1962 Ford Unibody It is interesting how a single accessory can change the style of a car. Fender skirts have a major impact on" the look" of 50 Chevrolet 2 door sedans. With the skirts you could go low rider , full custom, rat rod, but they won't work with gasser style or street machine. Full custom would be my choice. 3" out of the roof, lowered, reliable drive train, ... 1950 Chevy Deluxe
I have many fond memories of riding around in the back of my friend's dad's 67 Buick Electra 225. He would often take us to the senior men's baseball games at the fairgrounds . When I saw this car today it made me think of Donkey Baseball - a fundraiser fun game between the local men's team and a travelling ball team that played riding on donkeys. they were sort of like the Harlem Globetrotters except way more bizarre. What did you ride in to see ball games? 1968 Buick Electra
Back in the eighties I had a 74 el camino SS 454. It was one of the roughest cars I have ever managed to get safetied and on the road. It was scary fast and fun to drive. I put in a used Pioneer supertuner and a pair of tsx6 hanging from the rear package panel. I worked in a restoration shop in Kingsville and my boss and his girlfriend both had 73-77 el camino s . It was like a job requirement. Anyway the 73-77 's are still affordable, they ride great and this one looks like a great one to start with . 1976 el camino
What would you do if you had to move all your stuff. If you were upsizing your shop it wouldn't be too bad but what if it was a great distance and you were downsizing your shop? Moving sale - if you like what has been done so far this car is a great deal. Finish it up with 3" out of the roof, heavy metallic paint on the roof - maybe silver and candy tangerine suede on the body, roll pan front and rear, find the missing nailhead...1957 Buick 2 door sedan
I haven't even shown my wife the ad for this car and I can hear her voice asking me " but what would you do with it?
Where does it fit in?" I don't know until I see it and see how good or bad it is. This car doesn't make my list - partly because I never thought I would find one and partly because if you really examine the styling the 49 -52 coupes just look cooler because the more simple body styling suits the coupe body style better. By 1953 the shape and stlyle of the rest of the car overpowers the short roofline of the coupe. Still , call it an ugly duckling or what ever this car calls to me. How would I build it - maybe old school gasser style - maybe full on "bomb" style. Too bad he has NO TRADES in his listing. 1954 Chevrolet My daughter Holley has a 69 Acadian 4 door that has "maybe tomorrow" syndrome. It had a fairly long to do list and she has picked away at it and has it almost ready except the stuff left on the list is stuff she needs my help with and I keep telling her - maybe tomorrow.
She has been doing research on Acadians and colour codes, engine and transmission codes etc. She discovered that the last few years Acadians were built in Willow Run Michigan. Any way my interest is up on Acadians so this one pops up and I am interested. 1971 Acadian Well it looks like the deal on the 28 AA truck isn't going to happen so I still have lots to trade and a partially built model A stuck in my head. I must be getting old because this 4 door is looking pretty good to me. 1931 Model A fordor. What would I do different if I used a fordor body instead of a truck? Maybe an all out custom, air ride, 6" chop, fenderless, tru- spokes, 3.8 supercharged Buick v6, automatic [ even though I picked up a T5 5 speed yesterday], maybe shoot it raspberry suede. We will have to see.
Sometimes you need to be reminded of what your " so far from done - I am getting discouraged " project could look like when it is done.
Goodguys Columbus is this weekend - thousands of too cool old cars - wish we were going this year but... maybe we can spend a little time on our 47 Chevrolet 2 door. Maybe it could look as good as this 48 Chevrolet 2 door . Maybe - someday. |
Dave
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