My 1969 1/2 440 ‘cuda

-
440 ‘cuda decals are lined up beautifully. I had photos of an unrestored car that was used to line up the decals properly. Really pleased with the effort they put into making sure they were placed right. Rear valance turned out really nice. Wheel trim gave him a lot of grief. Some of the trim would not go up totally flush with the body but they are about 98 percent flush and for re-pops that’s probably about as good as it’s going to get. Really happy with the job.

5D73A685-FB75-410E-B9A2-A2FE94519E67.jpeg


9DF3C5B0-56E9-418F-B904-A9DD5F935EE4.jpeg


B97E445C-6371-4F34-8F4D-DC5C166EC9A7.jpeg


35DBD66B-91EA-4367-8A35-57953B6E91EE.jpeg


87A3A60C-5A29-4812-8288-E494B574416E.jpeg


B1535FA7-7266-4242-84DE-DFA1E8CD872D.jpeg


95DD6875-71D7-49C0-800A-6F3C7E4F9D04.jpeg
 
Finally, after a year and four months it’s done and back home. Feels good to finally be able to put it in my garage all finished, sort of. I plan on doing a lot of improvements over the coming years but now I can drive it with a big smile on my face. I got it back on February 21st of last year. Got a shot of the body man Rick, on the left and the painter Brandon on the right when they dropped it off. Even went and got gas later that day. Last year was a really mild winter, unlike this year.

E47C2D94-F5F5-426B-A0FA-A292BA706712.jpeg


A5412F7E-916D-4563-B290-33A81D5CE825.jpeg


CD459D21-E1A7-4CC1-8446-A9AE63AFD319.jpeg


5DCFDD81-CF91-4E24-B9CB-4654ABD307FF.jpeg


053E9013-95C7-4AA8-92C8-7BF1D348A286.jpeg
 
The vent glass, driver side door glass and quarter glass are original as far as I can tell with date codes of February, April and March respectively. The passenger vent and quarter glass are also original, I believe with date codes of April and March respectively. All had 1969 build dates. The passenger door glass has a build date of August 1968 so I believe it was replaced at some point and time. All the glass was tinted from the factory. So yes that rear window is tinted, BUT all the side windows have a vinyl graphic on them due to the fact that I sandblasted the interior with the windows still in the car, STUPID. I had a local graphics shop do a graphic of one of my sunset pictures. Much cheaper than replacing all the windows. When I bought a reproduction windshield and rear window they were supposed to be tinted but they are not. I know this answer is a little more drawn out than you expected, but now you know the whole story behind the windows.
 
Weather gets warm you'll be cruising all side glass rolled down listening to big 440 rumbling. That car will stun ppl at car show. Ppl will be in awe probably speechless when they see it.
 
I just re-read this whole thread and have got to say you have done an impeccable job bringing this car back to original. It is a beautiful example of a legit ‘Cuda. I have an A56 and find myself being inspired by you to maybe put it back to original in the future. For now just enjoying getting out and about with it as there are very few of them left, particularly in these parts. Awesome!
 
Weather gets warm you'll be cruising all side glass rolled down listening to big 440 rumbling. That car will stun ppl at car show. Ppl will be in awe probably speechless when they see it.
I have gotten quite a few comments on it. Most people are stunned to first find out that they actually put a 440 in an A body ‘cuda and second to find out there were so few made.
 
I just re-read this whole thread and have got to say you have done an impeccable job bringing this car back to original. It is a beautiful example of a legit ‘Cuda. I have an A56 and find myself being inspired by you to maybe put it back to original in the future. For now just enjoying getting out and about with it as there are very few of them left, particularly in these parts. Awesome!
Gotta give a lot of credit to the engine guy, the body man and painter as well as the transmission shop and the drivetrain man. I did do a lot of the work myself but also had help from my nephew, younger brother and some friends. Glad I could be of inspiration to you. I enjoyed getting out and about with mine last year. Put 2000 miles on it. I have another ‘69 notchback that I hardly drove last year because I just wanted to get this one out and enjoy it. Good luck with yours and don’t be afraid to drive it.
 
February 21, 2024. Got the car back from the body shop and had to get some fresh fuel for her. Unbelievably nice day, especially up north here. I believe it was in the lower 50’s. Felt really good to drive it after being in the body shop so long and finally getting it painted and looking nice.

75BA07CE-9B8B-4837-9665-71B0C96D959C.jpeg
 
Car has beautiful lines. Love the shots from the rear.
It didn’t look so good after the first body shop it went too. But this last one did do a superb job getting the doors and fenders lined up as well as the hood. The hood had a horrible bow at the cowl. I believe I mentioned in an earlier post how the body man had a couple of other guys hold down a 2 x 4 while he hit it, literally, with a sledgehammer. Would have loved to got a video of that. Glad you liked the shots from the rear. I like to try and capture all sorts of different angles of the car.
 
March 7, 2024. I’ve had the car back two weeks now and the weather has been unbelievable. Couldn’t resist taking her out for a little spin a few blocks from the house to do a photo shoot. Had some people honking their horns as they went by.

4183B9A1-46FD-41C2-A782-5DC8BA997C37.jpeg
 
March 12, 2024. Took the ‘cuda back to the body shop to get some shots. Beautiful day plenty of sunshine and warm. Is it really March? Later on I went to the closed up coffee shop to get some pictures. Something about the building just made me want to get some pictures of the ‘cuda when it was finally painted. Did some pictures when it was still in primer but I think it looks much better in red.

1E167BE3-60E9-41AB-9CEA-263F1886AD29.jpeg


A931C272-19A6-4502-9233-1A3408F80D47.jpeg


42FA1D9C-1D3C-4296-AAAE-F6337077F26F.jpeg


33B0BD23-BDEB-4044-8CF7-A2A8B2ECE964.jpeg
 
March 13, 2024. Another nice day. Couldn’t resist. Just had to take the ‘cuda out again. The Scallywag, a tour boat that runs in the bay of Lake Erie was dry docked for some painting as well as probably some minor fixes so I decided it would be a good idea to take a picture of my fish next to a boat. And my ‘cuda didn’t have to get wet. Also felt it would be nice to get a picture of the ‘cuda with the metal fish art that someone had built. After taking several pictures I felt like there was something missing. That was when I noticed it. The trash can off in the distance. I realized it would make a perfect pupil for the eye. Wallahhh. I call this picture the fish in a fish.

4D130532-FF09-4D53-AC1D-2A7F11ABA4C6.jpeg


82CF95EA-F66A-447F-A132-55534922C783.jpeg
 
-
Back
Top