1959 “Custom Restoration” Cadillac

Custom 1959 Cadillac

Photos by Paul “Swanee” Swanson

I think I just coined a new term for cars: Custom Restoration.  Why? I guess we could just say “custom” because this 59′s been customized front to back. On the other hand, the builder’s shop, Xtreme Restorations out of Rhode Island, suggests his specialty is “restoration”.  So somewhere between full custom, resto-mod and restoration, I introduce to you: Custom Restoration. What better start than a 1959 Cadillac!?

Standing back, trying to take in the 225.0 in (5715 mm) length that is 1959 Cadillac, the first nod to “restoration” over pure customization has to go to the color choice.  Not a factory color, but also not the typical red or black; PPG supplied a Soft Yellow and Vanilla Shake to gracefully compliment the flowing lines of the Cad. I think it works perfectly and gives a taste of understated modesty to a car that makes a quite a statement! Back to a custom nod then, check out this interior!

Bold yes, but as you can see it works! As outrageous as you might think it is, it’s a factory ORIGINAL color on Cadillacs in 1970. This NOS fabric color is: Chateau Mauve.  For the men reading this, that’s a nutty mouthful to say purple. Todd explained when they initially laid out the fabric they’d bought it looked like a bad, “cheerleader’s outfit.” Maybe, but they stuck with it. Hats off to the designer with the guts to choose these great colors.

Professional Designers out there, do you agree?

Under the hood, again leaning towards the restoration side, you’ll find 100% Cadillac.

It’s the original 1959 390 cu. inch mill, but it’s been upgraded with tri-power from a 1957 Cadillac.  From the factory, the 390 tri-power’s found in upscale Eldorado models made a very respectable 345 horsepower. Of course Todd upgraded or “customized” and now everything’s new inside adding, “We do all our own motors.”

The trany’s also original Caddy. As Todd says, “Why not? It’s a 4 speed!” This turbo-hydromatic amazed me. If 4 speeds were available back in 59, why then were so many later transmissions 3 speeds? (and now you can get 8 forward gears from some makers…) More is better, in general, for fuel economy and the all important acceleration! Sounds like a great topic for a future blog story…

Back and forth on custom and resto, these front and rear shots show pure custom on the exterior moldings. They may look original, but that’s over 300 feet of custom bent and chromed creativity. Todd made it sound like anyone could do it as he explained heating and bending around a pipe. Piece of cake! The beauty of the finished trim led to the 3-tone paint. You’ll see that same Chateau Mauve laid down in the trim separating the primary colors.

Needing a lesson on 1959 Caddilacs to help with my next story about D’Agustino’s Elvis II 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Barritz Convertible, I asked Todd for some details:

This car is not and Eldorado or a Biarritz. It’s as a plain old “ Coupe de Ville”. The added bucket seats, and side molding were inspired by Biarritz styling but are 100% custom. Originally the car had power windows and a power front bench, then we added power vent windows, locks (remote control), a 1150 watt stereo, navigation, push button start, push button transmission and Eldorado wheels with wide whites.

The owner, Lou Querisio our of Naples, FL must be pleased! Well, except for the fact that he’s probably never sat in the car! After overcoming what Todd called the biggest challenge for this car, building it in only 9 months – the Caddy’s been on the show scene.  After taking 2nd place, unfinished, at the 2009 Detroit Autorama, 1st place was awarded at the Grand National Roadster Show (where we saw it) and again later at the Sacramento Autorama. It also won, Outstanding Overall Custom at the Sacramento show and is now on display at the Peterson Museum; an amazing accomplishment for a new car! (click to see these pics full size)

No doubt when Lou takes ownership, he’ll be driving it. PERFECT! Lou used to live in Rhode Island, so this is Lou’s 3rd Xtreme Restorations built car. The 1958 Impala shown below had over 12,000 miles on it in the first year. Lou drives’em all the time, “…to work and wherever truly enjoying his cars.” Lou, you’ve got great taste!

So you decide: Is the Caddilac (not the Impala) a custom, a restoration or like I said, a “Custom Restoration”?

Discuss.

67 Camaro ‘Sweet ‘n’ Low’ and Covered in Candy

Steve McDonough’s  ”67 Camaro

Pics by Chuck Vranas
Words by Keith Harman

Steve McDonough, an electrician from Pembroke, Massachusetts, had the right idea when he contacted his local hot rod shop, Competition Specialties (www.competition-specialties.com) in Walpole, near Boston, about carrying out some work on his Chevy Camaro. Originally, Steve approached C.S. owner Peter Newell, about simply laying some flames on the car once a friend had painted it, but that plan was soon to change however, once he saw just what Competition Specialties were all about.

Peter formed the company over ten years ago and since then through quality construction, fabrication and paintwork, it is now regarded as one of the top specialist car builders in the North Eastern USA, with many show winning cars to its name. After a few ideas were discussed between Steve and Peter, it was decided to turn the old Camaro into a total show stopper, nothing was to be too good for this car, and all the stops were definitely going to be pulled out!

