"IMPALA 5000"
1959 IMPALA CAR OF THE FUTURE
REVELL/MONOGRAM IMPALA / CORVETTE INDY CUSTOM
BUILT BY IRA DAHM (2/06)
2ND PLACE WINNER IN THE AUTOMOTIVE CUSTOM
CLASS AT THE HOBBYTOWN PETALUMA CONTEST (3/06)
MORE COLOR PHOTOS BELOW!
The "IMPALA 5000" was designed
like the factory concept cars of the 1950's, Long and Low with a Bubbletop
and Lots of Chrome and Fins. The "IMPALA 5000" was built using
parts from the Revell/Monogram 1959 Chevrolet Impala, Corvette Indy and
the AMT 1963 Corvette kits.
Construction of the "Concept" started
by adding the rear of the Impala to the center section of the Corvette Indy
(See Construction Photos). After a lot of cutting and fitting, I was able
to fit the body parts together. Fitting the rear trunk area involved adding
some triangular sheet plastic shapes to the trunk area and the sides needed
some filing and shaping to get the different body styles to blend. A 1963
Corvette front end and the front of the Corvette Indy were cut off. The
1963 Corvette signal light housings were removed. Then the 1963 Corvette
front was trimmed to fit the Corvette Indy and it was then attached.
Next, the Impala tail light housings were
cut out, to "French" the tail lights. The Corvette Indy Rear Ground
Effects were cut off and fit to the Impala rear bumper area. Two triangular
shapes of sheet plastic were attached to the rear bottom side edges, to
mirror the famous Impala Fins. Sixteen "U" shaped plastic strips
were cut to 5/8" long and attached to the lower wing of the Corvette
Indy Ground Effects. The Corvette Indy roll bar was then removed. The chrome
trim on the trunk was made from strip plastic, covered with Bare Metal Foil.
The Corvette Indy Interior was modified by
removing the Indy dashboard and replacing it with the 1959 Impala dashboard.
The Impala dashboard was also modified to blend into the Corvette Indy center
console. The Corvette Indy steering wheel was used with the Impala steering
column and the Impala rear speaker grill was placed between the seats. Impala
mini hubcaps were attached the the centers of the Corvette Indy wheels and
Cherry Red accents were added.
The body and interior imperfections were
filled with Evercoat Putty, sanded smooth and primed. The interior is done
in Krylon Cherry Red, Flat White and Flat Black. Red reflective film was
used for the tail lights and the tail lights and license plate housings
were painted Chrome Silver. The "IMPALA 5000" was painted with
Tamiya Metallic Red, fogged over Tamiya Pearl White, and was then waxed
with Novus Wax.
