'53 Vette Custom

[toner283]

I have always liked the early Vettes when they were customized even though it was not done very often. Maybe I like them because you don't see them done very often. No matter.  For my Autorama custom entry I'm building a 53 Vette full custom.

When I went looking for the 53 Vette that I knew I had in my stash I found it. What I didn't remember was stuffing a second complete kit into the box. I also went digging through some other kits looking for donors for some of the parts I was going to need for what I had in mind. The kits in the background of the shot are the ones that will be donating parts and pieces to this build so far. Might be two or three more along the line that give up some pieces for this Vette. I will be sure to mention those if and when it happens.

Also posting a couple of shots of some of the cars that I'm using for inspiration. It is not going to be a direct build of any of these however these will be definitely influencing the design. I also very much like the later iterations of the X Sonic custom Vette. I also just switched to Fotki after being a Photobucket user that got screwed in the great debacle so bear with me. I'm just learning how to use the Fotki software. Anyway hang on, this ride is probably going to get a little bumpy.

 Hosted on Fotki

 Hosted on Fotki

 Hosted on Fotki

 Hosted on Fotki
 
Hosted on Fotki

Hosted on Fotki
 

[spex84]

Oh yeah! This is going to be awesome. Not too many early vette custom models out there either, so I can't wait to see this one progress

[krassandbernie]

I agree with Chris! I love early Vettes as well; and we don't see too many of them show up on the board!

[Johnny]

Vette custom, a great idea. Nice bunch of kits to pick parts from, me like!

[constructionbob]

This is going to be exiting!

[grossbagnol]

Oh yeah I like so much the Corvette but I love these custom Corvettes. Very very good choice!!!
Fun to built to you!!!

[froghawk]

Some great inspiration there!

[lo51merc]

I really like the red 53-55. If I was going to build one I would be using it as my inspiration.
Gary

[Mr409]

It's extremely rare to see a Corvette being Customized, which is pretty sad as I think these things have a lot of potential for some cool Custom builds. Those inspiration pictures look very good, so I can't wait to see what you do with this.

[mod3llover]

   I have been toying with the idea
that my comp. class car will be a
AMT '55 Corvette gasser.
   And after seeing your inspirational
photos of customs, I'm feeling like
the gasser would be pretty kool!!

      David S.

[toner283]

Ok, time for a small update. I have been picking away at this thing as I can. Working 50 hours a week and with an 11 year old daughter and a six-month-old daughter it makes my free time kind of slim so there may be a bit of a time gap in between updates.

I have gotten the dual headlight pods from the 57 Ford aligned and attached. Getting the second matched up evenly with the first one was a three handed job for sure. Once they were firmly attached I blended them in with two part Tamiya putty. Man is that stuff tough to file and sand. I am pretty happy with how the profile of the front fenders has turned out so far. Don't worry lots more modifications coming. I'm not going to leave much of the body on this poor Corvette alone.
 
 
 

Also snagged more parts from a few donor kits. The four boxed kits pictured. The bagged kit is one I picked up at a swap meet it is a monogram 56 T Bird. Brand new or vintage doesn't matter to me.  If it has a part I need, it is in danger of being a parts donor kit.
 

 Also working on getting the parts for the next major body modification ready to go. Just mocked up here, when installed they will sit lower into the quarter panel. The original Corvette quarters have not been cut at all at this point. I will be also be maintaining the original Corvette wheelbase. The new quarter panel pieces will be blended in above and around the wheel opening from the Corvette. Stay tuned, plenty more surprises coming.
 
 
 

[krassandbernie]

Nice work so far! Those headlight pods are blended in quite well; and those Chrysler quarter panels/fins are going to be wild for sure! Are you planning on retaining the matching Corvette rear wheel wells (so it's the same front and back)?

[spex84]

Whoa!!
Those fins have a bit of a Sunbeam Tiger-meets-Batmobile look right now
Are you going to go as crazy as the X-sonic and Moon Rocket?

[mod3llover]

   It all looks so amazing already!!
I'm majorly impressed sir, I love it!!!
   The front end work there looks just
about perfect Chris. Well I'm hooked
on watching this one now!

   Carry on! . . . I mean please ! ? !
          David S.

[Johnny]

The front is looking great! Changes everything of the Vette, I really dig it! The Chrysler fins looks like a major workout with putty and sanding, go for it