Disturbingly Kool Hot Rod and Graphic Design

Over the last decade, we've seen explosive growth in the hot rod and custom car industry and hobby as a whole. This can be attributed to the popularity of television shows like Overhaulin', American Hot Rod and others, as well as Powerblock TV, the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Events, and of course, the access to great personalities like Chip Foose, Stacey David and others. This brings in new enthusiasts, and naturally, more project cars!

Not since George Barris snapped thousands of photos and wrote hundreds of articles promoting the hobby back in the 1950's and '60's have we seen so much attention on our hobby, and it's amazing to witness. Yet, while there's all of the excitement, many of these new fans and participants are feeling lost when starting a project. It can be a daunting task to say the least, but when taking those first steps, having the right footing can make all of the difference in the world.

Naturally, any success in a project requires a plan, and building or modifying a car requires very careful thought at this stage. I've often heard guys say "I just build as I go... no plan, just what feels right", and sadly, it certainly doesn't look like it must feel in many cases. Disjointed design, half-assed "fixes" to make parts fit, and often unsafe "engineering" ("engine-beering", most likely) have sent many a project to an early grave. Thus, the best advice would be to bring on an experienced designer to help guide you along. As a professional hot rod and custom car designer with over twenty years experience in the auto industry (from parts and service to body and after-market accessories), as well as training in design and fine art, I'm here to offer some advice on taking those first steps.

Five things to consider when hiring a designer:

Unless you have a background in design, you'll want to seek out a designer to help you refine your vision. The importance of having a vision on paper, especially when working with shops and others on a team cannot be overlooked. You'll have a vision of the finished product for everyone to work from, and it helps to avoid gaps in communication, and errors in describing what you want to accomplish.

When shopping for a designer, keep some things in mind:

1. Look for one with a style you like.

Not only are you hiring someone to assist in laying the groundwork for your project, but this person must be able to convey your ideas and tastes, as well as create a piece that will inspire your build team. You'll want some "wow" factor, but also be sure that your designer draws with proper scale and proportion! Taking a cartoon or shoddy "Photochop" to an experienced builder will get you laughed out of the shop. Sure, the kid you hire in a forum can make that '58 Edsel bumper look like it fits your Monza, but in reality, would it? (and are you looking to blow your budget on wild changes before the car even hits primer?) Look around, and study the artist's styles and prior work.
Much like you chose a car that excited you, be it for nostalgia reasons, a certain feeling it gives you, or just the fact that you liked it overall, you'll be miles ahead by selecting a designer in the same way. When the car is torn apart and looking bleak, the artwork will serve as an excitement generator.

2. Find a designer you get along with.

Spend some phone and email time conversing with designers. See if you get along, and can communicate freely. An open exchange with your designer will pay off in a HUGE way when working. Look for someone who can help guide, if asked, but also take an idea you have and run with it. Nothing can be more disappointing than getting going with a guy who doesn't listen, or is looking to create a portfolio piece on your dime. On the flip side, simply hiring a "wrist" to make some lines based only on what you say is boring, and will; leave your design "flat". On the same note, just hiring an "artist" who rehashes the same 3D model their last 40 customers got, but with different paint and wheels will get you, well, the same car as those other 40 guys.
Make your budget known, and make sure that your designer understands that.
Make it an open exchange where ideas can flow freely, and you'll be pleasantly surprised how an idea can grow or be refined to mind-blowingly cool in the right hands.

3. Understand the designer's terms.

Get it ironed out immediately when speaking, just how many revisions you'll receive, and what the cost may be above that level. Know how the work will be delivered. Hard copies? (one for you, the shop, and maybe for promotional purposes?) Digital copies for magazine ink? (how about sponsorship proposals?) Can you use the artwork to promote the car? Who owns the Copyright?

A professional designer will furnish a contract spelling this out, allowing for worry-free design time. Check this out from step one, and you'll avoid starting over when your forum buddy disappears with your PayPal payment.

Understand, too, that work will often depend on payment. If you want your designs quickly and well-done, be prepared to pay a bit more, and respect the time required to perfect a design. Much as you wouldn't rush a surgeon reconstructing your body, giving the same consideration to your designer will breed equally functional results!

4. Don't be the "I'll know what I want when I see it" guy.

That guy is the enemy of designers, and it translates to "headache" to any pro. Have an idea at the first consultation, even if it's vague, and ask for direction/advice if needed. Know what you'd like to do with the car. Will it be restored? Modified? A combination of the two? Something wilder? A professional designer will offer examples, and throw ideas around with you, hitting on your likes and dislikes before pencil hits paper. Many great cars develop during these "bench racing" sessions, and you'll save a ton on revisions. Communication is your best friend here. Simply jumping from style to style will burn you and your designer out, and close doors on really creative ideas.
Research the hell out of your project and ideas. Go to shows, cruise nights, rod runs... Pick up magazines, books, videos... Look around at what's been done, and find a style that you like. Make a list of things that you enjoy about cars. Perhaps you enjoy good handling, or maybe straight line performance is more your thing. Maybe it's all about the look of the car, and you're after a show car that'll make people stop and drool. It's this stage that will help determine a direction for the project, and is of HUGE importance.

You should have a list of your dreams for the car, and one alongside that is more realistic, taking into consideration the reality of the car you've chosen. Approaching a professional designer with these will save time, frustration, and above all, help to nail that "perfect" concept.

5. Don't fall victim to trends.

Simply shopping at the "popular kids" table will, inevitably, breed you a cookie-cutter car. Simply saying "oh man, that car that won Street Machine of the Year had a cool hood, so I want THAT hood, and the same wheels, and the same paint, and then that car that won the year before had those seats... I want THAT interior..." and so-on will not design or build YOUR dream car. Much as you may have enjoyed looking at that model in a magazine ad, would you marry her? Chances are, you'd rather find someone who fits your life, who matched that often undefinable set of criteria that just "does" something for you.

This project car should be no different.

Seek out a designer who understands the style you're planning to build your car in, and can offer unique approaches to design problems that not only make your eyes pop out, but will keep a few bucks from doing likewise from your wallet.

