59 Chevy Hardtop-new, but clean, pictures, 11/21/23

[lo51merc]

As much as I hated to do it, I've had to pack up the 68 Camaro Funny Car due to a lack of a place to paint.

Now on to this project. I tried these skirts on several kit bodies and they just seemed too large for any of them.

I've never built a 59 Chevy and that seemed like my best choice for this build. It required shortening the skirts about 3/8" in overall length, and I took about 1/8" from the bottom. By doing both mods, I could fit them on the 59 without removing the side trim (though I am giving that serious thought anyway!). I searched some of my early magazines (and Luke Karosi's "Kustoms Illustrated" magazines), and found a few 59 Chevy's with bubble skirts. Here's one from my November '60 issue of "Car Speed and Style".



I've also liked the 59 with the "nostrils" filled and I've started that. I think the headlights on the cover of the magazine look like something I'll try to make as I don't have anything that looks like them. I might have a tube grille or I'll use the Merc grille from the AMT 59 Elky kit. That's all I've got for now. I'll keep you updated. Gary

[nobillet]

Looks like a great project.
Here's some inspiration for you.

[Johnny]

Yeah Gary, this will be nice for sure. Maybe a portion of a Buick grille could be a possible swap just for the pods? Thinking the 1962 Electra that is available. Looks like the entire car has been much dechromed, and I like it!

[lo51merc]

'62 Buick huh? No kidding! I need to see what that looks like. Could save me some work. Thanks Johnny.

Gary

[Johnny]

Feb 9, 2015 23:12:19 GMT -5 lo51merc said:

'62 Buick huh? No kidding! I need to see what that looks like. Could save me some work. Thanks Johnny.

Gary

You are welcome I hope it works!

[tabsscale]

liking your ideas on this have the 59 and 60 in my to do pile I am finally getting to build again been in a builders block.

[sumner]

love the bubble on the white car

[lo51merc]

I finally took a little time to take a few pictures to show progress I've been making on my Chevy. Picture no.1 is mainly to show the skirts on the body (not glued on). I shortened them 3/8" from the front end to fit the Chevy, generally following the original contour. And then I removed somewhere around 1/8" in the front and about 1/16" at the rear from the bottom of each skirt.

I filled in the nostrils with good ole styrene pieces and still need to fill in the gaps. The front corners of the hood have been radiused. The grille is the 60 Merc unit from the AMT 59 ElCamino kit with some cleaning up for the future grille. This small grille piece is something I've had for a couple of centuries and I'm glad I finally found a place to put it. The small "jets" on top of the front fenders were glued in place then blended into the fender trim line.


I stripped the chrome from the taillight housings and glued them in place. They are being blended into the rear body contour. I made a pair of "Lee" type taillight lenses from the red window from the AMT 25 "T" Chopped Coupe. The backup light mounting holes have been filled. The chrome trim on the rear fenders has been sanded away. At the rear of the trunk I recut the line at the edge of the trunk opening.


Thanks for your ideas and remarks. Gary

[sumner]

coming along fine

[Johnny]

No remarks, only go go go from me

The grille treatment, "deleting" the eyebrows and taillights look all brilliant work to me. Keep at it!

[cycolacfan]

Super clean work as always with modifications that enhance the original car rather than fight to change it.

I was reading a mag from '59 earlier this week where seven customisers were asked to predict 1960 trends and most cited the '59 Chevy as the next big thing to customise.

[froghawk]

Really nice workmanship and great design!

[spex84]

Slick! I might have to steal that idea for cleaning up the center of the V on the trunk trim.
That grille works really well, I like that it's more than just a plain '60 merc. The V'd teeth match the V'd bumper and overall nose design nicely.

[Kustoms Illustrated]

Clean!

[dino246gt]

Very tasteful mods, I like it!