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Great looking interior.

As long as the oil pan clears the ground it should be good. It's only plastic so it doesn't really matter but having owned a few Fords with the '32 style cross members and driveshaft tubes long ago the angle of the driveshaft too transmission angle catches my eye. I like how you have created your chassis and suspension here.

Other than the upper radiator hoses are there any other reasons for lowering the engine as you have it mocked up now? My thought is that if everything else is fitting the way you want it, maybe just make a couple of stubs for the radiator hoses to mount too and use some tubing or wire for the hoses.

Where was this model and the packaging made? There are some parts of the world that may not know the difference between a Ford and a Chevrolet or even be able to understand the writing on the packaging. On the other hand, hang on to this since I'm sure it will become a sought-after collectable for its unique packaging.

Like the color and the red wheels & wide whites look perfect on this.

Like the way you are honoring your friend and his memory.

Your experience was better than most in that case. The few trades that I have been involved in have all arrived just fine and mine going out were received in the same condition. In those cases, we used some sort of outer boxing that protected the kit. But I still see many others here that seem to have this problem, and it seems that every time the shipment was sent with minimal outside protection and that is why I even bring this up.

In a couple of the pictures the color looks somewhat like the color shifting paint option that Ford had offered on the Mustang at one time.

Out of curiosity what are you hoping to get for it? We can't sell things on the forum, but some may be interested in a trade which is how we usually do it.

Like the chassis finish. The color on the thinner test strip looks maybe a shade darker in one picture, may be the lighting. I like that body style of Mustang you're working with.

Continental Kits. I never cared for them even when they were a thing back in the '50's and '60's. Nothing wrong if that is what you like, just not for me. Looking at some of the SoCal car shows online I notice that many low rider builds are sporting Continental Kits and often are even Convertible body styles. Still not for me, but the way these owners are doing their Impalas for the most part, does look good.

The original builder was trying to put some effort in the detailing the body trim. Notice the El Camino trim on the rear quarter panel. The bucket seats mentioned by Mark were an extra cost option and the SS trim wasn't offered on the El Caminos until the '68 model year. Many would buy and install the SS hoods and add the SS markings to personalize their El Caminos. Looking at the installation of the intake manifold the original builder seems to have been a Ford fan or know little about the small block Chevrolet engines as the distributor should be at the rear of the engine. besides mounting the intake backwards, as you can see the spot for the upper radiator hose at the rear of the engine and they may have had to drill a hole for the oil fill tube, and it is mounted pointed at the wrong side of the car as well. Still and all this is a great find at a more than reasonable price. Shouldn't be much of a challenge to clean it up and do a few fixes and have a really nice model to show for it.

I have seen so many others here that are receiving older and, in some cases, even new models that are shipped in such a hap hazard manor that it is all too common to have them arrive with substantial damage. Maybe establish with whoever you're getting these kits from just what your expectations are for their condition when you receive them. As part of your purchase or traded kit how the boxing and shipping is to be done so that the kits arrive in a usable condition.

Great looking color and body trim. Like the sleeper look.

Thanks, that's what I was sort of trying for. I used some Testors Bronze and Clear.

Thankyou Mario, this is a highly recommended kit.

Great looking sleeper. The Maroon color looks good showing the nice body lines. Like the chrome moldings around the side windows. Got to be at the Winter Nationals in Pomona the year the Thunder Bolts were giving the Hemis fits. There was even one painted this color, but I can't remember who's it was.

Great looking color combination and like the stock grill and stance.

The finishes and detailing of the chassis and engine along with all the other mechanicals are very realistic looking.

I agree, beautiful looking coupe. The shade of green looks just a tad darker than a popular color used years ago that was from the 1957 Pontiac palette.

What are your plans for this little treasure? Build, trade, collect or whatever.

You would really have to turn up the radio with those tires out on the highway. Likes it.

Been wondering what had happened to this build. The front and rear "clips" from the AM chassis may be one idea.

I agree with Slusher on the color. That shade of blue will also highlight the body lines on the Corvette.

Maybe try and find an old AMT '57 Chrysler 300 kit. This has a Hemi engine, and the chassis is a fair representation of a Chrysler chassis of the era. With the inner fenders you would have most if not all the parts you may need to build your Imperial.