From Kustomrama: Tony Wonsetler of Hutchinson, Kansas owned the car from 1968 to 1970 or 1971. In 2015 he told Kustomrama that he had totaled his 1962 Dodge Polara when his dad found the Chevrolet in Greensberg, Kansas; "He found it in a barn I think he said. I bought it sight unseen, dad drove it to Hutchinson where we lived. The split manifold would rattle the windows, and I rattled a lot of them. I had to sell it to go to school. It was not easy to drive on the highway and the front lights were for looks only, you couldn't see at night more than 20 feet." Sounds like it was still in the area at least up to 1970/71....
I recall the car from one of the little books, rodding/restyling etc. liked the rear treatment can't say much for the front at all.
I wish I could find a better photo of the front before I decide whether or not I like it, not that that amounts to a damn thing.... I see similar stylings to some of his other builds. The rear of this '40: The front reminds me a little of this '47 Ford: Both images from carnut.com
Where did you find those images of the later version? I know I have seen them somewhere... I don't think the front end on the later version works for me... and thus, I like the earlier car better. That being said, the potential for a early chevy/covette mashup is just glaring... Super rad car man.
The latter version was featured in June '67 RnC; I have no way to scan it. The 'Vette front was interesting, to say the least.
According to kustomrama it's in August 1990 Rod and Custom. That's a "Best of" issue.... may be a "reprint" of the early version.
Business in the front, party in the back. That's cool! The later version is a little tougher to get into of course, but still awesome to see. ironandsteele.com
I also remember seeing the chevy about 70-71 in Greensburg Ks in front of a bodyshop on the south side of the highway. That timeframe is right on as I went in the Army in 73. The car seemed to be a lighter green, kind of a limey silvery green as I remember. Lippy
I've got that issue and just thumbed through it. It's on page 52, but it's the same b&w picture that Ryan posted. It does say that it originally appeared in the Sept. '64 issue of Rod & Custom.
I knew it had been totaled, that reads like it was rear-ended. That explains the custom rear and mild front. Interesting that Stuckey did the rear and later Starbird did the front.
Although in the photo captions (#1) it says "Dave Stuckey's sculpturing highlights the hand formed aluminum grille which conceals headlights."