After better than 2 years and a lot of cash I finally got finished 71 cutlass. I need to get the bumpers re-chromed, air conditioning hooked back up and a few minor items re-done but I couldn't be happier with the results. Took it for a cruise on Labor day weekend and got lots of thumbs up.
I need to locate an aftermarket radio that I can get a CD player hooked up to as I don't have a radio but, when i am cruisin' it doesn't matter to me (the kids complain).
Let me know what ya think. The first on, obviously was the beginning and the next two showcase the finished project.

 

WOWZERS! Great job!

My project is coming up on the 2 year mark and I'll be lucky to be done by next winter....

C.J.

 

Nice job frostbyte!! Feels good doesn't it?

 

Thanks for giving me some hope, you car is amazing. I love the car, I want to paint my 72 a deep emerald green. Is you car dark green or black?

 

Great job! I now can see light at the end of the tunnel for my 69! I hope to be done this time next year!

 

Nice job!

 

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice car.

 

Nice Job!

 

The car is black with gold stripes, I was a bench seat car and I switched to buckets and a console. The entire interior is black and for comfort I had all of the seats recovered in black CLOTH, much nicer to cruise in. I need to get the bumpers re-chromed this winter at some point but I need to find a local shop to re-do them any suggestions (central Michigan)?

 

cloth eh? That's a great idea. My front bench is torn up and I was thinking of doing the entire seat is cowhide leather, because I hate that vinyl crap...but cloth is way cheaper and easier to work with. This gives me something to think about over the winter. Well, it's a great paint job, I'm pretty sure I'm going with an emerald green with two white stripes down the middle though. Well, congratulations on you car once again.

 

Yeah, I'd totally go with Mexican Poncho cloth seat covers

10 pts for originality.

 

NICE!

 

That is a great looking car...

 

Really nice results specially considering what you had to start with. Your choice of colors and fabrics was a good one. I bet that hood cost you a pretty penny!

 

That...is....awesome....

Beautiful car...

 

Oldsguy, I actually picked the hood (repro) up on ebay for about 800.00, the pins cost me 160.00 so it wasn't too bad I guess but between the hood and the tail fin I think they really dressed up the car, and both ebay purchases.

 

Well, that shows me as a cheap b*st*rd then because that price was about what I was thinking about
I had to spend $600 on a toilet once but then, I don't really need my project car to live but I DO need the toilet.......

 

Whaaaaaaat?

 

Sometimes, you don't have a square to spare.

We could put in a rumble seat/toilet and you would be ok.

 

Nice car! Hope I have one as nice some day. Actually, the bumpers look pretty good right now, do you just want to have them redone so they are pristine?

 

They are not real bad and I thought they would be ok, but once the car was painted and i got em' on they really don't look as good as I would like em' to so I really just want to get them re-chromed.
I am not looking for a show car I will drive this thing everywhere. I found myself volunteering to go to the store for milk this summer just so I could drive my car there.

 

Great looking Rocket! I am a big fan of the 71 bodystyle as well. Coupe and Convertible..Good job on the restoration.

 

FROSTBYTE.

A local fellow has 2 rechromed 71 rear bumpers for 100 bucks..... want me to grab em?

Too bad Gladwin is so far.
My buddy has a place up near there. I like the big soft needle pines, sandy soil and millions of little lakes to go out on.

 

Verrrry Nice frostbyte. your hard work and dedications shows on that baby for sure.

 

Check out this bad ****.
http://item.express.ebay.com/NOS-GM-...mdZExpressItem

I picked up a pretty nice front one for you and an O.K. rear.

 

Great job! That's a sweet looking set of wheels!

Got any pic's of the interior?

 

Just curious, is the car an original 442 or a clone? Looks great either way! Chumley

 

The car will hopefully look even better with that rechromed front bumper. It's on its way to MI right now for you bud. And will be a LOT cheaper than that nice hood and pins setup you have there.

Did you take the plunge and blow the $500 bucks and $125 shipping for that NOS rear bumper?

 

A few folks have recommended this shop for excellent rechroming.
http://www.tricityplating.com/

 

WOW!! U totally turned that car around!! That is way too cool!! I'm excited about getting mine finished just looking at urs! I bet it rides nice! I started about 2 months ago and I plan on finishing in about 6 months, my brother is in a hurry more than I am! LOL! Anywayz, great job- I am definitely impressed!!!!

 

WOW all that in 2 years

Nice job

 

Really proud of ya, frostbyte! you give me inspiration when it comes to my Rallye- Great job.

 

Great looking job, frostbyte!

 

wow nice job my friend. ill post pics of my 69 when its done. my cutlass looks like yours did, but its almost ready for paint. thanks for the inspiration.

 

any under the hood shots?

and a question about the hood, how does it open and close? is it still bolted up to the hinges or did you go another route ?

 

also did you have any problems with the hood lining up and what brand was it if you remember ?

 

Ive used these folks for body rubber with no problems, you might give them a buzz.

Buy vintage classic antique old car parts of quality online at Classic Motor W

 

I was curious how much money you put into restoring your vehicle? If you dont' mind. I just spent close to 40k and I still haven't done the interior yet. The guy I used, I believe he's good but he charged hourly and I think I got screwed on it. He has 650 into the vehicle and that's just on body/metal work, engine and paint. What do you think?

Thanks for your help.

 

Here is my take on this, and I don't think I am alone. If you have the money, trust the individual you hired, and have the time to wait, then find someone to do the whole thing. But then you are basically giving them a blank check to finish it. If you don't have the money (like me) then I would be looking for quotes for individual jobs and find people to do them. One person to rebuild the engine, one person to do the frame/rolling chassis work, one person to do the interior, etc. And still you end up spending a lot of money. I don't think there are many people that can do it all on their own. Even the best end up "farming out" part of the work. Or, if you are really poor (really like me) then you try to do it yourself and settle for sub-standard work. But hey, I learn a lot that way.
My good friend use to work at a foreign car repair shop. Many of their customers would bring the car in and describe the trouble and leave a phone number and a credit card and say "call me when it's done". If you can afford that it's great.

 

I'm with you Oldsguy. If you ever need another Oldsmobile,
I can build you one out of Great Stuff, old license plates, and Body filler.
As far as the motors go, they never die, so no worries there.