Project - Obtaining "The Look" . . . .

[Roadkill]

Having been uploading loads of old piccy's via scanner to my computer (and watching several "Overhaulin's" recently) I've had my enthusiasm recharged and am now itching to start work on the Cadillac.
This is the reason that I will be putting the Z28 up for sale in the new year (after the 'Box is fixed) - to provide more space and hopefully funding, too.

I want to give the Cadillac a mild custom appearance.

Exterior Colours will be a Dark Blue with White roof.

Interior I'm thinking White & Blue Vinyl and leather with light coloured carpet.

Basically the questions I have is :

i)  Shave or not shave - (door handles that is . . . )

Keep 'em or go popper ?

ii)  Wheels -

Four choices . . . .
a) Keep the original wheels and hub caps . . . . Add White Walls*.
b) Keep the original wheels but powder coat/spray them to off-set the coachwork - Add White Walls*.
c) Go alloys and put 15" rims WITH white walls* tyres.
d) Go alloys and put 17" rims without white band/walls . . .

* = NOT white band - ie. 1" band or less.

iii)  Badges and trim -

Look at the pictures below and you'll see, clearly, the differences.
I've always planned to remove some of the badges and the vertical trim (not really visable on the "stock" piccy but- )
Which ones

There are other questions but I'll bring them up later  . . . . . .

STOCK



KUSTOM

[Incursus]

I would shave but spend more on your poppers than I did

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Incursus

but spend more on your poppers than I did

Noted.

[sixpack2639]

I preferr the stock look myself, but then I am more of a preservationist when it comes to old motors. Customs and Hotrods are ok but not really my cup of tea.

[55starchief]

Quoting: Roadkill

the vertical trim

You cant loose the fingers on the rear qtr it looks wrong, every caddy had them

[55starchief]

Quoting: sixpack2639

I preferr the stock look myself, but then I am more of a preservationist when it comes to old motors. Customs and Hotrods are ok but not really my cup of tea.

Yup thats why my 55 is almost stock in appearance but that 287 motor isnt. Sleepers always look better

[Incursus]

Quoting: 55starchief

You cant loose the fingers on the rear qtr it looks wrong, every caddy had them

Yeah I like the fingers

I also like sleepers...dispite what we are doing to the duster

Though I like a well done Hot Rod/Custom as well so long as its subtle.

[FUBAR]

Quoting: 55starchief

You cant loose the fingers on the rear qtr it looks wrong

Thats not what he's talking about, Its the vertical chrome trims on the doors (I think) that I agree would look better off the car as the lines flow better.

As for the rest of the stuff, you have to consider that its a Very Large area the side of your car, it needs the chrome to break it up & whilst the bottom car looks kinda cool (even the colour suits the car!) it looks a bit plain in some places and the last thing a 50's caddy should be is plain.
I know you're not planning on removing some of the items that have been on that car, like the things on the front wing but personally, I would have the door handles re-chromed & keep them, especially as its a 4 door.

And keep the front / rear badges & V's too.
edit: and the Pedestrian Slicers on the Bonnet too.

[Ponti]

Quoting: 55starchief

You cant loose the fingers on the rear qtr it looks wrong, every caddy had them

yep quite right.
 also Shaved with 17" alloys

[55starchief]

What you could do is shave the rear handles to give it the look of a 2 door but add poppers to the fronts leaving the handles in place

[Incursus]

Quoting: FUBAR

Its the vertical chrome trims on the doors (I think) that I agree would look better off the car as the lines flow better.

Keep getting my vertical and horizontal mixed up

Maybe thats why I'm not sleeping so good lately    

[Roadkill]

Just to clarify . . .



Also note the Grille has been removed AND the "Dagmar" tips are Chrome.

