We’re guessing that most of you remember Freiburger’s old Impala convertible that was wrapped with vinyl flames and was pretty much universally hated. That is one we’re guessing that DF would like to have back. After the flame situation became simply too much to bear, he then decided to have the car professionally painted to erase everyone’s memories of the vinyl wrap. That also didn’t work out as the color chosen was a green that was certainly better than the wrapped flames but still fell far short of “good”. David was going to sell the car and that’s when Hot Rod staffer Jesse Kiser stepped in and threw a low ball number at him, ultimately buying the car. Jesse wanted to ditch the green hue but didn’t have the dough for a full tilt paint job so he enlisted basically the entire staff of the magazine to paint the thing in Rob Kinnan’s backyard over the span of a weekend.
Chad and I saw the completed car in person recently out in LA and it looks pretty darned good (and a heck of a lot better than the vinyl or green periods is has had before!). The bonus that this crew had in their favor was the fact that the last paint job was professionally done so they didn’t have to correct any major league issues with the sheet metal. That being said, you’ll still see how they busted ass for a pretty solid two days to get it all handled.
This is good inspiration as Buford T Justice is going to need paint at some point and we think that it should also be a backyard affair!
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE THE HOT ROD IMPALA GET A NEW RED COAT AND EXORCISE ITS PAINT RELATED DEMONS!
I thought they did quite a good job, and I’m gonna have to try that temporary paint booth myself some day.
It’s a same they didn’t wait a week for the paint to cure, then cut with a good rubbing compound and polish that out, THEN show the finished product in the video though. The paint JOB looks good but clearly unfinished, kind of hazy in places, which might give the wrong impresssion.
Satin and white walls – sucks balls slightly less than the green (How high was DF?)
I liked it better when it came off of Ebay in ratty white goodness. Sorry, not digging this color treatment either.
The group working together and learning from each other only adds to the car’s enhancement. I like it.
The best part(kinda hates red cars)is that its driven daily,by a owner that adores it:).And i would also have had it like it came off ebay..
ultimately its what makes you happy always remember this in the hot rodding hobby you will always get people who dont like your ideas . but when it comes right down to it . its your car and your ideas. if you are happy with the color and the white walls then thats all that matters .. i personally like the white walls and the old torque thrust wheels great combo .. the paint is a fine job as well .. just do your own spin on things a hot rod in my opinion is all about being unique the little things or accents that are not mass produced but come from the rodders own ideas and are put into the car or things that were never made for that car but modified to be in your build ill give you a lil for instance i have a friend that never smokes he has a build of a 67 suburban he took out the ashtray and went to the junk yard he found in a ford windstar mini van a push to open cup holder almost the size of his ashtray so bought for $ 6.00 he takes it home and takes off the face plate of his ashtray dose some mod work and makes it look and fit perfectly in the stock location now he has a pair of cup holders in a build that never had them and they look factory .. its things of this nature that make this hobby fun and some times bring in a show award or 2 🙂 bottom line just enjoy your self dont try to impress others just you is all that matters happy rodding
The Impala looks good in red, and with the video you gave good advice to those who would want to paint their cars this spring.
Throw the wheels/tires from the ‘vinyl wrap’ edition ‘vert back on it.
Way cooler with the bigger rims & low profile tires, and I usually don’t even like that type of combo.
Needs a turbo though.
What would make this car cool? Guy ,its a 67 Impala convertible how much cooler do you want? And you work for Hot Rod? Should have left it white with some black rally wheels and flat caps. Satin red is weird and looks like you f’d up the paint job.
You’ve got a straight body, you’re base coat/clear coating it but you go with semi gloss instead of gloss. It looks like a mess for the third time. sand the clear of and gloss it . Give in, make it pretty.
Is it wrong that watching the paint video gave me a HOFNER? Damn fine work, DP Portland in the house!