1983 Cadillac Coupe DeVille (mildly weathered "original paint" style)

[Falcon Ranchero]

This is as close as I could possibly get the Revell Lowrider to a stock 1983 Cadillac, using the resources I had readily available. It's not an exact replica of the real car that inspired it like I had intended it to be, mainly because I couldn't find the right paint, or vinyl top; but I do know the paint I chose was an actual similar Cadillac colour so that worked out well.

If you know, this was the Revell lowrider kit, and I had built it up in 2021 as some confused pimp-mobile in an attempt to make it stock. So I figured I'd do it right this time, so this is the result. I had to sand off the trim on the top of the roof, sepatating the vinyl area since that was going to be pushed back. Had to sand the bodyside trim off, and glue in the body side mouldings, sand those down, and fill in the gaps with filler ( this was my first time using the stuff, so it's not the greatest job in that department) and I had to fill in the sun-roof so I glued that in and  just filled it over and sanded all that down. Had to cut away a considerable amount on the side of the roof, and make shift new windows.

First coat of paint was a gray primer, then the rosey colour, but it had some chemical reactions in some areas with some of the green paint that still remained under the primer, so then sanding it down gave it a neat weathered, original paint-esque look to it so I thought, what the heck, and just left it that way. The interior was largley untouched from the original build- no paint, just the purple decals. Had to scrape those off, then painted the interior black. Engine compatment remained untouched. 

In the trunk, I took out the hydraulic stuff, and filled over the speakers, and not the best job filling in the little holes for those hydraulics. Cut the front bumper shorter on each side, and used some remnants of the original opera windows to fill in the space behind them. Oddly enough, the original tires from my 1959 Lincoln kit worked out perfectly, and the wire-spoked hubcaps from my '66 T-bird kit looked enough like Caddy caps so on they went. Since I had originally ruined the headlights by painting them wierdly during the original build, I had to resort to having stickers made out to put over top; they look pretty realistic.  

This is the first model I build that I am genuinely proud of. The mid-80s Cadillac has a nostalgia factor for me, as the old lady across the street from our old house had a green four-door. I was 2-3 years old at the time and it was the first "classic" car I ever saw. I was aledgedly let in the back seat once, and usually ran across the street to see it if it was out. Though I have no memory doing those things, I do remember the car. This model pays homage to her green machine, and the sand-grey one rotting away on the mechanic's lot.

Started with this

Inspired by this 

Edited Thursday at 04:10 PM by Falcon Ranchero

[happy grumpy]

Beautiful conversion. Certainly looks stock. I like those old land yacht.

[bbowser]

I like it!  Always wondered what it would take to make the lowrider stock, now I know.

[johnyrotten]

Nice rebuild! I like the weathering. You picked up some new skills on this one, I find that's the best part of any project, model or otherwise. Again,  great job. 👍👍

Edited Friday at 12:59 AM by johnyrotten
Misspelling

[AMT68]

Nice work on the conversion and the weathering. Those wire wheel covers really do work well on that Cadillac. I have this kit in my collection unbuilt and always wondered what might work best to represent a factory look for the wheel covers and now I know. 

[charger74]

Nice looking caddy

[stavanzer]

What a Fantastic Job, Nathan!

Your conversion is excellent.

Good Show.

[PappyD340]

Great looking Cadillac!

[RomanII]

GM factory paint was so bad at that time.  You captured the look well.  The real Coupe DeVille sitting at the mechanic's lot looks too good to let go.  Can you convince them to sell it to you? 😃

[Falcon Ranchero]

7 minutes ago, RomanII said:

GM factory paint was so bad at that time.  You captured the look well.  The real Coupe DeVille sitting at the mechanic's lot looks too good to let go.  Can you convince them to sell it to you? 😃

I would love the car; but the reason it sits is because they took the rotted gas tank out and the owner doesn’t want to pay $700 for a new one, and really I wouldn’t either. It also needs replacement urethane behind the taillights. But never winter driven, originally from Florida, stored for the past 20 years. Been sitting out there since 2022 though, and had been keyed in the front fenders and robbed of some emblems.

[Kit Basher]

All your extra work really paid off. That's a great looking model. I like the faded paint.

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

Cool Caddy. The paint looks like the peeling clear coat we get in South Florida. Those hubcaps and headlights worked out very well.

[slusher]

Great looking Cadillac!