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I joined it and commented on how well done it was. I got a message from the creator of the page and it's Harley Earl's grandson! His dad was Jerry Earl Harley's son whom he built the SR-2 for! Check it out, there is some good stuff there!
Chris and I are embarking on a joint venture of sorts. Chris is using his talent and skills to duplicate the body modifications to replicate the Waldorf car and I'm going to finish the rest of the car.
Hats off to Chris!!!! I wouldn't trust anyone else to handle it!
First off - I can tell you all what a great friend Brett has been to me. I appreciate all his mentorship and partnership over the years. We both truely work well together. His craftmanship is top notch !
Over the this year I have been doing all the body repairs on a 1953 #201. The car was hit badly in the front fenders and lower valence, trans tunnel damaged, huge hole in the floor as someone was looking for a VIN, badly damaged dash, badly damaged inner fenders and core support and a broken apart trunk. Proud to say the car is in primer and being blocked in preparation for paint.
Brett asked if I will like another challenge, and as a glutton for punishment I said yes.
Our goal is to have a have the most accurate Motorama car built.
The correct looking firewall, inner fenders, dash, flip up headlight trim, etc......
Stay tuned - its going to be fun....
I will post photos this weekend of the START !!!
Thank you to Brett - Appreciate you brother !!!!
I, for one, am glad to see the Motorama show cars recreated by people who not only understand and appreciate them, but have the requisite skills (and patience) to do the job right. I look forward to seeing this car through the process . . . and I still think a "group photo" of the Motorama Corvette, the Corvair, the hardtop car, and maybe Zane's Corvette Nomad would be an epic accomplishment. Good luck with the build.
I, for one, am glad to see the Motorama show cars recreated by people who not only understand and appreciate them, but have the requisite skills (and patience) to do the job right. I look forward to seeing this car through the process . . . and I still think a "group photo" of the Motorama Corvette, the Corvair, the hardtop car, and maybe Zane's Corvette Nomad would be an epic accomplishment. Good luck with the build.
I am willing to have the Motorama Carvair in the pic with the rest of the Motorama Cars. Contact Zane's and see if the know of one of there cars in the Mid West area, I am and Brett is also in Indianapolis Indiana area. It would be cool to have the pic taken at the Indianapolis 500 Yard of Brick and in front od the Museum also. The track could kick in the Duntov SS Racer also.
What an epic historical photo that would be . . . and taking it one step further, what an exhibit at the NCM. Anyone know Zane Zander to approach him about this? I know the hardtop Motorama car still exists, although I don't know what kind of shape it's currently in. This seems like too good of an opportunity to miss.
Sorry it took me so long to add photos.....but here it is.....
1953 Motorama replica
Plans are to replicate the show car to as close of detail as possible. Smooth firewall, and smooth inner fenders.
I just had the back half of the car blasted to remove all the primer and to give an idea as to the needed repairs.
I will replace the entire LH rocker.
I already started the small repairs on the custom inner fenders and the conv top lid.
Update - I started doing repairs to the bolt on parts. The conv top lid is full of drilled holes of all different shapes. The lid is almost done - I will get photos - I started repairing the trunk lid - again full of holes. - I will post photos. Then I started looking at the doors.....Oh boy.....both doors have hinge and latch damage - the drivers was the worst so I started on it first - I made the decision to split the door which I hate to do...but glad I did now.....both upper and lower hinge mounts where broken and someone had resined a fiberglass plate over the top of both and smothered that with resin and mat.....I literally took a hammer and chisel to break it all apart - Fix....I will repair the cracks correctly and prob put down a couple layers of mat....smooth and re-rivet the plate correctly. Then I found a horrible repair in the middle of the door - I ground out all the repair, cloth and resin to find a huge hole...... Fix I will put down several layers of mat on the back side then come back to the front side, v groove my edges, fill with Glasin and couple more layers on the front side then do my body work.....additionally I am filling all the screw holes on the front and back side.....
Well Chris regarding the doors you may have found one of those dealer demo cars used to promote the ease of repairs of fiberglas panels....you know the demo from the 1953 press release showing the guy attacking the front fender with a sledge hammer and then working on repairs while the press looks on. Riiiiight
Noticed the round access holes in the doors for the door latch mechanisums - that was a production "refinement" from the somewhat irregular and possibly hand cut, holes on the early models correct?
you are well on your way....will enjoy seeing more photos - I think many of us were wondering of the progress .
John
If this XP122 turns out 1/2 as nice (and I know it will be as good or better if possible) as my 54 Corvair Motorama car that Brett and I built the XP 122 replica is going to be outstanding
Well Chris regarding the doors you may have found one of those dealer demo cars used to promote the ease of repairs of fiberglas panels....you know the demo from the 1953 press release showing the guy attacking the front fender with a sledge hammer and then working on repairs while the press looks on. Riiiiight
Noticed the round access holes in the doors for the door latch mechanisums - that was a production "refinement" from the somewhat irregular and possibly hand cut, holes on the early models correct?
you are well on your way....will enjoy seeing more photos - I think many of us were wondering of the progress .
John
John - I think they attacked the WHOLE CAR !!! LOL - John you are correct - in 54 they cut round holes for easier access to the latch, and rod...
If this XP122 turns out 1/2 as nice (and I know it will be as good or better if possible) as my 54 Corvair Motorama car that Brett and I built the XP 122 replica is going to be outstanding
- Mike - my goal is to have to "look" just like the car. I hope to have your car and this one side by side..... give me some time !
Chris, I have seen the kind of work you do and I know it will turn out great. Wouldn't it be cool to have the XP 122 & my 54 Corvair Motorama Re-creation together and maybe find someone with the Nomad and get them all together for a photo shoot or take them up to the GM Heritage Center and do a photo shoot there with the cars. I am sure some of the older GM guys would love to see that. Vette Daddy would be there as the primary builder of my car and the XP car as well. How cool would that be??
07-03-2013, 12:53 PM
