First Post on the HAMB. Wanted to show off the Car and project we got started on last summer. I always had a fascination with customs and chopped cars. Finally decided to shop for a car I could learn and break the ice on. Found this 48 DeSoto Coupe and made the deal. Fast forward a month or two, decided to attend a chop class that Joel Davis was putting on with his 49 merc. Spent a few days in the class still scared to just cut the roof off of my car. Ended up talking Joel into leading the way on the DeSoto. Spent a weekend at my shop in southern Colorado and got alot of work done in a couple days. Around 4.5 inches up front and 5 in the rear. A couple weeks later I hauled the car to Joels shop, the sail panels got cut shaped and tacked in. I've been doing the rest of the welding ect between work, the new born baby and my Oldsmobile project. Future plans with the car include a 346 Cadillac Flat head that my dad and I are building, And a custom paint job by Joel when that time comes. Super excited to see what I can learn from this community, from like minded people. Thanks!
Keep us in mind with those 346 details! Not a great deal of info out there but there looks to be some real gains with some port & bowl work and a mild cam. They are heavy & not a cheap date but short of an early Hemi, very cool. btw, I have one to build too...
Glad to see you posting on here Michael! And, even better that I can say I know you after the chop class here in OKC.
I definitely will. The machine work is done on the block and the crank is good to go just need to get a rebuild kit and a manual for the engine, hopefully this year we will get on it.
Interesting choice of engine. Just saying, much cooler than a flat 6. Chop looks good. Should be a lot of fun.
Thanks for the write up! The before the chop the door and window frame look much too short for the hood length. After the chop the car looks so much more in proportion. Too soon to reveal color choice, hub caps and skirts - no skirts? My preference is to avoid dummy spotlights and lake pipes, not that my opinion counts for much.
Shave the hood and trunk, drop it 5 in back and 4 in front, add some fender skirts and shoot it with primer and you'll have a real good looking custom.
Probably going to go with a root beerish brown color. I agree it blew my mind once we got the roof back down and the first door frame mocked up. Kinda crazy how tall the Chryslers were in the 40s. I have skirts but will have to install them and look at it from a few angles. Maybe lake pipes and hub caps for sure. Thanks for the interest. Ill be posting more the next couple months once I get back in the grove on it.
The Jalopy Journal