It’s difficult to know where to start when describing this car as so much has gone into it, but let’s start with the body as that is the most visual part. The brawny pony car lines of the Camaro’s bodywork have been cleaned up considerably by completely de-seaming the car and smoothing the bodywork, losing any unsightly lines that would distract the eye also including the removal of the standard drip rails on the roof.

Along the flanks, the stock door handles have been replaced with flush fitting C5 Corvette items, but more significantly, the wheel arch apertures have been cut out and relocated to make sure that the wheel sits dead center in the arch, something you might not realize but a subtle and cool aesthetic all the same.

Obviously the front grille has been swapped for a custom-made aluminum item that the headlamps, that have been moved forward, now shine through without problem, and beneath this, the bumper has been discarded and air vents in the smooth front valance duct cool air up thru custom fabricated pipes to the induction set-up.  Speaking of which, the chrome induction plenum and flamed air feed pipes surface through the opened-up custom hood, sinisterly hinting at what lies beneath.

At the back, the rear panel has been completely re-worked and is now a smooth flat panel with only the four Corvette C5 oval tail lights in evidence above a plain chrome bumper blade.

The incredible amount of workmanship that went into prepping the  body for paint extends to the underside and floor pan too where the whole lot was smoothed and filled to the same standard as the body while the body was suspended upside down on a rotisserie stand. This also made it possible for the floor pan to be channeled one inch for an even sneakier look, plus a custom cross member was fabricated to support the transmission.

Once all this hard graft was completed, Peter himself donned the suit and mask and proceeded to lay paint on the Camaro’s shell. A silver base coat went down first, followed by multiple coats of House of Kolor Kandy tangerine, a colour that really ‘pops’ in the sunlight, and along the way, Peter also laid down the flames in blue and purple ‘Chameleon’ paint, the licks changing hue depending on which angle the car is viewed from. But it wasn’t only the sides of the Camaro that got the flames that Steve had originally gone to Peter to ask for, you’ll notice from the pic’s that the induction air pipes to the engine also got the treatment, as did the steel ‘waterfall’ console between the rear seats. Oh, and the floor pan, yep, the complete floor pan is flamed from front to back underneath the car as well as under the rear wheel arches, you can see the pic’s on Peter’s website if you don’t believe us! Click on ‘Gallery’, and then ”67 Camaro’ and all will be revealed.

When it finally became time for the final re-assembly, once again, no stone was left unturned in sourcing the very best that the American aftermarket could offer. The front of the car received a Fatman Fabrications front sub-frame, complete with a Chris Alston manual steering rack and polished A-arms, Air Ride Shockwave air suspension system (also on the rear) plus Wilwood six-piston callipers on 13-inch front discs. DMC Racing supplied the custom built ladder bar rear suspension, Wilwood brakes also feature on the Strange 3.55 to 1 rear axle and all fuel and brake lines have been hidden within the frame.

Completing the frame and suspension details we come to the choice of wheels and tires, a critical detail that can make or break the look of a car. No worries of that nature here as the combination of 18 and 20-inch Billet Specialties ‘Rats Tail’ billet alloys fill the arches to capacity in fine style with Toyo Proxes 295/30 profile rubber bands on the rear and the same make in 225/40′s on the front.

Nothing less than a big-block Chevy motor was deemed good enough for this car, and it came in the shape of a 502ci Crate Motor, the block of which has been sanded smoothed and painted in matching tangerine candy, not that you can see much of it beneath the humongous Street and Performance chrome tunnel ram fuel injection system that dominates the fully detailed engine compartment. Street and Performance also supplied the stainless steel headers and full exhaust system under the car. The radiator is by Ron Francis and the transmission is a TCI Turbo 400 with a manual valve body and 3000 stall speed torque converter.

To produce an interior for this car that would be every bit as off the wall as the rest of the car was a challenge for sure, a few yards of crushed velvet and a chain link steering wheel just wouldn’t cut it here. Fortunately the plan for the interior had started at an early stage, while the shell was still on the jig, with a custom console being fabricated in steel that wrapped around the two separate bucket seats in the rear and extended down through the center of the car to meet the dash. Suffice to say, the console was also finished in Tangerine Candy, as is the way-cool ’59 Impala dashboard, now filled with Dakota Digital electronic instruments to blend old design and new technology together in one fell swoop. Incidentally, the screen in the centre of the upper console is an Icon TV Monitor system with full multimedia facility including Sat Nav and full internet access. Also housed here is the Alpine head unit,   that together with the Critical Mass amplifiers and woofers hidden beneath the molded panel in the boot kick out approximately 3700 watts of audio power.

