Just about anyone can put together a car show; just throw a few flyers in car windows and tell people where to be. You are bound to have a couple cars show up. However, it takes a whole lot more than that to create an extravaganza that everyone from around the country hears about and is willing to cruise cross-country to attend.
This 1953 Chevy Wagon was bought new by my Grandfather as a delivery wagon for his grocery store. My Uncle and Cousin had restored and maintained it until it was passed on to me. This is the actual first car I remember riding in as a toddler. I was fascinated by the chrome on the dash, and have been a car nut ever since.
After a lot of thought and conversations, I have decided what direction to go with the restoration of the Wagon. At first, I wanted to preserve the original state of the car, but if I did that, it would be dangerous to drive in today’s traffic. In 1953, there were no seat-belts and few other safety devices. I really would like to enjoy the car as it was meant to be…. driving it as much as possible. I would love to build it with a Big Block, but I am realistic so I plan to install the original Corvette engine and transmission from the ’78 Vette. I also want to install disc brakes all around with radial tires. Of course there is creature comforts like air conditioning I want to install. I will keep the original look of the car with a few exceptions like wheels and over-sized tires.
You know an underground trend has peaked when it goes mainstream; like when punk rock becomes Green Day. Driving rusty beater rods is punk rock. Faking patina is Green Day. Ya know how we know? Because phony rust is on display at SEMA 2012.
Cumberland Products has a Vintage Line of flat and satin paints that were used on this ’33 Ford to create what’s certainly the the most convincing fake patina we’ve ever seen. Even so, we can’t endorse fake rust.
However, we’re not so cynical about flat and satin paints, and what makes the Cumberland stuff cool is that it does not collect fingerprints or smudges. We fondled that ’33 to prove it. The company also claims “this coating is formulated to withstand the same atmospheric conditions as any single-stage urethane system.” So perhaps it won’t get all chalky like primer and other flats. Cumberland also has a clear that can be mixed for flat, eggshell, or semi-gloss.
See CumberlandProductsInc.com.
Think we’re wrong about patina? For that matter, do you think flat and satin are overplayed? What are the paint trends that interest you now?
At this particular show I was admiring a car on the other side of the aisle, when I heard the an interesting conversation behind me.
1948 Continental – FOR SALE
The young man in this picture seemed to be having a hard time understanding why the owner (the adult in this picture) was selling his car. At one point he was even questioning the price of $35k!!!!
Good to see such a young guy have such an interest.
On almost every season of Chop Cut Rebuild, Classic Industries builds an awesome project and 2012 SEMA’s project is no exception. Project “Open Air” is an LSA-powered ’56 Bel Air Roadster (that’s not a misprint, it’s a roadster not a convertible). The entire build will air on Chop Cut Rebuild’s 9th season. The first episode will air mid January.
It started from a ’56 Bel Air found in a backyard in Compton, California. They got it back to Classic Industries’ shop in Huntington Beach, CA, only to realize that the entire car had started to bow in the middle because of rust. They called upon Art Morrison for a chassis and Real Deal Steel Bodies for a convertible body. Chevrolet Performance supplied the LSA crate engine and 4L85E transmission. Dakota Digital helped out with the gauges and C.A.R.S. Inc. stepped in with the interior.
The project was finished only hours before loading it on a trailer to be unveiled at the 2012 SEMA show. The build coincided with Classic Industries’ new tri-five catalog that was introduced April, 2012. Check back later as we will have build photos of project “Open Air.”
Brandan and Jesse snagged a ton of photos from SEMA today, mostly encompassing the Racing and Performance segment but capturing a lot of random stuff as well. Browse the gallery below for some particular points of interest, and click through to see the full set at CarDomain.
A not so small feat was the formation of the LittleMotor Car Co on 10/30/1911 – The Little was an automobile built in Flint, Michigan by the Little Motor Car Company from 1912-15. The Little first was available as a two-seater with a four-cylinder 20 hp engine, and had a wheelbase of 7 ft 7 in (2,310 mm) . In 1914 a 3.6 L six-cylinder L-head engine was available in a later model that had a larger chassis. This was phased out in 1915 as it was too close in size and price to the Chevrolet Six. Durant merged the Little Company and Chevrolet in 1913, gave the Chevrolet name to the Little car and moved manufacturing from the Detroit plant to Flint.
The Little was merged into Chevy in 1913.
On Nov 1, 1955 Studebaker debuted the “Hawk”. – Hawk came in the Power, Sky, Golden, Flight in it’s first production year 1956. Want to talk rare cars? How about the Flight Hawk in the K7 body type – only 560 produced. The Power Hawk numbered 7,095; Sky Hawks 3,050 and the Golding Hawk came in at 4,071.