Bitchin' Rides 1967 Coronet R/T ***spoilers***

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I want to hate it, because I'm a purist when it comes to body, interior and paint..and the big wheels turn me off no matter what they're on...BUT, just basing my opinion on the craftsmanship and artistic quality of this build, I do think it's pretty damn impressive.
Would I want to own/drive it..NO! Am I glad that some people think out of my box and create the variety that keeps the world of cars interesting? Absolutely!

....but did ya really have to start with an R/T?....
Just sayin
 
Heck I am amazed at the ticket every time the wife drags me thru Walmart!!!!! The amount of $$$$ these people have to throw down on such just amazes me. But I am 70 and old school, old fashioned, and just pain old and woreout!
I do appreciate the fab skills these shops have. Love to watch when any of the shows actually shows me the guys using the English wheel, assorted breaks, Tigs, etc.
The pic 451Cuda just showed above is MY idea of COOL!!!!!! I have build 4- of those in the Bel dresscode. If I did all the work and had $7-8000 in it I thought I was being very extravagant!!
 
The talented crew at Dave's shop turns out some of the best fabrication and design work out there... and for sure that kind of work does not come cheap. Coddington, Trepanier, Foose, Kindig and the rest, all regularly build cars for well heeled customers that are between 250 and 500 grand. I was told by someone who worked there that when Boyd had his TV show, they would turn away builds that were under 150K because "they didn't have time for the basic stuff". Some people just have more money than most of us can even imagine.

By the time I'm finished this Valiant, I'll have 40K in the car and that's doing everything except spraying the paint, by myself. And for me, even that 40K is a big stretch on the budget. But at the recent auction here in Scottsdale, I overheard two guys talking and one said, "I remember when spending 50K on a car was a lot of money. Now I'm spending 3 times that, and it seems way more affordable." I guess it's all a matter of how deep your pockets go. But I'll bet that at the end of the day, I will be more proud of my homebuilt 40K Valiant than that guy is of his 150K auction car.

I had no idea that kind of money was being thrown around.
 
Well, if that's the kind of cash flo it takes to get a custom builder of this standard I'm definitely not on their list of potential customers. Dang money barrier. Like most of us here, coming in under 20k is still steep. I am 10k into my big block duster and probably have a few more grand to get it done enough I can say its roadworthy and looking good. But definitely appreciate the skills those guys have, and the guys paying them keeping classics evolving in style and interesting to future generations.
 
To spend that kinda money blows my mind. I thought 50 grand was high. I work almost every day of my life, and slave away to society. still can barely get by. I dunno how people do it. I guess it takes a stong mind more so than a strong body. I'm a worker bee, not a mastermind.
 
I actually like that show, as the drama factor is at zero and the quality of workmanship is way off the charts. But, IMO, they ripped the heart and soul out of this car. It’s no longer a Coronet R/T, and there is simply no personality in that interior at all. As much as I admired the full tutorial on how they fabricated the front valance from scratch, finished it looks like a front end from the Cars movie. Not my cup of tea!
 
What I liked!
It's a pretty great color combination, and that interior is beautiful to me. The original had some chrome accents I wish they had carried over but I don't miss the square-ish gauges they had at all. They did a wonderful job of keeping the body lines while modernizing it. The headlights look amazing coming through that grille. These guys are top-notch for fab and design!

What I didn't like: (really just personal preference stuff).
I know they were simplifying things for a "clean" look but I would have liked to see some chrome on the wheel wells and rockers. I guess if you were going to just be looking at the car you wouldn't want things like rear view mirrors or a sun visor.

I was going to complain that it seems like EVERYBODY uses the spoon style door handles when shaving but then realized they are the ones that Kindig-it designed, so of course they would use them. :p

This last one is just because I'm getting old... I really do not like the giant wheels on these cars. It's like big, flat-billed, baseball caps or high-cut skinny jeans on guys. They may have been "IN" but I can't help but think they make a person look like a special snowflake.
 
I wish the tire had more side wall. I think it would make a bid difference. I think this is one of the better shows. They defiantly have the best fabricators.
 
