My money pit.

[sheppo]

When you look at other peoples car renos you think aah very nice and walk away. Do one yourself and you realise it's a never ending drama of unobtainable parts, exspensive paint, Trim, and a plethora of little hidden things that no one knows are there, eg making chrome trim clips etc. So as requested a couple of pics of my project, a rare 59 Dodge Coronet with Flattop 6 push button auto. This is as bought.
This after lotsa dollars $$s

[humpty2]

John,
That is one beautiful car.

From Mrs. Humpty.......WOW!!!

[cruzn]

Beautifull and airconditioned too...luv it...kool car...

[sheppo]

Thanks guys, i think she is beautifull also specially now that i have the stainless trim and bumpers etc on. Will post more pics when i get a chance, have not worked out how to post more than 2 pics at a time on photo chucket. I will paint Sunny in matching colours in due course, that pinky shade is more mushroomy in the flesh. Have just purchased original seat cloth material from states so thats next.

[urkel1965]

Hi Sheppo,
Your not telling me anything new. I know the time, $$$ & pain and suffering one goes through doing a vehicle resto.
Mine was a lot smaller job than yours....
from this....

to this....

I was once told this was all part of the fun of motoring!! Sometimes I'm not so sure.....
Cheers
Steve

[Cruz]

Looking Good,
Keep at it and you will be soon be enjoying her. That first drive will be great.
Cruz

[JBJ]

Hi Sheppo,

I love it.

In my eyes the Dodges/Chryslers/De Sotos of the mid to late 50's & early 60's were the best styled US cars made. I remember a red & white pillarless 4 door from Camden my friends cousin owned when I was a bout 15, it was my dream car for many years, after growing up as a paperboy reading the American hot rod & custom magazines on the papershop display shelves.

Certainly made the other cars out there then look mundane.


Keep at it, the hardest part appears to have gone together well, now just the time consuming fiddly bits that make the project worth it are left.

Cant wait to see it one day

JBJ

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Sheppo,

The pics of your "money pit" brought back some happy memories for me.

In 1958 my father bought a Dodge Custom Royal, which also served as the tow car for our caravan:



He ordered it sight unseen (and with no prior test drive) and waited many months for it to be delivered from the US. Unfortunately he had a lot of trouble with the front suspension, and after the replacement of several sets of wishbones(?) and some other troubles, sold it again after less than three years - this from a man who never traded his cars until he'd had them for at least 13 years!

Your car is (and our car was) an amazing vehicle - with the fins and acres of chrome it is emblematic of the style of the late 50's and early 60's.

One tip: watch those fins on your caravan. Our van still bears a scar from being impaled on a fin when my father took a turn on too tight an angle!

Hope you have many happy days in the Coronet when it's all back together.

Don Ricardo

[bobandjacqui]

Hey Steve, Everyone has to have a hobby ;D ;D ;D

[sheppo]

Thanks very much for your comments people, it's sometimes hard to judge what i am doing as i live alone and it's sitting at my door way 24/7. Love the 215s Urkel, you must be pleased with the end result. Olfart, she has the old 230 sidevalve 6. It was a special order for an old guy in Oregon usa, they mostly came out with a 383cu. in. We had the flashier models out here known as Custom Royals, they cost 4 times the price of a Holden so not too many where sold. As a young bloke i learnt to drive in a Dodge ute with the flattop 6 so it's a motor i always wanted to have again cos of the soft spot for them. Like a lot of old mechanics i did my time on hum drum cars but when i saw one of these,...... i have looked out for one, being so Flash. Finally found the car of my dreams and bugger me dead it had the old flattop 6 in her, talk about over the moon. So now it's just time and money till the dream is finally together and will be topped off with my lovely Sunliner painted in matching colours. The Dodge only has 49k genuine miles on her with the old 2 speed pushbutton auto. As stated before THANKS for your comments. ;D

[sheppo]

Have undercoated one side of sunny, we actually had a couple of dry days, BUT have been progressing on the worlds most beautifull car. Is this not THE coolest Front End you have seen..

Thank you for letting me share.........

[bobt]

Hi Ya Sheppo

My dear ol uncle had one of those when I was somewhat younger. I still remember it like it was yesterday....

All I can say is the photos do not do the car justice... They are loverly things

bobt

[Surf Tragic]

sheppo said:

BUT have been progressing on the worlds most beautifull car. Is this not THE coolest Front End you have seen..
Thank you for letting me share.........

Well sheppo, I wouldn't argue with that statement ;D, those 8-)cars ;D always make me look twice ;D ;D makes me envious
ST

[sheppo]

Seems how you liked the front, here's her rear now that the bumper is on, left it off while i made a towbar up.

How to spend a grand, the cloth is original material from the states, been in storage 50yrs. Sorry about photo quality they where taken with the phone camera.

Getting closer.

[Swellwillys]

Nice car Sheppo !

Reeeeeeeeal koool.

Keep the updates coming.
I'm in total agreeance with JBJ regards the Dodges, Chryslers and Desotos of the 60's.

Beautiful!


Swellwillys

[humpty2]

I need a plastic protection cover over my keyboard.....to stop the drool from getting in ;D
That is one beautiful car John

[sheppo]

Just back from the trimmers ( of the pocket too), carpet on order still. All the chrome back on, . Have undercoated my sunny so will post some pics soon.

[humpty2]

Bugger the Sunny, show me more pictures of this!!!

[sheppo]

Forgot to put these up. She's finished now and drives fantastic, no rattles etc.
Took these coming back from a camp quality fund raiser. She swept up to 80 easily .
out corners my mates 57s in roundabouts too torsion bars work great. I love it. ;D ;D.
As you can see she's just clocked over 50k genuine miles, had 49 on when i got her.




Also did a promo for the upcoming Grease stage show with my mates 57 chev convertable., Way cool, even got free tickets to it. ;D ;D.


Sheppo

[seeshell]

Hi Sheppo

And rightly proud I should say - your "jukebox" car is a real head turner. The pairing with your renovated sunliner will look the goods!

But mind, no sharp turns now, or you'll poke a hole in your van with those gorgeous fins!

Cheers
Seeshell

[Cruz]

:)Sheppo,
One cool tow car.
look forward to seeing it on the road.
Cruz

[CanAm]

Great job!
I have a HD X2 Premier that is awaiting my attention and a MkIX Jaguar when I get around to it.
Keep thinking about renting an industrial unit so I can have toy space

[melburgorbust]

Great choice of colours, the new paint scheme works wonderfully with the car's lines

[vernon]

Sweet

Cheers Des and Kel

[sheppo]

;D ;D Ok one more, just got back from a little cruise and she was just pleading for her photo to be taken so, i couldn't resist. God i love this car, so smooth to drive. ;D. Hate the way everyone stares at her but guess you have to take the good with the bad. ;D ;D Sunnyspots Rego papers are at club HQ so maybe we can have hook up and a trial run next week. ;D ;D.

Can't wait for Cowra.
sheppo