Son Joe's shop specializes in restoration of old street rods and muscle cars. It's always fun to see what he's working on. They just don't make cars like they used to. Everything now is very sleek and aerodynamic which is great but there's just something about the design details on these old cars.
They rebuild alot of cars from the frame up but this BelAir was just a partial restoration. Even as a partial restoration, it took the better part of 4 months.
Some customers choose to restore their cars to only what would have been original for that car and others add new bells and whistles. For instance, instead of the gas cap distracting from the side profile of the car....to put fuel in, you push a button and the taillight moves out of the way using a small motor, revealing the fuel cap behind it. 
As you can see, the hood had yet to be painted when we were there.But just look at those design lines.
The dash on this car was autographed by Paul LeMat who played John Milner in American Graffiti. They were able to clear coat over it and preserve the signature at the customers request. How fun is that?Do you have a favorite old car, street rod or muscle car? I'd love to hear what it might be.
AWESOME!!!!
ReplyDeleteLouie bought a used 1967 Pontiac GTO convertible when we were dating. He worked at a local dealership in the parts dept as part of a school/work program (DECCA). The car had belonged to the owner's wife's. It was white with a kind of teal colored top. It was NICE. He paid $350 (Can you IMAGINE????)for it in 1974, I think. Knowing nothing about cars, really, at the time, and not having insurance, he slid through a slushy intersection during an April snow, smashed up another car, smashed in the front end of the GTO, and he did get the 'doghouse' replaced, but never properly got it painted. It was primered for a long time, and when he did paint it, he did it himself, and it was not a good job. It had 'texture'! LOL.*(Also, NOW HAVING INSURANCE, while my brother and Louie were painting it in my mom's garage, a board fell down from the rafter right through the top! As Louie's luck would have it back then, his insurance company wouldn't pay for the top to be fixed. Having no money to spend on fixing it right, he continued to drive it, then the motor needed work, and he just decided to move onto something that ran better, so he sold it. He wishes with all his heart he could afford to get another one, but we know it is just a dream. Ahhhhh..if only we knew then what we know now, and could turn back time!
Your son Joe does awesome work! Thanks for sharing!
Michelle
Sorry I don't have a favorite muscle car (Hahaha!) but I loved this post! :) Very fascinating work and your pictures are great. Quite the talent to do that, I think. :)
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