My 73 Ambassador Rebuild

[rocketrod]

IMG_2302 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr IMG_2309 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2307 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2312 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2317 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2314 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2323 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20160715_163323 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr

Hi all here is some photos of my 1973 Ambassador, Full body off Reno. This van I rebuilt as a themed van for my 1960 El Camino which will be the tow car. Basically I brought this lil gem about 16months ago brought it home and guttered it and took all the cladding and roof off and internals out and dumped. They were pretty much buggered with hail and half the internals were gone. Firstly I replaced the axle, springs and brakes. Wire brushed the chassis which was in awesome condition. Rust proofed it with black proofing. I began putting frame back together, I replaced every bit of 240v wiring my son an electrician fitted RCD,S and safety switches. I had a vision of semi retro I fitted the interior with new white gloss poly 3mm ply on ceilings and walls, and I made brand new cabinetry and overheads just like original. All merante structure.    

[rocketrod]

I will add more photos shortly

[rocketrod]

20160728_151258 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20160729_162314 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20160729_162356 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20160801_164017 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20160729_162328 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr

[rocketrod]

I then went to work fitting out her new skin inside with 3mm white gloss poly 3mm ply, to wall and ceiling. I made overheads from scratch with the merante lightweight frame and cladded the structure with the ply. Also made another wardrobe in the original spot and made half of this a pantry and the other half a clothes hanger. I changed the roof vent and studded it out to suit a 4 seasons hatch.

[rocketrod]

20160801_164030 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2367 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2368 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2392 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2393 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2396 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr

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I then made the 2 end overhead cabinets to match originals. Then started the new kitchen in the same spot the old came out from, and began the club lounge at front wrap around, with plenty of storage underneath.

[rocketrod]

IMG_2398 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2407 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2431 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2433 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2370 by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2379 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr

[rocketrod]

Kitchen coming together, I made a double size bed at rear of the van wit lift up base for ample storage underneath again. The club lounge coming together, the 2 ends were cladded with white gloss ply 3mm

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20160927_172215 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20170709_101641_1499560063115_resized by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20170709_101800_1499560023110_resized by Rod Fletcher, on FlickrIMG_2440 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20160920_140019 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20160923_085954 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr

[rocketrod]

Pretty much after I got enough done inside I ordered my brand new Log profile cladding and had it delivered up from Sydney. While we waited for this My son (electrician) came back and ran all brand new wiring RCD,s and safety switches. The cladding arrived so I replaced all the insulation with 25mm polystyrene, there are a lot of theories on this but I went with styrene. Then started fitting new roof sheeting and external cladding

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20160923_101656 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20160923_103015 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20160924_122530 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20160924_160137 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr

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So the insulation fitted wiring complete I finished the external cladding, I forgot to mention I disregarded the bottom original bunk windows on each side at rear as the double bed is now there.

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20170709_101811_1499560019886_resized by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20170709_101839_1499559981341_resized by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20170809_163526 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20170809_163622 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20170810_100428 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20170810_095531 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr

[rocketrod]

Slowly went through and finished fitting out van, I made a new custom retro red bed head, to match our club lounge, Fitted LCD screen at rear, fitted fridge, microwave, venetian blind on entrance door. My wife made all the shears and curtains, and one of a kind embroided viscount cushions.

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20170810_095518 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20161028_103234_1499557836499_resized by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20161028_103246_1499557835096_resized by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20170930_151617 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20170810_095011 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20170810_095020 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr

[rocketrod]

Finally I get to the point of 2 pac painting to my 1960 El Camino theme. White top and red bottom, I constructed my own retro splats, the rear of the van is a throw off my El Camino, I brought LED flat lights and brought the El Camino lenses and converted these to match the car. The white paint on the front of van in the red was a tarantula that I airbrushed it sort of got lost in the red so I sanded it out, I will have to re paint front apron again no biggie.

[rocketrod]

20171002_094100 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20170810_142531 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20376019_10213471681896648_8100612245707738478_n by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20374505_10213471684896723_7046624332202818736_n by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20374451_10213471687296783_6822222303708545978_n by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20429654_10213471684416711_4166137761269884451_n by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr

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Here she is all finished. I have not got any pics of the new whitewalls on the van, but she has new whitewalls fitted. El Camino has just had new red smoothie wheels fitted and whitewalls on there way also. The pair will be matched up quite nice

[rocketrod]

20171125_091506 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20171125_091552 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20171125_091533 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20171125_091446 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20171208_101400 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20171208_101400 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr20171004_163429 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr

[rocketrod]

20171201_102114 by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr

Here is a pic of my tow car. As you can see I themed my 73 Ambassador to match the 1960 El Camino. Very happy with the finish

[snoops]

Wow! A build thread in one hit, love it! What an awesome job! Love the colour coding and details to match the El Camino, looks great. Love the red draw bar too, nevr seen one colour coded before, but love the look. 👍👍👍

[rocketrod]

Hi Snoops
Yeah I built this over 12 months long nights afyer work and between work. I actually built ths van around my El Camino. I started from a fresh canvas. Iv done quite a bit more to it since photos. Whitewalls, fitted led strip lights under the overheads and a few custom touches added another rear stone deflector. Finally registered cple weeks ago 😊

[Mustang]

Very very nice pair, well done, it's nice to be different.
Thank you for posting, you can add pics of your travels under "Who's on the Road"

[rocketrod]

Thanks Brent, yeah absolutely mate I had this vision and designed it and very happy with combo 👍

[rocketrod]

26167065_10214779577913231_3735828449071530209_n by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr26167147_10214779578393243_8781342326368012541_n by Rod Fletcher, on Flickr

Here is a couple of pictures of the rear of my van. I have been reproducing the original badges of Viscounts , Franklin and Wayfarer. I have made a 1960,s badge for my 1973 Viscount Ambassador purely because I like this style. Painted (airbrushed) in 2 pack Aluminium and colour coded to match my aluminium trims which match my 1960 El Camino (tow car)