Looking for opinions

[hendo0601]

Ok so I am looking for some opinions about the direction to take in regards to my Polara. I have asked a few friends and have found about a 50/50 split. The car is a 63 Polara 500, 440 with a 4 speed. It has the original paint on it (kinda) but it is very worn and has lots of patina. My idea was to paint some old looking livery down the sides (like back in the 60s when dealerships would campaign a race car) then "distress" it to make it look as faded/worn as the rest of the paint. I kinda dig the idea of making it look like an original surviving unrestored but well-worn old school racer....OR...should I erase all of those thoughts and get her repainted all bright and shiny? I know it is my car and ultimately the decision is mine, I am just looking for some input as to what you all think would be "cool" to see driving around or at a car show. You won't hurt my feelings so please be honest:headbang:

 

[5.7 hemi]

Just send the car to me and all your problems will be gone, lol!! Hey, I'm a firm believer in do it how you want....unless it's a numbers matching highly sought after car. So do what you like/want, and best of all, have fun doing it.

 

[hendo0601]

only if you send it back with a nicely worked 6.1L in it! I agree with "do it how you want" but kinda like I said earlier...if you came across a 63 Polara 500 at a car show, would you rather see it all shiny like new...or old, faded, but still equally as bad ***?

 

[Greg Ducato]

Just an opinion here because you asked. I have found I drive and enjoy my patina cars much more frequently than I do my cars that have nice shiny paint and chrome. The reason? I guess I am afraid of the rock chips, door dings etc that can mar the beauty of a finished car, but only add a little more character to an older original car or worn restoration.

 

[bigredbird]

My car's been wearing five different shades of Rust-Oleum red "touch-up" for four years now, and I've been saying "I need to get this thing painted" much less than I used to. So, whatever makes the car most fun to drive is the right shade for it. :icon_thumright:

 

[rrowdy]

OK when I go to car shows, the cars that get the most atention are those which look the most original with the worn paint, scratches dings etc, and I tend to gravitate towards these also.
This is not to say that a well done top flight restoration is not beautiful but just in a different way.

The car will only wear it's original look once in it's life and never again so if you want to take it in the direction of an old Sixties SS racer, as long as it's not over the top and matches the rest of the car,
I say go for it. But most of all, Have fun!

 

[Mr4Speed]

i really dig the worn-old-racecar-look
a friend of mine found a 68 valiant under a tree in Belgium, original paint, and he clearcoated it, gave it a vacuumclean and drives it like it is!
Go and have fun dude!

 

[Cranky]

I drove my 66 Belvedere I 2dr post for 10 years with it mostly in varying states of primer. Someone painted it and did a very lousy job. It actually had more than 10 coats of paint on it so I razor bladed it all off and primered it little by little as I got the paint off. Then it started showing a bit of surface rust coming through the primer over time. I was pretty amazed at all the thumbs up I got while using it as a daily driver and for back and forth to work. The body is great on it and everything worked including the AC so I kept on driving it. I'm with Greg....I truly enjoyed driving it every day without worry about messing up a 5000 dollar paint job!

 

[Moparpwrstude]

Go old school drag car. Here's a great article on how to do it:http://www.popularhotrodding.com/te...galaxie_starliner_weekend_makeover/index.html

Make it your own though-there are many names/graphics that are still copyrighted from that era. If you do do this, I'd add some steelies out back painted half and half(body color and white) and change to Radirs up front-just my $.02. Good Luck! P.S. although my current project is a Studebaker Challenger, it's a 64 wearing original paint, scratches, etc. and plan on leaving it that way.

 

[hendo0601]

Thanks to everyone who replied...that is just the nudge I have been needing to make this car into what I see in my head. I just didnt know if other people out there would like to see the same thing. I will keep you guys/gals updated as to the progress I make!

Jon

 

[Ron 73]

Good luck Jon.. Thats a tuff one to decide, I love the great looking cars but the old days brings the memories of the other, cause we were always doing something to them, wishing we could make them pretty.. Hard decision, unless you (anyone ) has other cars, my truck i keep with the 97 paint job, my 73, i painted.. Make it the way you like it, we cant make our cars what we think others will like, My motto has always been your ride, your way.. works for me.. Good luck to ya sir!

 

[palmsprings]

They are only original once, enjoy it how it is. I have a 64 dodge wagon original paint looks great & no worries if it get a small scratch or ding. Restored ones are a dime a dozen.

 

[shorty64]

Polara

Jon,

I have to agree with the "old school racer with patina" crowd.
Nothing is cooler than one that looks like it's well used and still going strong.

Even the guys on one of those new rebuild junkers and flippem shows did the clear coat over the patina on a ' 50 Olds to keep it looking old school.

Go get'em and enjoy!!!

- Randy C.

 

[hendo0601]

Rather than try to copy an original car name or dealership I came up with a few things on my own. Since I want it to be kinda "catchy" I was thinking "The Polar Polara" campaigned by "K. Allen Dodge" from Fairbanks, Alaska. K. Allen is my wife's first initial and her maiden name (I have to give her some credit as she puts up with my old car habbit...er hobby) and the city of Fairbanks Alaska to kinda go with the "polar" aspect of the name since it gets mighty cold there. Just a few ideas I was kicking around...it has met with some mixed reviews so far...

 

[kidmopar]

i like the old school drag car look, go for it!

 

[Ltlgto]

Hey hendo0601, I've watched that car come and go on Seattle's Craigslist a few times over the last year. Almost traded for it. I'm glad to see you picked it up.
As for the style, I like the idea you have of leaving it distressed. I watched an episode of Fast n' Loud a couple weeks ago and they left the patina on a 50's rod and shot a flat clear over it to protect it. It looked great and didn't have to worry about it rusting. Very cool!

Best to you and your car!

 

[hendo0601]

Yeah I had seen the car on CL a few times for some outrageous prices and after the Newport got wrecked and I had some extra cash I saw he had dropped the price to what seemed reasonable for all of the work that has gone into the car so far, so I called the guy and had to wait an agonizing week while I was gone for the Army praying the car didnt sell. I came home and the next morning I called him and he said he had a buyer lined up to come get the car the next day and my heart sank. I told him I had cash in hand and could be there in 45 minutes...an hour later I was driving her home!

I saw that episode too and thought about shooting flat clear over it but I decided not to go that route as the more patina the cooler it looks. I am officially going to leave the paint as is, with the exception of the old 60s racing stuff I mentioned earlier. I already installed new carpet and I am now debating on redoing the seats as a brand new interior would look kinda goofy with old worn paint. I am just gonna make the car cool to me as I drive her daily and ultimately that is all that matters.

Where abouts in WA are you? Need anyone to come by and drink your beer while I watch you work on your car? I am pretty good at that...

 

[Ltlgto]

.Need anyone to come by and drink your beer while I watch you work on your car? I am pretty good at that...

My specialty too!!! I'm in Longview. Where are you located?

You're right...do it your way. I'm supposed to be picking up a '65 Belvedere I sedan this next weekend to go with my '65 Belvedere II hardtop. Best of luck with the Polara. I'll be looking for it.

 

[hendo0601]

I am in Tacoma and I try to get to any show I can in the area. The Mopar Sunbust is coming up soon and I will definitely be there!

 

[Sonny Black]

My 2 cents...that "63 is too nice not to put on new fresh color & shine!
every one loves a hot, MOPAR all shinny and Happy:headbang:
it's all part of the show! like the sound, and rumble!