1960 Chevy Long Bed Stepside

[dodgefever]

This one started because I had the new tool 1960 Fleetside, but I've never been keen on short fleetsides.  I'd started to lengthen the bed, but it needed a lot of work, given the inner bed sides are totally incorrect - something they were able to get right on the original issue 1960 kits.  I later acquired a built up 1961, so I decided to make the 1960 a stepside long bed, like this brochure illustration:



The frame was extended a scale 12" behind the cab.  The inner X frame was left attached at the rear, separated from the main rails in the middle to allow for the extension, and new front legs made.  I referred to factory drawing for this bit.



I looked at lengthening a Revell '65 bed, but those are moulded in one piece, so too much work. I scratchbuilt the bed and used the Chevy fenders from an AMT '53 Ford.  1.5mm square section Plastruct strip was added to the inside faces of the fenders to match the Revell Chevy width and clear the '60 wheels.



This is where I'm up to.  I made some steps and I've started on the stake pockets.  Those are made from square section strip, so they need to be tapered.  I'm not sure yet whether to cast a copy of the Revell tailgate or just use it and build the Revell '65 as a wrecker...

[fordrodnkustom]

Nice work so far. Are you going factory stock with it?

[Mr.409]

Nice to see one of these built rather than sitting on collector's stash! This is especially interesting since I have SMP '61 Fleetside annual kit waiting to be rebuilt. I like that you went with that Stepside bed with this one, and this looks really good with no side trim at all just like in the inspiration picture.

[dodgefever]

Thanks for the comments.

Ron, this will be bone stock, which is a change for me. Not even a V8 swap. I am considering making it a big window cab like the illustration and the old annual kits.

Niko, I've edited the first post for clarity. This is a recent AMT 1960 short bed kit that I'm reworking. The original issue '61 Fleetside is staying as it is - you can see it in the background of the third photo.

[Mr.409]

Oh yeah, now I see!

Well, no matter what kit it's based on, you don't see these built too often. This is the kit I'm planning to use as engine and chassis donor on my build when I get started with it.

Going factory stock route seems like a great idea!

[Bernard Kron]

In the best tradition of "the grass is greener on the other side", because I'm congenitally incapable of building anything stock (or even of straight out of the box kit builds for that matter) I've always been a huge admirer of showroom stock builders. Their discipline is epic. I'm looking forward to seeing you apply your meticulous skills to this style of build.