If you've seen a teal green and gray car with a tweed interior and 15-inch billet wheels lately and thought "wow... the 1990's called, and they want their car back", imagine what response a car built in a trendy style today will elicit in ten or fifteen years. "Build to YOUR taste, not someone elses'" is my credo in the studio. Approach modifications tastefully, respectfully, and with the thinking "how does this change affect the rest of the car? What purpose does it serve?" If it makes sense, do it. If it's questionable, question the hell out of it.

That said, head on out and explore... look at work, compare styles, and talk with designers. Your decision should go beyond price, and be the RIGHT fit for your project. Seek out a designer that can listen, offer ideas, and above all, nail your design. After all, simply setting sail on the ocean might take you SOMEPLACE, but is it where you WANTED to go? Hiring a designer will help chart that course, and the end of the journey, when plotted correctly, will have you itching to hoist the sails again, and that's what this whole car thing is all about anyway... feeding that passion.

Back in 1980, Len Legere Sr. bought the remains of a '71 Javelin from a wrecking yard, and took it from a forgotten mess to the ISCA National Championship. The car had a HUGE impact on me almost twenty years ago, and still brings forth that teenage awe that it did when I first laid eyes on it at the Clutch Artists AutoRama in Buffalo, NY. Before we get too deep into it, dig on some video caught by my father those many moons ago (pardon the low quality-- time has been harsh to the old VHS tapes, and his transfer was decent, but moving it online has degraded it a bit more...).

Click here to view

The car absolutely jumped off of its turntable that March day, and drove deep into my psyche. Here was a modern custom car... a contemporary take on the radical customs I was already obsessed over as a kid, but oh, so much more! That stance was aggressive, and not typical at all of a custom car, it had billet rollers, and those proportions, man!! Chopped and sectioned, and channeled just right over that custom frame... This was a 1:1 version of the models I was building! I can't begin to count the hours I spent studying the car as it went 'round and 'round that weekend, but know this much: I was taking notes.

As a junkyard-trolling individual, I recognized the (then)late-model Monte Carlo headlamps, the Fairmont tail lights... but the specifications were branded into my brain: roof chopped 2.5-inches, body sectioned 3-inches, floors channeled 5-inches. I stood there, imagining the car sitting on the ground... how it would have looked, a whole, what... 40 or so inches tall? Awesome.

Anyway, I bring this car up following a week of finishing off a couple of pro-touring style car renderings, and a late night of pondering where that whole movement will go next. After all, custom cars grew to become milder versions of their former selves, save for a few notable examples like we have here, and pro-street became, well, pro-touring... Yet, almost 20 years ago, Len Legere created a car that would easily meld the custom and pro-touring camps, and left an indelible mark on my design sense. Since that day in the Buffalo Convention Center, I've worked to add styling cues to my designs that honor that pivotal moment, and have enjoyed the hell out of it all. Here's hoping you'll do the same, and thanks, as always, for peeking in....

I had received a call from Nick Licata (via our friend Steven Rupp) a little while back, regarding a rendering, and behold, it's on shelves now as a part of Super Chevy's "Chevy Classics" Annual! This is great, not only because I get the chance to show some forward-thinking ideas, but being a part of the whole Super Chevy history is HUGE to me personally.


Look for it on new stands now!

Growing up, the first magazine I had a subscription to was Super Chevy, and it fueled many a dream car in my imagination, most notably tri-fives! Obviously, I'm stoked to share my vision of an alternate take on the Projext X theme (which, ironically, is the cover car!) with some very modern and traditional ideas thrown in for some '56 Chevy stew. Grab a copy before 11/4, when they leave the shelves, and thanks again, Steven and Nick...

I thought I'd share the unedited version, along with the full tech specs here.... just to see if it strikes anyone the right way, and, who knows, maybe inspires a new project car. Have at it!

The spec sheet:

Chassis/Driveline:

All-aluminum 409 W-block based, blown and injected, running E-85

Toroidal Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT)

(not only can we launch and stay right in the optimal powerband, but "shifts" would be imperceptible, there's almost no power loss, and we gain fuel efficiency!)

Chris Alston's Chassisworks FAB9 rear end

Each rear wheel is fitted with a regenerative braking electric wheel hub motor

(approx output is 100Kw, or about 100 HP per wheel)

Chris Alston's Chassisworks Eliminator 4-Link

Wilwood 6-piston front calipers and 14" rotors, rear braking via wheel hub motors

Chris Alston's Chassisworks VariShock ShockWave's, 4x2 A-Arm crossmember

Billet Specialties Altered front wheels (19" one-off's), and one-off Apex-G's out back (20") for a retro gasser look, on Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/R tires.

Exterior:

Shaved emblems, handles and locks,

Front bumper, pan, vertical and lower grille bars removed

Carbon fiber hood, front fenders, doors and deck lid

PPG yellow pearl and black two-tone

Vent windows removed

Interior:

Lightweight materials replace factory dash and trim,

Full 'cage,

Corbeau GTA low back buckets

Full Simpson harness system

Fire suppression system

Full AutoMeter gauges


It's yellow and black, but still "green"...

What I have is a take on a Project X-like ride... After seeing so many G-Machines in the dream Car pages of different magazines, I thought "how about the kind of car that got most of us into this in the first place... a bad street machine?"

Let's REALLY play up the "Dream Car" aspect, and use some emerging and existing technology to create a technological wonder.

Our fictional 1956 Chevy 2-door sedan will be named "Project W". It'll run a 409-based W-block, all aluminum, blown and injected, running E-85. The idea is an environmentally-friendly, rocket-like street machine.

The techno-fun kicks in with a CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission), which'll keep us right in the powerband, in a state of almost constant acceleration. Off the line, we'll be assisted by a pair of electric wheel hub motors, which'll provide some extra torque off the line, and re-charge on braking.

Retro touches, certainly... it's a nod to the Project X, but a very modern, extremely engineered piece... Sitting on a full tube frame, the body is angle-channelled over the rails to exaggerate the rake, and runs full modern suspension. The look here is a drag strip refugee bred with an evil street car from the '60's, with pure attitude oozing from every pore. Removing the front bumper, pan and lower grille bar allows extreme lowering, and we'll even knock out the vertical grille bars, just for kicks.

