i think that's bf ugly!!!! trying to be something it's NOT! waste of money and time in my opinion, but, different strokes for different folks.

 

It doesn't really work for me, but for people who want nothing but the look of an old car/truck and all the modern stuff like IFS, disc brakes, A/C, automatic, PS, tilt column, bucket seats, power windows, ad nauseum, Why not? Is this really worse than a frame swap?

 

Ross,

I agree, it may not be something I'd do but if it's done safely and looks good I say go for it. I looks like the person who owns the first car posted has some talent to be able to meld the two designs together.

 

different. there was a newer checy pickup at lead sleds in salina,ks this year that had added the fins, rear end ect from a 57 chevy onto the back of the bed, probably the best looking new pickup I have ever seen. just wish i had taken a pic of it.

 

Ah yea it is worse! That thing looks nothing like a shoe box Merc. Atleast with a frame swap you are keeping the entire exterior shell of the classic body. So it actually looks like the classic you started with..

 

I dunno, maybe it's because I know what the originals look like so much, but they never look quite right to me. It's very very difficult to get the lines to work right. I saw a new corvette made to look like a C2 a few months ago, and it was cool and done well... but it didn't look right. The windshield angle throws things off, door placement, lines, ect. Personally I perfer the idea to swap new parts under a old car (if nothing else insurance is sure a whole lot cheaper on vintage! I have a '94 Mark VIII, it's quite spendy). Just too difficult to get it to flow the same way, you have to do it all.

I have seen a 30s style truck kit for a second gen S-10 that looks fairly decent, but it also went over the whole body and used new pieces designed to work with the truck.

I have a picture around here somewhere with a newer ranger with a 99 Mustang front clip on it... came out well... not sure why though, lol

 

Sweet! I`d love to see that!

 

Surpringly enough, it was right where I thought it was (I have several thousand pictures I use for ideas, lol)

 

Yep, that lights my fire. Thanks!

 

Stephen67 and Morris. H-ll ya that looks good. My next build I want to do is a 55 Ranch Wagon cut down into a Ranchero. I got a 56 Ambulance and a 55 4 door wagon. Neither will work as well as the 2 door wagon. The 49 and 50 would look good also I think. Ya I may be dreaming but the best rides came from dreaming. With a few exceptions like the Edsel. Henry must have hated his son. Yet I seen a two door Edsel wagon done into a Ranchero and it was not so bad until ya seen it from the front. He used the cab back and window from a 57 Ranchero and it flowed well.

 

That Ranger actually looks pretty good! I'm still looking for a '67-72 F100/F250 to replace my '79 Bronco body.

 

Wayne,that 49 Ford looks like a Karmann Ghia.

 

I think the reason the Ranger with the Mustang front clip works better is because it's new with new, the body lines are basically the same angles and the body panels have the same curvatures. Melding the old with the new never quites works, the old, larger curving body panels just don't flow with the sharper modern shapes.

 

Wow. Where have I been? I don't remember seeing this kinda of grafting the old onto the new. Maybe I just didn't like enough to remember. I think the early 50's Merc front sheet metal looks OK, but I would guess from any other view might not. Its hard for me to "meld" these two so different things onto the same surface. Its a little like putting some sort of Victorian period design on something Modern. But of course it takes all kinds. So if he likes it thats good, but it might be hard to sell. Probably a small market of those with similar taste. But it only takes one buyer.
I'm sure there's some traditional custom car builder rolling his eyes back up in his head--i mean if I'm right-is that the 49/50 era Merc front sheet metal. Isn't that the Goddess of all customizer platforms? Builders would give up their own body parts in exchange for that OEM tin.

 

Or as i look at that again is that OEM sheet metal from a Canadian Ford/Mercury and not what was made here in the states? I can't tell for sure. I guess the hood looks flatter than I recall. But I would love to have a 49-51? Merc 2 door for sure. And I say that as a guy who only has trucks. That era car is a favorite of mine. I'm going to the Billetproof show over in Antioch next weekend. I'm entering my chopped/channeled hot rod truck --not a Ford--, and I'll be looking at some of these Merc cars for sure. I think they make the greatest customs.