Last month we saw how the crew of D&P Classic Chevy in Huntington Beach, California, cooked up a motor for the Chop, Cut, Rebuild: The Series' Chevelle. This time, it's time to check out what hammers, dollys, tin snips, paint, and a little imagination can do when it comes to paint and body.
Seeing as how D&P resides in Surf City, U.S.A. (Huntington Beach), they decided to give the car a beach theme. Darryl Nance worked up a beach/Tiki theme that would reflect throughout the ride in the wheels, interior, and most visually, the paint. On top of the House Of Kolor paint lays a wicked awesome graphic scheme that not only has tribal flames from fender to fender, but faux wooden flames. That's right, the flames look just like wood, except well, they're not. On the hood and tailgate are murals of a Tiki god, and of course, it too is engulfed in flames and tribal artwork.
Underneath all the purty colors is hours of meticulous bodywork. Seeing as how the '65 Chevelle two-door wagon already has killer lines, not too many alterations were necessary. However, Darryl felt there were several changes needed to refine the Chevelle. For starters, the drip rails, gas filler door, handles, and locks were all shaved in order for smooth bodylines, which also help out in the paint department as well. The engine compartment received treatment as well. The firewall was smoothed, inner fender panels were fabricated, and the core support was massaged. In order to clear the Magnuson blown LS1, a cowl-induction hood was molded to the stock hood, and then the hood was designed to pop up and tilt forward. But the biggest, well at least most time consuming, modification to the CCR Chevelle is what the crew of D&P calls the Frankenstein tailgate. Seeing as how a stock gate only folds down, that wasn't going to cut it. Instead, the back half of an `80s wagon was chopped off and the latches, hinges, and jamb structure was crafted into the '65 in order for the '65 gate to not only fold down, but swing open as well. Enough from me though, take a look for yourself.
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 Check it out, the CCR '65...  Check it out, the CCR '65 two-door Chevelle is being rolled off the trailer in its stock form, but not for long. |
 First thing was first, D&P...  First thing was first, D&P and the Chop, Cut, Rebuild: The Series crew was headed to the junkyard to find the back half of an '80s wagon with a folding and swinging tailgate. Looks like they found one, because that saw is getting ready to cut the back half of the car off. |
 Once the tailgate was back...  Once the tailgate was back at the shop, the boys of D&P had to mold the stock tailgate and the late model gate together. The latches, hinges, and jamb areas were used from the late model car, but still much of the surrounding area had to be handcrafted. |
 The drip rails running along...  The drip rails running along the roof were shaved clean. |
 Instead of the Chevelle hood...  Instead of the Chevelle hood opening the conventional way, towards the rear of the car, D&P fabbed a new hood latch system to where the hood pops up and folds forward, like a Vette. |
 Along with the shaved drip...  Along with the shaved drip rails the handles, locks, and emblems were shaved as well. Opening up the doors and tailgate are systems from Electric-Life. |
 Because of the Magnuson-blown...  Because of the Magnuson-blown GM Performance Parts LS1 that sits between the frame rails, the stock hood needed some modifications... |
 ...A steel cowl hood was cut...  ...A steel cowl hood was cut up and molded to the stock hood in order to clear the supercharger. As for the underside, it was completely smoothed using sheetmetal. |
 Underneath the new hood lies...  Underneath the new hood lies an entire handcrafted engine compartment complete with smoothed firewall and inner fender panels. |
 Once all the metalwork was...  Once all the metalwork was finished, the car was primed and block-sanded until every ridge and rough spot was gone. |
 Kelly Lewis of D&P sprayed...  Kelly Lewis of D&P sprayed the car in House Of Kolor Galaxy Gray. Now she was ready for graphics. |
 At Absolute Custom Paint,...  At Absolute Custom Paint, Steve Van Demon applied the tribal graphic layout and sprayed the layout in House Of Kolor silver. |
 On the hood and tailgate,...  On the hood and tailgate, Van Demon sprayed a rendering of a Tiki god surrounded by tribal and flame artwork. |
 Once the tribal graphics were...  Once the tribal graphics were laid down, Van Demon sprayed the lower half of the car in a custom mix of House of Kolor Kandy Blue. He then applied the faux wood flames, complete with real looking texture and knots. When the graphics were finished, they were topped off with some pinstriping work. Last, but not least, the car was cleared and wet-sanded to a show car finish. |
Exactly what is Chop, Cut, Rebuild: The Series? Well, straight from the horse's, mouth here it is in a nutshell, "CCR Television is a fast paced, hands-on look at the world of automotive customization and restoration. You won't see any contrived studio sets on CCR TV--real working shops, real technicians, real projects, real frustrations, real secrets, real deadlines, real insight...real sweatin'...TV. Every episode of CCR Television follows a new element in the step-by-step journey of unique vehicles as they go from barnyard strays to showroom queens--one phase at a time. We reveal the true art and process of restoring and modifying some of the most desirable automobiles imaginable. The show is produced by concept partners Frank Sicoli and on-camera host Dan