A light shave eliminates handles, locks and badging, and Carbon fiber doors have lost the vent windows, and a carbon fiber hood and deck lid keep the lightweight theme in check. Bright yellow paint hints at the Project X-like heritage, while the black two-tone shows that this eco-friendly bruiser has a darker side.

Chris Alston's Chassisworks Varishock system up front, Eliminator 4-Link out back, with one of their Fab-9 housings swinging away. Big brakes are a must, and we'll powder coat any exposed parts black to keep everything stealthy. behind the Billet Specialties custom-sized wheels. Why different fronts and rears? A nod to the gasser days, grasshopper. We'll set this thing on some meaty M/T rollers out back, as we'll need as much traction as we can find.

A full interior is a must, with power NOTHING... hey, this is a street machine first and foremost. Buckets, a floor shifter, and full gauges are all you need. We'll keep the front windows operational, should any passengers get whiny and need "air".

Need more inspiration? Head on over to www.problemchildkustoms.com !

...and a trade that rocked the world.

Twenty years ago this week, the Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne "The Great One" Gretzky to the LA Kings, marking the day that Hockey stood still. August 9, 1988 is a date that still elicits a response in any Hockey fan, and for good reason. I'll throw in another date: December 12, 2000, the day that GM announced that they were pulling the plug on Oldsmobile. Two very different events with very different outcomes... yet, they share a few key things in common, and a valuable lesson that a carmaker could have learned from a Hockey player.

Consider the impact that Gretzky had on the game (if not a community): 1851 points... 200+ points in each of four seasons... 92 goals in ONE season! (hell, being a Sabres fan, I have to point out that Alexander Mogilny came close once... at 76) Take a moment to fathom that, then, consider that his record has stood since being set in the '81-'82 season. The man's photo should appear in the dictionary under the word "Hockey". I could spout off stats here, but you can find those easily enough... Suffice to say, he dominated the game on the ice. Yet, what he did OFF of the ice would forever change the game as well.

In 1988, the Great One was traded to the LA Kings.

The deal was monstrous to begin with, but the terms were astounding in their own right: The Oilers gave up the league's reigning superstar for $15 million, three number one draft picks, Krushelnyski, McSorley, and negotiating rights to minor league defensemen, along with LA's Jimmy Carson (a recent pick who just put up 55 goals).

Take a second to drink in that trade.

Not only was that big money in '88, but it broke up a team that had "dynasty" written all over it... If you're a Hockey fan, then you know all about the Oilers of that era, with Grant Fuhr, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier... Man, I remember collecting cards and stickers of those guys like they were gold (in some cases, they were... Remember the gold foil stickers?). To take Gretzky to LA?! What were they thinking?

Granted, number 99 in Los Angeles wasn't the ticket to a cup victory (or a dynasty) on ice... But what the deal did for the sport itself?! Far-reaching and dynamic are two words that scratch the surface... Barely. Here was an uber-talent, wrapped in a marketing dream. Great personality, incredible with words, and a look that could move product. His assimilation into US pop culture was the stuff of legend. Consider: If, like me, you grew up in the '80's, you knew Gretzky (even if not from Hockey) from ads for Campbell's, Coke, Ford, American Express, an action figure, hell... the guy even had a Saturday morning cartoon with Bo Jackson and Michael Jordan! (remember "Pro Stars"?) Add to his clout an ambassador status, bringing the game to numerous new fans... A fact to ponder: When Gretzky hit US soil as a player, there were 15 franchises of the NHL in the US. Today, there are 24. Talk about opening a market!

Back to Oldsmobile for a spell here... Consider that in 1897, the carmaker was forging ahead, pushing design and technical innovation to create a dynamic new car. It was to become GM's shining star, the brand that pushed innovation for the corporation. Being GM's "innovation brand" meant that other carmakers would often study their products, and attempt to mimic them. Not only was Oldsmobile the first mass-produced car (the 1901-1904 Curved Dash), but was the first with an automatic transmission (1940 - the Hydromatic), the first overhead valve V8 ('49 - also leading the way with a hardtop and wrap-around windshield that year!), the first turbocharged engine in an American car ('62!), the first front wheel drive car in America (the '66 Toronado), and so on... Ponder this: in the 50's and '60's, makers like Mercedes would buy and dissect Oldsmobiles (and other GM cars) to see what made them tick. At the time, there was truly no substitute for an American car.



Oldsmobiles were the choice of the techie crowd... they had the advanced features, and appealed to the more technologically hip consumer. Olds and GM capitalized on this for a bit, but then lost the vision somewhere along the way. Rather than build on a success (see Gretzky above), GM stuttered, and down-graded the brand to compete with foreign cars on their own level. Rather than push the envelope, and allow Oldsmobile to bloom into the leader in technology and design for GM, they pulled funding from the coffers for projects like Saturn, among other things. (don't get me wrong here- Saturn is a fine make, and having worked for Saturn, I am grateful for the food and shelter my career there provided... just still suffering the "WHY??!!" over pushing Saturn into Oldsmobile territory, and giving the little plastic-clad cars all of the cool advancements) GM dropped the ball, and took what should have been a bright Oldsmobile future, with great new cars that would have rivaled Lexus, BMW and their ilk, and let it slip into the old folks home of the corporation. One notable exception was the Aurora (I have a very soft spot for the first-generation units... Remember the first time you saw the '95's... Man were those cool when new!), which led the way in innovation, and sat at the crossroads for a trek back to greatness%u2026 yet, sadly, it seems that the higher-ups were too busy looking into overpriced, oversized SUV's to haul fat-ass suburbanites around the mini malls. By the time that last Alero rolled off the line on April 4, 2004, the fire was definitely gone. The rocket was more of a lawn dart, sadly...

Adding insult to injury, GM decided to kill off more jobs and cars with potential to concentrate on... Trucks.



