Hi there!
I finally (after 1.5years) got me a 12´ by 21´ garage to work on my 62 4door Lancer (swiss production). The car´s roof was smashed when the barn collapsed where the car was parked in. All doors open and close, but the rear window frame was sharply beaten down by 2". Also, there is some rust all around. The right time to repair without replacing a lot of sheet metal. I want to swap in a 4onthefloor instead of the columshifted 3speed. This will be a lot of body work. So... I thougth... I do all this work to restore the car to stock? Or should I get wild and make a kustom car out of it?
Do you have any suggestions? Please send me all the pictures of Lancers or similar Valiants you have on your hdd! Just to get me some impressions of different colors, tires, body modifications... thank you very much in advance!
Chris

Here are some of my 62 4 door. Also there are a few of SlantSixDan's at the very bottom of the page.

http://tinyurl.com/69dls

Pictures of my '62 Here and Here.

My opinion: "Kustom" cars are dumb. Nothing wrong with upgrades and modifications, but there's a line that's hard to define but easy to cross where pointless body modifications just look silly. Example is This car.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Go Kustom or stay stock is your decision mein Freund, in my case I´m going kustom with my ´71 Valiant Duster without remorse, but be carefull in the tuning way, ´cause is a dangerous path, bad decisions and taste can make your car appear to be "clown´s car", but if you are well attuned you can make a marvelous machine that makes anybody who see it drowl.

So make your decision and various projects for your car for the two paths.

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Mopar Muscle is well defend by Slant Six!

Valiant Duster 1971

Thanks NewLancerMan and SlantSixDan for your super-fast replies. I Knew you two would be the first to answer Glad you did.
@NewLancerMan: Those rims make all the difference. Cool ride! Man I got my ride on 13" steel whitewalls right now.
@SlantSixDan: You´re exactly right. The Lancer´s design has not much space left for experiments. Like the "nose heavy" one in your link. All that depends on personal taste, but as you put it, the "line" is easy to cross. Very nice you posted that pic. I ever wondered how a road toad looks with huge nostrils.

Your both pics really gave me a good impression!!!

Went to the car after 3 Months of standing outside with rain and sun and all. The plastic cover over the car had barely vanished! I thougth "Well why is the rear so low" until I drained 25 Gallons of water from the trunk... ride hight retained. That nearly broke my heart.

@Avenger2040: yeah its dangerous... in many ways! I´ll do only what I can do with my skills... that does not include a top chop althougth I´d like to see a Lancer with a less vertical windshield...
BTW, anyone of you got any weight figures on a 62 4dr? I heard, Lancers/earlyearlyValiants are pretty light. Thank you,
Chris

daddy likes



Lucky me, I'm not Daddy. Is mggbrrrrafkrghhhnooooo!!!!

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Juan Ignacio Caino

Please use e-mail button istead of PM'ing. I do log in sometimes but I'll be answering quicker thru e-mail.

Although I don't like the clownish type modifications, it's your car.
I have often thought about more radical sheet metal mods, but it takes a keen eye and tons of skill to make them work. And IMHO the only ones that truely look good are the ones that make you wonder if it came from the showroom that way.

Since the roof is smashed anyway, how about an XNR replica?
http://www.team.net/www/ktud/ghia/plyxnr.html

I'm not really serious, but it would be a cool tribute to the man who gave them their personality.
I wonder what ever happened to the real one?

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O==\=/==O

"A mechanic is Somebody."
- Jim Preston

well good luck with it and keep us posted. I have been very happy with the new wheels on the car--it really changed its appearance and even wowed my old neighbor. When I got the car and brought it home, he asked why I was turning into a Grandma so soon. Then I got the wheels and tires and he just about crapped his pants. Now the new motor in and everything just makes it look great.

Also sad, I had a chance to buy a 65 Barracuda with a commando 273 for about $800, but I just couldn't store it and I had to buy it unseen. Its impounded right now to the tune of $50/day. So it'll probably go to the crusher, but I can't save it myself. :/

Fix that trunk leak and get the toad on the road! Honestly, if you want something more aggresive you could just get nicer wheels (instead of white walls and dog dishes) and you'll be set.

BTW anyone want my 13" redline atlas radials with dog dish wheels? They're for sale!

MJ

The XNR is radical in all senses of the word. Its last known location was Kuwait; it appeared in the June 1969 "National Geographic" article on that country with a sheik behind the wheel. It was probably bombed out of existence either by Saddam or by the Americans.

There was only one XNR. The car mentioned on that page as having been auctioned by Barrett-Jackson was the Asymmetrica, a different car.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Thanks for your input. First, I gotta get that roof fixed, then
I´ll decide about the rest. If you have any pictures, fell free to send them to duster72198@aol.com
Chris

Well i hope this post will contain some pics:-)






wow I´m exited, first time i post a pic...

I have the same reaction as when I first saw this car (on www.mobile.de or www.ebay.com , I can't remember which): "Ouch. Krunch." Looking forward to seeing the restoration!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Dan,

what kind of paint did you use on your headlamp doors and grille?

Or for that matter, the rad hose (how's it holding up)

I cant quite get my head around your heater hose modification, did you spiral some brake hose, paint it black and insert it?

Will that black paint damage the bright-dip on the aluminum?

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.