Projects My 51 Ford Convert build, well remodel thread..

I bought this 51 last August.. I looked passed the ugly and saw some potential.. Here it was when I bought it...

Like I said... Ugly... Briz bumpers, hot pink striping, caddy tail lights, carson look top, grill didnt fit properly, so they put a naked lady in the center of it.. Pink/wood dash, burgundy carpet, fender skirts screwed on, v-butted windsheild, low profile radials.... Needed a little TLC...

 

First I tore the intrior apart... Painted the dash, made a new insert, changed the carpet, got rid of the pink..

 

Next was, add quarter windows...

 

Now, moving on to the outside..

Replace the briz bumpers with stock ones, replace the Buick grill that didnt fit with a Chrysler, bias plys, take the skirts off (to fill the holes in the body, I added 57 Chevy side trim), replace the caddy tails with 56 Chevy's, oh, and get rid of the pink pin striping..

 

can,t wait to see it this year mike will you have it at lead east?

 

I still have some more work to do (paint inside the Buick trim gold, finish the 57 Chevy trim, change the column)... I already replaced the windsheild, but I still have to finish the trim. But, in my opinion, its 100% better now...

 

Absolutely...

 

Looks worlds better. Getting the 80s off of it...

 

Yup, that's the plan...Just need the pink turned into Gold now....

 

Owning a 1951 Ford Convertible has been my dream since I was ~(13) years old..and I am now (69)....
I still plan on getting one some day...
You started with a pretty cool looking car to start out with (IMHO) and made it into a masterpiece...
Wow...and thanks for sharing..that thing is just plain awesome...

 

Yeah, I have wanted a convert for a while, I found this one and couldn't pass it up for the price.. The car was done in the 80's/early 90's, so it had that vibe to it, not terrible, but just not me. Thank you for the kind words.

 

was just asking chris miranda about this car last week. saw it at lead east last year and was wondering if you got anywhere with it. huge improvement! nice work. did you sell the green one? you can tell it's in jersey, it's got '57 caddy caps on it now!

 

Yeah, I sold the green one. It went to Cali, the truck picked it up the day of hurricain Sandy... LOL, I love 57 Caddy caps.. My future plans may also include 55 Packard tail lights.

 

you and your brother need to get to indy next year for the custom car revival. great show will be in june.

 

We would love to, but damn, thats a hike...

 

V butted windshield gone...




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Looking better!

I've always disliked 57 caps, but it looks like those are staying

Glad to see another saved from the awful 80s-90s styling.

You thought of getting rid of the lake pipes?

 

Looks good Mike!.was this the car from Route 17?.

 

Streamliner.. Sorry, the Caddy caps are here to stay, lol.. But as far as the lake pipes, yes, those lake pipes are going, but since the pods are already there, and I had these laying around, I figure I'll put them to use..




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Too cool! I'm posting this in the shoebox group build thread... uh, thread. Hop you don't mind.


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Thanks Joe... On Rt.17? No, I got the car from New Hampshire.

 

Yeah, thats fine...

 

Very nice...shoebox convertibles are great and a Kustom is even better.

 

don't think i've ever seen extra trim added to that buick side trim. really like the look of it. kind of a new twist to an old favorite, great idea!

 

Thank you.

Well, since the skirts were screwed on I had holes in the quarters to deal with.. My brother suggested 51-52 Packard trim, he though it might butt up nice to the Buick trim.. I looked for it, but the prices for it are crazy... My buddy had this set of 57 Chevy trim laying around, he told me to take it, see if I can do something with it... After a little cutting, I think it turned out nice, i'm happy with it.

 

dammit, i keep missing cool threads here. Those shoebox converts are great cars stock or custom. Never owned one though.

 

Makes it easier when most of the dirty bull work is already done. Great project you have there.

 

I'm not sure about easier..If I had a stock car, id have a blank canvas to make it exactly how I wanted.. This way I have to work with someone else's design and incorporate things to make it mine.. Takes a lot more creativity this way.. But, I guess in the sense that the body work is done, its easier for me.... Until we do the 55 Packard tail lights.....

 

I agree...it is 100% better now.

You, my friend, "get it".

It really takes a true eye for customs to see through the bolt-on mail order street rodded parts that car was slathered in and be able to change it up to come out with the beautiful example that you have now.
I see cars all the time that are customized and only a small percentage truly have the correct look. You nailed that look.

 

Thank you, I really appreciate that...