1959 Chevrolet Impala

[The Creative Explorer]

The first, but small update.

I have not found the exact path I want to follow, but I made with photoshop a course idea of what I have in mind. I left the color white, as I am not sure what colors to use just yet.

This is the original picture as found on the interweb

And so far my version, I put the body lower to the ground, added a sideskirt and filled that panel, but I don't like it, so I will keep a seam there, I removed most moldings and that will give it a nice shaved look.

Basically all the parts that I am going to use, now the clean up starts...sigh...

A better picture of the engine parts.

[The Creative Explorer]

The fender skirts are in place, now I have to shape them better.

And a little friend came with our christmas tree and said hi!

[Dr. Cranky]

Off to a great start. So you are putting on the trim and the skirts only to smooth everything down to a flat panel? Is that the idea? End up with a nice and smooth custom vehicle. I have to say I like it.

[Foxer]

This is the original picture as found on the interweb

l like your reference photo ... same color as the '59 I had ...with the exception the red in the side trim was black on mine. Will ne interesting to see your custom .. it defiantly looks good lowered.

[Greg Pugh]

Why would you go to the trouble of shaving the side trim but leave the door handles?

[moparfarmer]

Do it like the original picture. Looks striking with the red stripe and interior. Maybe put on the fender well skirts for a nice touch too.If you could find a pair of

1961 Plymouth lights you could put them under the fins like many did in the 59 era.

[mr moto]

I like the look that you're headed for. The top picture looks great because '59 Chevies are cool but we've all seen them before. Your idea really brings out something extra in the lines. Very stylish!

[crazyjim]

If you're going to shave the side trim, shave the door handles and hood emblem too. I have to follow this build - looks good.

[The Creative Explorer]

thanks guys for the comments and don't worry, the doorhandles were already shave even before I made the photoshop haha. The hoodemblem is gone too, I hope it gives me the look that I am looking for.

I still have no idea about the colors, but I am heading towards a double green paintjob.

[The Creative Explorer]

I had some final thoughts of paints.

I am pretty sure I am going to paint the master color in Bentley Speed 8 BRG:

And as second color I am doubting between

Aston Martin California Sage

or

Mini Silk Green

[The Creative Explorer]

I finally have some pictures ready of my progress, most work is with the body and it will take many more hours to get some paint on it, in the meanwhile I worked a bit on the engine and on the interior:

My little friend again

The kit stock fenderwing

And the same thing, but shaped with a file.

[The Creative Explorer]

The hood with a halve shaved off emblem.

I finished one side here sanding off the chromework.

This needs to be adressed too, there is some major heat-shrink to be seen in the wing, which need to be filled.

I used the chrome bits as a filler for the body, makes things a bit more easier.

[The Creative Explorer]

These bits and pieces will be either replaced or modified, but certainly not used as they are.

And the first coats of paints. Working with batches does have a lot of advantages.

And so we start on building the engine

The tranny got 2 coats of silver and gun, otherwise the red is to overwhelming.

[The Creative Explorer]

I added some sparkplug wire and testfitted the whole thing

Made 8 holes in the firewall, these will be used for the ignition wires, to give it a nice custom look

Just like this

The interior tub was then dryfitted, since I wanted to clean the enginebay also a bit.

[The Creative Explorer]

I made a template on some styreen

And glued it into place.

For the wheelarches I used my tool to make a joining piece of styreen

Which should look like this on styreen

And like this when glued in place.

[The Creative Explorer]

I continued on the interior, and sanded the tuck'n'roll seats

And sprayed in in Beige

The color is hard to see though

I also shot a few parts in the contrasting color, it is California Sage from Zero, but it has a completely different look to it.

And the body received some primer as well

[The Creative Explorer]

A little bit better view on the color

And masking starts again

Adding the second color

Which gives me this result

[crazyjim]

Nice work. Keep going.

[Greg Pugh]

This is looking fantastic. I love your color choices.

What's the story with the plug wires through the firewall though?

[Mr. Moparman]

Not that I'm really into this subject area, this is coming along nice!

[stulee11]

this is coming on well dude . as for the colours tho i would go with the aston martin colour as it goes well with the first one you chose . cant wait to see this one finished keep up the good work .

and yeah whats up with the ignition wires going through the fire wall ?????

Edited December 15, 2011 by stulee11

[LAone]

looks great eric. keep it going bro

[71datsun1200]

nice start. i really like the interior.

[sweptline64]

Looking good I like everything so far. But I don't understand the spark plug wires into the firewall.

Edited December 16, 2011 by sweptline64

[The Creative Explorer]

Thanks guys!

The story with the spark-plus wires are actually simple, since it is a custom, having a sloppy looking engine bay is definately something that will bring the whole car down. That is why I spent some more time on cleaning up the engine bay.

I made the wheel-arch covers and will use the least amount of cables and hoses as possible. Instead of having a rotor and ignition coil, I will use a ignition coil per cilinder and they will be mounted behind the firewall, together with the ECU's and everything else you need to run the car.

Stuff like the brake-cylinder, coolantfluid, will be located elsewhere on the car. This will give me a nice and clean looking engine bay, worthy of a custom ;-)