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Your dash's are a model unto themselves.

I have seen a couple of nice looking Resin bodies for a '57 Ranchero with the bed already done, just ad parts from the Revell '57 Ford.

I drove a Tanker Truck for Union Oil Company for a while around 1970. The Tanks were Aluminum and unpainted and the rig had Aluminum Wheels. The rear of the trailer tanks had a slight convex curve to it. First I started polishing the Wheels when I had a little down time and I like how that looks anyway. I got in trouble with the Highway Patrol after I started polishing the back side of the Tanks. I wasn't the only one doing this and I had noticed on the road looking at other trucks that it was like driving toward a mirror. Well it was a bright shinny day and I guess the sun reflected off the rear of the tank and the reflection hit the State Trooper in the eyes. He didn't sight me but said I was to let the Aluminum oxidize and return to a dull finish. To this day I still appreciate seeing someone who looks after their rig.

OOOO NOOOO! I love those cars. Just a little FIY. Don't settle for just having the car repaired. There will came a day when you want to sell or trade this and you will legally have to disclose this damage and it will effect it's value at that time. Make her pay for her stupidity and get compensated as you should be for your lose.

I like the Engine idea and how you did the Chassis.

Looks great, sorry to hear about the kits short comings. Very nice paint work, you have the stance, and the 4.3 engine swap would be a perfect way to make it go without the rear wheels on fire all the time.

Great looking truck. Very nice paint and trim work.

That's cool looking. You have to have a back ground story for this car. Very cleanly done and I like the decal work and light bar.

While the kit it's self wasn't a super detailed kit, it sure builds up looking like it is. I built one years ago and just polished the red plastic and foiled it.

Those are really low mileage vehicles and very clean looking.

For what it's worth I would drop it in the purple pond and rebuild it the way you like it. I agree it was a good build when it was done for that era. Your skills are far better than this. The old Revell Ranchero tool with the stock roof I think died when they went to the chopped top. Maybe someone has more knowledge on this subject, but to me this body with a stock roof is the "hens tooth" thing about being rare. You can get a lot of parts from any of the current '57 Ford kits to redo this one. Please keep use posted I would like to see what all you do with this find.

Amazing paint technique and very clean detail on the trim and interior.

Well the Refrigerator problems are back. A couple of months ago we had are very expensive high end Bosch Refer thought it was time to die. We went to the local furniture store and bought their mid-range Frigidaire since the sales lady says non of them last more than 8 to 9 years anymore including the Bosch that we had. Last night the new 60 day old Frigidaire gives up. The biggest problem was my Ice Cream was more like Cream of Chocolate Chip soup. Frigidaire said they might be able to get a Tech. out Monday at the earliest. They did share with me the number for the service they were using so I called them direct. The kind lady I spoke to said the were booked solid but she would let me know I they had any changes in the Q. She calls me back about a half hour later and kind of gives me a "wink wink" over the phone that they're giving priority to the more essential problems. I like some of these new terms. Seems a Refrigerator trumps a Dish Washer or a Dryer. So we may get service tomorrow.

For me the rear window design on these cars is what I find so interesting, but then I've been told by others that I'm weird, they may be correct.

This is an all to common a problem everywhere. Kansas is promoting what they call " The Zipper merge" Well I got your Zipper. Same thing everyone just kind of blends in together with no drama and everyone is getting along just fine. There seems to be those with a very large sense of self entitlement who rush up to the head of the line and force their way in. I have seen a few 18 wheelers put an end to this, you would not believe how wide those guys can make those trailers, love'em.

Besides the paint work, the under hood detailing stands out with out being over done. What I can see of the interior looks great.

Really beautiful looking. Your wood treatment stands out nicely against the dark green.

The body is looking real smooth. You mentioned the hood and the ridge down the center. I had a build that I removed the very small ridge running down the center of the hood. The effect when finished gave that model a much wider and even lower look without standing out as the reason for the appearance.

In the early fifties this was more common than you may realize. No way of knowing how many different keys GM used in that era but it wasn't many. I can remember hanging out with friends and Chevrolets were a common car to own,. There were times when they would go around where we were parked and open each others trunks just for fun. We were easily entertained back then.

This is just a personal observation. Most of the older trucks with wooden floors, the floor was more on the order of a thin black protective paint finish. Even in later years, the '74 Chevrolet step side I bought new the wood was painted the same color as the body. Now with use the woodgrain would start to show thru the black paint to some extent depending on it's use.

The European rigs look so much better than the klunkers around here. Wait for it, the hate mail is about to arrive in my in box.

I like the lines of the '61 Chevrolets and the roof design in particular so I would tend to leave it as is. Maybe make a Ute by removing the center of the trunk lid and turn the rest of the trunk into a tailgate of some sort. This is just weird enough to be interesting. I wonder how they did the X frame and two part drive shaft.

I have always wondered why Revell or some other company has never issued a Super 88 hardtop like this.

While that's something I wouldn't do, it is interesting enough that it could/should be saved.

I'm still wiping away the tears from laughing.