Well, this is a real shocker for me. Given our situation I would have never dreamed a pint job for the bird would even be in the cards. However, I have a rare window of opportunity to get her painted one last time (for me anyway).
From the day we bought the car (Sept. 2000) I've wanted to get the car back to it's original condition. Well, after being vetoed on the choice of color the first time, she will soon wear her original hue of Verdoro Green.
Due to an awesome wife and super friends, the circumstances have once again lined up for me as they all want to see me complete the car and be able to see it while I still have vision!
In addition, I do have a buyer for the car once it is completed IF we run into additional finacial hardship once again. So, with having a back up plan/buyer, and friends who are willing to help get her completed and having sold off some long time posessions etc. all the pieces are in place and ready to go!
This is basically a real life overhaulin by friends and family. I am truly blessed to have such an awesome support group, I could never have made it thus far without them. And as I have said in the past, I consider the folks on this site a support network as well as this site gives me a place to talk about the only hobby I've ever had in my life, this silly ole 68 Firebird.
I'll be sure to keep everyone posted as we will begin the disassemble the car next week as there is a large event coming up, The Daytona Dream Cruise this coming weekend and we want to be able to take the car etc.
Next Monday will be the day the entire front clip and doors come off and go to our painter friend. While he has those parts, we will strip the body of the vinyl top, chrome and rubber. We will also install the long awaited front disc break setup that has been collecting dust since last year.
In addition, I will be installing a completely rebuilt tilt wheel and a stock type exhaust w/NOS splitters. Once all of this is installed, the car is painted and reassembled, she will in fact be DONE! We are so close now I can actually visualize her in all her glory and a goal that was set 9 years ago.
I will be sure to post several pics along the way. The guy who will be doing the painting is a true perfectionist and I have watched him work. He does all the painting and bodywork for my Friend Mike, whom you have all heard me mention many many times on this site. Mike has 14 classic cars, he and Dave (the painter) have restored many Pontiacs and Corvettes together over the years so I know my ole girl is in good hands!!!!
Well, our painter guy is begining to back out on us. So, we are looking around for someone willing able to paint the parts as we disassemble them. I'll keep you all posted, we have a few painters to contact early next week so we'll see. We just need someone who can do a decent job at a decent price. We will do all the grunt work, disassembly and reassembly etc.
It seems this painter friend of ours has done this twice in the past to my friend Mike. He'll do all the body work, prep work, etc. and gets the car 100% ready for paint, then backs out of shooting the car. He did this with Mike's 64 Vette and then again with the 65 Tempest. The crazy thing is the guy can paint but always wigs out at the last minute, litterally when it comes time to paint an entire car. Oh well, the search is on!
