tomsheehy Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Finally! This has been a long stalled project, lets call it 10 years on and off...last work was 3 years ago, but I brought it back out this week and finished it off. I'm really glad to have it done. 1960 Pontiac, started with the Trumpeter kit, then grafted on a Promolite 2000 (Tom Coolidge) resin 59/60 GM sedan roof. This required lengthening the interior opening towards the rear, shortening the rear deck a bit. The body was converted to a 4 door by scribing new door lines. New interior door panels were constructed, and Catalina trim was added. This is where a little bit of history is due... In the late 50s, the LAPD began experimenting with high performance sedans for use on their growing freeway system. In 1960, that unit officially became the Freeway Interceptor division. The cars purchased were large sedans, with the largest engines available and lots of heavy duty equipment. For the first couple of years, they purchased Pontiacs, then from 63 to 68 they purchased Oldsmobiles. I believe there were about 8 or 10 cars purchased each year. The interiors were outfitted similarly to race cars of the time, with roll bars, racing style harnesses and high back headrests or seats. Additional police equipment included a certified speedometer, radios and obligatory warning device controls. I used actual vintage photos to replicate the interior by adding a 3-point roll bar, fashioned from modifying a kit roll bar. Seat belts were added using aftermarket and kit parts. The headrests were scratch built and painted a different shade of tan than the rest of the interior to represent what would have been aftermarket parts. The rest of the interior was detailed with photo etch pieces from the MCG chromed fret, including window cranks and dash parts. On the body, I had a pretty tough time getting the vacuum formed windows to sit right, but got it "close enough". I added black 'crepe' tape around the window frames to help hide the not so perfect fit of the windows. The paint is Tamiya gloss black and white. Interior was painted with varying shades of flat tans. The roof lights and siren are from the Johan Plymouth police car kit. The rest of the exterior detail consists of more MCG photo etch pieces, including the grill, emblems and lettering. Here's a few photos, more are in my work bench posts, and here the entire album on fotki... http://public.fotki.com/tsheehy/scale_models/1960-pontiac-catali/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 That is ultra-cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kustom Rodder Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Very nice and clean! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Love it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbowser Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 A cop car with a roll bar! That would make you pucker if you saw it in the rear view . Nice conversion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGTRUCK Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Good job Tom, interior work is awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrObsessive Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Excellent conversion Tom on what can be a very cantankerous kit! That interior is super nice and that's the first I've seen a cop car with a roll bar like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Hamilton Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Very Nice work Tom!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixties Sam Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Very nice conversion - lots of character! Great work!Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragline Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Floored, Nailed..... That is what model cars are actually about. Not the tripe I spit out. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Very nice, as my first car was a '60 Pontiac Ventura 4-dr. with the "vista" roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny B Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Very cool for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYNS Franky Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Awesome work Tom and thank you for the background which I found very interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Outstanding, Tom!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie8575 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Nice to see that together, Tom. The end results are outstanding, as is usual for your work.Charlie Larkin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisR Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Great build! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Trucker Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 your design as a police car like it very much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTJUNIOR Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helix Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Nice build Tom, like the old school Police vehicles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLMFAA1 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Nice job, I noticed the 'protect and serve' isn't on the door, Do you know when that slogan was adapted?'they paint my car like a target' Neil YoungI like the fast targetgreg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomsheehy Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 Thanks for the comments...Greg, the "to protect and serve" was first used by LAPD sometime during 1963. Most cars still in service were retro-fitted with the slogan as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddyfink Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 This is just too cool! Great build and history lesson! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peekay Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Very very nice!! I would love to have a 4-door Pontiac on my shelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramfins59 Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Great job Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Great project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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