59 Impala "What If"

[59 Impala]

I'm rebuilding another glue bomb and building it as a "What If" Chevy built the hardtop like this instead of the bubble top, or, as another hardtop.  The top is White and I painted the bottom Red and then overcoated that with some mixed pearls.  I'll let this dry a few more days and then start the finishing process.  I hope ya like this rebuild.  Dan

[MrObsessive]

Very interesting!

Somewhere on the 'net (I don't remember where) I saw pics of '59's particularly Pontiacs, done up by GM in this type roofline. For whatever reason, the idea was nixed and it didn't catch on till GM was ready to style the '62's. Your idea is not that for off!

The only thing I might change if it were mine is perhaps change the upper window line to be a bit straighter to represent a hardtop a bit more.

 

Edited July 13, 2016 by MrObsessive
Grammar!

[59 Impala]

Thanks Bill and I see what you mean about the window opening.  I don't know if I want to change that now, now that it's painted.  I appreciate your thoughts on this very much.  Congrats on your 59 getting on the cover of the other mag and I still have the 59 top that you sent me and it's on my 60 that had no roof.  I compared the two tops and I see the difference that you stated on your 59 build.  At least my 60 has a top now thanks to you.  I'll think about this window opening a lot and we'll see if I can get up the courage to change it.  Dan  

[MrObsessive]

Dan, don't change the roof on account of me! It's all painted and prettied up, you don't want to tempt fate and try to "fix" it lest Murphy's Law comes into play------I know that one all too well!

Thanks for the compliment about the '59's cover shot! I wasn't expecting it as it caught me by surprise as someone had the latest SA at the last club meeting. 

That convertible body lends itself to some other neat conversions. For instance, if you can get the roof sections, you can fairly easily make two and four door sedans out of it as they pretty much shared the same tulip panel and trunk. I have a couple four door flattop roof sections from The Modelhaus that I may get brave someday and turn the convertible kit I have into the Impala Sport Sedan.

Keep up the neat work! 

[59 Impala]

Thanks Bill.  Yeah, I understand.  I just didn't see the roof sides as you pointed out and I believe that I'll leave it alone.  I know what you mean about trying to "fix" things myself.  LOL.  I do have another 59 convertible glue bomb to fix and the sedan conversion sounds good to me.  Do you know if anyone else makes the sedan roof?  I'd like to try a two door version.  I know that the Modelhaus is closing their doors and it's too late to order from them.  Dan

[Ace-Garageguy]

Looks good. Has the general lines of the convertible top, which GM used to advantage a little later. The two-tone treatment is evocative of a slightly earlier era, might possibly benefit from a chrome something-or-other to help delineate the color difference between the door and top of the quarter panel. Very nice.

[59 Impala]

Thanks Bill.  There is a lot of chrome that has to go on this thing and I'm not looking forward to doing that.  I'll be using BMF and I have already sprayed Alclad on the chrome parts from the kit.  The chrome was wearing off and needed to be redone.  I'm keeping the interior a little simple by removing the piping that goes over the top of the seats and top of the doors.  Dan

[Snake45]

IMHO, the '59 Chevy is so ugly that it's like the frozen tundra or the State Department: any change at all would be an improvement. Model on!

(I'm allowed to say that, having spent most of my childhood in the back seat of a yellow and green '59 Bel Air.)

[59 Impala]

LOL.  Thanks Snake.  I owned a 59 Impala 2dr hard top just before getting drafted back in 1967.  I did love that car though.  My avatar is a model that I built like the one I owned.  Dan

[59 Impala]

A small up date on the 59 Impala.  I got the bumpers painted with Alclad chrome, finished the interior and got the chassis done.  There is a lot of BMF to do yet and finishing the engine, then putting everything back together.  I just mocked this up to see how she will look when finished.  I also used Bill Geary's idea on the chassis to get the body to set down over and not showing from the side.  There is a touch showing but that's going to have to be it.  I'm not looking forward to the BMF cause there is a lot of it on this car.  I do like how it's looking so far though.  More to come later.  Thanks fer lookin.  Dan

[59 Impala]

All that's left to do is install the chrome pieces under the hood and she'll be done.  I'm waiting for them to dry and I'll most likely install them tomorrow sometime.  I really enjoyed rebuilding this car and what if Chevy did build one this way.  Thanks fer lookin.  Dan

[59 Impala]

She's finally finished.  The last two pieces that needed to be installed was the pieces for the hood.  I had to make resin copies and spray Alclad on them and they're installed.  I'm happy how this rebuild turned out.  Not perfect, but good enough to set on the shelf.  LOL.

[Ramfins59]

That is really a great looking Impala Dan.

