Firstgens.com

I picked up this 1967 Friday (4/13/2012). I wanted to have a nice '67 to drive but I didn't realize that the price had gone through the roof on these. So I bought a rough one with intentions of building it into what I want instead of shelling out lots of $$ up front and probably still not finding exactly what I am looking for.

This thing has a LOT of issues. Panels are not lined up, quarters have been replaced and not done correctly at all, there is a lot of bondo in places, the hood is a factory steel hood that was cut and had a fiberglass cowl mounted on it and it is cracked all around it. Doors sag, there is a rough 6 point roll cage in the car that mounts shoulder harness seat belts, Fuel cell in the trunk along with battery, and some odd looking "preload" traction bars welded to the rear end. The instrument cluster was removed (and they broke the panel in the process) and there is an afternarket speedometer laying in the hole where the original was. There is an oil gauge inside that is leaking oil all over the new carpet. The rear quarter windows roll up and down with help but do not stay all the way up on their own. There is more wrong but I can't think of it all right now.

On a positive note, the floor pans have been repaired and that was done pretty well. It doesn't look like any of the welds were cleaned up after. I think I can tidy them up and make them look better. The front fenders have been replaced with used ones but they look to be in good shape. Also, the car runs and drives out nice. Brakes work great. All the lights (except the interior lighting) work. It is a god driver as far as mechanically speaking goes at this point and from a distance it looks OK.

Here are some pics I took Saturday before I did anything to it. These will serve as my starting point "Before Photos".




You can really see the body panel alignment issues in this pic. It may be difficult to see in this one, but the quarter panel is actually installed wrong! The top of the door and the quarter panel are lined up, but the center body line is higher on the quarter panel than it is on the door, along with the lower body lines on the quarter compared to the door where they meet. This is going to take more than a door adjustment. Huge issues there!


This shows that same left quarter with some issues at the rear section. There is a crack among other problems.


Same quarter again toward the front where it meets the door. There are more crack here along with some bad bondo issues.


Right side door and quarter panel gap is not consistent.


I don't know how this fiberglass cowl is attached to the hood, but there appears to be bondo which has cracked all the way around it.

Just because it starts a bit rough doesn't mean a thing. Mine is still a bit rough, but she's been to local shows, the strip, and cruised 2 hours one way. Enjoy it an keep posting pics

Every project has to start with something. I don't think this is a bad place to start in spite of the issues. I like the color combo and the "ol Skool" wheels are awesome.

I'm partial to Yellow and the "Bumble Bee" theme is appealing to me. Interesting use of the blacked out grille and bumper.
The left Q-panel issues most likely stem from the new one being set over the old one instead of removing the original one first. That would explain the raised body line and all the filler around the edges, where the overlay was blended. My experience with drivers like this is, unless you have the funds set aside and the time, just drive the car until you do. I see many cars like this get blown apart and then sit for years upon years waiting for funding and time. I completely understand where you're comming from with the desire to spend less and build what you want, as I have 6 of those vehicles now, but the reality is that you will STILL spent 25k to make it what you want. Maybe just enjoy it for a few years, keep looking at others and when you find what you want, re-owner this one. Just food for thought from my perspective.....either way, enjoy the journey....

Well said Mitch! I would offer the same advice unless of course you have the cash to tackle the work and finish in a reasonable time frame...............if not drive the wheels of it until you do!

I see one of those "drivers" that got blown apart and never reassembled every day in my garage. I regret the day I pulled it down but I see a light at the end of the tunnel and this time it's not a freught train. Good luck with this one , hope it turns out well in a timely manner.