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Beautifully done body work and paint. This actually looks like something that would have made since at the time. Like the way you worked the intake through the hood and the stance.

What is your source for the '57 Ranchero body? Like the Pontiac / El Camino. I used to own a '95 Chevy c1500 extended cab short bed like you're building. What kits did you use to source the bed and camper shell?

There is a local Buick Car Club in Kansas City, and they seem to always have a great display at the annual indoor car show every year. One of the members has a Black one that is supposed to be a low number of ones built. The year model may be different, but it sure looks good. I remember when these cars were dominate in the stock classes at the drags.

Like the '33 & '34 Fords. Should you want to try and disassemble this you may have some luck with Hobby Haven's Un-Cure Ca remover.

Consider Round 2's reissue of the old AMT engine kits. The one with both the 283 Chevy engine and a 421 Pontiac in it. The engines in these kits have multi part engine blocks and internals. The Pontiac engine includes the option of both duel four-barrel carburetors, GMC 6-71 Supercharger with offset carburetors or fuel injection stacks for the blower.

All of the afore mentioned tools work well but being sort of a cheap skate myself I have found that the flat plastic clip that hold my loaf of bread wrapper closed works great.

Like so many others I have also been using the prewired distributers for some time. In my case I just don't have the patience to try and drill out most kits distributers. The metal or aluminum distributer housing doesn't seem correct to me, so I just paint that part a semi-gloss black. The tubing included in the kit in your picture can be cut in short lengths to represent the spark plug boots for the plug wires. A couple of things to plan out before you start wiring the plug leads. Determine where the spark plugs on the engine you are wiring are located. Often you will see where someone has mistaken a simulated head bolt for a spark plug location when drilling the cylinder heads for the wires. The other visual that some get wrong is the firing order of the distributer. I use an old Chilton's manual to verify the firing order when I use them as it will also show where to start with the #1 plug wire, but there are many other sources for this information. When you get comfortable doing the distributer, you'll start adding wires for the alternator and heater hose lines. Counting rivets comes next, but this all adds to the overall look of a models' engine compartment.

I like the line, "Is that your friend in the wood chopper?"

Great looking finishes and cleanly detailed. Looks like this would be a fun build.

Just spent New Years week at my Brother and Sister in laws home in that area. We have visited before and have spent some time with their neighbors as well. Some of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.

A thought based on what I have seen done on some TV builds of 1:1 Street Rods. Your idea of chopping the headers would raise the exhaust, the cross members could be created with a section of hollow tubbing allowing the exhaust pipe to pass thru the cross member.

If chopping the top is even a consideration, now would be the time since it looks like you're shortening the body and removing material from the roof. Since chopping the top usually requires adding material to lengthen the roof now would be the time to see how little would need to be removed from the roof. Again, that is only if that is even part of your plan. I do like the idea of shortening the wheelbase and overall length of the body.

Great looking Colonnade body Pontiacs. Like the colors and paint finishes.

The paint color combination looks very 1957 and the finish looks great. Like how you did the interior trim.

I agree with everyone else on the beautiful looking paint work. The chrome trim is also well done. There used to be a lot of rude jokes about the Edsel styling when new, but I always liked how they looked so detective. With the wheel and tire combination along with the stance I really like how this looks.

Just living the good life on the edge of the prairie in the cultural center of Levenworth County Kansas.

The gold color and smooth finish show the body lines well. Nice low stans.

Great looking Vinyard Flatbed. Like the flat bed and side boards.

Not 100 % sure about 1956, but Chevrolet did offer some in 1955 that usually were used by the phone company and others. A friend of mine bought a used on in the mid '60's off a used car lot that would buy them up, paint them in some nice metallic colors and sold them to the public. As for removing the trim from the spruce a good pair of spruce cutters should work.

Beautiful looking paint work, especially the BMW. I'm partial to the Firebird.

Obviously, the Judges knew what they were looking at with these builds.

Great interior detailing. The body color and finish are also great.

Like your new years project. Should you be trying to replicate the chopped roof in the drawing a chopped top may be in this kit or one of the later versions. The chopped top that AMT put in the kits was to represent something you might see at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The drawing is something that would be a better source for a street car. I think if you didn't remove as much from the roof pillars and used the optional chopped top you could replicate what is in the drawing.

I can see why you won the Gold. Beautiful looking paint finishes and colors. Great looking trailer.

Great looking GTO. The paint finish and interior look great together. Building a model of past owned cars is always a treat and a few flashbacks along the way.