It can be done...

SamJ
SamJ Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
A friend of mine has a rod & resto shop in Southern California that specializes in high-end welding. They subbed this Chrysler Gia for another shop. It had been sitting in the mud and the underside (similar construction to Hudson) was completely rotted away. They welded up a frame and flipped the body on to it, tack welding it in place. Then they cut away and replaced all the sheet metal and frame members on the underside. It had to be done a section at a time to keep the whole thing from falling apart. Also, this is a big deal car, so the owner wanted it factory exact. They just completed it, built another frame, and then flipped it back rightside up. Kool, eh? Can you imagine welding and cutting in 107 degree heat? :cool:

Comments

  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    Right side up...
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    That gives a whole new meaning to "ANYTHING is repairable"





    Dave W.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    True, anything is repairable. As the late Julia Child would say when doing fund raising for PBS, "Just write the biggest check you can." :D
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    As the drag racers say, all it takes to win is cubic money...:D
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    SamJ wrote:
    As the drag racers say, all it takes to win is cubic money...:D



    YUP! Lol!!!





    Dave W.
  • frank spring
    frank spring Expert Adviser
    I found these pictures very interesting. I think they made something like 117 Chrysler Dual Ghias. It was similar to the Hudson Italia, where the Chrysler chassis was shipped to Italy. The Dual Ghia body is steel compared to the aluminum Italia body at least based on my understanding. I wonder if they used steel out of another old Chrysler to replace it with, or if they had made the entire floor and frame. I am having a few of these wonderful experiences with the Jet convertible.
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    frank spring wrote:
    I found these pictures very interesting. I think they made something like 117 Chrysler Dual Ghias. It was similar to the Hudson Italia, where the Chrysler chassis was shipped to Italy. The Dual Ghia body is steel compared to the aluminum Italia body at least based on my understanding. I wonder if they used steel out of another old Chrysler to replace it with, or if they had made the entire floor and frame. I am having a few of these wonderful experiences with the Jet convertible.



    Frank, the owner has two of these, and my friend Rich Cantrell fabricated the underside out of all new material, using the other one as a pattern. The owner seems to be doing this the right way...overseeing the subcontracting himself, finding great but not super expensive builders, not leaving it all up to one high-end shop. I'm guessing (you would know better than me) that is a rare instance where whatever he puts into this car ($150K, 200K?) he will stand a good chance of getting his money back if its done right. :cool:
  • bent metal
    bent metal Senior Contributor
    Hey Sam, is that Jim Thedford's (from Specialty Automotive's) project?
  • SamJ
    SamJ Senior Contributor
    I believe Jim is quaterbacking it from his shop...:cool:
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