I'll be the first to say i hate it.
The only thing i don't mind is the color.
The interior, body mods, engine, wheels and tires (Ugh!), do not suit this car at all.
The '68 Charger type grille is kinda well done as well as the quality of the build is awesome. I'll give it that.
Why screw up a real R/T with this sort of custom modifications?
People have more money than brains i guess..............
Bring on the hate mail.................
 
I dont like the I interior. I dont like the delete of all the chrome.

I do like the color tho.

I always wondered about when you get your car back, so do they give you the door handles and mirrors, original wheels, ect?

I spent YEARS finding an original set of valve covers for the BB I'm building and I would not be happy if they just went away while i payed for my car to get worked on.
 
better? sorry not the best artist

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Custom cars are something I like but hate. What do I like? I really enjoy the amount of work, skill and creativity that goes into custom builds. On the other hand, custom cars kind of kill the heart and soul of the car. This car being a 67 Coronet, had chrome in, out and up the wazoo! The outside had chrome all around the windows (front back and side), chrome/polished metal on the front of the car and the rear and the interior had chrome all over! Which I like because stuff like that was what made the car what it was. A correct representation of the period. This car had a lot of work done very nicely! But when it comes down to it, it's the modern day recipe for builds. Modern drivetrain, ugly *** interior and shave, shave, shave!!
 
Custom cars are something I like but hate. What do I like? I really enjoy the amount of work, skill and creativity that goes into custom builds. On the other hand, custom cars kind of kill the heart and soul of the car. This car being a 67 Coronet, had chrome in, out and up the wazoo! The outside had chrome all around the windows (front back and side), chrome/polished metal on the front of the car and the rear and the interior had chrome all over! Which I like because stuff like that was what made the car what it was. A correct representation of the period. This car had a lot of work done very nicely! But when it comes down to it, it's the modern day recipe for builds. Modern drivetrain, ugly *** interior and shave, shave, shave!!

What kills me about this Kindig build is they started with a very solid and clean R/T. Any two door Coronet would have provided the same canvas to build on. One top of that, I knew this particular car well. Was definitely a "survivor" with faded original paint and very little rust. Would have been an excellent candidate for a "ratty muscle car" with a pedigree for someone that could hop in and drive anywhere.
 
One man at 40 hrs per week equals 2000 hrs a year, give or take. Now times by 4 AND by their hourly rate!!! Yow!!
I didn't realize they had this car in their shop for 4 years. I guess the real question is what is it worth to the owner.
 
What do you suppose that cost him? I was guessing 100k easy.
I would say multiply that by at least 3 or 4. Hundreds of man hours of labor just to do the custom details at probably $100 per hour. That doesn't count working the body to perfection, paint, custom interior, etc. Easily $300=400K.
 
I would say multiply that by at least 3 or 4. Hundreds of man hours of labor just to do the custom details at probably $100 per hour. That doesn't count working the body to perfection, paint, custom interior, etc. Easily $300=400K.

I believe I heard that it had $300k into it.
 
I hated to see a real RT basdard-ized. No, 66-7 B bodes are not worth that much anyway.
Look at BJ and all the resto mods there, selling for big $$, , which are just modern customs. I guess a progression of the pro touring car that started what 15 yrs back? The we have the addition of FI to thee old relics of ours, modern overdrive trans, custom interior. Time marches on and so does, what is the next newest and best flavor of the month.
There are people with lots and $$$ to spend, great example with that RT!
 
I’m not into custom cars myself. But I see no problem cutting up this RT. I’ve seen a 67 RT sitting on blocks in front of guys house down the street since mid 90s rotting alway. Rather somebody chop it up than do nothing with it.
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^^^^^^^^I like it but, I am a boring kinda guy!!! lol
I never have a problem with what people do with their cars. I rather not see a car just sitting outside for years rotting away but it is the man's property.
I love seeing people build interesting hotrods depicted from the earl 60's. I appreciate their work and ability.
I am glad their are people who can afford to pay shop $100 an hour to build them an expensive toy.

I am glad our hobby embraces everyone from number crunching purists to the guy that totally screws everything he touches.
 
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