'65 Cat Post resto...home stretch
 

It's been over 18 years since this car saw the road. Things in life get in the way, cash needs, and other pitfalls (like hiring a painter that's a crook). Last appeared at the POCI Nats in '01 as found.

I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Chassis is looking great...again, and the body has undergone significant improvements in the last few weeks. It will be done this summer, come hell or high water.

Very nice Matt. Damn good work. You'll be rockin' & rollin' in no time.

Jim

Don’t think my 400 hp 455 will lift the tires but it’ll do ok.


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65 cat resto
 

I have an NOS trunk/taillight panel, if need be. $200.

PM sent

Front end satin black parts are done and the first parts finally getting some color.

Looking good! My '64 GP is about to go in for body and paint too.

Another milestone. Front clip pre-fit. It'll come back off for paint, then bolted on using without having to fit with fresh paint.

It's going to be a nice car. I think I remember seeing it at the 2001 show, big cars with four speeds tend to stand out from the crowd. :)

It was at the 2001 Nats, but in it's "ordered as" configuration. Built as a 389 2bbl A/T car with a 2.41 open rear. Nothing special other than the body style. When I found it in 2000, there was a mid 70s 400 under the hood that came out of a 4 speed F-Body.

Final prime and fit were completed this week. Guessing that they'll jam the doors and other misc items this week, remove the hood and fenders, and perhaps get the painting done.

Shortly after, I'll install whatever I can on the car while it's at the body shop. Gas tank, radiator, parking brake system, some wiring work.

Base and clear went down Saturday. Turned out great!

Looking good, progress is an amazing feeling.

Very nice!! Love the color.
Is that the stock crossmember for a 65?

There's still a long way to go, but getting the paint on really makes you feel like you've turned the corner. :) What shop is doing the work? I'm always curious about which local places are doing good work.

Great Project!!!! I feel its the most enjoyable part of restoring a car is when you get it back from paint. Looking forward to seeing more of it!!! Scott

The car is at Vescio's in Rogers, MN. It's a big shop that works on just about anything...cheap, hell no, but you get what you pay for. The car will probably turn out much nicer than I ever expected. After all the BS I went through with that A-hole in Sheboygan...thief, this helped to get past that dark period.

As for how much I have left, it's less than you think. Seats are done, bumpers are chromed, chassis and drivetrain is complete and done. At this point, I'll install all the trim, carpet, weatherstrip, side glass, back light and windshield, headliner, dash panel, header (grills and bump extensions), bumpers. Lastly will be tires and exhaust. Kind of a long list, but all of those items are restored or in hand and ready to go with the exception of the tires and exhaust. I have a couple items that need to be cleaned and painted, bumper brackets and gas tank straps...that's about it.

I'd like to have it moving on it's own this fall, but it probably won't be complete enough to take out of the neighborhood. We'll see.

Final buff.

I haven't heard about Vescio's before, but I just looked at the pictures on their website - they've done some nice work.

Another regional shop worth mentioning: https://www.bremsethbodyshop.com/ They're down in SE Minnesota, south of Rochester. They did a cosmetic restoration on my old BMW car a few years back and I was very happy with their work (if you go to their projects page, my car is in the bottom left corner.)

Big day for the kid. Going to install a bunch of various parts while I have access to a hoist, AND before the front clip goes back on the car.

Gas tank, parking brake cables, radiator, some wiring, various parts on the firewall...small stuff.

Assembly begins, slowly.