Resilience...

A full-custom 1952 Buick I had the good fortune to design for a great client and builder, and which debuted this January at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona... I ws fortunate to have had this featured as the "Dream Car of the Month" in Rod and Custom Magazine, as well... Look for the full feature soon, as well.

If you're interested.... here's the whole deal:

Modifications list:

Body:
Roof chopped and swapped using a 1948 Buick four door fast back “Jet Back” roof
Roof shortened 16”, narrowed at front 3.5”, and widened 8.5” at rear
Full custom-fabricated A-pillars
A-pillars notched for beltline trim
Full custom-rolled and formed C-pillars
Full custom roof rails
Drip rails shaved
Windshield leaned back dropped 2”, moved forward 3”
Window openings shrunk 1”
Flush fit glass
Rear window from 1948 Buick four door fastback “Jet Back”
Rear window opening moved down 1”
Rear window frame sunk into body .75”
Transmission tunnel raised up six inches
Driveshaft tunnel raised four inches
Hood changed from side opening to “alligator” style
Custom billet hood hinges with pivot geometry based on 1969 Camaro
Full custom hood bracing and hood latch support
Custom hood latch
Fully filled and smoothed underside hood edge
Rear hood corners rounded
Hood shaved and smoothed
Fenders sectioned 1.5”
Custom flush fit Jeep Liberty headlights
Fender portholes removed
Front clip welded and molded onto body
Front door edges rounded
Handles shaved
Factory side trim removed
All new shaped brass and chromed side trim
Rear of quarter panels sectioned 1” and reshaped to enhance profile
1954 Mercury tail lights resized and flush fitThree line Art Deco styling carried from tail lights onto bodyTrunk lid sectioned 1.75”
Trunk lid reskinned with 1951 Buick skin
Custom trunk latch
Lower trunk lid gap changed to meet frenched pan and new bumper
Stainless beltline trim from 1953 Buick Special
Rocker pinch weld filled and reshaped with round rod
Rear wheel opening reveals removed
Custom fabricated, flush fit fender skirts
Reshaped 1952 Buick front bumperBumper bullets removed
Bumper shaved and smoothed
Bumpers smoothed and painted on back side
Full hand-built frenched splash apron around bumper
“V” cut 1951 Oldsmobile grille bar with custom mount
Grille over-rider bar smoothed
1955 Pontiac rear bumper joined into one piece and smoothed
Custom-formed license plate filler
Curved license plate bracket and frame to flow with bumper
Integrated exhaust outlets fabricated to compliment tail lights
Bumper tucked up to body 3”
Full frenched front and rear bumper
Integrated flange on bottom of bumper for belly pan mount
Full custom rear belly pan with hand fabricated and chromed brass trim
Custom front belly pans painted and polished
Custom front inner fender panels painted and polished
Smoothed wheel wells Full custom smoothed firewall
Full custom radiator mount
Full custom radiator shroud and cover
Bear claw door latches
Custom fabricated steel and chromed side window frames
Custom cut glass
Custom formed roof rail weatherstrip trim and rubber
Remote kill switch in drivers side rear wheel well
Remote battery jumpers in drivers side rear wheel well
Custom weatherstrips throughout
Remote under-dash mounted bellcrank master cylinder
Shaved front park lights
Front fender gap edge fully boxed, filled and smoothed
Custom hidden trunk mounted gas tankExhaust hidden by bellypan and exits via custom vents in rear bumper
Exhaust vents shaped to complement tail lights

Chassis:
Front frame Z’d seven inches
Custom tubular front suspensionA-arms smoothed and chromed
Custom fabricated mounts for Air Ride Shockwaves
Custom fabricated lower radiator mount
Frame fully boxed, plated and smoothed
Integrated round tube strengtheners for added safety
Integrated X-member boxed and plated
Custom fabricated driveshaft loop
Full custom, removable transmission crossmember mimics original unit
Custom fabricated rear belly pans accommodate exhaust
Integrated and hidden exhaust hangers
Period inspired custom fabricated exhaust couplers
Integrated front four bar boxed and smoothed
Four link smoothed and chromed
Front crossmember notched for engine clearance
Body mounts reshaped for flow, corners filled and edges rounded
Custom body mount bolt covers
Frame finished in Amber Ecstasy, buffed and polished

Wheels:
Fully CNC machined one-off wheels mimic classic cast GM eight lug rims
Body color matching accents applied to wheels
Custom center caps
One-off Resilence badges