At the start of a new environmental awareness, the good General concentrated on big old SUV's, targeted at vacuous housewives who have no clue how to drive them. Another well thought out plan. Rather than attack the future and hold an upper hand, doing some good for the entire brand, they concentrated on one small niche, which ironically, has become the proverbial Achille's heel of a car-making giant. Presently, they have no true marquee in brand that does what Olds once could. Who's to say that Oldsmobile may have been the leverage point for GM in the escalating hybrid wars? I'd like to entertain that notion. Had they stayed on path, who knows? We may have seen George Clooney cruising a Cutlass versus a Prius.

Consider the effects of the Gretzky trade, when applied to the Oldsmobile (and subsequent GM) debacle: While Edmonton sacrificed a pillar of their team, they still managed winning seasons and a Cup victory, and gained a fairly stable ground (player-wise, not so much owner-wise) to build on. Bigger than that, Hockey itself won, big time. By allowing a great talent to continue down a road that he himself forged, great things happened all around. Had number 99 stayed in Edmonton, I have no doubts that we'd have seen a number of Oilers Stanley Cup years... it's a given. Yet, what that trade accomplished for the future of the sport was incredible. Am I suggesting that had GM invested resources into allowing Oldsmobile to progress on the brand's original course that it may have had a similar effect on the corporation at large? You bet your ass I am.

All told, I'll bet that there will be a moment of silence this week as Edmonton fans and residents recall the day the Great One left the Great White North... and that, at the same time, a few tears will be shed by GM shareholders as they look back on the rocket ride that could have been%u2026

Need more insight and opinion? Just want to look at cool pictures and hot rod designs? Head on over to PCK Studio at www.problemchildkustoms.com.

...from the land of back bacon, Hockey and beer!


Can your Fiero do this?

I get around a bit, and have had the honor of meeting some truly great people over the course of my life and career... Often times, I get an introduction to someone through a current client, or referred by another, and occasionally, I just stumble to the right place at the right time, and make a new friend. The latter is true with Ryan, who happens to be a very creative and talented fabricator in the Great White North. We crossed paths, and hit it off almost instantly. I had been admiring his work, and was stoked to find that he was admiring mine as well! Always fascinated with anyone who works with steel, I was just mesmerized with his vision and abilities.

Schooled at BCIT in Vancouver, Ryan landed a great job at Fabrite Services in Cranbrook, and spent the next ten years at that great company,working up from cutting material and cleaning up, to an eventual role as shop foreman... While there, beyond being treated "like family", he learned that "some people have some strange things to be built!", as he puts it.

He also has some great mechanical skills, which he owes to both his father, and a natural curiosity as a kid. Fast-forward, and he's completing the first of his planned series of supercar-inspired rides, a Reventon/Murcielago-looking beast, based on a Fiero platform he purchased for the princely sum of $60 just about a year ago...

Knowing he got a great deal on the car, he didn't want to leave it stock, and certainly didn't want another fiberglass-wearing "kit" car. As the Fiero sat outside until December that year, he saw a Lamborghini Reventon, and knew just where to go with the wedge-shaped Pontiac. Researching the original car's measurements, Ryan was off to the races, buying the steel, ordering glass from James at AGP, and finally, an intercooled, twin-turbo 350 Chevy and 6-speed trans with modified G6 axles, offering more than ample pulling power for the 3200 lb. ride. Add to that 11 1/4-inch cross-drilled and slotted rotors with Cadillac (rear) and Camaro (front) calipers, slowing it down should be well-controlled.


Dashing, isn't it?

The only regret at this point? "I'll have to paint it", says Ryan, "and cover up all of that work!" But fear not, as Ryan and I are getting the wheels moving on the next project, a Bugatti-inspired, home-built supercar that'll bring in some elements from other great Italian exotics, and mix in some original styling points that we're kicking around... and that means some more months of looking at bare steel!


Getting there...

Look for more updates as this beast nears completion and hits the road soon, as well as some previews of the design studies for his next home-built super car... In the meantime, keep an eye open over at Problem Child Kustoms Studio for more design/insight and delirium...

...to excessively clean...

As I mentioned in another entry, I was digging through some photos, looking for some shots to help illustrate a point in a future blog entry, and, well, the future is now, I guess...

"Where are we going today?" you ask... Back to the 1980's! Woo-hoo!

I got to thinking about some cars that made a serious impression on me in my youth, more specifically, cars built in the '80's. Even MORE specifically, cars that defined opposite ends of the spectrum, be they in style, outlandishness, subtlety, whatever. Narrowing it further, the two cars needed to have something in common, beyond their build decade.

Bear in mind, the '80's were a decade of HUGE influence on modern hot rodding. The garish show queens that pro-street became ushered in the rebellion we now call pro-touring. Clean street rods led to billet-encrusted trailer rods, and the to the rebellion that spawned a renewed interest in traditional hot rods (which, sadly, bred the "rat rod" whatever-the-hell-it-is hellspawn in the '90's... Ask me sometime how I feel about THAT.). A re-birth of customs, kustoms, and kustom culture. Aside from that whole Huey Lewis deal, not a bad decade.

I narrowed it to the undisputed king of pro-street excess, that yellow and candy-color graphics doused, hyperbole on wheels, Rick Dobbertin's J-2000, and Billy Gibbons' oh-so-sweet, I-could-just-eat-this-thing-up Cadzzilla. As a certain yellow-hued guy might say, "Mmmmmm.... purple."

To say that each car impacted the future of our hobby/industry would be an understatement. And that little Pontiac was anything BUT understated. It was designed to BE excess. One blower is good? Two is better. And make 'em siamesed. Add a pair of turbos, too, why not? The whole car, from the incredible, fully-polished chasssis, to the plated or polished damn-near-everything was detail to the extreme...

A flip front was trick, and, well, a flip-up body just had to be better, right? And how about that rear suspension, huh? Right on... THERE WAS NONE! No room for pedestrian items like suspension out back... this thing needeed HUGE meats to complete the look.

It's everything that was "right" with the show car scene at the time, and a glaring example of what was seen as "wrong" with the pro-street movement. You have to admit, though, the car had amazing fabrication work, and a fit and finish that was unheard of before, and in some cases, since.

