What to do with the Caddy?

[southdiver1]

OK folks, I am slowing down on the engine a bit and I am going to start on the body work.
After pricing just the chrome "spears" for the doors and fenders, those peices alone will run close to $1000.00 so, I am looking at other options.
I am NOT going to cut the rear end or chop the top just in case I want to make changes in the future or sell the car.
Option 1:
Option 2: (the closest I could find)
Option 3: (just the idea)
Option 4:... make a suggestion.
You can see the car at the top of the garage section.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Two words: Flat. Black.

Two more words: Rat. Rod.

[The Pirate]

If finances allow, I'd go stock looking.

[SaltyDog]

If finances allow, I'd go stock looking.

+1

[S204STi]

I think that classic cars of this sort should generally look original, but then the second option is a very good alternative.  I personally dislike the "rat rod" look.

[Secret Chimp]

Give it nice bright paint, but lower it just a little and throw a set of these on:

[ifcar]

I'd go stock.

But, I'm boring.

[ChrisV]

I'd go with lowered over whitewalls and flat black for now, due to how much work it would be to get it ready for real paint.

Being as it's a 4 door sedan, it won't be worth as much in stock form as you'd have into it to make it nice. And moving away from stock means you can update the parts that make it nicer to drive, like brakes and engine. Plus, if you do it tastefuly, it'll be worth more than stock in the same condition.

of course, there's always this:



You know you can't afford to make it like this right now:



So that's why I suggest the low and flat black with a caddy 500 cid in there.

[etypeJohn]

I'd go stock, but I'm into restorations.

[Soup DeVille]

Chris's suggestion is a good one.

Just whatever you do: keep it caddy powered and don't lose the dagmars.

[Soup DeVille]

It also occurs to me that a complete 331 can be quite valuable to somebody, running or not, and if you want to remove the chrome, somebody is bound to want to buy that as well.

[the Teuton]

I've been researching, writing, and basically living Cadillac for the last 3 weeks because I'm writing display cards for our local concours d'elegance.  I know more about Cadillac than I do about Subarus at this point.  That being said, if I'm reading my handy dandy book right, you have a Series 62 sedan.  Yeah, 37,617 of them were built, but if you could see some of the cars I've seen, you would probably think factory spec. restoration.  I vote for that.  Keep the 331 (160 hp is more than enough  ). 

Yeah, it's an expensive chore, but in a few years, it could bring you tons of pride.  There are cars that I've gotten to research that had 15 years of restoration put into them before they were finished, if that gives you any idea of what some people will go through to make their cars what they think they should be.

[Soup DeVille]

If you could see some of the cars i've seen...

[the Teuton]

If you could see some of the cars i've seen...

Believe me, I know...

[Soup DeVille]

Anyways, in your Cadiilac researching activities, have you read "Master of Precision?"

Or "Autopsy of an Engine?"

[the Teuton]

No.  I'm doing mostly post-WWII.  I have a standard catalog of American Cars sitting next to me right now, and I've used several other standard research books with production numbers, engine specs, trim packages, etc.   

I've had to do other brands, too.  I've just done a lot of Cadillac.

[Soup DeVille]

No.? I'm doing mostly post-WWII.? I have a standard catalog of American Cars sitting next to me right now, and I've used several other standard research books with production numbers, engine specs, trim packages, etc.? ?

I've had to do other brands, too.? I've just done a lot of Cadillac.

The Standard books are great. I have Buick, Cadillac and Pontiac.

[the Teuton]

The Standard books are great. I have Buick, Cadillac and Pontiac.

I have the big 800 page one I had to get from the library.  It's a 1997 edition of 1946-75 cars and isn't nearly as good as the newer ones.  I own another book that covers many more years, but it isn't as specific as to year-to-year changes, though.  Doing this concours thing two years now, I've learned more about Hydramatic factory fires, to Hudson's strangely clever names for paint colors, to the differences between Eldorados, Devilles, Biarritzes, and all sorts of other models, to Fordlantia, to the differences between an SS, RS, RS/SS, and all the other Camaros.  I have a wealth of useless car knowledge I've gained from all of this.

[southdiver1]

Thank you for all the replies.
it appears that so far, everyone is leaning towards a "real" restoration.

I must point out that I really want to be driving this car by December.
In light of that, the body will be straight and painted by that time.
The chrome probably won't be finished and the glass probably won't be replaced by that time.
As I mentioned before, I won't be cutting or chopping anything in this car so, if a few years down the road I can actually afford to buy new chrome, I can do so and the restoration won't be too bad.

Basically, by December I plan on having a running, road worthy car with SOME kind of theme going on.
The tires, suspension, brakes, and steering will all be good to go and the drivetrain will at the very least be up to completing a 100 mile trip.
The body will ABSOLUTLY be straight. While I am going to remove ALL chrome before painting, I will not be removing the glass and sand blasting the body.
The body will be hand stripped using a DA sander and a LOT of work.
I plan on doing the body work panel by panel so it is not so overwhelimg.
As soon as I get the shop manual in, I can remove the drivers side rear fender (I think it bolts off) and that will be my first body work tackle.

[GoCougs]

I said "stock" as well, because it's a four door. I think a four-door 'rod would be a bit awkward looking.

However, the flat black w/WWII bomber-like nose art is an awesome idea, and would get my vote if it were a two-door.

