Pro shop 57 Chevy traditional custom

[chris chabre]

one side roughed in and ready for some primer. I took the peak off the top of the fender and removed the trim while I was blending. I also rolled the bottom of the fenders to get that tucked look that was popular back then on customs. the wheelwell flare is still there but it ends at the roll pan so Im probably gonna extend it when I go get some supplies. one other thing I have to do after I finish the other fender is to add onto the grille surround as Im not liking how flat the face is 

Edited August 30, 2021 by chris chabre

[Dennis Lacy]

I have always liked the custom front and rear treatments from the original issue ‘57 Chevy EXCEPT for how looooong they make the car. I really dig how you cut the body back to keep the stock proportions. Can’t wait to see how it looks with all the body mods done. 
 

Are you going to keep the custom parts hatch style hood? Always loved that feature.  

[chris chabre]

4 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

 

Are you going to keep the custom parts hatch style hood? Always loved that feature.  

thank you Dennis!!! I appreciate it.  I never cared for how long stacking the pieces look as well. Proportions are very important to me. 

As for the hood, I have one of Eds shaved gunsight hoods coming but it will be modified. I am thinking about pancaking it and doing something similar to the kits custom piece.  if I chicken out cutting up  Eds hood, I do have 2 of the kit custom hoods to cut apart. 

[lucky 130]

Have you given any thoughts about making "eyebrows" for the head lights to help with the flat look?

[chris chabre]

1 hour ago, lucky 130 said:

Have you given any thoughts about making "eyebrows" for the head lights to help with the flat look?

its in the realm of ideas for sure. 

[chris chabre]

small update since the kids have kept me busy. I have both fenders roughed in other than trimming the wheelwell, the doors are both partially shaved and SHOULD be roughed out tonight.   

[David G.]

Excellent blending work on the custom nose piece.

Great idea shortening the fenders first, it keeps everything in correct proportion.

David G.

[bisc63]

Very nice body work there; great job smoothing the custom piece to the stock body. I really like your concept on this one.  That grille opening/lower pan reminds me SO much of a '58-60 Thunderbird. ( A good thing, squarebirds are cool! )

[mustang1989]

I'm not one for conversions or custom front ends and all that BUT.....I AM one to admire great body work when I see it and mister.,...this is looking GOOD!!! Amazing efforts on working those parts in.

[chris chabre]

9 hours ago, David G. said:

Excellent blending work on the custom nose piece.

Great idea shortening the fenders first, it keeps everything in correct proportion.

David G.

 

9 hours ago, bisc63 said:

Very nice body work there; great job smoothing the custom piece to the stock body. I really like your concept on this one.  That grille opening/lower pan reminds me SO much of a '58-60 Thunderbird. ( A good thing, squarebirds are cool! )

 

8 hours ago, mustang1989 said:

I'm not one for conversions or custom front ends and all that BUT.....I AM one to admire great body work when I see it and mister.,...this is looking GOOD!!! Amazing efforts on working those parts in.

THANK YOU GUYS! i do my styrene work like I do my 1:1 metal work (as little filler as possible) I blame my time in the hot rod industry haha 

 

i should have a small update either tonight or tomorrow if all goes well. Im working on adding material to the grille surround.  then its onto the rearend!

Edited September 2, 2021 by chris chabre

[slusher]

I have never seen that custom front end before but I really like it.  

[chris chabre]

24 minutes ago, slusher said:

I have never seen that custom front end before but I really like it.  

it came in the first release of the AMT 57 Chevy back in the 60s. I dont believe it was ever in any other reissues. Ive always liked it as well, but hated that it was designed to glue onto the stock frontend, it ends up lengthening the car by about 5/16s if I remember  my numbers right

[chris chabre]

so I added .08 rod to the nose to add some depth. after roughing it out, i may add another .08 as Im not happy with this rough in. it didnt want to play nice. I almost cut it all off and started over.  at least I know my proof of concept is going in the right direction. I need a break from it so I think its time to start fitting the rear section and getting it to fit with the kit trunk. keep your fingers crossed... this could go poorly haha

Edited September 4, 2021 by chris chabre

[espo]

Great looking body work here. When this kit was first offered the custom parts along with the chopped top option looked very much like a show car that was in Rod & Custom Magazine from that era. 

[chris chabre]

3 hours ago, espo said:

Great looking body work here. When this kit was first offered the custom parts along with the chopped top option looked very much like a show car that was in Rod & Custom Magazine from that era. 

thank you! Im gonna have to start searching my little pages and books for it now!

[espo]

1 hour ago, chris chabre said:

thank you! Im gonna have to start searching my little pages and books for it now!

As I recall, since it did make an impression in my young mind, the main picture is a rear 3/4 view as the big thing seemed to be the extended rear and larger fins. 

[chris chabre]

1 hour ago, espo said:

As I recall, since it did make an impression in my young mind, the main picture is a rear 3/4 view as the big thing seemed to be the extended rear and larger fins. 

I wonder if youre thinking about "The Aztec" 55 Chevy

[espo]

15 hours ago, chris chabre said:

I wonder if youre thinking about "The Aztec" 55 Chevy

That could be. The rear view that I'm thinking of had the upright fins with a slight lean out word at the top. The rear bumper was replaced with a side to side opening much like a front grill and had some sort of a mech and some chrome bullets that were the style of the time. I'm sure there are members here that may have some of these parts at the bottom of an old parts box somewhere. 

[chris chabre]

6 hours ago, espo said:

That could be. The rear view that I'm thinking of had the upright fins with a slight lean out word at the top. The rear bumper was replaced with a side to side opening much like a front grill and had some sort of a mech and some chrome bullets that were the style of the time. I'm sure there are members here that may have some of these parts at the bottom of an old parts box somewhere. 

 

[espo]

2 hours ago, chris chabre said:

 

You found it. Now you know why I was so impressed by this car as a young boy who hadn't gotten his drivers license yet. 

[chris chabre]

10 minutes ago, espo said:

You found it. Now you know why I was so impressed by this car as a young boy who hadn't gotten his drivers license yet. 

I know the car well. Its one of my favorite Late 50s era customs. In fact, it was he first one that came to mind when you described it haha

[espo]

1 minute ago, chris chabre said:

I know the car well. Its one of my favorite Late 50s era customs. In fact, it was he first one that came to mind when you described it haha

Cool. 

[chris chabre]

been in a funk the last few days but I started on the rear end and threw some primer on the nose and doors. not a ton of work to do fillerwise, but Im not happy with the grille surround so that needs to be redone

[David G.]

I think the grille surround looks good but I don't know what your vision for it is.

David G.

[gotnitro?]

I like the way the front blends into the body ,  especially looking forward to the rear treatment watching how you graft in those pieces