WOW! Almost 4.5 years later and this thread resurfaces...where's the time go?!? Looking good, John. I took a peek at this on George's website the other day...can't wait to see the finished product! Very inspiring...:TU:
I realize that this is an old thread but my resto is going slow but my lack of funds and my affection for other projects slowed me a bit. If you cannot tell the car has had the rear half replacd and was media blasted to remove the cancer. Its now at Frisco Hill Auto Restorations near my home. The first glance looks very good but it will get a new pan and some small riust holes rerpaired in the cowl area which is original to the car. Some of the welding that was done installing ther rear shell is not up to standards and will have to be redone. That shows that I am not a body man because I thought the work was fine. Anyway I have been collecting NOS parts for the car including Both fenders Inner front fenders front bumper all the bumper rubber front and rear dash parts, switches bezels handles escutchens 4 marker lights St 1 vaccum advance air cleaner foams taillights grille headlight doors I have been rechroming parts as possible and getting repo parts where needed.
I just got back from the resto shop and I forgfot to take my cameraou: . ANyway the car just got into a bay on 6/10 so its not too far along. The shell is on a rotissery and the bottom that still had undercoat on it is now clean. The floors arew fixed along with the lower cowl corners . Looks like just a little more welding in a couple spots and its time to start taking the dings out and get ready for paint. I am probably not going to go concours with this car so I am very close to picking a color. Strato mist blue is the only choice if I stray from white. Since I am not going concours I will be adding some of the power options I have been collecting , power windows and locks, power trunk, tilt, cruise, buckets, console, ralley steering wheel, AM/FM and N-25.
How well do the suncoupe hold rain and carwashes out? Isn't it just a piece of vinyl? Has anyone ever put a piece of glass instead of the vinyl?
Rain and car washes are ok. DFriving at 80 in the rain is another story. The top is made from vinyl (originally unbacked Lavant grain). The tops have no provision for water to drain from the tracks. Later SUncoupes had drain hoses and glass roofs to fix this . In fact some original Suncoupes reportedly were returned and metal rewelded in the roofs and the price of the option returned to buyers that complained. It is a unique vehicle and option the remedy we choose is to have a towl in the cabin so if you get caught in a raionstorm the small drops that do get in can be taken care of. That said properly fitted and operating there is no real problem. John
Quick update. I need to get my frame assembled soon the Suncoupe is being painted this week! I have some pics to load but no time Update coming soon
Some more pics, the purists might want to turn their heads! I could not bring myself to paint it white. Since the car had to be back halved it's my decision to make it beautiful but still using a color that was available I chose Strao Mist blue. I am delivering a set of hood hinges today and soon the car will be finished painted. Look for more pics later this summer as I recover from the $$$$$$ paint! ( Oh yeah white wqould have been the same price and this is the way I would have ordered it):bla:
It's coming along John - thanks for the pictures. Stratomist Blue was available in 1972 - nothing wrong with that. Good choice :beer Plus, it's a beautiful color :TU:
