Remember that rendering we previewed back in the Mar. '03 issue? Well, as promised, here's "Lo-Liner" in the flesh...well, on celluloid, but that's close enough! The crew at Andre's Customs and Rods in Northern California was successful in transforming the Jason Rushforth rendering into reality for Jim Rydelius, as you can clearly see.

Actually, Jim has had the '60 Starliner since 1990, which he bought as a solid runner at the Turloc swap meet. Rydelius has been friends with Andre Carey (owner of Andre's) and his uncle, and when Carey first laid eyes on the hardtop over a decade ago, he immediately fell in love. And although Jim really had no intentions of doing a whole lot with the Ford back then, Andre would constantly inquire about it--subtly hinting what a few tricks here and there could do.

Fast forward to 2002--Jim saw what Andre's did with a '62 Nova convertible, and that's all it took to convince him to let the Starliner go under the knife. This was around the end of the year, and the goal was to have Lo-Liner debut at the 2003 Grand National Roadster Show. Even the most mildest of customs can take at least a year to complete...was Andre's really up to the task? Well, as you may have witnessed in last month's issue, they were, and the car literally floored all in attendance.

Here's how it all went down. Jim had business in Australia to tend to, so he left Andre and Greg Girard in charge. Things like chassis work, which features Air Ride bags and Stainless Steel disc brakes (front and rear), and the drivetrain, which is primarily stock but updated with a variety of components, weren't a problem--it was the chop and various body alterations that posed a time-consuming issue. Nevertheless, the top received its chop with a recessed windshield and laid-back A-pillars; custom taillights were fashioned; handles and emblems were shaved (with stainless reworked to accommodate); and a floating console was created to split the quad bucket seats--all in a timely manner, mind you. Also, the stock grille was fit with recessed headlights, and the dash was extended 3 inches to flow with the leaned front glass. Sherm's Custom Plating handled the chrome (including the sectioned and smoothed bumpers) while Andre himself applied the PPG and House of Kolor Champagne Pearl and Cobalt Blue two-tone. The final touch for the exterior, a set of Colorado Custom Empire II 18- and 20-inch rollers shod with Bridgestone Potenza ZR radials, perfectly sets off the theme Andre had imagined years ago.

But before the crew could start packing for San Mateo, something had to be done with the interior. For that, they compiled door panels from Rod Doors and the aforementioned 19-inch buckets from Wise Guys--having everything covered in Wisper vinyl by MacFarland's Custom Upholstery in Buckley, Washington. Other inner amenities include a metalflake Moon steering wheel (atop the stock column), polished Billet Specialties handles and window cranks, and custom trim and dash insert pieces. Controls for the Air Ride system are the factory air vent toggles.

Suffice it to say, the deadline was met; all parties were pleased. But when asked what they'd do differently if they had to do it all over--"Not rush things!" All said and done, Lo-Liner looks anything but a rushed project. If the beans hadn't been spilled, you'd probably think this was a car years in the making!