Snake45 Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Bought this one fairly cheap off eBay a few months ago. It came with the kit custom grille and front end installed, and the custom bullet taillights, but oddly, the stock rear bumper and chrome trim panel. Was gonna just restore it as-is, but then had a chance at an original AMT ’65 Impala grille/bumper at a reasonable price. Paint appears to be one coat of AMT Lime Gold Metallic lacquer. It’s not great but I’ve seen worse. I’ve DONE worse. If the Original Builder had laid on two or three coats instead of just one, it might have polished out nicely, but thin as is was, I didn’t want to risk it. Judging from the tube glue spots on the tops of the front fenders, apparently it originally had a pair of spotlights. Interior was spray (glossy) black with brushed Chrome Silver detailing that was, uhhh, not-perfect. At first I was just gonna touch this all up with brushed black and brushed silver, or Silver Sharpie, and then bomb it all with matte clear, but ended up shooting the whole interior in satin black. I hit some of the chrome trim on the console with Silver Sharpie but otherwise didn’t waste any time on the gut. Maybe another time. Wheels were obviously from the AMT ’65 Riviera on AMT Firestone Supreme tires. I sanded the treads. The windshield was a mess and had to be CAREFULLY cut out with a razor saw. I polished out/off as much glue as I could, then put it back. Again, not perfect, but by this point I’d decided to just button this one back up and put it on the shelf as a relic/survivor. At some point in the future I might strip it back to bare plastic and do a full rebuild on it. Or maybe its next custodian will want to do that. At any rate, it goes on my 2019 DONE list. Thanks for looking, and as always, comments welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoopdog Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Great looking restoration you have there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 That looks pretty good as a cleaned up survivor! I'd keep it that way and display it. I have a '65 convertible, built in it's original white plastic, I'm keeping mine original too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewetwo Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Nice Snake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 Very nice redo. You mention the original builders paint work. I doubt that the builder used any primer and as you mentioned additional coats of paint would have helped. The paint they used is very thin around the edges of body panels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hmann68 Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 Nice work once again, and I really like the overall look of it, from the wheels to the gold paint. I’d leave it as you finished it, it’s sharp ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted December 20, 2019 Author Share Posted December 20, 2019 22 hours ago, shoopdog said: Great looking restoration you have there! 21 hours ago, Tom Geiger said: That looks pretty good as a cleaned up survivor! I'd keep it that way and display it. I have a '65 convertible, built in it's original white plastic, I'm keeping mine original too. Thanks for the kind words! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G. Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 Nicely Done! David G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geno Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 Looks much better with the stock grille and bumper. Great save Rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misha Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 Brings back memories of how I used to build. Good work on saving it with the added touches. Perhaps darkening the panel lines would work. Cheers Misha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATHU Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 Looks fantastic, beautiful restoration!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisR Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 Nice resto! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted December 21, 2019 Author Share Posted December 21, 2019 On 12/19/2019 at 4:33 PM, ewetwo said: Nice Snake. Thanks old friend! On 12/19/2019 at 9:35 PM, espo said: Very nice redo. You mention the original builders paint work. I doubt that the builder used any primer and as you mentioned additional coats of paint would have helped. The paint they used is very thin around the edges of body panels. Thanks for the kind words. That's a common problem on these old builds. I had the problem often myself back in the day, before I figgered out how to beat it. Oh, I forgot to mention that this is my 40th glue bomb/survivor rescue/restoration (not including full rebuilds). Ten were survivors of my own teenage builds of the '60s, the other 30 are others' builds bought off eBay or at the local monthly toy show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted December 23, 2019 Author Share Posted December 23, 2019 On 