Yesterday, I left for Islamabad, so as to set my eyes on the '64 for the first time. Understandably, I was pretty excited.
Imagine my disappointment then, when I got snarled up in traffic that was so jam-packed (courtesy of our friends who have come here to attend the D-8 summit), that I literally crawled my way over to F-11, at a snail's pace...reaching there in the hours of darkness. This, is also an excuse as to why there aren't any photographs to chronicle what I'm about to say in the next few paragraphs. Yes, before anyone mentions it, I know: this thread is useless without pictures!
Let me start off by saying that this car is what Americans would call a "barn find". It's in absolutely stunning condition, and seems to have remained in a pristine state of non-use for a number of years. Every tiniest bit of trim, every last gola, knob, switch, button is in place. The windscreen and other glasses are perfect (unscratched and uncracked, thank God!), and the body seems to be in absolutely genuine condition. The dashboard is beautiful and bright...with no discolouration over the years. The handles work perfectly. As do the doors, the hood, the trunk, and all other moving body parts.
It's an absolute treat to see the ride in its four-door pillarless state...which is giving me second thoughts about making it a two-door or a convertible. It's simply to pretty to undergo cosmetic surgery!
Now, coming onto the plan of action...the first and foremost aspect is going to be the engine and transmission. I already have a beautiful Buick 455 engine lying with me, which is mated to a TH350 transmission. However, after having driven a 1UZ-FE VVTi (in the '65 Impala), I'm pretty much certain that no readily available V8 can start to approach the smoothness, power, acceleration, and sheer exhilaration that this engine offers. If I were to do this, I'd also swap the rear diffs/tube and opt for a matching tube from a Lexus LS400, just to make sure that all the power of the engine is transferred to the wheels, optimally. Which is why I'm very much inclined to doing a repeat of the 1UZ in the '64. Another option is to fit a turbo-charged, inter-cooled straight six engine (the 2JZ-GTE springs to mind, immediately), which I've heard is equally terrifying. Since I have no personal experience with it, I really would love to know the opinion of those who've used this powerplant. Comments and advice on this aspect would be much appreciated, friends.
This time around, I think I'm going to hold out on old-school wheels, and wait until I lay my hand on a pair of Cragars, or the like. Some thick, meaty, higher-profile tyres should do the trick quite nicely.
This Impala is going to get a paint-job that it merits, being a model which is the most beloved lowrider donor vehicle in the world. I'm still very eager to find out if we have airbrush artists who can transform what I have in mind, into reality. If anyone knows of any such artists, I'd be very keen to know of them.
The interior will be tricked, too. Contrasting colour coded upholstery, fittings, carpet, embellishments...and of course, a humungous sound system. For this, the stunning work done on the interior of the '65 Impala by Ishfaq, will be a very good yardstick to measure by.
All told, we seem pretty much set for what promises to be a very exciting rebuild, Insha Allah!