Drivetrain:
Inspired by vintage speed boat engines

500 cubic inch Cadillac
Block fully deburred and smoothed
Custom machined aluminum pulleys
Full custom front motor plate engine mounts
Driver side features integrated A/C compressor mount
Passenger side features integrated generator mount
Custom fabricated intake, fully smoothed and polished
Six two barrel carburetors fully chromed with custom linkage and pivot plate
Custom Magneto-look electronic distributor
Full custom fabricated valve covers
Custom fabricated breather compliments valve cover shape
Custom fabricated, mandrel bent exhaust with full custom recessed hardware exhaust connectors
Custom fabricated marine-inspired exhaust headers honor old time water jacketed manifolds
Deburred smoothed and polished transmission case
Polished inspection cover and transmission oil pan
Custom fabricated driveshaft
Custom finned transmission fluid coolers
Custom fabricated hard line to oil coolers
Fully ground, smoothed and filled rear end housing
Rear end center section reshaped to match exact size and shape of dash gauge pod
Polished rear end insert with one-off Resilience badge on rear end
Custom fabricated four bar and Shockwave mounts
Oil filter relocator with aluminum hard line
All aluminum fuel lines
Custom fabricated radiator
Custom fabricated aluminum coolant lines
Painted satin Amber Ecstasy

Interior:
Custom fabricated dashboard honors Autorama-era heritage
Custom fabricated center dash pod
Instrumentation designed and built specifically for Resilience
Custom fabricated garnish moldings on doors and quarter panels
Fully welded and smoothed steering column
Custom fabricated column mount compliments dashboard shape
Custom fabricated package tray with perforated metal
Hidden FM stereo with 10 disc CD changer and remote control
Fully frenched metal surround for custom fabricated rear bucket seats
Front seats from fully-optioned 1959 Oldsmobile convertible
Custom shaped seat foam
Full custom front and rear fiberglass surrounds for recessed headliner
Custom fabricated smooth headliner
1952 Hudson dome light
1952 Hudson kick panel lights
Custom fabricated kick panels with perforated metal to retain audio quality
Custom fabricated door handles are curved and knife edged with Art Deco, three groove styling
Custom fabricated brake pedal arm is curved and knife edged with Art Deco, three groove styling
Custom fabricated throttle pedal is curved and knife edged with Art Deco, three groove styling
Custom fabricated, full length console with A/C vents at front and rear of console
A/C vents feature three-fin design to complement 1954 Mercury tail lights
A/C ducts run through console on bottom side
Custom fabricated shifter bulge and chrome trim bezel
Custom fabricated chrome trim on console
Fully restored 1959 Oldsmobile steering wheel with body color pearlescent marbelized finish
Custom horn button
Body color pearlescent marbelized finish on shift and widow crank knobs
Window cranks feature three groove art deco styling, sourced from 1941 Buick
Custom fabricated control panel houses ignition, headlight and air ride switches
Hand-formed steel trunk interior trim panels
History of this Vehicle

Starting with a 1952 Buick Riviera (Model 45R), Resilience is a custom car built with reverence to the custom car culture, its pioneers, and above all, the design and excitement that embodied the mid-20th century. While the car retains those elements commonly associated with a custom car, it grew to be something more during the design phase of the build. Taking cues from the fantastic era of the GM Motorama and concept cars of the 1950’s, as well as the show floor works of art that many enthusiasts recall from the Autoramas of yesterday, a distinct theme began to emerge.

Inspiration comes from a variety of sources, including 1950’s sport and pleasure
boats, mid-century industrial design, kitchen appliances, transistor radios, televisons and more. Our team paid special homage to the concept cars of Harley Earl’s Advanced Styling Studio, mixing modern touches throughout. The result is a custom automobile designed with purpose. Every modification was chosen carefully, and exists to complement the areas surrounding it. The goal was a cohesive design that did not bow to convention or trends, seeking instead to appear timeless.

We are proud that each of the modifications performed are readily understood on their own, or when viewed as a whole.
Plans for this Vehicle

Show, drive, enjoy, repeat.
Sponsors & Special Thanks

Tim and Carrie Strange, Erik and Paul Hansen, Brian Stupski, Dave Neal, Shawn Ray, Jim Decrane, Chuck Heerde, Dan & Betty Strange, Jesse Greening (and his crew at Greening Auto Works), Mark Rolen, John Loveridge, Tucci Hot Rods, AutoRon’s, Classic Instruments, Air Ride Technologies, BF Goodrich, Dynamat, Flowmaster, Hot Hues by DuPont, Iwata Spray Guns, Kicker Car Audio, Motorhead Design House, Pearlcraft, Advanced Plating… Tim Horton’s coffee…