One of my hobbies which I enjoy the most is the restoration of antiques etc.

This ranges from antique furniture, musical instruments, things of old wood in general to cars and motorcycles.

Last year I did an older guitar.  I’m currently torn on my next project; I’m going to re-do another car.

I’m tossing up between two deals which are both in the same price range, and in roughly the same condition.  Rather than dump a ton of money into a full restoration as neither car is “numbers matching”, I’m going to go the Rat Rod route and just build a stripped down Road Warrior beast.

Opinions please, as I’m stumped in loving both of these road weapons, but only have the room for one.  I’m going to pick one up this week.

1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass.  The beast has a 455 C.I. Super Rocket, still running, with purported four bolt main…

or

1972 Pontiac Firebird.  The requisite 350 C.I. big block. Not running, but 350’s are a pretty easy go.

Which do you think would look meaner in Rat Rod attire?

A couple of pictures (not of the actual cars, but for reference only):

The Cutlass

or

The Road Huggin’ Firebird

Engine-wise, either one will be able to suck a pink Hyundai in through the carburetor, will sound like the hand of god coming down the alley and both look satisfyingly evil.  It will be finished in the requisite rat rod satin or flat black.

I’m normally pretty quick in choosing what I love, but I really can’t seem to make up my mind.

Which one would you rather tear down the strip in?

Cheers and thanks in advance.

CHEERS!!!

As a die hard Olds fan, I have no trouble leaning that way, and I sort of think it has a more sinister look to it as well.  Harkens back to the Mad Max look a bit, especially in satin black as dagigisup suggests.

Cool, brothers.  I think I’ll go that way, and it’s hard to pass up an old Super Rocket.  Those 455’s are bullet proof monsters!

Thanks for the help dudes.

I’ve owned this car since 1982, It did wheelies when you “bounced” from 1st to 2nd gear, burned rubber in 3rd, then chirped in 4th. I “NEVER” lost a race. I went up against a Corvette with a 427, I was lunging and thrusting whiles he was sideways slamming the brakes in a cloud of smoke.

A friend of mine wasn’t wearing his seat belts during an episode, he hit the dash on every gear! like a sideways yo-yo…. rebuilt engine and transmission, all new suspension parts and rubber throughout. Restored 98.9%, did all the work myself, including body and paint.

The guys over in Kenoshia Wisconsin AMC really built a fast monster in 1971, below is a picture of my 71 AMC AMX ralley pac, tictoc tac, Z code, 401, 11”1/4 clutch, 4 speed, 411 posi, factory Hurst competition +, active air induction 4 bbl carb. Factory no power steering 5hp+ and clutch fan. I’ve owned this car since 1982, It did wheelies when you “bounced” from 1st to 2nd gear, burned rubber in 3rd, then chirped in 4th. I “NEVER” lost a race. I went up against a Corvette with a 427, I was lunging and thrusting whiles he was sideways slamming the brakes in a cloud of smoke.

Thanks for sharing your post MG-Tower!

AMC’s are a great car.  I was a huge fan of the body style of the Javelin.  Meanest flared fenders going.   You have a really beautiful beast there.  401 cubic inches of pure rock and roll power man. I like the simplicity of the stock dashboard and instruments.  It has a look of “Meaning Business” without going over the top.  Very nice ride, MG-Tower!

You’re right about the heavy Detroit iron thing;  many heavy beasts coming out of there, but there is no denying the beauty of some of the body styles which came out of the big D.  I’m a big fan of Mopar, Olds, Buick and Pontiac.  I’ve found over the years that I’ve really stopped having “favourites” at all.  So many of the older cars have such a great look and a wonderful bearing of nostalgia.

Thanks again for the great pics.