Hamilton Classics
NEWS 2007
December 2007
We wrapped up the year with a lot of activity and an exciting new shop car project. The '58 Cabriolet is complete with the exception of the overriders. The '65 SC is off to the painters and should be back by early January. We got started on a '62 sunroof customer car and have completed the metalwork as of yearend.
Finally, we have taken the '64 C, which was for sale and are building into a track car. The car will run at a local road course which is being constructed less than 10 miles from our shop.
November 2007
November included a lot of assembly. The '58 Cabriolet is now almost complete. It will be on hold for a while until the overriders are fabricated. The '53 Cabriolets list of projects is almost complete and will be back on the road soon.
The '65 SC bodywork is complete and should be off to the paint shop before the Holidays.
Finally, the shop project '64 C moves forward slowly. The engine is being rebuilt and will be a running car by the end of the year. This car is still for sale and can be finished to your specifications.
October 2007
In October we moved to the final stages of assemble on the '58 Cabriolet. Most of the interior is in and chrome trim is about to be installed. The '64 C was painted its original color of Ivory and is back at the shop and ready for assembly (this is a shop car which is still for sale).
This month we also brought in 3 new customer cars. First is a '65 SC sunroof which is getting a cosmetic restoration. At month end the car had been stripped and the bodywork was in the final stages. Second is a '62 T-6 B sunroof which will be getting a complete restoration (yet to be started). Third is a '53 pre-A Cabriolet. This very rare and special car is in amazing original condition (including original floorpans). It is in for a list of mechanical projects and detail work.
It was a great month for getting out and driving and we did have a chance to take a few extra long "test drives".
September 2007
The last of our summer projects wrapped up in September. The Convertible D received its final touches and headed East to it's Texas home. A very enjoyable project working with a very hands on owner. The '64 SC Coupe also left on it's driving adventure back to Tennessee. This car, very nice to start with, was brought to a higher level and upgraded along the way. After working long distance with the owner, we were finally able to meet when he arrived to pick up his car.
In the shop assembly work continued on the '58 Cabriolet and the body work was completed on the '64 C coupe. This car is a shop project and still for sale. Buy it now and let us complete it to your specifications. We are scheduled to receive a couple of new customer projects in October and look forward to meeting new friends and 356 enthusiasts.
August 2007
August continued on where July left off (lots of activity). The '59 Cabriolet left on it's journey to Europe and the '64C headed just a few miles down the road to its new Texas address. Both the Convertible D and the '64 SC are now running driving cars and both are in their final stages of assembly. The '64C coupe, which is a shop project and for sale is getting close to having the bodywork completed. Buy it now and we can finish it your way. Next we got in a '58 Cabriolet which needs to have its restoration completed. This is a car we worked on a couple of years ago and now will be completing the restoration for the new owner. Finally we purchased two additional projects which are now for sale. First is a '61 B coupe which is a running driving car and second is a '60 S-90 B coupe which is complete less engine. Both cars need complete restorations, but have almost all parts in place. Get out and drive 'em.
July 2007
July was a good month in the shop. It rained a record amount so what else is there to do but stay inside and work on cars. At month end the '59 Cabriolet is complete and the ,64 C Coupe is very close. We brought in a customer '65 C Coupe for a small refresh and also purchased a '64 C Coupe project car. Finally, mechanical and trim was the focus for the Convertible D and the '64 SC. The picture below is the current lineup of cars in all stages of restoration.
 |
June 2007
What a great month. We now have 4 cars in the assembly stage. All three of our current projects are going back together and in June we took on the partial assembly of a '59 convertible D. It is anticipated that the '59 Cabriolet and the '64 C Coupe will be completed in July. The '64 SC Coupe and the D should be completed by late summer. Our outlaw project which is really starting to take shape had to head back to the storage building until things slow down a bit.
May 2007
Following a couple of false starts in May, it looks like the '59 Cabriolet may actually get it's new top in early June. While we were delayed, we did manage to get the car painted and it looks great. The '64 C coupe continues to make progress as the assembly process continues. With body work complete on the '64 SC coupe it has now gone to the painters to get it's new signal red finish. Finally, as the month ended we even had a little time to make some progress on our '64 Outlaw project. Metal work is almost complete and body work has begun.
April 2007
April brought warm wet weather and a lot of activity in the shop. The signal red '64 C coupe is well into assembly, with the interior in and trim coming along. The '59 Cabriolet left for the top shop to have the top installed and fit prior to getting it's new paint. The '64 SC coupe received some minor metal repairs and ended the month at the bodywork stage of the project. Finally, we were involved in a couple of pre purchase inspections during the month which reinforced the idea that the 356 market continues to strengthen and sales activity is brisk. Spring is here, get out and drive.
March 2007
As the March ends the '64 C Coupe is being finished up at the painters and should be back at the shop soon. The car took on a color change and is now Signal Red. Bodywork is almost complete on the '59 Cabriolet which will soon head to the paint shop and take on it's original color of Metallic Silver. Engine work for both cars was also done this month which will give each a freshly rebuilt powerplant as part of the restoration. Our customer '64 SC Coupe also made progress during the month. It was disassembled and stripped of it's old paint and is now ready some minor metal repair / bodywork. It is a very nice car which will get a full cosmetic restoration and upgrade to 12 volts.
February 2007
Our '64 Coupe project sold this month and we will be finishing the restoration for our Houston based customer. The bodywork is complete and it will head to the painters mid March. The '59 Cabriolet is deep into the bodywork phase and should be ready for the painters by late March. Mid month we received a customer '64 356 SC which will get a full cosmetic restoration. Finally, late in the month we purchased a '61 356B hardtop. Like most of our purchases it is a car in need of a complete restoration. It will be offered for sale once we have collected a few needed parts.
January 2007
The metalwork, rust prevention and brake work was completed this month on the '59 Cabriolet. Bodywork will begin on this project early next month. At month end, bodywork was being wrapped up on our '64 Coupe project. A customer '64 coupe will arrive by mid February for a cosmetic restoration and a few upgrades.