[Deathgoblin]

Very sharp, Dan!! 

[Ron Hamilton]

Sweet!!!!!

[59 Impala]

Thanks guys.  Brian, are you able to come to the meetings?  Do you get the newsletter from Don?  We meet at the Donato's pizza at Easton on the first Thursday of the month.  Take care.  Dan

[Spex84]

Love the color and the conversion job. Nice work!

 

[Deathgoblin]

I should be able to start coming again.  Thanks for the info!  How come they moved again?

[59 Impala]

I should be able to start coming again.  Thanks for the info!  How come they moved again?

Panera's stopped reserving the room and we had to find another place to meet.  We are still looking for a permanent place, but for now Donato's at Easton will have to do I guess.  I hope to see ya at the meetings.

[59 Impala]

Love the color and the conversion job. Nice work!

 

Thanks Chris.  I'm working on another restorations of another 59 Impala and I want to try and make it a 2dr sedan.  We'll see how this turns out.  Dan

[MrObsessive]

Dan, very very nice and clean!

I'm certain had GM tried this styling cue at the time the '59's came out instead of waiting till '62, they would have sold! It would have been a nice alternative to the "bubble top" roofs that was all the rage with them then.

Interesting that Ford did have a much more squared roofline choice with their '59's..........and they did well with that.

You may or may not be interested, but there's a fella on the 'Bay (T.M. Resins) that does a '59 Chevy sedan (Biscayne?) conversion. It looks really good, and it would save you some work if you wanted to check it out. I have a started '59 sedan that I got off of there, and in fact it was about to be put on the front burner when I was having trouble getting the hardtop done.

Only caveat is he offers no glass with the conversion------you'd be on your own there.

Edit: I found one of his completed auctions..........you can check it out here.

Edited August 6, 2016 by MrObsessive

[59 Impala]

Thanks Bill for the kind comments.  Also, thanks for the link to the auction.  I checked it out and I'm kinda interested.  Do you know if it is based on the hardtop or the convertible?  I couldn't make out the trunk outline in the picture.  I have started on another glue bomb that is another convertible and Ive worked the top a little bit and I'm not sure if I like how it would turn out.  That is, turning it into a 2dr sedan with a kinda strange roof design.  LOL.  I also have started on the 60 hardtop that I got the roof from your 59.  I got the roof section glued on and filled in the vent on the rear of the top.  I really thank you for that roof because my 60 didn't have a top and I was going to try and make it a convertible which would have turned out kinda bad.  LOL.  Dan

[MrObsessive]

Thanks Bill for the kind comments.  Also, thanks for the link to the auction.  I checked it out and I'm kinda interested.  Do you know if it is based on the hardtop or the convertible? 

I'm quite positive that started out as a convertible with the Johan '59 Cadillac six window hardtop roofline modified to fit. '59 Cadillacs had the same sedan roofline as the Chevy Biscayne/Bel air sedans, 'cept that all Cadillac models were hardtops across the line. Chevy sedans and convertibles I believe shared the same trunk lid and tulip panels in '59.

I also think that resin was originally done by AAM. He may have gotten a kit from someone or somewhere and re-popped it. As I mentioned, getting glass for it will be the real challenge as I don't know of any source that you could get it from. The sedan and hardtop's glass are very different from each other, and you'd almost have to vacuform the sedan glass to get it to look and fit properly.

My eyesight is a bit wonky again this evening so when I'm able to see better to find it, I'll see if I can take pics of it. Mine started out as a project I got off the 'Bay, but the fella I guess lost interest and sold it on a "Buy It Now". I got it for a very good price, and it came with all the parts to finish it except.................you got it--------the glass!  

[59 Impala]

Bummer about the glass.  I think the rear glass wouldn't be that hard to make but the windshield is another thing.  I was wondering if the windshield from the coup or convertible could be tweaked in some way to fit.  I'm curious now.  LOL.  I think you're right about AAM making the resin car. 

[MrObsessive]

I was wondering if the windshield from the coup or convertible could be tweaked in some way to fit. 

Nope! I tried! The hardtop and convertible's glass is too short. Like the 1:1's the sedan's roof was about an inch or so taller than the hardtop. Thus the glass would be taller as well. Same deal goes for the convertible since it shared the same windshield frame and glass as the hardtop.

That could be why the fella let that kit go...........he got frustrated with the glass!

I can vacuform one-------but I gotta tell you............ it's gonna be a loooooong time before I tackle another '59 Chevy! Making the glass for that alone will be a lot of work and it would require pretty much scratchbuilding a buck. Sorta what I did with the Impala's glass when I was frustrated with the kit piece, but the sedans have different dimensions, so I can't use that.

As I said...........that's a loooong way off!