[ALS57]

After 5 years away I finally got my 57 home on Wednesday. A long story but after 5 years of being very, very, VERY patient with my painter:wanker: and after a string of broken promises and attempts at overcharging I called it a day in August and took my car back unfinished. Luckily Tony Gabriel at Bodytone was able to take it on at very short notice and finish it off so a big thanks to him. First job was to get the doors aligned again which went OK, clean it all down to get all the bodyshop crud off and down to bolting on some new stuff
Al
Full photo history is on the link at the bottom, needs editing down once I get time...

http://s856.photobucket.com/albums/ab129/alansnell/ALS57 BUILDUP/ALS57/

 

[NoJive 55]

Al Mate thats a real Honey........:tup::tup: Looking Good :bigsmile:

Are they pipes at the back drag rails.....:incheek:

Whats the full story on the 57..or will I have go back over your posts on it to find out..:?:

Bob...

 

[ALS57]

Hi Bob, I will trim those pipes
I bought the 57 in Tucson AZ in September 89. It was owned by a guy that ran a bodyshop. It was white when I found it and had it painted matador red while I was there and drove it to LA two weeks later to ship it back to Felixtow. It was original apart from a 327 + TH350. I ran it into the ground until 2004 when it was time to restore it and I'd then built a decent garage to do it. I was going to put it back to original spec but changed my mind wanting decent power brakes, power steering so built a 383, with a TH400 and Ford 9". I want the exterior to look stock hence the steels. I'll post some old shots when it was in the States when I find them. I can divulge my tedious paintshop experience via pm if anyone wants to know the [email protected] involved.
Al

 

[REDMAD]

That looks really neat:tup: I like RED !! Was it ever at Lakeside Cruise?

 

[ALS57]

That looks really neat:tup: I like RED !! Was it ever at Lakeside Cruise?

Thanks redmad, yes it was a few times as I lived in Manor Park near Ilford at the time. I nearly sold it two years after bringing it over to buy a 58 Impala but didn't in the end...

 

[vince-305]

The pics are great but dont do it justice cos it looks so much better in the flesh :tup:

 

[English Impala]

Thats lovelly that is, but 5 years in a paintshop? You've got more patience than me!

It'll be worth the wait though.

 

[ALS57]

Thanks folks.
Good to meet you Vince, i'll remember to put the kettle on if there's a next time...

 

[moosehead]

patience :smoke: you must have been in a coma
Looks great
hope its not another 5 years before you get to drive it
:tup:

 

[53catalina]

5 years is a long time!
my last car spent 6 months in the shop before they started, then it was all completed in about three weeks once they started. its a good feeling once its back home as you can now plan the work and get it completed.
hope all goes smoothly from here

 

[ROCKIN WOLEY]

I paint aircraft for a living, we can strip the fuse rub the wings engines and fin

paint it and give it back to the customer in 7 days so what the f**k were

they pissing about at

Stunning car though can't wait to see the finished car always loved the 57 :smoke:Jeff

 

[Lee]

I paint aircraft for a living, we can strip the fuse rub the wings engines and fin

paint it and give it back to the customer in 7 days so what the f**k were

they pissing about at

Stunning car though can't wait to see the finished car always loved the 57 :smoke:Jeff

It might have been back quicker if you'd have done it Jeff, but not everyone wants their car white and orange with "easyjet" written down the side!

 

[57peppershaker]

It might have been back quicker if you'd have done it Jeff, but not everyone wants their car white and orange with "easyjet" written down the side!

Lol, Orange is always good !

Looking nice Al, cant wait to see it.
I love the 383 ect in a street sleeper stock looker :tup:. Nothing stock looking about mine tho
Looks like your running a similar set up to me . . . . could be interesting when there both finished.
What you doing with the interior ? Stock covers ect ?

 

[ALS57]

I paint aircraft for a living, we can strip the fuse rub the wings engines and fin

paint it and give it back to the customer in 7 days so what the f**k were

they pissing about at

Stunning car though can't wait to see the finished car always loved the 57 :smoke:Jeff

Thanks Jeff, yep piss artists do piss around and I was dealing with world class piss artistry.

And cheers Steve, looking forward to seeing that orange too, I trust you'll have matching jacket and deck chairs for maximum impact?
I'm going for black "cloud" and red stock interior, always liked tri chevy stock interiors and had a silver and red convertible pattern for 15 years so time for a change. How about you, orange?
Al

 

[Steve 5-6-7]

Looking great , now don't wait any longer , get that car back on the road

 

[57peppershaker]

Thanks Jeff, yep piss artists do piss around and I was dealing with world class piss artistry.

And cheers Steve, looking forward to seeing that orange too, I trust you'll have matching jacket and deck chairs for maximum impact?
I'm going for black "cloud" and red stock interior, always liked tri chevy stock interiors and had a silver and red convertible pattern for 15 years so time for a change. How about you, orange?
Al

Orange jacket, deck chairs & interior !! I'd look a right jaffa in that, lol.
Going for a black subtle slightly modded interior on mine Al, the outsides loud enough on it own !
I thought about black & orange 150 style cobblestone, after seeing a camaro in Hot Rod with a white & green cobblestone. But thought it might be a bit too much. Tho a lot of my inspiration came from the 2 orange 57's that have been in Hot Rod over the years (Flashback 57 sedan & Pavement Pounder coupe). & they both had orange & black bel air interiors. :tup:

 

[ALS57]

Orange jacket, deck chairs & interior !! I'd look a right jaffa in that, lol.
Going for a black subtle slightly modded interior on mine Al, the outsides loud enough on it own !
I thought about black & orange 150 style cobblestone, after seeing a camaro in Hot Rod with a white & green cobblestone. But thought it might be a bit too much. Tho a lot of my inspiration came from the 2 orange 57's that have been in Hot Rod over the years (Flashback 57 sedan & Pavement Pounder coupe). & they both had orange & black bel air interiors. :tup:

Sounds good

 

[ALS57]

The paint finish has a slight orange peel so I've set to, panel by panel with 2000 wet & dry and buff to get it spot on starting with a rear wing. Came up a treat. I'll slowly work round it as it's boring doing it all in one go.

Also been plumbing the engine before the front end goes on...

Al

 

[57peppershaker]

:shock: 8) :tup: Nice Al
Love the engine too & thats bit of a poash garage window !

 

[ALS57]

Cheers Steve
I've done time when it comes to dingy lock-ups so I treated myself when building the garage. 8)8)