Nobody chops a top better than you do, Fitzee. Not just the execution, but the way it looks just right when finished. I never thought I'd ever want a Cadillac until I saw that '63 you chopped! This '52 is equally as impressive. Of all the car customizers/restorers on youtube (and there are many, thankfully) I believe you're the best in terms of showing us how, and that so much can be done with relatively simple tools. You've also inspired me to jump on that '69 Power Wagon sitting behind my shed as soon as I finish my wife's horse trailer resto. And thank all you guys for giving us something so much better to watch than regular TV! - Dennis
Oh my, that was car GONE AND FORGOTTEN!!! Well sir, i only wish i had been around. At 63, i told someone about your channel yesterday, i noted i wish i could have started fabricating 20+ years ago, i love it! Your channel encouraged me to chop the rear panels off a 64 unibody Corvair!......do ALL my floorboards from scratch, and, i had never welded before! Almost done. Many thanks from South Carolina.
Hey Fitzee, it sure is easy to get burned out on a project that big, especially if you're not super crazy about it to begin with. Sometimes we just get too many pokers in the fire, and still have to work full time. Thanks for posting.
Your dedication to take something that many feel should have been crushed and turn it into a work of art reminds me of my dad, he rebuilt many cars that others said were impossible to do and I enjoyed watching him do so, he is long gone now but your channel takes me down memory lane with every video, Thanks Fitzee for reviving all the great memories I have of my dad.
Very interesting. SO much time and work. All your knowledge you share with us is very appreciated . everytime I start working on my 66 malibu wagon project I credit your channel. I'm a carpenter but your videos help immensely in my quest to redo my own stuff.Thanks for all your tutorials.
I want to personally thank you for the educational and entertaining videos that you take the time to produce.. You are a part of the reason I stopped being a full time mechanic, in order to build vehicles. Rarely has a decision felt so good. Thanks again, for what you do.
By saving the ole girl you learned a new technique that I’d never heard of- the cut n butt the particular way you have figured out. I do that now and I’m amazed. My brother came in for a visit and saw my progress on the 59 Belair, he has a hard time believing the work I’ve now done. He can’t believe that I did not buy the trunk drip rail pre-formed. Believe me I searched for some supplier that sold it- that style driprail was only used on 59-60 and NOT available unless from a donor car if it can be found at all. (I got the 59 from that one and same brother in 1987) I returned the favor by him now owning a 72 scamp super six I’d drove since 1996 or so that I’d got from my other brother. We don’t see each other much but we love each other dearly and cars are our shared interest. Without going into much detail I’m a PH Veteran and now restoring my 59 has been my therapy. She’s really coming along good. I’m glad I stumbled across your channel Fitzie. You are the Best self taught true craftsman I have ever witnessed when it comes to metalwork. I’m looking forward to you finishing the car. Best regards
Well Fitz at first I ignored the clip of the fleetline post, I thought it would've been a boring video but man have I ever been wrong on this one. I am absolutely flabbergasted at what I've just witnessed. No wonder you ran out of gas on the build I would collapsed let alone ran out of gas. What an amazing achievement. When most folks and I mean most folks would of taken this to the wreakers and got it crushed, you saw beyond what most men can't even envision. Man, I've fallen in love with this thing! what a surprise! I've never been so surprised in a very long time. The more I see of what you've done and continue to do, I'm impressed like really impressed with your skills, as a fabricator. Kudos to you sir. Kudos to you. At first I didn't see it but now I realize that the lines on this car are so beautiful when she's finished she truly will be a monument of your all of your achievements. I can't wait to one day seeing her driving down the road. If I ever get down home again, I would love to drop bye and see this beauty in person and get to meet one of the greatest fabricators of our generation.
Keep up the good work! My wife likes you too. She went with me to the metal "supermarket" and had a $20 bill ready but they gave me some 20 gauge off cuts for $2 each. Came home and made my first $60 patch panel for that $2. Put a slight roll in it and a short flange, cleco'd it on and going to weld it on like you did the gas filler. I impressed myself; great having a good teacher! I didn't even know what a cleco was before you taught me.
Just had my Saturday morning fix with Fitz, WOW,monumental job. No turning back now,that ol ' girl needs you back- go to her-,you will have satisfaction and pride in yourself like never before!keep up the great vids, cheers from the second largest rust capital-N.S. lol
Like a journey we take in the sights, the sounds and the thoughts. Seems at the end a little sadness occurs. Reflection reveals, getting there was filled with anticipation , revelation and satisfaction. The journey becomes the teacher, the creator and the inspiration. A goal need not be a completion.. it need only be the pursuit of an idea.. one that takes many forks in the road. A road to many journeys.
You’re the man brother. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, wisdom, and projects. My 1958 power wagon project would be going nowhere fast if it it weren’t fir what I’ve learned on your channel. Thanks for everything
Seeing how this car looked when you started has made me certain that I will be able to fully restore my ‘95 BMW 320i convertible. People will say it has too much rust, but it is 90 % better than this was when you started working on it.
Glad to see that I am not the only one with a project that spans a decades in their existence. I have one that is 23 years old, and I did do the frame as well, used a Crown Victoria for the width and suspension. Keep putting in the time and thoughts on the best it can be.
@Fitzee you are literally being used by me for my gen 3 Camaro barn find restoration. Keep going teacher.. your student is listening. TY for being so easy going and so informative
That totally looks WAY better than the way it started out as. If it had a oscillating head light in the center on the front it would look a lot like a Tucker.👍
Door handles up! It looked like half way up the pillars before good metal was found 😂 But now it’s a good starting point! It makes some of my projects look not so hopeless. Keep up the great positive work.
