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Posted

Hey guys, I've been lurking here for a while taking in all the cool builds and great info shared on the site. I figured I would post a few pics of my latest creation that is nearly complete. This was my first attempt to build a 50's style custom.

The project (named El Guapo) is a combination of a Monogram 56 T-Bird and what started out as an AMT 53 Ford. The cab was chopped, sectioned and channeled, the roof was sectioned and a visor built into it from the front section of the T Bird hard top. I used the T-Bird windshield frame and then reshaped the doors to slant forward to match the frame. The bed is from the 53 with a roll pan added. I used 48 Ford truck fenders on it and grafted in the T-Bird fins and tailights that I layed down sideways. I made a simple bumper from some evergreen strip and painted it with Alclad. The nose of the truck is basically the T-Bird nose with the 53 truck hood grafted in, raked slightly and joined to the T-Bird header panel and fenders. For the center of the hood I then cut out the T-Bird scoop and molded it in. I cut the T-Bird fenders off at the vents. The rear portion of the front fenders is actually the front section of the custom rear fenders in the 53 truck kit. I also added some evergreen strip and molded it in to match the horizontal lines on the rear 48 truck fenders. The grille is modified from the 53 truck to fit in the stock T-Bird opening, headlights are from a 53 Victoria and have been deeply recessed, T-Bird bumper was smoothed and painted with Alclad.

The interior uses the T-Bird dash and seat, custom made door panels and the 53 Victoria steering wheel.

The frame has the T-Bird front section and suspension grafted onto the truck rails and I scratch built arched rear rails and moved the spring hangers up on the frame then moved the axle to the top of the springs to drop it low.

The motor is a flathead with resin Offy covers and a tri-power setup with Stromberg 97's, photoetched linkage and spun aluminum air cleaners. It's not finished yet, and the engine detail and hoses are all I really need to finish on this project.

Wheels and tires are from the T-Bird kit with the truck hubcaps. The red on the wheels is Dodge Viper red that I used from a touch up bottle.

Paint is 3 coats of HOK "Burple" base coat metallic topped with 5 coats of HOK Kandy Cobalt Blue. This is a real hard color to capture accurately with the camera but it seems to change between a purplish blue to a bright candy blue. You can kinda get the idea by looking at the sides of bed compared to the hood or fenders.

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And a comparison to a stock build of the 53 (the red truck was built around 1984 or so)

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Posted

I have to give credit where credit is due! This truck is TRULY spectacular! I love the lines, the flawless execution of the mods, and the blending of parts! You have top shelf winner on your hands here! I can't wait to see more of your work. :)

Posted

Thanks so much for the kind words guys. I gotta say a lot of the inspiration came from seeing the work other members here have posted.

Kenny, I didn't really take any in progress pics but I do have one of the body pieces being fitted and glued together. I didn't take any others though.....figured I would never finish this one so why bother...lol.

The other 2 pics aren't the best and were taken in the mock up stages (missing shocks and mounts, front nose mounts, rad support, etc.) but you can see I grafted the T-Bird frame rails and front suspension onto the truck frame just in front of the crossmember, no more straight axle.

The rear rails were formed with evergreen strip, heated over a candle and bent into shape. The bed needed to be cut and the rails stick through the floor.

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