1961 Bubbletop question

[marylandmuscle]

I have a 1961 2-door sport coupe. It has a 348 badge on the decklid and its original color was almond beige with a fawn interior. Someone told me this was a rare color combo for the bubble. Any thoughts? Also is there any thing else to look for that might indicate an original 348 car? It has a later model 350 right now.

Last question, I also have another 61 bubble top roller, originally Ermine white with turqouise interior. I am trying to decide to build or not. Is this a better color combo than the beige car? The white car has great floors with quarters needing patches. The tan car has great quarters and trunk with amateur floor patches installed.

Thanks, guys.

[Fran Preve]

Maryland: Color combinations are completely personal choice, that said, some people can pick out good ones better than others, I knwo some guys who can build GREAT cars but fall short on color combinations and/or wheels. Some cars simply look "right" and the vast majority looking at them will agree. Some cars are beautiful in the eye of the beholder. Personally, and MY opinion, any rim bigger than MAYBE a 16 looks like crap, 18's or bigger on ANY late great is an expensive attempt to look "cool". But put on a 15" "traditional" rim and MOST people, even guys who like big rims, will say they look "right". But this is MY personal OPINION!.

That said, white/aqua is a common color combination and it looks good, definately. But light biege/tan in MY opinion would be better. Why?, because white/aqua is SO common it's like a red Camaro. But biege/tan isn't common, and it still looks good, and there are a LOT of guys who would APPRECIATE a car that's not a "cookie cutter". Light beige/tan with 15" 5 spoke polished aluminums.

PS: if you plan on selling itanytime soon, white/aqua will sell easier.

[threeimpalas]

I take it you're intention is to restore the car to a stock condition and not "hot rod" it at all? Are you concerned with numbers matching issues?

I'd build whichever car is in better condition and requires less sheetmetal work.

[Tom Kochtanek]

MarylandMuscle asks: "I have a 1961 2-door sport coupe. It has a 348 badge on the decklid and its original color was almond beige with a fawn interior. Someone told me this was a rare color combo for the bubble. Any thoughts? Also is there any thing else to look for that might indicate an original 348 car?"

You can check the fuel lines if they are in place and the bigger 3/8"line will tell you it may have come with a "W" engine. Did you look at the Cowl Tag and jot the TRIM and PAINT numbers down? Matching those numbers to the data on this site will tell you what it had when it left the factory. I wonder if that "almond beige" is Corona Cream? That's the color of CPG's 1962 Bel Air. Nice color. The reason I ask is I have a weather-beaten 1961 BA sport coupe that came with a 348 and three-on-the-tree, and I always thought it was Ermine White. Turns out is is Corona Cream, just sooo faded that I thought it might have been white :).

If I were you I'd restore them both and have fun! Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Good luck with the projects, we need more of these back on the road :)

Best,
TomK

[Tom Kochtanek]

I forgot to add that floor pans are easier to get and to install (IMHO) than are the quarters. In fact, I don't think you can get quarters for 1961 Chevies anywhere. If you can get away with patches, that would be different. I'd go with the one with solid rear quarters first :)

TomK

[Fran Preve]

I think they were two different colors, Almond being a real light beige and Corona Cream being being a off white with a TOUCH of yellow.