On the custom side of things, in my opinion, anyway, there is nothing sweeter than Larry Erickson's design opus, Cadzzilla... Take a moment, and drift back to that Hot Rod Magazine fold-out poster you no-doubt hung from your wall... Man, that car turned my world upside-down. It was so radical, yet easily identified as a Cadillac... it was classic, but, well, somehow... futuristic! It was a sled, but it hinted as a dry lakes or salt flats screamer... It was part luxo-barge, part touring car, part kustom... it was an automotive tour de force! Check. All it needed was a cool owner... oh, wait, Billy Gibbons was the owner and keeper of said rolling sculpture...

Checkmate.

In the later part of the 1990's, I snapped a quick shot of this gorgeous ride at the Oakland Museum of California, resting beside the Hirohata Merc, which had the windows soaped, as the interior was unfinished... A historic gathering! (and just around the corner? The Beatnik Bandit.)

So what's all this boil down to? Consider how these two cars influenced the hobby... Sure, they may have ushered in an era of mega-buck show cars, but at the same time, they brought with them a new age of cars-as-personalities. Two very distinct, well-known cars, built with astronomical bugets, and quality that raised the bar sky high.

Do I agree with what these cars stood for? Perhaps not entirely... As entertainment, certainly... As practical examples of how to build a car? Probably not. Taken, though, as symbols of the age of excess, well, hell yeah...

...is what made it "so compelling", Greg Noll once said of his decision to surf Waimea Bay, which, in November of '57 he conquered.

Surfing there was considered a no-no of sorts, stemming from the death of Dickie Cross there in 1943, as well as the sacred ruins in Waimea Canyon, and a house that the locals presumed haunted... All signs of surfing the almost unexplored (at the time) North Shore seemed to have a big red slash through them. But on that fifth day of November, a drive was so great in the mind of one man, that he cast all superstition and fear aside, and rode some waves. He was quickly joined by Harry Church, Bing Copeland, Pat Curren, Mickey Munoz, and Mike Strange... six guys who spent three years trying to draw enough courage to surf there... And once they did, they became legends.

What's any of this have to do with building or designing hot rods?

Plenty.

I get inspiration from a wide range of sources, and always seek to implement the ideas I get from those sources into a design, or piece of art. Mr. Noll is one of the people on my list of great inspirations, as he was a true pioneer in his craft, whether riding waves, or creating the boards to do so. While I could go on for days about his contributions to the surf industry, I'd rather concentrate on those few opening words from this entry:

"The forbidden-ness of the place is what made it so compelling."

Has there ever been a better way to describe the feeling of taking a torch to a car with the intent of creating something unique?! I imagine the late Sam Barris, contemplating the first cuts on his Merc, or his Buick, for that matter... It was a visionary, bold move to drop the lid on either car, and yet, his decisions to do so spawned legend... and countless chopped tops to follow. Decades later, some in the hobby/industry still embrace this pioneering spirit with the battle cry of "dare to be different!", pushing the creative envelope just a bit further each time. It takes a big ol' pair of stones to carve into something different, something not considered mainstream, and really have at it. Of course, it also takes "doing it well" to be successful.

I recently penned a design for Popular Hot Rodding that embodies this approach, taking a relatively forrgotten and over-looked car, and just "having at it", bringing in influences from all over the place... and it was cathartic, man. "You don't do one of THOSE..." I was told... Which only fueled the fire, as such challenges often will in those with a creative bent. I finished the roughs for the car, and began to think of even more rides off of the beaten path. I'm not saying that drawing this car even compared to riding Wiamea for the first time, but the excitement of taking a direction with it (that I've sat on for years) that is fresh sure packed, metaphorically, anyway, the anticipation of paddling out.

I guess that it all just comes down to finding inspiration in unique places, and then summoning the courage to apply it properly. Not to mention boldly crashing though some previosuly closed doors along the way...

...re-imagine!

Have you ever heard a song (hell, even seen a movie) that you just completely dug, and then later found out that it was a remake? It happens quite often (especially in modern-day, no-creativity Hollywood. Are you a producer? Hit me up for a pitch that'll slay at the box office. Seriously. I have an idea that smacks of pure gold), and occasionally, the remake may even exceed the original by some margin.

Of course, when the opposite happens, it happens on a BIG scale. "All Along the Watchtower" by Hendrix... amazing, and quite possibly far superior to Dylan's. "Statesboro Blues", originally laid-down by Blind Willie McTell, but made eternal by the Allman Brothers. Both are incredible works, pure and simple. It is art taken to another level. Of course, you can hit the "down" button, and slide a few concentric circles below deck with fecal matter like Madonna's "American Pie", Bolton's "Dock of the Bay", and countless other self-indulgent works of ear drum misery. Some are so bad, you kinda like them for their inherent bad-ness... For instance, William Shatner's "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds". I kinda like it better than Elton John's... and almost as much as the original, but from a much different vantage point. Quirky can be cool... in the right amount. But ask yourself: "Would I want to only hear this version? Much less over and over again?"

Occasionally, a remake is just that much more in tune with the times of the observer. Imagine if you never heard "Don't Stand So Close to Me" by the Police, prior to 1986. What if your first exposure to said song was the re-make (on their Greatest Hits album from that year)? Which might you prefer? The jazzier, more mellow later version, or the original, more up-tempo release? Same twisted tale of misplaced affection, certainly... just told in a different pattern of speech, really. Perhaps that's the key here... Any remake is really just another voice -- or in this case, the same voice, just at a different place in life, telling the story (or singing the song, whatever the case) from their particular point of view. James Earl Jones reading a bed-time story would be kinda cool... Bobcat Goldthwait doing likewise? Perhaps not so good... or maybe entertaining in a much different way.

