Post your car!

[Denny]

Don’t you mean my Pontiac and Buick? I don’t have the Buick yet, I pick it up the end of April. And the Pontiac is tucked away for the winter. But here’s some to hold you over.

 

[Denny]

My 57 Pontiac Chieftain. The Buick has to wait until I get it.

 

[Kartorbust]

Before and after body work from being hit neatly a year ago on my way in to work.

 

[Denny]

Looks like I’m winning this thread so far?

 

[Kartorbust]

Considering this thread is nearly 20 years old and hasn't had any posts up until recently, yeah I'd say so.

 

[Hellion]

Looks like I’m winning this thread so far?

I tell you, about that '57 Chieftain... I immediately love the styling more than say the ubiquitous '57 Chevy Bel Air

 

[Denny]

I’ll tell you about the 57 chieftain. From the firewall back it is a 57 Bel-Air with only minor changes.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

I guess he told you.

 

[Hellion]

I’ll tell you about the 57 chieftain. From the firewall back it is a 57 Bel-Air with only minor changes.

Well it’s more better! It's better because there's, ahem, protrusions on the front and who doesn't love those? Bonus points if you can tell me who this is:

 

[Denny]

Jayne Mansfield.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

She's the reason the rear of semi trailers have that lower bar in the back.
Ya know the Mansfield bar.

 

[Hellion]

Before and after body work from being hit neatly a year ago on my way in to work.

Like it never even happened. You use new or used parts?

 

[Kartorbust]

Like it never even happened. You use new or used parts?

Bodyshop got a new bumper, tail light, tail light harness, and a few other things, then repainted the box on that side.

Tailgate still binds a bit, but I'm not complaining.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

She's the reason the rear of semi trailers have that lower bar in the back.
Ya know the Mansfield bar.

No party she'd not attend
No invitation she wouldn't send
Transfixed by the inner sound
Of your promise to be found

 

[Hellion]

Tailgate still binds a bit

It adds character.

 

[Denny]

She was a knock out either way. Shame it all ended in the front seat of the 65 Buick Electra that night. The way it did.

 

[Wicked_Daddy]

I'll join in... '55 Buick Special. My 3 year project before I discovered go karts.

 

[Denny]

My dog just bought a 55 Buick special. (Talking buttons are a bad idea when your dog is smart and evil) I go to pick it up the end of April. Then I went out and bought a couple of 66 401 nailheads and a bunch of parts. Let’s see some more pictures of that beauty and tell us more about it.

 

[Wicked_Daddy]

I was searching for a Cadillac of the same era but could not find one that I'd want. I found the Buick belonging to the original owners son, sitting in his yard for the 15 years after his mother passed away. She took good care of it and it had an incredibly thick layer of paint on it. She got it painted every 2 years, the same turquoise and white. That saved the body from rust. The cloth interior was pretty shot though and the chrome had dulled and had surface rust. I wish it had a 401 NH, but the 322 was cool to dig into. And the tranny - that was an education! It was resto mod I could handle in my garage, so the deal was made.

I stripped her down and rebuilt the mechanicals. I towed the body, gutted and sanded down to a painter friend and we shot it with a navy blue base and then alternating coats of candy blue and candy red for a purple result that had depth and color changes under various lighting conditions.

The interior was done by me and another friend that does boats. He came up with the trunk treatment and the "Buick" embossment. I am especially proud of the cover I made for the steering wheel that I hand stitched. The seat cowls were another favorite project.

The hub caps are off a GMC truck and I covered that with large bullets. The wheels are original - chromed.

I got the Offy manifold from a junk yard in Utah - that was an adventure.

You may notice the engine compartment looks like I rhino-lined it. It's actually Krylon stone texture paint with satin black over it.

 

[Wicked_Daddy]

BTW, your Bonny is amazing. I'm drooling over the rear end - so much style and class!