1953 Studebaker re-build

[59impala]

Many years ago I dropped a pair of pliers on this car and broke the top in many pieces.  I almost tossed it out but for some reason I didn't.  Well, as the story goes, I decided to see if I could repair it.  Here are some pics of the re-build.  These are the beginning of re-building the custom that I started many moons ago.

[david]

I am clapping for this one! I am a BIG Studebaker fan so anytime one of those can be rescued I am all for it! Nice job on getting the jigsaw puzzle pieces back into place! 

[Deleted]

I'll be watching this too. I do like old Studes.

[59impala]

Thanks guys.  I almost tossed it but instead I kept it in a box for many years and one day, decided to see ifin I could fix it.  Here are some more pics.  I used the stock rear bumper and tail lights and molded them into the body.  The custom headlights are ones from an original 65 GTO that I bought when I was on Okinawa.  I had to redo all the body work because when I stripped it, the Super Clean attacked the putty and that had to be replaced.

[59impala]

Here she is in primer.  I had a little more work to do and then primed it again.

[70sprostockfan]

all right it's getting there. figured out the color yet? Maybe a two tone hint hint. grinnin'

[59impala]

You got it Allen, sorta. It's a three tone. Here are some pics of the finished car.  This was an experiment to see if I could do a three tone paint job.  This was before I painted a Mako Shark and wanted to make sure that I could do it.  The bottom is Silver, next is a darker Silver and on top is a Blue Pearl all over Black.  I has the Studebaker engine in it and it's souped up just a tad.

[59impala]

Here are some pics of what I used on the seats.  I wanted to replicate a vinyl seat cover from the 50's and I used this stuff that I got from a package the wife had.  I don't remember what this had or came from, so I can't get more of this stuff to do other seats.  It took a while to get the plastic to stick with glue and you can see that I had to use miniature close pins to help with the gluing.  I liked the pattern and that's why I used it on the seats.

[Deleted]

You turned a piece of junk into a really nice looking old Stude. Very nice!

[59impala]

Thanks Steve. The 53 Studebaker is on e of my favorite cars and I was glad that I was able to save it. I have never dropped another pair of pliers on a kit since.

[david]

The seat covers are genius! And the Studer is really cool!

[70sprostockfan]

Really sharp. You are getting those fades down to a science. nice job. I agree with David on the interior but I sure do wish you remembered what it came off of.

[59impala]

Thanks for the kind words guys. The material I used for the interior came from some kind of medicine pack but for the life of me I can't remember what product. Bummer. It took a long time to get the covers to stay down and I had to use the clamps and pins to hold them in place until the glue dried. The pattern of the plastic is a diamond pattern. I'm always hoping the my wife will get some more of the medicine she took so I can finally find out where this stuff came from.