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California Vette Re-vamped


RestoModGuy

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I built this 2-years ago as one of my first builds coming back to the hobby after a nearly 40-year break. I had two of these classic Monogram Tom Daniels designed California Vette kits. It was one of my "grail" kits I saved since I was a teen in the 70's. I have never built a kit "box-stock" so to do this with this "grail" kit, I had to spin some of my own design to it, not that it needed it... The body mods include flaring the rear wheel-wells, adding a side valance flare replacing the chrome rocker-panel above the cool side-pipes. 

Paint is Electron Current Red with Torredor Red top and rear window slats. Updated the wheels to Pegasus with aluminum sleeves with "stance" front tires and painted a bit of black around the front rim to give it a slightly smaller dia. wheel appearance. 

It's one of my most prized builds and being a "grail" build it's priceless. Thanks for looking

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Wow the color, and wheels, freakin gorgeous. Nice work! I'd love to see some shots of the interior.  Thanks for explaining the mods and custom wheel & tire combination.

Thanks for the comment... I have limited pics of the interior, as it's a Vette and not much there to see.

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Looks fabulous with the changes you made.  I don't recognize the Pegasus wheels - what are they?

Thanks, The Pegasus inserts I used are the "Elite's" i slid into the smooth 23" sleeves

I also painted then inserts with a Platinum paint to better match the aluminum finish.

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Jim!  Gorgeous model!  I have always liked this, (original), car and you have absolutely improved upon it.  Could this be the best rendition of this kit ever done?!?!  I just keep going back to look at it.  Wow.

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Thanks for the comment... I have limited pics of the interior, as it's a Vette and not much there to see

 

The interior looks looks great too. I have to ask is the licence plate a tribute to the movie, "The Shining "

Edited by darthsideous
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The interior looks looks great too. I have to ask is the licence plate a tribute to the movie, "The Shining "

Al, funny you noticed that. I made that plate and yes, sort of a tribute to the movie but in a very backwards way. The Shining was filmed in a famous hotel near where I live in Colorado. 20 years ago I stayed there and at the bar they had bottles of rum in this beautiful red glass and the name of the rum was REDRUM. When I painted this Vette I noticed how close it appeared to look in color to the bottle as you can see. That's the story of the plate.

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Edited by RestoModGuy
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Man. That is insanely cool. You've taken the things Tom Daniels got right with the California Vette and improved on them while fixing many of the issues with the design (still not in love with the roof louvers, though). Stunning!

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The Shining was filmed in a famous hotel near where I live in Colorado.

While 'The Shining' is about The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park the movie itself was actually filmed in at a resort in Bend, Oregon.  I found this out when I was at a BBQ this past weekend with some friends who had just taken the 'Ghost Tour' at The Stanley.  I was adamant that it was filmed in Colorado also and Google was kind enough to prove me wrong.

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