Very nice. Everything looks beautiful, fit and finish are very nice, I can imagine how much time that took. One question, the trim looks like brand new, was it replated or polished?

 

Thanks for the comments. The rear bumper I had re chromed along with a few small trim pieces and center hood moulding. All the stainless on the car I spent hours polishing and the side panels/aluminum trim was from Steve at JASWEST.

 

Congrats on an amazing resto. Prices of Rivieras have exploded and I have a feeling Starfires too will go up in value in a couple of years. Did you retain the Leather/morroceen trim on the seats?

 

I appreciate the comments on saving the original carpets with floor mats, some people are looking close! I always liked the original carpets and was able to get them to turn out pretty good so nice way of having built in floor mats that don't move around!

As for the seats the front were reupholstered to a very close match but I didn't go with die hard original fabrics, I'll post photos but I bet most can barley tell or distinguish the difference from the rest as the door panels and rear seat are all original.

With that said...I think before I go posting up some more finalized photos, I want to go back and put up a few photos of the car before I began tearing it apart and give myself and anyone here looking an appreciation for a "before" & "after" photo comparison. This is the only chance I'll get to do it. So heres the siezed up car I began with about 5 years ago.

 

just a few more of the car before the restoration began

 

And here's the photos of the final result!

 

...this is the second time I actually put the top down, first time doing it outside...

 

.....

 

And this is it for pictures until I get it on the road and see how this all goes!

 

A simply outstanding job, and a car to be proud of!
I think it would look cool parked next to the blue Starfire hardtop that you sold two years ago.

 

A job very well done. Love the color, the wheels, and the stance. What a great cruiser!

 

Gorgeous car, excellent work!

 

Wow!
Absolutly beautiful.
I commend you sir for a FINE job.
Those wheels really set her off, fantastic.

 

Thanks for the comments and compliments. It's very much appreciated after all the effort. Got plates on it 3 days ago and had it out for 100mi of shakedown. So far not bad. Couple things I've had to adjust. All in all could have went much worse and I haven't had to tow it home yet! Going to be awhile of working out bugs or learning the new sounds I'm not use to! What a feeling to pull out of the driveway with it though. Having fun with it so far!

 

I guess, that's a good way of getting back at your dad for getting rid of one of those cars. Especially, since you got more done in a couple months than he did in 20 years
Just marking this interesting thread for good read.
Here's what someone did to an ordinary wagon:

 

Did you by any chance change out your wheel studs for longer ones to mount your mags? I would like to do that on my 63 but need a source for the correct studs, I need them about 1/2" longer than stock.

 

No I kept all the original studs, left and right hand. I replaced one due to damage, but didn't find I needed to get longer studs. I just had to get conical seat left and right hand thread closed end lug nuts to mount them.

 

What a gorgeous car. I tend to be somewhat of a purist on these car but those wheels and the stance of the car are perfect. You should be very proud as I am sure you are. Now it is time to enjoy your car and it sounds like that is what you are doing.

 

Car turned out incredible!!

 

Thanks anyway, the wheels I want to use have a thick mounting pad and need 45 degree seated nuts, so will not work with stock studs. They do not make the 45 degree nut in RH thread so the only way to do it is replace the studs. I'll keep looking and solve this problem one day...

 

Nice job Brad!! I really like the fit of your roof. How did you fix all those holes in it? Sorry I missed you this afternoon.

 

Slow winter day with the car tucked away under it's cover! Had a minute to finally get a couple photos from the few journeys I got in before winter hit here! Got the plates on the car late september and wound up getting about 500-600 miles of cruising/testing before I had to put it away! The first two pics with the top down are the final day it went out and the only top down drive I had! The last two photos are right before it went in to hibernation.
Hopeful for a smooth running upcoming summer. Probably had it up on stands 20-25 times in the first 200 miles checking this, adjusting that. Few minor fixes and tightening but nothing too unexpected considering. We will see how well it goes in a hot summer to come! Fingers crossed. So far so good!

 

Excellent job. Enjoyed following your entire thread. Defiantly something to be proud of.

 

+1! ^^^ looks great.
Hope to see you out and about this summer....if and when old man winter ever leaves!

 

Beautiful job.
Very rewarding work, to be sure.
How can you not smile every time
you look at her after all that hard work.

 

Look's real cool eh? as us Canadians would say!!! Now if we could only get rid of this COLD and SNOW.....

 

Damn that's a real pretty car. Great job

 

Amazing, there are times I think about dumping my '64 Starfire but then I see ones like yours and I get all zipped up again. They really are original cars that you don't see often enough, very nice work.

 

Well Brad, the snow is gone and it's almost warm enough for the top down!
Good thing the house you bought has a 60 foot deep garage, this starfire should fit with a little room to walk around.
Steve