The grail car (the 427 2+2 four speed convertible F41 car) inches along at a snail's pace, but there's one body guy working on it round the clock, I think!
Looks like it'll be about 600 hours of labor into the body before primer, just in metal. And body guys don't work for free, you can assume $100 an hour, so this isn't for the feint of heart or wallet.
If you saw the car before you know it was Swiss cheese, and I'm going for high end restoration of a rare care, which means cutting out a lot of "previous work" as well, not just rust, because this car has been "restored" at least twice in the past already:
So you make new patches with the right shapes formed in:
Here's a random picture off them working in the trunk. This is an example where you can see that the Impala stampings are too short, and they need to butt-weld additional sections on the end to make it a "Canadian Pontiac" trunk:
It's just everywhere you turn, every surface needs to be repaired. Here's the taillight, looks like someone stick-welded in here at some point at well!
Good thing I believe this to be a one-of-one car, because if it was a one-of-two, the other one would be in better shape!
Looks like a good start and getting it done right. Thinking you are the right guy to be doing this car. Hope all the pieces have been found and its just work ahead. Good luck with it.
Yes, thankfully I have all the hard parts except 2 emblems. The 4-speed NOS console plate was the biggest score, I think. But I also got NOS steering wheel, shroud, dash cluster, and so on.
This car was what I like to call "beat but complete". It had the four rally caps, the original 390hp air cleaner, all the fender louvres, and so on... all things which have a way of disappearing over 50 years. Then folks like North and Clint and others have been really helpful in tracking down random parts.
Things I need, if anyone happens to have:
- Front Fenders and a hood! Apparently the ones I have aren't salvageable, or aren't worth saving. - 427 emblem... the one hard part the car is missing. I had repros made, but I'd always know, so need one more! - "by Pontiac" trunk emblem (I may just omit it, but it needs it to be right)
-- Edited by davepl on Saturday 14th of September 2019 11:39:00 AM
cutting a roof off a four door is NOT a convertible.....
65 Parisienne convertible.one of 49 built for RHD export market,402BBC, T400, 2500 stally, posi rear, upgraded brakes with front discs, FUEL FAST efi custom built by me.
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I hope my body guy doesn't see this! He charges $45-50 CAN per hour and the work is exceptional. Since my cars revolve around condition rather than rarity I've never had any major body work to do in my cars.
Your "sacrifice" is appreciated I'm sure by all Canadian Poncho enthusiasts as your car when done will be the primo example of a 69 big car in terms of condition, desirability and rarity!