GAUGES

Thinking about the ideal gauges for the roadster's dash. These Green-line Stewart Warners look pretty trick. They are period correct from the early sixties up. I think they're look might nice in my dash and would be a nice compliment to the turquoise/silver exterior color, I have in mind. Available through S/W and Summit.

PROGRESS!

Got a few new progress shots on the roadster. The lower firewall panel has been replaced with fresh metal. Note the tasty bead that has been added.  

As you can see, the trans tunnel is also coming along and the period sixties Hurst 4-speed shifter has been installed. We're still working on pedal placement and the trans tunnel will be trimmed a bit to make as much room for the go pedal as possible. We're also looking into fabricating newer and smaller clutch and brake pedal arms and pads. 

SEAT REFERENCE

Found a great website with an excellent selection of potential seats for the roadster.
http://www.cobraseats.com/classic.asp.
The model above is called the classic and has been in production since the sixties.

FLOORS AND COLOR REFERENCE

More progress is being made on the floors. The trans tunnel is being fabricated and the Hurst Shifter is in place. Meanwhile, we're beginning to plot out the custom radiator for the roadster. On another note, I found an interesting color reference in the fifties VW colors. It's called Strato Silver and it has a nice tinge of blue-ish turquoise to it.

MORE FLOOR AND FIREWALL FABRICATION

New lower firewall.

Pedal placement, toeboard,floors

It's starting to come together.

AN EXTERIOR COLOR STUDY

All I can say is "Yes". This is that color I'm seeing in my head. A light Turquoise with a silvery sheen. Oh man, is this right in the wheelhouse that I where I want "Abalonia" to be. 

In fact, as I look at how well the silver spoke wheels look, I'm tempted to paint the frame and perhaps even the engine and firewall in a silvery gray color. Just had to share this one. Wow. Nice. Jealous. Inspired. 

While I'm on this silver frame and firewall tangent, I'll go one step further. Instead of pearl white for the interior, how about silver vinyl. I think it would be both subtler and more unusual and would still lend itself well to using pearl drum kit material judiciously, perhaps as gauge surround material and on the center console and or door panels. 

And just to go one step further, it seems like a darker charcoal color would be a nice accent color for things like the engine block and side pipes and wishbones, Brake drums, front axle, grill, etc. 

TAIL LIGHTS

While researching tail light treatments for my roadster I came across an intersting option on the HAMB. The gentleman with this roadster put 1961 Chevy Impala tail light lenses within 50 Mercury

bezels. I've got to say I like it a lot. The 50 Mercury part is very traditional while the dagmar-like shape of the tail lights are really different. 

Bravo. 

I think I may have found my tail light treatment. The HAMB rules.