1977 S & S Victoria... starting the process

[Kent Dorsey]

Josh, I have bought several sets over the years from Coil Spring Specialities in St. Mary's, Kansas. You fill out an online form and fill in the information. I know the springs for the 1990 Superior Chevrolet, the 1981 S & S, the 1992 Superior Statesman (that was sold) all came from there.
The initial springs for the '92 Statesman, and the initial springs received for the '77 were both insufficient and had to be sent back. I told them when they were working on the second set for the '77 that I would be surprised if the design was very different from what they did to the '81 S & S months before.
They worked great and I will get photos posted that will show the rear raised... but right now, its at the body shop...

 

[Kent Dorsey]

Drumroll please...

Okay, went from this first shot out back of Memphis Coach Sales to where we are today...

 

[Kent Dorsey]

And some more...

One shot with it's brief flirt with 1978 Cadillac wheel covers with center disc painted color of the car, seemed like too much green... opted for the 1977 commercial wheel covers sent in other photos...
Also a shot with 77 hanging out back with the 81...

 

[Mike McGeehan]

Looks like an entirely different car. From blah to classy and regal. Fine, fine job. I love the green...and the color-matching wheel covers.

 

[Paul Steinberg]

I also like the green caps. Personally, I think that either way, it is a classy looking coach. Much better than it was in white.

 

[Steve Loftin]

I'll vote for the green wheel covers, as well.

 

[John Royark JR]

I would also go with the green caps.

 

[John ED Renstrom]

me to me to can I have them. I like the green better. it sets it off nicely when you stand back. but she is looking like something to be proud of now. them Crayola markers do a nice job

 

[Peter Grave - Deceased - 1938 - 2022]

My vote goes with the green caps to it sets it off

 

[Kent Dorsey]

Thanks for all of the comments about the wheel covers. I had the body shop paint six of them, and was quite sure they would be the ones I wanted on. But I had also ordered 5 of the wheel covers from a hubcap shop that were the commercial chassis wheel covers. My understanding is 1977 is the only year those with the tiny black disc in the center were used.
I was going to put the two side by side at a tire and let folks vote, but the truth is you do in the end kinda what you wanted to... As time has went on, I have tended to want these cars to have the original parts (as Cary witnessed in another thread when some mid 80's wheel covers found their way on the '92 Victoria, and I couldn't stand to drive home with them on...) and since those '77 commercial chassis caps are so rare...
The drapes were going to be a light champagne color to match the '92. But every fabric I found that was close to that the color, the trim shop man (remember, buy car interior fabric for drapes... so there is no fade) would say, "that is not a good material for drapes, there will be strings and it just won't stand up and be a good material...". So several degrees away from champagne, we landed on a light brown that sounded good with Edinburgh Green.
We pulled the paint color off of the '92 for 1977 Cadillac Edinburgh Green, and it came back a lighter color than the '92. Now... I tend to think the '77 is the true Edinburgh Green (the '92 landau bars were always a bit softer in color than the rest of the car) and the '92 got a darker green by the second owner.
Anyway, whatever is the right 1977 Edinburgh Green, it doesn't matter. It looks fantastic. I thought seriously about charcoal gray, but with four charcoal gray in the garage, and two black (and the one errant green '92)... this green seemed like a great choice.
As I look at the photos of the car from the coach dealer, I have thought that very easily this car could have ended up under a tree rusting away after someone blew a water pump and gave up on it, or someone decided crushing it would be okay... so .. saved another one...
Thanks for all of your comments...

 

[Jay Maynard]

Kent, I'm VERY hesitant to voice any criticism of your vehicles because of the obvious pride and attention that you give to them, which I really admire and appreciate; but I don't like the new curtains in it(design-wise)as much as the set in the '81. You can really see the difference in the pic of the '77 and '81 side by side. Was there no way to make them look more like regular curtains? The set in the '81 just look more 'traditional' to me.

 

[Kent Dorsey]

The drapes in the '77 are an exact template size wise of what came out of the '77. To me, the mid/top portion hangs too low, but I noticed that about the '77 when I got it. The rear drapes had a tremendous amount of material to them, much more than is on the '81. I think 1977 was probably the guinea pig year for those drapes after coming off of the huge '76 body style. By 1981, I am guessing the designers had opted for a small drape that allowed a little more open room to see in.
But... the trim shop guy has made drapes for the '73, '76, and now the '77 the same way. In each case he measures and uses the old drapes - right down to using the snaps from the old drapes.
(Jay, looking back, I see there is a design difference he must have taken liberty with to not give it that extra design in the middle. I went back to the old photos of when the car was white and it was more obvious he didn't give any "zing" in the middle...)

 

[Jay Maynard]

...To me, the mid/top portion hangs too low, but I noticed that about the '77 when I got it...
(Jay, looking back, I see there is a design difference he must have taken liberty with to not give it that extra design in the middle. I went back to the old photos of when the car was white and it was more obvious he didn't give any "zing" in the middle...)

Those are the exact 2 things I was referring to! Thanks Kent.

 

[Josh Rutter]

Looks great, nice rear height. I may have to contact that company afterall, wont be until next year though. Great job saving another '77!

 

[John ED Renstrom]

one can never be faulted in doing it original. what a lot of people don't understand is how difficult it is to do that. the other is just how much the cars really change from year to year. yes the big body pieces are the same but thats about it. the old adage is you got to own one to know one really rings true. but to be honest with the color. GM could not turn out two of them the same shade and neither can anyone else. way to many variables take place to be able to do a panel to panel match on any of that set. but it's mainly the way the metallic ends up on the panel that make it lighter or darker.

 

[Kent Dorsey]

Hey Victoria...

I hear green funerals are the big thing now...

 

[Pat Post]

Yes! I love the green. Caps and all.

 

[Kent Dorsey]

with apologies for using photo from another thread...

I couldn't help but post this photo too, I just can't get over the changes in this car and how it has jumped at the front of the line to be a favorite... here 'tis with others from Victorian raisings... '81, '92, and '97...

 

[Chuck Kramer]

I couldn't help but post this photo too, I just can't get over the changes in this car and how it has jumped at the front of the line to be a favorite... here 'tis with others from Victorian raisings... '81, '92, and '97...

It's Da color! Love it!

 

[Dwayne Brooks]

Kent, I can't get over how nice the '77 looks. Every time I see your pix I like it even more... and the hubcaps you selected look MUCH better that those green centered ones (in my opinion)