[FUBAR]

Quoting: 55starchief

What you could do is shave the rear handles to give it the look of a 2 door but add poppers to the fronts leaving the handles in place

Na, because thats trying to make it look like something its not

[FUBAR]

The chrome trim on the rear wings has been removed too

[55starchief]

Quoting: FUBAR

Na, because thats trying to make it look like something its not

If you look at the stock car the rear doors almost blend away so it wouldnt look that odd

[Roadkill]

Quoting: sixpack2639

I preferr the stock look myself, but then I am more of a preservationist when it comes to old motors. Customs and Hotrods are ok but not really my cup of tea.

I'm hoping to create a "happy medium".

The one show is quite Hardcore and the more I notice done, the less of a fan I am of it - but it's a good example for this exercise . . . .

Quoting: 55starchief

You cant loose the fingers on the rear qtr it looks wrong

That's not MY plan . . . as mentioned those aren't the vertical ones I was referring to . . .

[Roadkill]

Quoting: FUBAR

The chrome trim on the rear wings has been removed too

Often it gets damaged and replacements are rare.

All (bar one and mine) of the '58's over here have that removed that I've seen . . .

[Roadkill]

Quoting: 55starchief

What you could do is shave the rear handles to give it the look of a 2 door but add poppers to the fronts leaving the handles in place

I specifically brought the 4-door as I preferred the lines of the Sedan over the Coupe.
So making it look like the Coupe isn't the plan . . . .

[FUBAR]

Ok,
V & Crest  - - Keep
Bonnet Fins - - You could actually get away with removing these... it might not look too bad.
Scoops - - No no no no no
Scallops - - Keep Definately & add painted bits you talked about
Mirrors - - Keep... I wonder why!
SDV Badge - - yeah this could probably go
Fingers - - Keep definately
Cadillac Name - - You'd said about removing this, and i think it would look ok
Dagmar tips - - Could these be body coloured?  they need to be a dark colour to break up the shine & chrome on the front of the car, the pink one gets away with it because, as you say the grille has been removed presenting a dark / black area on the front of the car previously provided by these tips.  with you're body colour this would work I reckon.
Oh, and Grille - - Keep & Polish

[Ponti]

not sure about adding the hood scoops
 or lossing the bonnet fins

[55starchief]

So what exactly have you got for a budget? This is a big job and to do it properly your gonna be looking close to £20k by the time you have replaced brakes,suspension,paint and interior. Paintwork alone is gonna be some where in the region of £3-4k even if you do the prep yourself. My paint alone was over £1k and thats just the raw material before getting it sprayed

[Incursus]

Quoting: 55starchief

£20k by the time you have replaced brakes,suspension,paint and interior.

[55starchief]

Quoting: Incursus

Quoting: 55starchief
£20k by the time you have replaced brakes,suspension,paint and interior.

The pontiac currently stands me in at almost £30k including purchase and i havnt done anything special and still have the interior to do(reckon at least £3-4k). Ok i will admit that £7k is engine and trans but the rest is just general parts

[Roadkill]

Quoting: 55starchief

So what exactly have you got for a budget?

I Haven't

Never have and probably never will.

I spend money as I get it.  

I'll be speaking to someone soon regarding bodywork prepping.  He was the one who completely re-built the Snipe for less then £2000.  The Caddy, although bigger is in a MUCH better state.

Painting - I have two options, there.  I've been quoted around the £2000 mark if the car is stripped, ready.

Interior - Some I can do, some I can't.  This'll be the last job so not bothered at the moment.

Chrome - Plating will be around the £1500 mark.  Although I have to include repairs to both rear bumper ends and work on one of the front corners.

Electrics - I'm currently sourcing a diagram so a new loom can be made.
 
 . . . . .

 . . . . .

[55starchief]

Quoting: Roadkill

I've been quoted around the £2000 mark if the car is stripped

Well i guess they are working for free then, I used 5 ltrs of blue and 5 ltrs of white thined at 50% to paint my car. The paint was £360+VAT per 5ltr plus the other sundries like thinners and hardner. I also used 5ltrs of red/brown and 5 ltrs of Highbuild primmer. Your car is even bigger than mine