Survivor Rehab: MPC '66 Corvette Coupe

[Snake45]

Not sure what to call this project. Not really a "restoration" because I didn't really restore it to a previous state. Not really a full rebuild, as I didn't strip and repaint it. Much more than one of my typical "glue bomb rescues," though. How about "Survivior Rehab?" Let's see how that works. 

Got this one in an ebay “Corvette junkyard” about 10 years ago, along with some other stuff I really wanted. It sat unloved until about 2015, when I dug it out and took a look at it. It's an original MPC '66 Corvette done as a drag gasser, or maybe a hot street freak--hard to tell. Here's a couple shots of the hot mess starting point; more details and in-progress pics and text (and philosophy and rationales) "On the Workbench" here: 

Long story short, I decided to try to see what I could do with the original paint, but ended up having to build a new chassis and engine for it. Finally found a set of suitable decals to camouflage the boogered paint on the left door in the reissued AMT '63. I'll add more decals as I find them. Have my eye open for something satisfactory for the tops of the front fenders, possibly the rear ones too, and I plan to eventually have the (scratchbult) rocker panels covered with speed contingency decals.  But I'm satisfied enough with it for now to put it on the shelf and drive on. I can (and probably will) always revisit it later. I hope you enjoy it, and as always, comments welcome! 

 

 

 

[Sixties Sam]

Nice! Looks a whole lot better than it did before! I've done similar things to some of my old survivors from the 60's. Good work!

Sam

[Scalper]

looks better . very sparkly

[Hmann68]

Nice job again Snake! My buddy gave me a 49 Merc he built in the 80s, and I'm thinking of trying my hand at giving it some Snake style love ?

[Draggon]

You slapped a good bunch of Snake-fu on that one. Well done 

[Snake45]

18 hours ago, Hmann68 said:

Nice job again Snake! My buddy gave me a 49 Merc he built in the 80s, and I'm thinking of trying my hand at giving it some Snake style love ?

I believe you'll find this kind of work very satisfying. 

Keep in mind that the goal is not perfection, but improvement. If I can take some unloved POS and make it look as good as something I might have built myself in 1968, I'm happy. If I can make it look as good as something I built in 1969 or 1970, I"m absolutely delighted! 

[ewetwo]

Cleaned up really nice. 

[vintagercr]

Very nice!