So, How Do You Make A '70 Newport Go From Orphan To Super Star On A Budget And A Limited Time Frame?OK , so the family wants to go on the Power Tour this year, but you have nothing to cruise in. What do you do? How about pick up the largest two-door land yacht in the world for $250, screw it together on the cheap, and hope for the best? Sounded good to us.
It all started when my wife, Allyson, suggested the whole family go on the Hot Rod Power Tour this year. Since Editor Bolig and I had already discussed the need for a lead car for the Mopar Muscle invasion of the Power Tour, what better way to see and be seen than in a big ol' C-Body? I asked my friend Romeo Furio where I might get my hands on an early-'70s C-Body. "Are you kidding?" he replied. "I've got a '70 Newport just sitting around waiting to be used as a parts car."
It had a 383 engine and a 727 tranny, factory A/C, 2:91 highway gears, and was loaded with a power bench seat, power windows, and tilt/telescopic steering wheel. Now, don't get too excited; it definitely needed some attention. It was rough and dried out from sitting in the Nevada desert for a long time. But it was all there-and it was available.
When Romeo delivered it to the shop, I knew I was in for a lot of work, but this car had great potential. Every time I looked at it, I said to myself, "Man that car is big." That stuck, and the car is forever referred to by the simple name Big. Most people who came to my shop and saw it before the work began shook their heads and asked if I was crazy. "What are you gonna do with that big ugly thing?" they would ask.
So, how do you make a '70 Newport go from orphan to super star on a budget and a limited time frame? Easy. Come up with a good visual concept of the finished car, put the local NAPA phone number on speed dial, and surround yourself with helpful, patient friends. Plan on using quality parts, but without all the high-dollar flash. This gives you reliability without breaking the bank.
The basic build went something like this: First, we disassembled the car ourselves to cut the cost of paint prep. The body was sent to friend Russ Stevenson in Ventura County, California, where the rough spots were smoothed out, the side marker-light holes were filled in, and a smooth-as-glass covering of a new Infinity color called Beryllium 16 was painted over the 18 feet of sheetmetal.
While the body was at the paint shop, I sent the bumpers and door handles to Bob Barnes at Vern's Chrome Plating in Gardenia, California, so they would be ready when the body came back. Everything that could be cleaned and spray-painted was. We used Duplicolor Semi-Flat-Black "rattle-can" paint on most parts and pieces. All these parts were then carefully wrapped up and stored away. All of the interior plastic parts were washed, repaired, and sprayed with Duplicolor's Flat-Black vinyl dye. I repainted all the speedometer numbers, dash lettering, and borders on the dash by hand with a small-bristled paint brush and silver model paint.
I also made phone calls and ordered the parts I needed to put the car back together. The first call was to Murray B. Park of Tiffin, Ohio. I needed some miscellaneous parts for the car and a quick lesson on C-Bodies. Nobody knows these cars like Murray. He answered all my questions and got me the parts I needed ASAP. Thanks Murray!