my lowbuck "Panda" project
 

I picked up this 71 driver last month, cheap. It has a 305 auto, headers, 4 barrel, power brakes and steering, also had a tilt, cd system, and it runs and drives well. On the other hand, it's ugly. The doors were shot, the paint was bad, (peeled off in sheets, with a razor) Someone halfway did a long to short conversion. I decided to build a very low dollar driver, and utilize the trim pieces I have had sitting around for years.Traded some suburban doors I had for some nice pickup doors. I had most of the trim to make a Cheyenne, and I painted it flat black and white, (hence the Panda name) using rust paint. A buddy gave me the tires, to return a favor, and I had the wheels. Straightened out a couple of old bumpers I had, bought a seat from the wreckers, and for less than $1200 total, including purchase price, I have a fun driver. Maybe in the spring, I'll finish the conversion, and cut the 8" off the rear, and maybe not...

Re: my lowbuck "Panda" project
 

nice resto! the back half definatly needs as much attention as the rest of the truck...

interior
 

The interior was bad, altho the floors were patched. I had a dash pad, and the misc pieces that were missing. looks OK now, but I used the rewire instructions I read here, when I changed to a gauge dash, but my dash lights don't work yet. I stuck the wheels off my 57 Safari on it to go cruising tonight. They are at least 20 years old, ( the tires are newer), and still look pretty good

Re: interior
 

Could be a bad headlight switch. The rheostat in them that controls the dash lighting level is a common failure point. Everything else will work but the dash lights.

Re: my lowbuck "Panda" project
 

This is a good example of how cheap I can be. I promised myself (and my wife) that I would put this truck on the road this fall, without spending any money on it. One piece of trim I did not have was the woodgrain plate for the bottom of the tailgate. $200 plus freight , for a new one, found a guy who wanted $75 for a beat up GMC one, and then, a couple of weeks ago, on a road trip to Gang ranch, I found this one on an Indian reserve in the Chilcotin for $20 bucks. I'm sure the guy didn't expect to get anything for it. Took it home, and massaged it for a while, (a few more letters fell off) and it works.

Re: my lowbuck "Panda" project
 

i love the wheels

Re: my lowbuck "Panda" project
 

Nice score. I love those tail gate bands.

Need to find one for both of my trucks.