The actual upholstery on the seats and doors etc was farmed out to Competition Specialties regular trim shop, Custom Creations who wrapped the custom bucket seats in a combination of leather and suede with stingray inserts to complete the outstanding interior finish.

It’s no surprise to learn that the Camaro has won almost too many awards to mention, and it places way up there everywhere it’s been shown, including the World of Wheels CASI cup, Goodguys Fab 5, as well as being twice featured at the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas. But don’t think this car is only ever trailered to events, Steve does drive it regularly and has covered over 15,000 miles in it since completion.

We bet that Mr McDonough has had a mile-wide smile on his face for just about every one of those miles too, the car is an incredible tribute to the talents of Peter and his team at Competition Specialties, and with the success of this car on the stateside show circuit, it probably won’t be the last we hear of these back East guys either!

Click on these pics to see full size.

 

The Scoop on Squeeg’s Kustom

Welcome to Squeeg’s Kustom out of Mesa, Arizona. The shop that started doing custom paint back in 1964 now has about 18 (or more!) giant projects going on right now. I met with Doug Jerger down at the shop so I could see what they’re up to and follow up on the pictures I took of their new roadster. Doug gave me the grand tour and introduced me to his crew.

I hope you aren’t misconceived by the American Hot Rod show with Boyd Coddington… not all custom, high-end builders are miserable asses that treat their crew like crap. To the contrary, Doug gives all credit to his crew and reminded me more than once that it’s the SHOP that turns out the great work. Doug quickly stepped into the background more than once. It seems to me, the team attitude and hard work are just the way things are done at Squeeg’s. Doug explained how he bills by the hour and keeps meticulous records of what’s been done. He also NEVER takes a deposit, so there’s never the Unique Performance-style risk that’s left a few rich suckers pissed and looking for their Elanor clones! After only a few minutes, I wished Doug was working with me on one of my (too many) projects! Here’s a picture of a few of the crew members and the just finished Hammerhead shark they did-up for one of their best customers for Christmas.

So about these projects… Most of them start out the way all big project should, with a concept illustration. Squeeg’s hires the very talented Jimmy Smith from Jimmy Smith Hot Rod Design and Illustration in Glendale, AZ. It was cool to meet Jimmy down at the shop since he’s got a garage here at MyRideisMe.com! (Jimmy’s Garage) I grabbed a few shots of the projects going on… You’ve got the Nostalgia Funny car (Squeeg’s does lots of those…); the stretched Hemi powered and injected deuce; a few paint projects; the obligatory hot rod shop truck; and other full-tilt customs in various states of finish… and this is the pre-Christmas lull!

(Click on ANY picture to see it full size)

And you know it’s a great team when they haven’t even finished their own projects like this little roadster waiting to do it’s thing…

The projects are only a teaser for the roadster that should put Squeeg’s on the worldwide map. This roadster’s getting tons of attention after being selected as 1 of 12 contending for America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR). There are only a few SUPER high end awards and the AMBR from the “Grand Daddy of them all,” the Grand National Roadster show in Pomona, CA is certainly one. The show’s January 25-27 and I hope to be there…

If you know of the AMBR, you might know that every car is beyond fantastic. The judges are left with the impossible job of deciding which one’s the best? The only thing the judges can do is find what’s wrong with each car. Wrong is any imperfection or small detail left undone. It’s nit-picking, of course, but that’s the way it goes. Here’s a few shots that show the kind of detail it takes to contend for the big awards. (now, if I was half the photographer I wanted to be…)

The shots above are from the Scottsdale Goodguy’s show. I think Doug’s roadster won the coveted, “Too Damn Cool” award up there… I missed a bunch of details though, that’s why I went back to their shop. I won’t bore you with specific details. It’s enough to say that almost everything’s either one-off or somehow customized.
Dig this front suspension on the left! I’ve never seen anything like it and you’ll totally miss it if you’re not looking closely. It’s a nostalgia style tube front axle, but that’s no buggy spring! There’s two crossing coilovers smoothing out the road. When the now missing side panels are installed, the only way to see it all is to peak through the grill. Trick!

Then there’s the detail underneath. The scallops keep going and so do the pinstripes! Chrome and stainless abound and no detail is unfinished. The exhaust was removed to be polished again before the show. It’s the finest detail I’ve seen and really shows what’s possible when you’re focused. Take note and raise the bar…

Thanks to everyone at Squeeg’s! I could have stayed for hours BS’ing and talking about where we are and where we’re all headed. It should be a fun trip and I hope to see more of Doug and his crew along the way. Special thanks to Tony Gabrielli (Tony’s garage) for introducing Doug. If you haven’t seen enough, check out Doug’s wife Melissa’s car. (Melissa’s garage). Her fitting member name, “Htrdvxn” is one of the best on the site.

When I get a chance to feature more of Squeeg’s Kustom’s projects, you’ll know about it. This roadster’s my scoop… you’ll have to wait to see it in print!

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