71 Convertible Ground-Up Restoration - The journey begins !

[Challenger_7]

I have been gathering parts for the past year to embark on a ground up job for my convertible, and the week-end before I decided to take it in, a BMW lost control and hit my right side thus shoving me onto the left side barrier. Car got badly bashed from the right and a little from the left
That was the sign to take it in, and fortunately no chassis damage occured. See photos below.
This happened about 2 months ago, and it took us till last week to agree with the insurance on a tentative figure. Still, I was given the go ahead to start work, which began 2 days ago.
I will be doing a color change, thus sand blasting the entire car will be necessary, and my change will be to Plum Crazy with white interior.
One thing I have not located yet, the front eyebrows (the Aluminum frame surrounding the head lights - see foto). Any help will be appreciated.
Also need a set of front windows. The ones on now are for a coupe.
The engine is going to have a stroker kit from 440source to become 451. A subframe connector will also be added on and all mechanical parts will be repaired, overhauled or replaced as necessary.
Some items on this car are not correct and I have done much research and hopefully got my bearings right on all items:clueless:
The journey will be longish, not too long hopefully, but certainly very interesting. Hope you all enjoy it with me and please comment as you see fit.
I am keeping my photos to a low resolution in order not to clog up the mail when opening.
Regards to all and happy new year in advance.

[Challenger_7]

More fotos from day 2(after the first foto here).
What is amazing about this car is the incredible clean state of the body. I was expecting much rust but literally not a speck !!

[sleepychallenger]

sorry to see your misfortune. that really bites. Im sure that someone can point you in the right direction for those headlight bezels. cant wait to see her done and thankfully insurance will cover some if not most of it.

[Challenger_7]

And some more of the stripping down.
Future pictures willbe of work progress.
Cheers.

[Challenger_7]

sorry to see your misfortune. that really bites. Im sure that someone can point you in the right direction for those headlight bezels. cant wait to see her done and thankfully insurance will cover some if not most of it.

Thanks buddy for your supportive comment.
Yes the insurance will cover some of the cost caused by the damage, but they have a policy on old cars that they cover only 50% of cost of parts. In any case I was planning on changing most, so the iinsurance contribution will be money I had not counted on gettin.
Will sign off now as it is now late in this part of the world.

[ksierens]

Looks like an awesome project!  Looking forward to watching the progress.

[sleepychallenger]

amazing how the money seems to fall and help in the strangest ways when unexpected sometimes huh!! well, good luck and keep us posted.

[71340RT]

I'm sorry about the wreak and all things happen for a reason. I hope the project moves along at a fast rate of speed for you. My 70 Cuda took 5 years to restore in my 2 car garage with 95% of the work being done by me and my family which included my son and wife. I see the headlight bezel you need on ebay now and then but I don't think anyone reproduces them yet. Keep us posted on your progress with lots of pictures.

[hemiken]

  Your car looked awesome in White with the Red interior, how did it end up with Red interior as Red interior is a 70 year model option only What is the original color for the car ?  Just curious to know what is on the fender tag really.  Your color combo sounds cool, is their many Plum Crazy cars in your part of the world like the other guys said, keep the pictures coming, and good luck with your work plan schedule.

[Topcat]

Sad to hear about the accident but your car is in remarkably good shape; no rust to start working on.
Looking forward to watching your progress.   

[wally426ci]

Im so sorry to see this, good luck with the build. Parts are impossible to find here let alone Lebanon!!   

[moparmaniac59]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. Thankfully no one was hurt!! What a beautiful and amazingly clean car. Do you know where it originated from?? Good luck on the resto process.

                                                      Matt B.

[bb71challenger]

Sorry the car got hurt. Looks like it was a really nice driver. It must have had a pretty hard shot to bend in the door like that, those things are braced out the wazoo internally. Looks like you have a good idea as to what you want to do so I wish you luck. Keep those pics coming, I never get tired of seeing our wonderful cars getting a new lease on life!

[Street_Challenged73]

That really sucks you got side-swiped like that, but it's good to hear none of the structural integrity was damaged.   It sounds like you have a really good color scheme for the car when it's all finished.   Plum Crazy with a white interior looks very sweet on these cars.

[Jacksboys]

Sorry to hear about your car, but glad you are ok.  At least you were able to work it out with the insurance.  Good luck on the rebuild.