| Username | Post: 1959 IMPALA Convertible restoration expert..... (Topic#121149) |
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| Sausage Member Posts: 51 Reg: 08-06-04 User Info Send Private Topic | 01-10-06 01:21 AM - Post#850713 Hi there: Please provide feedback on obtaining a top quality bodyman restorer. 1: 2: 3: 4: Respectfully. Sausage
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| Jerry Acheson Dedicated Member Posts: 5305  Loc: Green Oaks, IL Reg: 12-30-00 User Info Send Private Topic | Re: 1959 IMPALA Convertible restoration expert..... 01-10-06 02:05 AM - Post#850714 In response to Sausage My $.02 1: 2: In your opinion, would a there exists a "Specialist" Impala restorer of whom has expertise in our Impalas from bumper to bumper thus no need to cross train from restoring Imports and other American cars? If so, please arm me with contact info. That expertise does exist. Use this forum and publications like Chevy Times (Late Great Chevys) to find possible sources. 3: 4: Jerry
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| Anonymous User Info Send Private Topic | Re: 1959 IMPALA Convertible restoration expert..... 01-10-06 03:05 PM - Post#850715 In response to Sausage Quote: As Jerry stated, find a competent body person you trust. If you spend $10K+ on body/paint, what's $500 to transport it to Oregon or Texas for example? I've seen an advertisem*nt in a T-bird club mag of a place in TX that charges a flat $26/hr to restore classic birds. That sounds kind of low to me. In any event, go with the person you feel comfortable with. Quote: I don't know of an Impala expert, but I'd imagine you could locate someone who has restored 58-64 cross frames. The only 59-60 specialist I know is Jim Wagner of Ohio. He advertises in LGC. I believe his website is www.21stchevy.com Otherwise, a classic/rod restorer in your area should do the trick. As for interior, you should find something local to install the Impala/convertible kit. It's not too complicated. Quote:If the repair shop does body work only, I'd remove the power train and work on it while the body/paint is being done (budget permitting of course). Quote: Sausage, please, please, please, please, please, keep it original. Particularly Grecian grey. If I see another red convertible, I just may do something crazy and give mine away!! A red body with red interior is simply too much. I would discourage changing the cowl tag or VIN. This would seriously compromise the integrity of the car. If you want to go with non-oringal color schemes, simply do so without changing the cowl. Anyone familiar with old cars could pick this out, recognize the difference, and not worry too much about it. However, if you fake the cowl tag etc., then you could call into question every aspect about the car. I have a red/red 59 convertible that was originally white/grey. When I have the bucks and time, I'll go back to original. The grecian grey with red interior would fine. In fact, I have a local friend with a 59 Nomad with Grecian grey and red interior. Looks good. Respectfully. Sausage And now, a cautionary tale of restoring a 59 convertible. When I was 15 back in 1986, my brother (a wise old 17 y.o.) decided to restore the convertible that had been in my parents field for the past two years. We promptly removed the body from the frame (reinforce the body so it doesn't tweak, really??). We replaced the rusted out floor boards with sheetmetal and fiberglass (before repo pans) and painted it in the garage (other older brothers voted for Roman red). Many years later and $19K in bills, we have a nice dailey driver with a crumby paint job. Oh well. It's not perfect, but it makes it easy to drive because we are not paranoid about it. You've got a valuable car here, so do it right to maximize your investment. This doesn't mean you'll recoop all of your money. Do it right. Any pictures??? Russ
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| Jerry Acheson Dedicated Member Posts: 5305 Loc: Green Oaks, IL Reg: 12-30-00 User Info Send Private Topic | Re: 1959 IMPALA Convertible restoration expert..... 01-10-06 04:29 PM - Post#850716 In response to Quote: I'd love to have a red ragtop. Send her my way Russ. Jerry
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| 59sedandelivery Contributor Posts: 312  Loc: Greenville SC USA Reg: 06-26-05 User Info Send Private Topic | Re: 1959 IMPALA Convertible restoration expert..... 01-10-06 05:01 PM - Post#850717 In response to Jerry Acheson Sorry Russ, you'll have to give it to jerry, i dont have room for it in the shop...Mustless,ive already been there and done that with dougy,s 59 red red in high school...Girls really like wagons if you know what i mean... Sedan Delivery guys dont talk out of the circle about what girls like to do in the SDL,s.... maybe i could get a tarp or something....lol very good advice you've given......joey May GOD Bless our Troops PAST PRESENT and FUTURE!
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| Steve59V Senior Member Posts: 599  Loc: Southeastern MA Reg: 04-18-04 User Info Send Private Topic | Re: 1959 IMPALA Convertible restoration expert..... 01-10-06 06:05 PM - Post#850718 In response to Sausage For what it is worth here is my .03!
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| Jonas the Swede Member Posts: 99  Loc: Staffanstorp, Sweden Reg: 12-05-05 User Info Send Private Topic | Re: 1959 IMPALA Convertible restoration expert..... 01-10-06 09:37 PM - Post#850719 In response to Sausage Sausage, Jonas
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| Figmoman Valued Contributor Posts: 2935  Loc: Wilton, California Reg: 11-01-03 User Info Send Private Topic | Re: 1959 IMPALA Convertible restoration expert..... 01-11-06 04:29 AM - Post#850720 In response to Jonas the Swede What little hair i have left is Grecian Gray. Mayby i should get a car to match :c) 1960 Impala Sport Coupe. 348 PG 1972 K-10 short wide. 350 4 speed
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| Jonas the Swede Member Posts: 99 Loc: Staffanstorp, Sweden Reg: 12-05-05 User Info Send Private Topic | Re: 1959 IMPALA Convertible restoration expert..... 01-11-06 04:37 AM - Post#850721 In response to Figmoman As long there is hair there is hope Jonas
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| Anonymous User Info Send Private Topic | Re: 1959 IMPALA Convertible restoration expert..... 01-11-06 07:37 AM - Post#850722 In response to Steve59V Sausage, I think Steve and I are good examples of the two extremes of 59 ownership. From I understand and have seen, Steve has an absolutely goregous covnertible that is worth every penny (although I may have taken the $125K and purchased two nice ones! I'm not sure if I agree about non-red cars being as valuable. I think to the right collector, an original-to-the-car paint is more important. Red, white, and black are popular colors. Personally, I'd prefer a grecian grey, crown saphire, copper, or crocus cream (yellow) car over a red car. So, you see that there are many types of car owners out there. You've got to determine what level is best for you and what kind of value you expect out of your project when you're done. And to answer your question about 4-speed columns, I see them on ebay a couple times a year. If Late Great Chevy still has the magazine, I've seen a couple advertised there every month. You can also post a wanted ad here in the Chevy classifieds. Good luck.
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| djlofton Newbie Posts: 3 Reg: 10-30-23 User Info Send Private Topic | 08-08-24 09:33 AM - Post#2872493 In response to Steve59V I am restoring a 59 Impala convertible 348. I need to know the color of the hood hinges if you have that information. Thank you in advance.
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 Dave_NeilingSilver Supporting Member Posts: 1382  Loc: Custar, Ohio United State... Reg: 12-10-01 User Info Send Private Topic | 08-11-24 05:18 PM - Post#2872620 In response to djlofton The hinges are silver zinc or silver cad the springs are semi gloss black.
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). I have a nice driver with an original 283 w/ 3-sp. that is probably worth $30K (more with a professional paint job). I have $19K in receipts and hundreds of hours into it. 