'65 Lincoln surf wagon

[restoman]

A little bit of down time between painted projects has me tinkering with this...

I'm picturing a surfboard-carrying wagon, maybe owned by a rich kid's Dad, who spent big bucks having a one-of-a-kind wagon built for himself.

I didn't care for the kit's wagon roof, so am trying to make it look like something a high-end custom shop would have built in the mid-sixties, or perhaps even Lincoln itself.

Lots of work still to go, but I like the overall look so far. 

I'm thinking of either a dark emerald green or a charcoal silver, with factory-style woodgrain, lowered, with the kits' custom wheels, yellow double-line tires and a roof rack with a couple surfboards on top.

Comments always welcome! 

[Jantrix]

Great idea. I had the same thought years ago, but I ended up using the wagon bed behind the seats and going topless. Like a 4 door Lincoln roadster pick-up. Then created a surfboard rack. Looking forward to seeing yours.

[Snake45]

2 hours ago, Jantrix said:

Great idea. I had the same thought years ago, but I ended up using the wagon bed behind the seats and going topless. Like a 4 door Lincoln roadster pick-up. Then created a surfboard rack. Looking forward to seeing yours.

Like Jantrix, I've also had similar ideas. Will be watching to see what you do with this! Drive on! 

Edited November 20, 2019 by Snake45

[David G.]

Groovy, Man!

Can't wait to see more.

David G.

[restoman]

Here's my inspiration...

[thatz4u]

would make a kool hearse also

[espo]

I was wondering what you used to make your wagon roof. I also think the design based on the picture looks much better than the kits roof. 

[restoman]

43 minutes ago, espo said:

I was wondering what you used to make your wagon roof. I also think the design based on the picture looks much better than the kits roof. 

Me too.

I'm looking at fixing the rear pillars and widening the rear liftgate to better match the picture... and losing the curved side glass that would look good on a 50s car, but not on  a square 60s Lincoln.

 

[restoman]

Spent some time re-doing the rear pillars for a more-'60s look. In order to keep the rear glass moonroof, I'm kinda stuck on a Mopar-ish looking rear pillar, but it works for me.

Lots of filling and filing yet to come. ...But... the interior tub fits.

Those panel lines are going to need some serious scribing!

Comments always welcome!

[restoman]

There was no way I was going to get a proper looking roof profile using the kit's glass roof insert.

So... I now have a moonroof Lincoln surf wagon!

Gone are the Mopar-ish rear pillars, instead it has a more-Ford looking roofline. 

Mucho betterer.

Comments always welcome.

[ChrisBcritter]

Major improvement over that kit top! Are you going to run the drip rail down the C-pillar, or straight back along the roof?

[restoman]

1 hour ago, ChrisBcritter said:

Major improvement over that kit top! Are you going to run the drip rail down the C-pillar, or straight back along the roof?

Down the C pillars. They took a direct hit when doing some file work, and the roof troughs didn't match that well with the windshield rails, so I'll make new ones.

[espo]

I don't know how it would look but think about the roof from the Revell '56 Chevy Nomad. The sloping B Pillar and side glass with the rear wrap around might work well with the lines of the Lincoln .

[restoman]

3 minutes ago, espo said:

I don't know how it would look but think about the roof from the Revell '56 Chevy Nomad. The sloping B Pillar and side glass with the rear wrap around might work well with the lines of the Lincoln .

I thought about that, have a spare body here. It looked too "Chevy-ish" to me... Nomads are so easily identifiable.

[espo]

5 minutes ago, restoman said:

I thought about that, have a spare body here. It looked too "Chevy-ish" to me... Nomads are so easily identifiable.

Just an idea. you're right about being easily identified. Maybe the roof from the '57 Ford wagon, that would still be in the same family. The roof has that distinct styling on top and the slanted pillar might work as the B Pillar.  

[restoman]

Been a while since this one got some love, but on this grey & wet day,  it's getting some now.

Bondo time!

Sorry 'bout the small-ish pics... for some reason, I couldn't re-size them.

Comments always welcome.

[restoman]

A few small spots to putty and then it's time to scribe some reveal moldings in, as well as the liftgate gaps...

I think I'll be using an old lid off of a food storage container for the roof glass. A nice purple tint should look good with the planned Silver grey paint and woodgrain. 

Comments always welcome.

Edited December 24, 2020 by restoman

[slusher]

Real nice work so far...

[ewetwo]

Sweet.

 

[espo]

I like the general shape of the roof and also how you have blended the tailgate area. Some real fine window moldings and it will look almost OEM. 

[doorsovdoon]

Nice work, you got the roof line looking so much better than the 1-1. Constructive criticism inbound, haha! I would narrow the C pillars and trim down the window sills like that of the 1-1.

[restoman]

5 minutes ago, doorsovdoon said:

Nice work, you got the roof line looking so much better than the 1-1. Constructive criticism inbound, haha! I would narrow the C pillars and trim down the window sills like that of the 1-1.

I have thought about that!

In primer, it looks a little chunky. I'm hoping that when I scribe in the reveal moldings and liftgate seams, that it'll slim things down a bit, visually.

I think the 1:1 picture is a photoshop... I couldn't see an easy path to getting that sloping rear roof look, without a LOT of effort. It does look good, though, photoshop or real.

[doorsovdoon]

Yeah, I cant tell either if that's photoshop or real, but the slope in the roof just doesn't look right to me. Keeping the roof straight like you have looks far better. Looking forward to seeing this progress whatever you do.

[Lunajammer]

1 hour ago, doorsovdoon said:

Keeping the roof straight like you have looks far better.

As does abandoning the kit's glass roof. It may be less showy but is immensely more appropriate and sympathetic to the rest of the car's lines. The perfect choice.

[doorsovdoon]

14 minutes ago, Lunajammer said:

As does abandoning the kit's glass roof. It may be less showy but is immensely more appropriate and sympathetic to the rest of the car's lines. The perfect choice.

Definitely. I have wondered though if the roof would work on a '71 Oldsmobile, with some modifying, to make the Vista Cruiser. It has that bubble top shape, the glass can just be painted.