New 55 bel air sedan project. This one is going to be a " conservation " not a restoration. The period we are shooting for is 1970 to 72... Not a barn find but a storage find.... What wheels would look correct ?? Thanks Dave
I've always like Chrome Reverse on 55/56.... If you're really going for the '70-72 look, I saw alot with late 60's impala rallys with the small/cop hubcaps, cragars, aluminum slots, etc...
Solid but shiny color, either roll and pleat or smooth vinyl interior with matching rugs. Chrome reverse wheels with bigger back tires and run a 327 block with 283 crank and 302 pistons with a four speed.
In California in 1972? American Torque Thrust, unpolished, with bigs and littles, all on six inch wides, and lowered just a little.
My dad's Corvette c. 1972-73: It still has the aluminum slots, but the side pipes are now (rusty) chrome. -Dave
Seriously great car. One of the "must have before the dirt nap" deals. Actually already have owned a couple. I would have to do Torque Thrusts and a slight rake, 327/Muncie 4 gear, 4.11 posi and full tank of gas. Frank
My 55 has torque thrusts.... Not totally in love with the look., I mean it looks good,,, just not great.. (mine is not for sale, had it almost 27 years) This one is a project for sale. I am thinking ansen type slots. It has a button tuck diamond back seat and package tray, 1 impala low back bucket seat (driver ) , rac tach on the steering coloum, stewart warner gauges across the middle of the dash, and the ever popular grant wood steering wheel... Oh, lets not forget the 6" round chrome speaker grills on the package tray.... This thing just screams late 60/early 70s.. We have a solid plan for the "look".. Just trying to get it right... Dave anybody have a black 63 impala passenger seat ?
Sounds like you already know what you are lookin for.............a buyer It should sell just fine as is if you dont get too attached
Definatly the problem with MY 55, Way too attached ! Gonna finish the 57 nomad resto, do this 55 and get on finishing mine..been sitting way too long .. Dave still looking for wheel ideas....
Cragar SS, Keystone Classics, chrome reverse, Ansen slots. I had Cragar SS's with gold spokes on a '63 maroon Impala in '71.
You gonna paint it or leave the patina? Mines got lotsa patina with cragars and Im still not too sure how well that goes together. The flat black one I had seem to work o.k. tho, I guess.
The cars of that era, done up in early 70's style usually had Cragars on them. The poor boys ran the SS and the rich boys ran the SS/T's around here. Not sure there was that much of a price difference... I like the ET slots as well.
This belonged to a good friend of mine, the late Kelvin Polonich of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This was painted in 1974-ish, and still shows well to this day. Pic is less than a year old. This was how it was done then.
I didnt realize the SS/Ts came out that early till I looked it up after reading your post. I found the answer here on the HAMB as the year 1970, I just took for granted they were a 80s wheel kind of like the centerline that was hot around that time. I still dont care for the SS/Ts at all, The SS portrays a 70s look more easily to me. Check this out! http://www.roadsters.com/wheels/#Intro
every 55 i built in the 70s and 80s got cragar ss. or slots.and a 327 and a 4 speed. and i built alot of them back then.just loved the look.now i want to build one more before i go and i cant even find a body that i can afford.
Exactly what I was thinking...Rootbeer flake, Cragar S/S wheels, diamond upholstery. PLEASE don't make a "gasser" out of it.....
Maybe, if you took it to a guy who lived at the end of a dirt road and dropped a lot of acid, and said "Do whatever you feel, man."... Pretty awesome paint job, but I hate it...
Lots of good input ! Low Budget, thanks for the pics... I had planned to replace the psgr rear quarter due to a poorly done repair . (most likley done in the early 70s ! ) My body shop connection looked at it last night and said no way, it just needs a little pull......so now the idea of "patina " enters the picture. The plan is to gather up everything needed to get it done, and start on it in the spring.. Dave
love the asser look but no for driver. mine is prostreet and thinking of going back to factory frame and touring suspention after more than 12 years of faithful service as a blown prostreet.
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