12/20/2019 at 8:55 PM, David G. said: Nicely Done! David G. Thanks! On 12/19/2019 at 2:49 PM, shoopdog said: Great looking restoration you have there! Thanks! On 12/19/2019 at 4:33 PM, ewetwo said: Nice Snake. Thanks old friend! On 12/19/2019 at 9:35 PM, espo said: Very nice redo. You mention the original builders paint work. I doubt that the builder used any primer and as you mentioned additional coats of paint would have helped. The paint they used is very thin around the edges of body panels. Yeah, common problem of the time. I did some like that myself. On 12/19/2019 at 10:29 PM, Hmann68 said: Nice work once again, and I really like the overall look of it, from the wheels to the gold paint. I’d leave it as you finished it, it’s sharp ?? Makes a nice "survivor," don't it? Thanks for the kind words! On 12/20/2019 at 8:55 PM, David G. said: Nicely Done! David G. Thanks! On 12/20/2019 at 9:44 PM, Geno said: Looks much better with the stock grille and bumper. Great save Rich. I thought so, too. Thanks! On 12/20/2019 at 10:33 PM, Misha said: Brings back memories of how I used to build. Good work on saving it with the added touches. Perhaps darkening the panel lines would work. Cheers Misha Interesting idea. Black might be too dark but I might see if I have a dark gold or something that might look good there. Thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt Tuttle Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 TBH I see no reason to strip it down, it is a nice survivor as it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acerican Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 On 12/19/2019 at 11:44 AM, Snake45 said: Bought this one fairly cheap off eBay a few months ago. It came with the kit custom grille and front end installed, and the custom bullet taillights, but oddly, the stock rear bumper and chrome trim panel. Was gonna just restore it as-is, but then had a chance at an original AMT ’65 Impala grille/bumper at a reasonable price. Paint appears to be one coat of AMT Lime Gold Metallic lacquer. It’s not great but I’ve seen worse. I’ve DONE worse. If the Original Builder had laid on two or three coats instead of just one, it might have polished out nicely, but thin as is was, I didn’t want to risk it. Judging from the tube glue spots on the tops of the front fenders, apparently it originally had a pair of spotlights. Interior was spray (glossy) black with brushed Chrome Silver detailing that was, uhhh, not-perfect. At first I was just gonna touch this all up with brushed black and brushed silver, or Silver Sharpie, and then bomb it all with matte clear, but ended up shooting the whole interior in satin black. I hit some of the chrome trim on the console with Silver Sharpie but otherwise didn’t waste any time on the gut. Maybe another time. Wheels were obviously from the AMT ’65 Riviera on AMT Firestone Supreme tires. I sanded the treads. The windshield was a mess and had to be CAREFULLY cut out with a razor saw. I polished out/off as much glue as I could, then put it back. Again, not perfect, but by this point I’d decided to just button this one back up and put it on the shelf as a relic/survivor. At some point in the future I might strip it back to bare plastic and do a full rebuild on it. Or maybe its next custodian will want to do that. At any rate, it goes on my 2019 DONE list. Thanks for looking, and as always, comments welcome. Looks awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewetwo Posted April 13, 2020 Share Posted April 13, 2020 nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 Nice Chevy Snake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuces ll Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Ellis Posted April 14, 2020 Share Posted April 14, 2020 I patiently waited for this kit in the Fall of 1964. The Palmer version came out before the AMT. What a bummer. My original 65 Impala was bought in 1965. It died from the brake fluid removing paint. Aparently the plastic didn't like the brake fluid and micro cracks occurred and I couldn't keep it together. I sold it in the 90s falling apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 20 hours ago, Bob Ellis said: I patiently waited for this kit in the Fall of 1964. The Palmer version came out before the AMT. What a bummer. My original 65 Impala was bought in 1965. It died from the brake fluid removing paint. Aparently the plastic didn't like the brake fluid and micro cracks occurred and I couldn't keep it together. I sold it in the 90s falling apart. I had the same thing happen on an old AMT Valiant that I was striping. The plastic became so brittle that it would just crack and break when ever I handled the body. I was trying to make a model of a friends car so it really bothered me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nazz Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 Nice resto Snake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMBENNA Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 nice job looks great, cool color Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.