59-Desoto

Yea dwc43 that sounds about right and I did enjoy watching them every week, lots of screw ups but they were fun to see them run those Charger though the miracle body shop every episode. You could see those fenders buckle on impact every jump and then the next shot not a mark LOL

Yea I was part of the CWA for a while several years back , I am 55 and to me there was a time the unions were a good thing but not so sure they are the right thing today. Many of my family member were a part of the UAW so unions aren't nothing new to me. It's not just a one sided problem and no I dont blame the unions , but I do blame the auto makers. This didn't happen over night it happen over years and anyone old enough and has been around cars long enough will tell you much the same. And hey cars are cool any way you build them short and fast or long and low.

The total number of cars used was amazing if I can find that magazine I'll give you the totals , If I remember right it was in the hundreds . It almost made me cry to know how many Chargers were destroyed

Evey one has made some good points about the big three, wasn't that long ago that it was the big four if you add back in AMC/Rambler whom we lost in the seventies as well as seeing British Layland go under , That should have raised some red flags then as to were the American car makers were heading but sadly they keep building cars that weren't up to snuff and by the late seventies and early eighties there was nothing but junk coming out of Detroit. Thats when the imports really got a foot hold in the US. I had hope never to see the American car disappear but it's seems it may very well happen. Maybe not altogether but as many of us remember it. My idea would to be cut only the models not selling slow the production lines down and get some fresh designers in place even if it means bring them in from out side the US. The next thing would be to get the factory rep.s out in the field and talk to the very people who work on them everyday in the dealerships to better understand whats going on not only under the hood but under the sheet metal as well. I ask a GM rep one time why they didn't try to make the cars a little easier to work with and his reply was they weren't meant to be repaired on. GM is in the selling business not the repair business , so then I ask him is not repair work related to selling as well? He wouldn't give me an answer. As for Pontiac I hate to see them go but it's been in the work for some time so it's not really news for the most part but more surprise. But its all self inflected as I see it. But wow I mess them days of old and those stop light to stop light runs late at night in a GTO or Charger or even you favorite Mustang. I'll always remember the 442 Olds , Pontiac GTO , Dodge Chargers and Plymouth Roadrunners and all those other muscle car days and now near gone.

They used different engines depending on the scene being shot if I can find it I have and old article in a magazine that covers what engine and when it was used , most of it came when they were shooting jump scenes. A smaller lighter engine to the 440 were used and they would also counter balance the cars to keep them from nose diving into the ground.

I think there are a lot of reasons folks will pay those prices , the main one to me is they just aren't able to do that kind of a build and the lack of know how and for others it could be lack of time to build that special model , but what ever the reason it's a matter of who willing to pay the most for your work.

Seeing all that black on that Charger makes me think of the 68 from the moivie Bullit, love the look you give it . Fantastic build.

Wow thats a 1st. LOL fantastic job love it.

Yea Bill , love the color great choice , gonna add flocking to the floor? Would be a great touch. But either way looks super nice Hope you post some finish shots .

That pink on that C Cab really junp out at ya LOL But I like it looking great my friend.

Dont know about you guys but I would love to see more pictures of that Corvair, That's wild

All right just crack open the Revell 65 Chevelle and to my amazement the frame fit near prefect out of the box and is going to need very little trimming, this is going to add some real detail to this old Malibu, We are going to trim all the well wells and fire wall out of the 65 and fit it as well. Got all the distributor wires yesterday but still waiting for the rear bumper from ModelHaus. I'll post more photo over the next few days, thinking about giving her a bath and a new color as well LOL. View Photos Here: http://public.fotki.com/59-Desoto/64-malibu/

Looking good my friend them cars make for a really nice display for sure, got one here some were if I ever get around to it. Keep up the nice work, cant wait to see it on the self.

WOW I just seen this and went from the start of this build up to now and you my friend have take the word modeling to a hole new level . But with all the reading and looking at the pictures and updates along the way I fine one update that you haven't posted. HOW many gray hairs did SKWIRLY 2 give you and how many bottles of eye drop did you go though? CB your work is just incredible. I'll be watching you for sure my man keep up the great work.

Man thats going to be one sleek dude can wait to see a finish car.

Thanks it been one that I would only want to do once , the dash is killing me. Thinking about starting all over on it , theres not much out there to start with as the 59 Desoto is all by its self when it comes to the dash. The 1960 was the closest thing I could come up with as a stating point. Thats what I made the mold from.

I got many projects going on and most are old school stuff , not sure how many here are into this kinda thing but it sure is fun making something into what was never done by the kit companies so heres one more. Kinda new to posting so I hope to fit in around here I see a lot of great builder with a lot of useful information. Been doing modeling off and on since the late fifties and have been out of it for many years so trying to get back into the swing of it again and maybe get to know some of you along the way. You can see more on my projects here: http://public.fotki.com/59-Desoto/ Starting with a promo and taking it to a new level I hope , creating a 59 Desoto convertible another classic fins car.

Those old woodies sure do make for some nice displays , you did a really nice job on that one. Like the color you went with looks great.

Wow love those 55's and like your color choice very nice.

Wow love those 55's and like your color choice very nice.

Here some photo's as to were the Malibu is up to now still much to do. Going to try to use the chassie from Revells 65 Malibu and useing a 327 from a 63 vette. As I said much to do not sure if I'll keep the color combo , this one is a test run for a 2nd one. More photos here : http://public.fotki.com/59-Desoto/

Will do Don I'll try to put some more photos up in the next few days , still waiting on a few parts to complete the job. I'm building it as a stock convertable. It as taken some kit bashing and a fair amont of altering of the interior tub to get it correct.

I agree the Purple Power is some great stuff I've been able to remove some of the toughest paints with it.

Heres a little project I am working with , its a 64 Malibu thats had a hard life. We are going to convert it to something that never been done that I know about. The work has been started but most all the photo's were lost with a computer crash. So what I'm going to do is show only a starting point and the finished project thats near done. View All Photos Here : http://public.fotki.com/59-Desoto/64-malibu/

Wow that one nice job on that 57 210 , my hats off to ya my man.