I suppose that in car terms, you could look at a number of rides from throughout our hobby/industry, and make note of a number of remakes/re-works, tributes, etc, and come to the same conclusion. It has a lot to do with whose hand is interpreting the story. What if Chip Foose set out to re-work, or build a tribute car to the Jade Idol? The Hirohata Merc, even? You'd almost instinctively trust the guy to do a bang-up job (...of course, Billy Joel might do a bang-up job on the car, too... all a matter of perspective and interpretation, really). Would you trust a manufacturer of 36" wheels and a stockholder in glue-on chrome vents and trim to do justice to the car? Probably not. It falls back on interpretation, perspective, and the all-important point here-- preconceived notions and expectations. If I told you that Andy Dick would play Alfred Hitchcock in a movie based on his life and career, you'd probably say "No way! Why?!", without giving it a second thought, right? You have a certain ideal in your head about what should be, and what might be... and when we consider the "might-be's", well, it can get awfully frightening awfully damn fast.

In any event, we're living in the age of the remake, the re-do, the tribute. The new Challenger... the New Camaro, the retro-styled cars are all over the place. In the hot rod world, we're inundated with SS clones, continuation-series, tribute cars... We're constantly treated to wave after wave of "special edition" this and "signature series" that... many poorly engineered and even more poorly executed. Imagine growing up as a car-obsessed kid today... especially in a house where no family member shares your passion. Let's take that a step further, and imagine that this poor soul has not one friend that's really into cars, or that can offer a guiding hand.

Now imagine that this unwitting car nut only has the local news stand, a few crappy TV shows, and Wikipedia to attempt and glean some knowledge from. What is this kid going to think is cool? Pedestrian designs consisting of poorly-chosen design elements, wheels that are just too damn big, and pathetic attempts to re-hash a past that was, in reality, a far cry from the one so often misinterpreted today. Let's be honest, here. For every Ring Brothers masterpiece, there are five that give an honest shot, but maybe fall short in execution, and probably fifteen wanna-bee's that bring your lunch back up for another look at your molars.

Granted, we need those also-ran's to delineate just where good and bad taste begin. Yet, you'd think that one or two examples of each would serve as enough warning... alas, we see more and more popping up all the time, and there are some in our hobby who aid it along... they support more and more of the same old-same old, and that irks me a bit. Call an uninspired, cookie-cutter ride out for what it is... Don't say "Wow, you're amazing!" and then walk past 30 more just like it. I can do that in any mall parking lot, and so can you.

As I often tell my new clients when we have our initial consultation, "let's not just re-make something that's already out there... Let's re-interpret what a hot rod, street rod, custom car, pro-touring ride whatever, as what YOU interpret it to be." Designing based on a client's personality, desires and goals brings out a whole other level of work from me. I hate the term "pushing the envelope", and utterly despise "outside of the box". Why live in restraint? Who says that there are limits to begin with?

Once you have a handle on that, you can choose to go the remake route if need be. Perhaps you'll be inspired to create something new and unique... Or just maybe, you'll take inspiration, and create something new, perhaps based off of the original, but with your tribute paying homage to creativity with even MORE creativity. Top your tribute with incredible execution, and who knows... perhaps your next ride will be like Sinatra's version of "Luck Be a Lady". It may have had its roots elsewhere, but it's been elevated to something unique to the voice that carried it.

All told, reach a bit deeper into your imagination and make it your own....

East coast customs have always suffered from the stigma of being "un-cool", or at best, unattractive. There's always this opinion that seems to surface when talking cars (especially hot rods and customs from the "glory days" of the fifties and sixties) that East Coast customs and hot rods were "ugly" or lacked style. Granted, there are quite a few examples that support this claim, but, having grown up on the "right coast", I have always felt a need to defend that side of the hobby.

The magazines of the time chronicled what was immediately available to them, and that meant, for the most part, West Coast cars. The few East Coast cars that were seen seemed to have cemented a certain image in most car guys' heads... I'm not a fan of severely channeled coupes, but can appreciate the style and work that went into them, certainly. I'm also not a big fan of an overly-accessorized custom with giant skirts and a continental kit, but I do "get it". I think it's just got a lot to do with the times, the region, and the cultural differences. The East Coast has always been a bit grittier, relying on manufacturing, and with cooler weather, shorter summers and all, people just took a different approach to building, and making due with a smaller number of shops. Consider that there were much fewer shops, and that many skilled custom craftsmen went West (where the magazines and show coverage were), and you're left with but a few builders, and thus, less ability to really push the envelope.

I've been working on a project for some time, and recently kicked it into a higher gear... My goal is to document the East Coast style, and, at the same time, chronicle the builders and their cars, and hopefully, shed some light on the little-known history from the region. I am fortunate to have grown up with some of the people who were "there", and even call some friends. We have family friends that built customs and hot rods, raced in the region, and were, generally, part of the scene. As I compiled photos and stories, I was continually blown away by the variety of cars, the quality of the work, and the great stories that have been shared...

As it all comes together, I'll share more, but wanted to throw at least one quick look at what's going on in front of you.

Take a look at this home-built '50 Ford. This is the kind of stuff that gets me going... a family project, and definitely something we can all relate to...

Wayne's '50 Ford is a piece of Western New York custom history, and, in his words:

"Here are some shots of the car my Dad (William Carrig), my Mother (zelda), my four sisters and I built in his one-car garage in Kenmore, NY over a two year period beginning in 1964. This was my first car, bought it when I was 16 years old and my Dad who had a body shop at one point in his life fixed the body (it was a mess, rusted out floors, rocker panels, quarter panels, etc.).
We also customized it frenched headlights, shaved hood, truck, removed side chrome, sunken antenna, custom grill, hand built taillights.

Everything on this car was done on a strict budget as I had little money. Grille opening was formed from electrical conduit, sunken antenna and handbuilt taillights made from brass kitchen drain pipe, taillights were red truck clearance light lenses, upholstery including truck except for the back seal and convertible top were all done by my Mother, Dad and me. Front seats were from a 65 Mustang and my Dad fabricated floor mounts so they would fit. I used 57 Oldsmobile turn signals as they looked like Lucas lights and I sure as heck couldn't afford Lucas lights at the time! Grill was chromed metal mesh. It was flawless after many other hours of block sanding and my Dad put on many coats of Corvette Honduras Maroon Lacquer paint which looked a mile deep!! A true family project, my sisters helped and everyone in the family loved the car. Unfortunately I had to get rid of the car when I got drafted and joined the Air Force during the Vietnam era. I hated to do it but had no way to get the car from Buffalo, NY to San Antonio, TX. I did use the money from the sale of this car to purchase the Black 57 Chevy I purchased in TX and still have today. Even so....I still miss this car and would do about anything to have it back..."

