Crazy project at work

mbalbritton

mbalbritton

#@$%!
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Location
Lakeland, FL
We have a client that wants to do a one off retail display. There's a long story behind it, but the short is that the founder of the company sold product out of the trunk of his car in the late 70's and early 80's to start his business. The company has done well and now wants a custom display that is the back 1/4 of a car and have product in the trunk to shop from.

Thoughts on a good trunk to use. Think something in the era of late 70's early 80's, but damn what a bunch of ugly cars.

Anyone have suggestions, preferably of that era, but open to other eras. Anyone have something in the yard to get rid of?
 
I'd be thinking of cars w/ a giant trunk.
Like an Impala. Or a Malibu.

But in all seriousness - did you ask the owner if he has a preferred car? Maybe what kind of car he used? If he's that "into" this it may matter to him.
 
Pre 75 caddy for the win. Made of thicker gauge sheet metal than other cars of that era.

You could probably fit a vw beetle in the trunk.

Or late 60s mercury full size. Trunks were massive.

Good luck finding one that hasn't been scrapped.
 
Buick Grand National 455!
 
RatLabGuy said:
I'd be thinking of cars w/ a giant trunk.
Like an Impala. Or a Malibu.

But in all seriousness - did you ask the owner if he has a preferred car? Maybe what kind of car he used? If he's that "into" this it may matter to him.
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Ya, I suggested finding out what car he actually used and find one those.

I was also thinking a Station Wagon. Something that the glass goes down in the tailgate and the tailgate lays down.
 
X2 on finding out what he drove back in the day. I think the nostalgia factor for him would seal the deal
 
mbalbritton said:
Ya, I suggested finding out what car he actually used and find one those.

I was also thinking a Station Wagon. Something that the glass goes down in the tailgate and the tailgate lays down.
Click to expand...

Mom had a '64 malibu wagon, the rear glass slid down. Pretty much the only electric thing on the car, lol.
That thing was huge inside, Dad could fit a whole sheet of plywood in it.
 
Gotta be a cutlass
 
Jeep tubs would be extremely easy. Depending on the budget you could order a fiberglass tub to cut down witch would be safer for employees to move around the retail space.

You could even add a set of 31's to the set up and make it mobile like a cart.
 
GotWood said:
Jeep tubs would be extremely easy. Depending on the budget you could order a fiberglass tub to cut down witch would be safer for employees to move around the retail space.

You could even add a set of 31's to the set up and make it mobile like a cart.
Click to expand...

Why would he want to do this the easiest way? Cutting the back half off a car would be so much more fun.
 
Those old chrysler/dodges had some cool lines and big trunks.
1969-chrysler-imperial-sedan-rear.jpg
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This is one of the issues with the late 70's early 80's. LONG FAWKIN TRUNKS! that takes up a lot of space in the store, and I'd like to see tires. Keep 'em coming.
 
mbalbritton said:
This is one of the issues with the late 70's early 80's. LONG FAWKIN TRUNKS! that takes up a lot of space in the store, and I'd like to see tires. Keep 'em coming.
Click to expand...

So is the big trunk bad, or good? Depending on what the display is showing, having teh space might be great, but store floor footage can be pricy.
I agree that to look authentic and be clear what it is, you kind of need from a wheel well backward, which would include having part of a roof too.

Is this is a"Cost not important" kind of project? Just finding a good back half of the car from that vintage and cleaning up it to look nice could be $$$.
 
RatLabGuy said:
So is the big trunk bad, or good? Depending on what the display is showing, having teh space might be great, but store floor footage can be pricy.
I agree that to look authentic and be clear what it is, you kind of need from a wheel well backward, which would include having part of a roof too.

Is this is a"Cost not important" kind of project? Just finding a good back half of the car from that vintage and cleaning up it to look nice could be $$$.
Click to expand...
Cost not important... within reason of course. They aren't going to buy a junked '67 Shelby mustang for $15K and cut the back off. I'm thinking a few hundred on a front end wrecked car. the product is Soccer Equipment. Not 6' long Caddy trunk with 3' of rear glass and roof. A Camaro is a short rear end and that could work. a Chevelle, but that would need to be more early 70's. I'm a Mopar guy, so an early 70's Cuda. Also kind of thinking the front end of an old Bug!
 
GotWood said:
Jeep tubs would be extremely easy. Depending on the budget you could order a fiberglass tub to cut down witch would be safer for employees to move around the retail space.

You could even add a set of 31's to the set up and make it mobile like a cart.
Click to expand...
Once again, I offer the simplicity and cost efficiency of the fiberglass Jeep. Minimal body prep, accessories available off the shelf so that means minimal fabrication cost. If money were tight I'll bet this could be done for less than $3k
 
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