All of that work and they put the same crappy sheepskin covered seats back in for the pilots???
Yea, that's what I said too when I first started on aircraft!
But, because the pilot & co-pilot spend so many hours in those seats, this is what they prefer. I'll see if I can find a corporate jet cockpit pic. It's not a place that you just get in and out of. It's a tight space. You can't walk into it like a commercial jet. Gotta step over stuff, climb onto the seat & then slide down into it. Once you're in, you're in for the duration. Apparently the sheepskin helps with comfort, lessens sweating, & it's easier on the 'roids. And they're not seat covers like you'd have in a vehicle, either. They are the actual covers.
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Latest project.
'59 Impala. This project #9 for this guy. He owns the '54 Ford with the red & white interior that I previously posted.
This car was bought as a project that needed 'only' to be painted! The frame had been done, & the rest of the drivetrain rebuilt (348/tri-power/auto/full load) when the original owner/restorer passed away. The car was in bare metal. Looked like a Delorean.
The current owner had a bodyman that had worked for him for years, but had decided to retire. Don (the owner) asked if I knew any bodymen that specialized in resto's. Normally, I stay outa that kinda stuff! If the owner & bodyman's relationship goes sideways, I end being the bad guy!
But I do know a bodyman that does nothing but resto's. The guy with the 'Yard Art' that I posted pix of, somewhere on the forum. I explained to both of them before I introduced them, I am NOT responsible for how you guys get along! This is between you guys. All I'm doing is introducing!
I'm no bodyman. When I first saw the car, to me, it looked good! I have pix, but on my old computer. Working on transferring them over to this one. When I find them, I'll post 'em.
But it wasn't good! Far from it! Martin, (the bodyman) discovered that the car had been made outa 3 different others!!! From the back of the doors forward was one, the section from the back of the doors to the middle of the rear wheel openings was another, & from there back was from yet another car. Those fins, those huge fins, were so out of alignment that there was no way that any of the stainless trim was gonna fit!
Add in purchasing a 1/2 done vehicle (actually less than 1/2!) & all the inherent probs that that brings to the project & you've got a recipe for disaster! Or a money pit!
It became the latter! Once you get into it so far, whatyado? Sell it & wash your hands of the whole thing, or carry on & bleed & bleed & bleed, then bleed some more $$$? Don put up a bit of a fuss, complained to me a couple of times about how much this car was costing him, but it was just a show. He's been to this party before & he knows just what a project like this entails. He's extremely happy with what's been done so far!
Even still, the point at which the vehicle is at now represents 4 years in the body shop, & a total investment, including the purchase price, & buying all the parts that the vehicle didn't come with, of (ya ready?) $146,000.00!!! (cough, cough, cough!!!)
But then, when was the last time you saw one? Similar vehicles sold on ebay, & @ Barrett/Jackson in the last year, have gone for anywhere between $180,000.00-$250,000.00!
And I'm just starting on it! I haven't seen one thin dime, yet!
These are just the beginning pix. I'll be working on this for the next 10 days or so. Pix will be added as I progress.
Martin did an amazing job! This will be a 100 point car when it's done! One of the best, if not THE best '59 Impala convertible in North America!
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You should see what's in the shop in these pix! I'll take a few more next time I'm there. There's another even larger shop on the property too!
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Like I said...Martin did an amazing job. Check out the detail in the dash resto alone!
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All the gauges have been gone through, made to work, & detailed to better than new! He did the steering wheel too!
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More to come...