It's just one of those stories that make our hobby's history so rich. There are a LOT of stories to be told yet, and I'm stoked to be compiling it all, and learning as I go.

If you're an East Coast hot rodder/custom car owner or fan, and would like to share some history with the project, hit me up! I'd be delighted to make your car or story a part of this project, and will work to ensure that all proper credit is given where due. Write me at the website (head to www.problemchildkustoms.com-- info is there!), and I'll get you the info you need to participate, as well as throw a gift your way...

Thanks again to Wayne, and those who have shared already. I'll keep you updated as we progress...

...and so much better than that "screamo" crap you're listening to, anyway.

After digging on Christian's post over on the Motorburg forum concerning some "singing F-1 cars" (ever heard an engine belt out "God Save the Queen"? You owe it to yourself to.), I had to share a slightly related piece here.

I've been working with some preetty cool projects lately, a few in particular began with the terms "pushing the envelope" and "extreme", and it did nothing but flare up the urge in me to go fast. Granted, this is bit on the opposing end of the spectrum frrom earlier posts, where we looked at subtle modifications, and really praised the "less is more" school of thought, but the sheer thought and engineering in an F-1 car is mind-blowing, and certainly fits here. What pushes it to the outer reaches is the awesome power (OK, and noise) created by one of these monsters. And in my opinion, they are a textbook example of "extreme". Dig on one running all-out:

CLICK HERE

...naturally, this about spoiled my plans to run a more traditional powerplant in any personal project again...

"THE" anything...was this past weeks' lingering thought.

Put the word "the" in front of another word... but with emphasis. Like "THE album", or "THE '55 Chevy". When you do this, especially in the presence of friends or like-minded people, you can almost always get a knowing nod or smile. If you're Zeppelin fans, "THE album" may be either Physical Graffiti or IV (and may be grounds for a fist fight, who knows?). Say "THE '55 Chevy" in one group, and you conjure images of either Falfa's black ride from American Graffiti (or its prior incarnation in gray for "Two Lane Blacktop"... perhaps the sound of it in "Smokey and the Bandit"? We'll save that for another time...), or in another crowd, Scott Sullivan's Cheez Whiz Orange masterpiece. Say "THE goal" to a Hockey fan, and you'll conjure up the iconic, historic image that leads off this entry....

Game 4. Overtime. Sweep of the Blues on the line. First Cup victory in 29 years. Sanderson's pass leaves Orr's stick as he's hit by Blues defenseman Picard. As Orr sails though the air, the puck slides past goaltender Hall, and a historic moment is caught on film... quite possibly the most famous sports photo of all time.

...which is what got me thinking about all of this in the first place. Bobby Orr. Why would I think of Hockey's greatest defenseman while sketching up some cars? It may have to do with my kids heading back to school this past week, and thoughts of book reports, nostalgic whatever about my days in school, who knows... But I do know that one of my first book reports was on a book about Mr. Orr, and it left an impression on me.

I recall reading the book, and thinking "whoa... this guy is the greatest!", and not just numbers-wise, but man... he's everything a sports hero SHOULD be: talented, dedicated, and driven. Calder Cup winner, eight straight Norris Trophies, three-time Hart Trophy recipient, two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and two, count 'em, TWO Stanley Cup winning goals... and a spot in a little place we call the Hall of Fame. He played with a terribly injured left knee, and when he felt that his play on that knee was hindering his team, he politely retired from the game. With 270 regular season career goals, and 645 assists, it's obvious that this guy was a leader...and more. When he moved to Chicago, and his injuries allowed him to play only 26 games, he refused to accept a salary, and, in fact, never cashed a paycheck.

At that early age, what I had learned at home was reinforced in that book: work hard, remain dedicated to what you do, and earn your keep. It left a mark on me that became permanent... What's this got to do with cars? Like I said at the beginning, there's always that certain "something" about, well, something that just sets it apart, and etches itself on you in some way. Bobby Orr's story was like that to me, much like Scott Sullivan's '55, Doane Spence's roadster and Winfield's Jade Idol... Each has that mystique, that vibe that draws you in closer, and then leaves an indelible mark.

My goal is to one day design or create something that does that to someone, and who knows, maybe inspire some grammar school kid to look up to me. May you have that effect as well, and leave behind a legacy of "THE's"...

...and yes, you read that right. "Supper Car" Club.

Why "supper"? Simply put, supper is the term usually used by my kids when refering to dinner-time here, and weekday dinners (or "supper") are usually nothing over-the-top or spectacular, just a fill-you-up on good food moment in the day. A necessary part of the day, without a lot of fluff. Kind of fitting as you'll see when we get to the cars that would be in this club.

I had stumbled across the supercar club idea back in 2000, and thought "novel idea"... but then dismissed it, and went back at my day job. This past week, the thought popped back in my head while parking at the Post Office to ship out some designs, and I parked next to a perfectly preserved Gremlin. (I know!! Bitchin'!!) How long has it been since you've seen one of those? Apparently, the three other folks checking it out had the same thought. (note to the owner of said ride: What I wrote on my card is serious. I want your car.)

If you're into exotics, you no doubt know of organizations like Group 20's incredible Super Car Club, or P1 Prestige and Performance Car Club, or a few others. The basic idea is a shared-access plan, wherein members have access to a number of exotics and luxury cars for about the same cost as owning ONE. Pretty slick, and not unlike shared-access plans for yachts, jets, beach mansions, islands and so-on. So, for like $30k per year, plus a $5-10k membership fee, you're driving a number of cool cars throughout the year, insurance included.
Nifty if you're of the persuasion that can afford it. Me? Nope. I fall more in line with my nifty idea:

The Supper Car Club.