[Zcarnut]

I'd do a more modern drivetrain,braking system etc but keep it relatively stock looking.
Especially if your budget will not allow for a stock "makeover"

[the Teuton]

Four wheel drums do pose a problem, don't they?

[southdiver1]

Four wheel drums do pose a problem, don't they?

Not really as long as I don't have to stop...... ever.
Actually, the bigger problem is parts for the brakes. And, because of that, I am gonna start my search for a disk conversion.
I have a feeling my 5k budget might get broken......

[the Teuton]

I have a rule of thumb that whatever your realistic project budget is, multiply it by 1.5 and that'll give you a better estimation of what everything will cost.

It's worked for me so far...unfortunately.  I wish everything was cheaper when it comes to cars.

[the Teuton]

I think the best answer to this question is what do you want to do with the car?  Do you want it to be a cruiser, a concours car, a weekend beast, or a daily driver?  Depending on your answer, it might be best to go with a rat rod and then convert it to a resto rod over time as you get the money.  Front discs are a must for daily driving, but not for a weekend car and definitely not for a concours. 

[southdiver1]

I think the best answer to this question is what do you want to do with the car?? Do you want it to be a cruiser, a concours car, a weekend beast, or a daily driver?? Depending on your answer, it might be best to go with a rat rod and then convert it to a resto rod over time as you get the money.? Front discs are a must for daily driving, but not for a weekend car and definitely not for a concours.?

It will absolutly be a weekend driver.
I don't plan on driving it to work every day nor do I plan to turn it into a dragster.
I do plan on putting it in some shows and meets but, I don't plan on winning or even competing with these huge budget restoration jobs.
The problem is, I keep changing my mind every time I do anything to it.
For example, I was dead set on going with a 100% restoration until I priced out the chrome spears.
Then, I figured that I would go with the rat rod look. My wife even volenteered to "be" the nose art.
Then I saw a pix of a 57 Chevy with flames. I always wanted that.
I am thinking the best thing to do (and stay in my $5000 budget) is a rat rod look however, if I can't get the engine running and I end up putting in a 500 c.i. in it, I might change my mind once again and go for a street rod look....
(sigh)

[Eye of the Tiger]

I think that classic cars of this sort should generally look original, but then the second option is a very good alternative.  I personally dislike the "rat rod" look.

While it's a nice idea to preservce the past by restoring a car to its original condition, I think if you're going to put hundreds of hours of work into rebuilding a car, you should make it whatever you want it to be. Anyway, it's not like automakers did everything perfectly 60 years ago, so I don't see the sense in repeating their mistakes.

I'm liking this idea of having the wife pose for the nose art. Just imagine the Caddy with a color scheme like this, semi-gloss black paint, red wheels and trim, whitewalls, smoothie hub caps to match whatever chrome you happen to leave on it, and your wife on the nose: 

[the Teuton]

It will absolutly be a weekend driver.
I don't plan on driving it to work every day nor do I plan to turn it into a dragster.
I do plan on putting it in some shows and meets but, I don't plan on winning or even competing with these huge budget restoration jobs.
The problem is, I keep changing my mind every time I do anything to it.
For example, I was dead set on going with a 100% restoration until I priced out the chrome spears.
Then, I figured that I would go with the rat rod look. My wife even volenteered to "be" the nose art.
Then I saw a pix of a 57 Chevy with flames. I always wanted that.
I am thinking the best thing to do (and stay in my $5000 budget) is a rat rod look however, if I can't get the engine running and I end up putting in a 500 c.i. in it, I might change my mind once again and go for a street rod look....
(sigh)

Honestly, I think it'd be best as a cruise-in kind of car then.  Go rat-rod.   

Just don't sell any of the parts in case you ever do want to make it into a concours car or someone who buys it from you eventually does.

[etypeJohn]

It will absolutly be a weekend driver.
I don't plan on driving it to work every day nor do I plan to turn it into a dragster.
I do plan on putting it in some shows and meets but, I don't plan on winning or even competing with these huge budget restoration jobs.
The problem is, I keep changing my mind every time I do anything to it.
For example, I was dead set on going with a 100% restoration until I priced out the chrome spears.
Then, I figured that I would go with the rat rod look. My wife even volenteered to "be" the nose art.
Then I saw a pix of a 57 Chevy with flames. I always wanted that.
I am thinking the best thing to do (and stay in my $5000 budget) is a rat rod look however, if I can't get the engine running and I end up putting in a 500 c.i. in it, I might change my mind once again and go for a street rod look....
(sigh)

You can always do a rolling restoration.  Get it running and safe and then have the work done as time and budget allows.  If you don't have all the chrome pieces so what, run with what you have until you find them.  You don't need to do everything at once.

[southdiver1]

You can always do a rolling restoration.? Get it running and safe and then have the work done as time and budget allows.? If you don't have all the chrome pieces so what, run with what you have until you find them.? You don't need to do everything at once.

It looks like that is what is gonna happen.
I am suprised at how expensive it is gonna be just to get my stuff re-chromed.
I am looking at around $1000.00 for both bumpers and the grill so far.
I have not even touched on the emblems and the other trim peices like the window bits....
I suppose I can just drive it without bumpers and a grill for a while and I can take off the window bits when I am ready to paint and send them off seperate.....