Chopped 59 El Camino custom Update!

[Ferbz]

This is a new project I've started: an AMT 59 El Camino, partially inspired by Paul Cepeda's gorgeous 1:1 custom. The top is chopped and a Revell 59 Impala trunk has been grafted into the rear as part of a molded in bed cover. The open gaps of the bed area have been filled with sheet styrene and super glue/baking soda. I like to back up my body mods when/where I can with sheet plastic for strength and 90 degree angle pieces worked well underneath. It's not pretty under there but this will be a 'curbside' model with no chassis or engine detail so it won't be seen! lol Up front I pancaked the hood with rounded corners by cutting away the front lip of the hood and gluing it into place along with the front 'nostrils'. Out back I filled the license plate cavity with Plastic Wood and all unnecessary holes with styrene. I also decided to mold in the Revell Impala factory tail light bezels so the chrome was stripped off of them then glued into place. They stuck out past the AMT Camino side fender bulges a bit so Plastic Wood was used to build them out to match the bezels. More work to come!

 

[ColonelKrypton]

Good start to a an interesting custom.

cheers, Graham

 

[TarheelRick]

I love customs, it's going to be interesting following this one.

[Zippi]

That's looking pretty kewl.

[stitchdup]

cool project, your body mods flow pretty nice with each other too

[NOBLNG]

Looking really great so far!?

[dino246gt]

Looking very cool, can't wait to see more!

 

[Kenmojr]

Wow...this is going to be a must follow and watch for me...

[ea0863]

Way awesome!

[Ferbz]

17 hours ago, ColonelKrypton said:

Good start to a an interesting custom.

cheers, Graham

 

Thanks! 59 Chevys in general are pretty radical looking cars to begin with. Custom changes both mild and wild often put them over the top and make them really special if done tastefully ?

[Ferbz]

17 hours ago, TarheelRick said:

I love customs, it's going to be interesting following this one.

I love customs too! I'll do my best to post updates as I go. Most of the major body mods are done, needing only cleaning up and fine tuning, then first primer!

[espo]

Like the custom body work. What are you planning for the rear license mounting? 

[Chuckyg1]

Only five pics posted so far and I'm already hooked. This one's gonna be cool.

[Ferbz]

On 8/9/2023 at 7:12 PM, Zippi said:

That's looking pretty kewl.

Thanks! When I start a project, I usually have some kind of vision for it but I never know how it's really going to turn out until it's finished. So many things can go awry! lol

[Ferbz]

On 8/10/2023 at 4:29 AM, stitchdup said:

cool project, your body mods flow pretty nice with each other too

Thanks! I think with customs in particular, all body mods should work well together to make a visual pleasing impact. Fingers crossed this one will work!

[Ferbz]

On 8/10/2023 at 8:57 AM, dino246gt said:

Looking very cool, can't wait to see more!

 

Thanks! I'm a slow builder so I hope you stick with me lol

[Ferbz]

On 8/10/2023 at 9:15 AM, Kenmojr said:

Wow...this is going to be a must follow and watch for me...

Thanks! I'm a slow builder but stay tuned....! ?

[Ferbz]

19 hours ago, espo said:

Like the custom body work. What are you planning for the rear license mounting? 

Thanks! I'm not sure yet to be honest lol The rear feels so swoopy that the rectangular hole for the license plate seemed too busy so I filled it! ? 

[Ferbz]

18 hours ago, Chuckyg1 said:

Only five pics posted so far and I'm already hooked. This one's gonna be cool.

Thanks! I mainly build customs of earlier vintage but I recently ventured into the late 50's early 60's style customs with a recently completed chopped/smoothed 62 Belair. I thought I'd try and build another one near/around that era, especially after seeing Paul Cepeda's awesome 1:1 custom El Camino ?

[Vintage AMT]

I see you took the side trim off, will you be adding a custom trim? Dig the bed cover mod..

[Ferbz]

I thought I'd share how I built out the rear fender bulges so that they match the Revell 59 Impala tail light bezels. I first glued some half round rod and shaped/sanded it to the quarter panels. These were used as guides to help me determine how much putty to use to fill out the fenders. I then added Plastic Wood putty and let it harden before I started sanding/shaping with 100 grit and work my way down a couple grits to 320 grit. While I was at it, I also decided to extend the front fender line into the doors(Why this factory line stops at the front door gap is a mystery to me lol It's a small design change, but one that will make a nice overall impression in the end I think!)by gluing/sanding smaller half round rod and the ol' super glue/baking soda technique:

Edited August 11, 2023 by Ferbz

[Ferbz]

19 minutes ago, Vintage AMT said:

I see you took the side trim off, will you be adding a custom trim? Dig the bed cover mod..

Yes I did! (I should've mentioned that at the start lol) No, I'll keep it free of any trim on the sides. This body style has so much 'space age-y' design elements and stainless trim, I felt like removing the body side trim(and factory badges)would simplify it a bit and let the overall body design speak for itself and make the visual impact a traditional, shaved full custom usually does. Thanks! ??

[Ferbz]

Thought I'd share a bit of an update: I cleaned up the A and C pillars and cut/fitted the windshield and rear window. Glass fitment is super important on chopped tops so there was quite a bit of cut, sand, file, check, repeating going on. There's still some fine tuning needed but it's looking pretty good me thinks ? Also in these pics you can get a better look at how I extended the front fender character lines farther into the doors (the factory fender lines stop right at the front door gaps) using half round rod and super glue/baking soda. In the grand scheme of things it's a small change, but one that will make a nice overall impact when combined with all the other custom mods. The devil is in the details right? (whatever that means lol) ?  

[Ferbz]

Project update! Here are some mockup pics after I sprayed a quick coat of primer just so see how the bodywork is shaping up. Rounds of glazing putty, sanding, primering ensues from here on out until bodywork is good enough for paint: 

[Ferbz]

Here I moved my attention to the interior for a bit. I cut away the door panels so I could more easily get to sanding away the factory details on the panels and seats. I then added .080 half round rod for tuck and roll patterns on the seats, door panels, as well as the rear window package tray. This will get covered with primer, white pearl paint and satin clear, then black spark plug wire will be used for piping: