by Simon White
Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: “Finned and Furious”
– Posted on July 4, 2020
by Simon White
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To me it looks more “Finned and Frightened “.
So I have deduced these taillights are modified from a 59 Impala but it’s driving me nuts what that bumper came from, it looks so familiar but nothing that springs to mind matches.
Looks like the front bumper from an early 50s Buick.
The ends appear similar to those of an inverted front bumper from a 57 Cadillac, with the dagmars converted to exhaust outlets and the middle piece from a different bumper?
Yup, I think you’re right. The thin piece in the middle is part of the Caddy, and there’s a simple sheet metal curve added below it.
The taillights are harder to place. They’re not ’59 Chevy, and not ’57 Chrysler.
Why do you think not ’59 Chevy lenses?
I’m still stuck on ’56 Cad for the bumpers.
They’re definitely modified Chevy taillights, note the outer bezels, the lines from the deleted trim between segments and the little oval portion in the third segment down. I don’t even think they’re from a wagon or el Camino, the split in those is in a different spot
Using the ’59 Chevy taillights in a vertical configuration was quite inspired. They look good enough to pass for a factory installation, like maybe on the most base trim model without provision for back-up lights. At least a whole lot better than some made from a piece of flat, red plastic I’ve seen.
The whole car is actually a very nice custom. I was puzzled by the right-hand drive conversion until I saw that the shop was located in the UK.
My guess is ’56 Cad ends. Not sure about the center section.
Not sure about the bumper either, even though it looks vaguely familiar. The taillights appear to be from a ’59 Chevy station wagon or El Camino. Those were two piece to allow for the tailgate opening.
XR7Matt, without the influence of looking over any other responses —
I’ll say that the bumper looks the the *front* bumper of a ’57 Caddy deVille.
Ok, now let’s see what the the consensus is ……
I think it’s a 57 or 58 Plymouth. With other bumpers of course.
Cool Picture. It is some kind of Christine reference seeing as the plate says Darnells on it.
Good catch. You can find more pictures of the car at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/redmaxspeedshop/albums/72157652627202952/with/27985775857/
The photo set from Flickr is a bit confusing at it seems they have pictures of two different cars, the first a ’58 Plymouth Plaza 2 door but the other car is clearly a four door hard top modified to look like a two door on the outside but it’s rear door panels give it away inside. Looks like it was converted to right hand drive so is this car in Australia, or is it in the UK?
Also, three different powerplants are seen.
A blue small block Chrysler with its heads off, an orange Wedge, a Black Chevy.
American Gothic, 1958.
I see some parts that resemble a 56 Pontiac front bumper
Motorheads are nuts about two-doors, aren’t we ? It’s an easy leap: sports cars, roadsters, race cars even—all two-doors. And the industry has supported that perception, from early days. Now, in an age where we seem happy to fool ourselves (about a lot of things), for the first time (?) four-door cars are being called “coupes” by their makers.
We saw it sneaking up on us: the numerous sporty four-door sedan variants—mini sport-utes, if you will—in which the read door handle is disguised ?
This four-door Plymouth hardtop reborn as a two-door is a novelty, in any event. The green pillared “coupe” presented as part of the black-car project is a bit of flummery—isn’t it ?
Happy Fourth weekend, evabody . . .!
Make that “rear door handle,” please . . .