1959 Chrysler Imperial topping it off

[lo51merc]

Custom with a slight twist, my wheel/tire choice. I decided to go with a modern wheel and tire set so this model won't be TRaKable.
Anyway, I've had this kit for a couple of years I think, but couldn't get any inspiration as to what to do with it. CrazySwede (Marcus Lonnstrum) recently started a 59 Imp. thread on TRaK, and that gave me a push to start mine. The first thing that I did was to remove the windsplit/taillights from the fins to clean them up. I've had the AMT 63 Ford kit for quite a few years and often took it out to get some ideas to build it. Didn't get any, but that dual headlight pod always stuck in my head with no place to go (Lotta room in there to rattle around!). So I held it under the Imp. fenders, below the headlight caps, and width-wise it was a perfect fit.. To this point I hadn't taken any pictures. I created a grille opening from good ole evergreen sheet with top and bottom bars that'll be foiled during final assembly. An old Aurora grille set provided the material for the new grille. The rear grille bar is from the 60's AMT Bumpers and Grilles set, 57 Desoto. I seperated the upper bar from the lower pan and narrowed it 'till it fit just inside the rear fenders. It's been molded in place with a rear pan made from Evergreen. The front fenders are heavily modded, and the trim has been removed. Here are some of the pictures I have taken.
Hosted on Fotki
Hosted on Fotki
Hosted on Fotki
[a
href="https://www.fotki.com"]Hosted on Fotki[/a]Not wanting to copy Marcus's interior mods I searched through my interior extras but didn't find any other usable seats so I also went with the custom seats from the AMT 58 Chevy. From there on though, everything is different.
Hosted on FotkiThe console is from the AMT 49 Merc.
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Hosted
on Fotki
Hosted on Fotki
Thanks for your comments, criticism or whatever.
Gary

[mack2856]

That's pushing the envelope, I say go for it, I would use different wheel tire combo though, but that's just my 2 cents.

[Faust]

I love it! It doesn't look much like the source material at all! Always the sign of a great Kustom!

I do agree Mack, though; I'd go for wires or even wide-whitewalls with trim-rings and colour-coded wheels/dogdish caps. That's just me, though.

[constructionbob]

I do like it a lot! As it feels early 60´s style I'd go with rim/wheels of that period. But your inspiration seems to come from the ones u picked so just continue.. ,

[lo51merc]

The wheels and tires I have on it now came from a recent version of some kit I bought recently though I don't recall which one it was. You know how things get stored in your mind, then pop out unexpectedly? That's what happened here. I do have some hubcaps that might work but they're in the bag I hope to get to the plater soon.
Thanks for commenting guys, I like your opinions.
Gary

[lo51merc]

I really like the look of this car as a convertible, but wondered what it would look like as a hardtop. I really don't like the look of the stock "Crown" top, so using it as a starting point I filed and sanded off all of the vestiges of the Crown. The pictures show the in process of the new top. I have to add some material back at the top of the window that I had initially cut away.
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Hosted on Fotki
Hosted on Fotki
I'm making the convertible top boot and the hardtop easily removable so I can switch them if I want to.
Gary

[constructionbob]

Thumbs up!