It’s nice to see some of your earlier work and how you’ve progressed, I think a lot of us view your videos and see what you’re capable of now and think there’s no chance we could do it but it shows the more you practice the better you get.
I understand I am finally working on my 280zx after sitting in the garage for 15 years glad I waited, now I can start cutting and butting THANKS Fitz!!
Wow, that car was far gone, love the lines and what you've done. My step-dad had a 52 that was in amazing shape, which he sold. You're car must have seen all the salted roads.
Glad you shared this project with us . I would have left it to yard eye candy, but glad you saw differently and now being able to see what you had and what it became is amazing. Never say Never should be your Battle Cry.
Wow that's dedication. I also have a 52 Fleetline that I thought was rough (sat in a floodplain in Manitoba). It's been on the back burner since Covid started, I just sold some other projects and ordered sheet metal for it (I already had a complete new 1 piece floor). Plus I have acquired a lot of NOS sheet metal at swap meets. Cheers from Southern Ontario!
That happens a lot with big projects, you loose interest because it is a big project. I'm glad to hear your going to finish it I think its a great hotrod.
I've been told you should never beat up on your younger self. We all do it looking back we cringe but how the heck else are you gonna learn this stuff. No one out there making RU-vid videos back then. Just glad you are out there now showing folks how to avoid the struggle and how to break down big jobs into small bites anyone can chew.
Fitzee you are a legend, that was a real resurrection that thing was long gone ! Great work and It looks so good even with the wobbly 1/4’s but I know you won’t be happy until she’s super straight 👌 Best Wishes Tim 😊👍
We all have our demons. I’m getting ready to tackle a 68 charger 440 4 spd. It’s complete even though it’s a Frankenstein. And your videos are giving me the confidence to start. Doing the minimum being a big help. Small bites is less that would be messed up if I fail. And a better place to re-attack for next effort. That you show process instead of just results. I hope my patience can match yours.
99.99 percent would surely have crushed it. Had a vision and saw it through only time stands in your way. Time and memories tick off faster each day... many thanks for sharing a small part of your past.
Bill Hines, Ed Roth, and Von Dutch would be proud of that roof chop the lines look awesome with that fast back style specially that you saved that old girl that didnt even have any bones to save all the hot rodders would give kudos to you she will make one very nice machine one day
What a beauty, she's real nice, and what an amazing transformation. I'm sure many would agree that what makes your channel so good, is that you show the human side to the story. We all make mistakes, and a lot of channels i watch, you just don't get the full picture. Fitzee you inspired me to become a automotive sheet metal worker. Thank you for showing us the good the bad and the ugly side of all that can, and will happen when working on autobodies. From Winnipeg, MB. and one Canuck to another, long may your big jib draw.
OMG what a learning curve !! You deserve a medal for all the time & patience let alone hard work. Would really love to see it finished. Can"t thank you enough for all the advise you give in your videos, enjoy every single one so please keep them coming !
Deezus that was a rough start, but obviously lessons well learned. My dad used to say it would be easier to jack up the rad cap and drive another car under it when ever I started another project. Keep learning and never quit.
This was project flatliner wasn't it? I remember checking daily for updates on it. Keep up the great work! I feel like I can tackle any rust repair after watching your videos! Thank you for taking the time to teach us.
I noticed a 56 olds dash and steering wheel in your fleet line. I have installed the dash, sectioned in my 37 chev pickup build . Love the look on the fat fendered and rounded body styles. You are a magician! I am inspired by your talents.
Thanks for sharing. That is an amazing amount of work you have done. I can see why you needed a bit of a break from it. I really like the shape of the roofline - it just "flows"
Lot's of work put into it Fitzee. I think it happens to many of us that take on projects like this. We learn while we are doing them. Then we get more experienced and want to redo them.
Takes a brave man with a vision to take on a project like that! Good for you and all of us saving what can become such a beautiful car. I know you're not satisfied with it - so thanks for showing the good bad and ugly. It gives us all confidence to take our own leap of faith. You've got a subscriber for life, and look forward to learning more from you! THANKS!
Nice job Fitzee! Man that was a rust bucket. You did an amazing job. I hope you finish it some day and give it a nice shiny paint job. That's a cool car!
That Fleetline was so rusty that it would have been rejected as scrap metal. There was hardly any metal left. It was so far gone that it wasn't worth saving and no-one would have taken that project on ...... until you got hold of it. While some of your earlier repairs certainly wouldn't be up to your standard today, it was a valuable project that's enable you to hone your skills to where they are today. All the best from Queensland Australia.
Almost two years into my van restoration. One thing I wish I had done is locate a donor van before I started. Making good progress thanks to all your tips. 👍
This was hard to watch. I was in the same position 30 years ago with a 1947 Chevy Fleetwood that my grandfather bought new. I wanted to restore it so badly because it was "family". After working on it off and on for several years I had to admit it was only good "from the door handles up". I finally sold it. It belonged in the junkyard. My sympathies to you.
You have a great drive, starting with something so rusty. I have one of those cars myself 50 mod. I'm looking at how you do it, it gives me the courage to keep going.
Hi Toni, thanks for the inside info on this car. A real challenge and cool to see how you went to the proces. Without your intro it would be more the operation of create Frankenstein. With al those stitches. Cut and butt one piece at the time. 😉
I love this car, If you ever decide you want to sale it , Please let me know . Its a beautiful work of art my friend! I hope to see it worked to finish it or just painted. Thanks for another job well done.
