Inside
J&R Upholstery in Rialto, California, covered a set of Scat buckets in black and gray tweed; the headliner and door panels got similar treatment plus leather inserts. On the other hand, Marcel stuck with his DIY ethic for the rest of the digs, creating the custom dash panel (fitted with Auto Meter gauges), console, and speaker box. The steering column was rebuilt with GM components and topped with a Boyds' steering wheel. Massive tuneage comes from a Pioneer CD/stereo running through a Kenwood active equalizer and two U.S. Acoustics amps out to a pair of Audiobahn subwoofers and a quartet of Pioneer speakers. Believe it or not, it all runs through the stock wiring harness.
Cosmetic Surgery
No half-measures were tolerated here, as Marcel and his cousin Antonio Martinez took the Elky panels down to bare metal for a good reworking. While they were at it, all exterior side trim and emblems were shaved, the stainless window trim was polished, and new trim for the bed (coated with Herculiner) was sourced from True Connections. The cowl hood, installed to clear the air cleaner on the new big-block sitting beneath it, is from Goodmark. HOK Tangelo stands out in a crowd; Marcel sprayed the pigments himself, then used Energy Suspension body mounts while rejoining panels and rails.
Chassis
This frame-off go-round for Marcel was marked by substantial improvements. After the skeletal undercarriage was sandblasted and painted flat black, the suspension was endowed with some handling prowess by way of a Hotchkis Total Vehicle System. Up front, that means control arms teamed with Hotchkis 1-inch drop springs, swaybars, and tie-rod sleeves; True Connections 2-inch drop spindles and Gabriel shocks are also part of the mix. Out back, Hotchkis lower and adjustable upper trailing arms, 1-inch drop springs, and swaybar work with Monroe shocks.
Extra Effort
Except for some specialty tasks, like powdercoating, upholstery, and engine machine work, Marcel DeKerpel did all the work on his '67 Elky himself, in his own garage. He credits wife Virginia's saintlike patience for helping him get the job done.