Cool factory body drop picture

[Bob Core]

Not sure which plant, but it looks like a special fleet order body (taxi cab?) being dropped. I enjoy looking at these for originality clues; this one is a little different.

A couple of other details: first, the radiator support is already in place and hoses installed on the next-up chassis. That's usually assembled into the doghouse, which is dropped as a unit. Second, it looks like they shot the assembled chassis with gloss black paint before mounting tires and dropping the engine. I always thought that the frame was dipped in some tar-like substance and the suspension bits were painted.

 

[Pats 409]

WOW what a cool picture I love it!

 

[skipxt4]

That IS a Kool Picture.

 

[Nobrando]

That's some history!
Awesome.

Rasmus

 

[bobs409]

That's not a stock yellow that's for sure! What is the thing over the roof? Looks like they are putting a vinyl top on it.

Be sure to check out our collection of old photo's on site: http://www.348-409.com/misc.html

 

[1958 delivery]

I think that is a colorized black and white photo, that may have something to do with the odd color.

 

[Bob Core]

I suspect (but don't know for sure) that it's part of a fleet order with a "SPCL" paint code on the cowl tag. In this case the entity ordering is Yellow Cab Company or something like that. I did a Google search and found a Plymouth Yellow Cab with the same livery, including the brick red roof. FWIW. The Chevy engine orange and the silver blue wheels look correct, I think.

There's a discussion on the GM photostore FB page about the tarp or vinyl. Consensus there is that it's a tarp to protect the body's paint from conveyor grease during the trip to the drop.

 

[Ishiftem]

Cool picture. My 63 frame had the asphalt type crap on it. Check out the painted head pipe. Also the quick black out job on the bottom of the trunk floor that hangs below the bumper. Mine had the same thing.

 

[62BillT]

The rear car will be having a 230-6 Cylinder.

Looks like a Manual Trans too ?

 

[models916]

Nice hat!

 

[hamjet]

hard to tell, but it looks like a 2 door. it wouldn't be a taxi then...

 

[bobs409]

All I know is if the radio start playing old songs, I'm outta here!

 

[skipxt4]

"You're Mine, and we belong Together"

 

[Bob Core]

The blacked-out exhaust pipe puzzles me. Someone must have considered it an appearance issue to have a small length of shiny pipe visible behind the front tires. Having a little body color peeking out below the bumper would have beeen awkward, if they hadn't made at least a half-serious attempt (at best!) of blacking it out.

 

[bobs409]

Ya know what would be cool? Doing a 1/25th scale of these cars on the assembly line like the pic! Who's up for the task? Models? Skip?

 

[skipxt4]

You're the Man, Bob.You have all the lathes, and other machining tools. You Can do it.

 

[models916]

I'm out. My cats would never let me get that done. Far too nosey. And…….my up close vision is not what it used to be.

 

[Jeff Olson]

Nice hat!

So... what's the guy under the hat in the pit doing?

 

[61BUBBLE348]

Probably the job of installing/tightening the body mounts,

Or throwing the odd nut or bolt in an area you can't get too, and the owner has that unusual rattle he can't seem to find !!

 

[Bob Core]

Ya know what would be cool? Doing a 1/25th scale of these cars on the assembly line like the pic! Who's up for the task? Models? Skip?

A guy I know built this diorama.