Quote Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter
VERY good for you! Having picked the color for outside and in, and checking with a shop for parts means you've already decided on the theme for the car styling? Hope so, because that will make your parts needed acquisition better, and reduce the chance of buying the wrong parts. You don't say exactly how much experience you have with building a car from the ground up. Certainly getting a moderately complete package like this gives you a leg up, but there'll be lots of "little" things you've never imagined if you haven't done this before. Not saying this to demoralize you, just prepare you.

In the same vein just a couple practicle matters. You most likely know that you will owe Federal tax on the valuation the awarding group assigned to the prize. My guess is you've got something around $30k US there, give or take. Perhaps your province will want an income tax cut from you too. You've likely dealt with import duties already.

Looking at the picture only briefly there are two things you may consider changing regardless of the theme you've chosen. As always, opinions vary, but many have found a fiberglass hood top less than satisfactory on a car like this. Depending on your personal standards, your objectives for the car, and your wallet a steel or aluminum hood will most likely be more stable, especially when the temp is up. Also, unless you're going with a mid-70's theme, you're going to want to get some different rear wheels, maybe tires, and/or narrow the rear end some more. Tires sticking out a couple or so inches might work on Hot Wheels, but are less appealing on full size cars.

In the final analysis it's easy for us to give advice......my "favorite" is when someone says "it's yours, build it the way you want it". On sites like this bum advice costs the same as good advice............and only you pay any potential penalty. But man.........you have a terrific opportunity here!!!
First of all, I appreciate your feedback.
The coupe is valued at over $40000 CDN with what you see. I live on the Canadian east coast, and since it was won as a prize, no taxes are due. The rear fenders are going to be widened about 3" to cover the tires and give a wedge look from front to back. The drivers side fenders and running board were removed during the carshow to show all the chrome. I'm also keeping the fiberglass hood as a momento, and looking at possibly a steel hood with open sides. There were a total of 1601 registered cars at the car show, and the grand prize was drawn at random.