Regular folks cruising regular (an occasionally rare!) cars. We'll round up a group of investors, and purchase a fleet of hand-picked, basic transportation cars from the past and present (if you can get 'em from the future, well, we'd like a word with you, too!). We'll set up a membership fee based on the value of the cars, say $75.00 to join, plus like $300.00/year, and base it all on a points system, allowing everyone access to the cars. You may buy extra points, or trade points for allowing off-use days for cars, etc. Naturally, cruising the Cavalier rag top in June would be double he points of the Cimmaron with the broken A/C, but hey, this is about exclusivity.



I can hear it now-- "Why would anyone want to drive a car like a Citation, or a Fairmont sedan, or an '80 El Camino with a broken tailgate?"

NOSTALGIA.

Unless you were some spoiled brat as a teenager, chances are that through college (or beyond if you draw cars for a living and have kids), you've driven some questionable-looking, as well as performing cars. And what always comes up in converations about those times past (or present... it happens)? "Man, I hated that car, but I miss it!" Admit it. That '79 Delta 88 with the door skins flapping in the breeze was pretty cool. You had FUN with it. I sure as hell did. And my friends still remember that car... even the ones I bump into so many years later... And think about it: If you're into cars like I am, you check everyhing out. Like the afforementioned Gremlin. I was drawn to that like flies on... oh wait, bad comparison... but you get the idea. A car that hits home will draw as much, if not more attention than some exotic ride. (consider Playboy's Farmer's Daughters specials--- I read it for the article on cobbler -- was that a fluke? The girl next-door is always more approachable, and often more realistic. I bet they sold millions. Cars are the same way, I've found.)


Admit it: You had this poster right next to that one with the white Lamborghini.

We'll offer typical high school and college-year cars, and even a few hot rod-style versions... Maybe '78 Malibu with a severe rake, N-50's and Jensen 6x9's on the package tray, or even a hand-me-down LTD in powder blue... The kind of stuff you had back then. Imagine pulling up to your reunion in a Camaro with a dented fender, a Moroso decal and sheepskin seat covers, just like you had back in school? Talk about keeping it real. No rental Caddy for you. Just bringing back memories, much like your mullet and parachute pants.

And for those who were in all of the musicals, or had weird parents, we'll round up some used Volvos, VW's, and the cream of the crop:


...it's tres chic

(I'm showing the smaller cars so that we get the "green" folks on board. Fret not, my fellow size 34 EEE carbon-footprint friend, I'll be battling you for points on the Granada with the bad valve seals and cracked rings. We'll have a little something for everyone. AMC Eagle? We'll have THREE.)
All told, I think that once the trendies see Justin Timberlake pull up at the ESPY's in the Monaco with the Keystone mags, bad paint and bubbling tint on the windows, this club will be hotter than some crystal and gold-leaf decoupaged Von Dutch hat in an LA boutique after seeing it on a video awards show.

If you're in, hit me up... This will be huge, and a total blast. I have a line already on a Volare' wagon and a cherry Grand Prix...

More insight/design/lunacy over at www.problemchildkustoms.com.

...well then, by golly, they wouldn't have been as fun, now would they?


A lot like the Millenium Falcon: Not much to look at, but had it where it counted. I am a nerd.

And they certainly wouldn't have been hot rods.

I got to thinking the other day while cruising across the Valley to work on a project, about what makes a hot rod so damn much fun. Granted, this isn't the kind of thing that should involve any thought to begin with (for cryin' out loud, they're freakin' HOT RODS. What more needs to be said?!), but it brought to mind my teenage years, and the siren-like lure of hot rods and street machines in general.

In my circle of friends, we didn't have the biggest budgets for cars, and we made due with what we had and could barter for or get our hands on with our relatively tiny paychecks. And looking back on it, it made for some interesting, if not terrifying rides. Sure, none of us had what the sticklers today would call a "traditional" rod or custom, but, if you stop and consider it, how much more traditional can a car get than when you stuff waaaaaayyyy too much power into a car that really shouldn't have that much? Sounds pretty grass-roots to me.

I could sit here and tell the tales of a Pontiac-powered '83 Thunderbird (well, it needed an engine, and wouldn't you know it, that Pontiac slid in on a combination of Ford frame mounts and Poncho block-side mounts. Sounded good to us!), a big block Chevy-powered '68 Firebird (where'd ya think that Pontiac mill came from?), a series of super-quick Mustangs and G-Body Cutlass and Monte Carlo's... or even Bullitt-style jaunts to work, leaving late, but managing to arrive just on time. But the point here is that feeling you get when you slide into a car that's got a bit too much under the hood, and maybe wasn't ever meant to have it.

I recall my buddy's '78 Firebird, with a healthy small block and 4-speed, tearing up the streets after school... Always just on that ragged edge, where you want to dig your fingers into the dash pad, but you can't seem to stop laughing enough to reach forward, especially on that clutch-less shift to third... Or maybe you were too occupied with holding parts on the car. White-knuckle rides in a certain cranberry-colored '73 Cutlass etched some scenes into my brain, and probably a few stains in the underwear of the hapless folks occupying the next lane. Or holding on for dear life in another friend's Sebring with a super-stout 440. Yeah, my Chevelle was fun, but had slightly more civility, having been more carefully watched over during construction by the fine folks who not only gave me life, but a garage to park and work in. My '72 Monte, however, was put together quickly in the driveway and always had that "recipe for disaster" feel to it, and just begged to be driven as such (nothing beats brake lines held together with a half-dozen unions, one seatbelt, and an uncanny ability to vapoirize tires with a mash of the go-pedal). It remains one of my all-time favorites, and I only owned it for a short period.

My parents had a '55 Chevy for a bit that fell into this category... with a primered body, sitting tall on black steelies and dog-dish caps, with that high-winding 283 (with killer M/T valve covers, too!), a Muncie, and 4.11's, it was dangerously quick, and made you feel guilty just standing near it... and you know what? I loved that.

I'm not talking about some half-assed "rat rod" turd bucket that's deliberately thrown together with reckless abandon, or some poorly engineered (on purpose) "hey, dig me!" fairgrounds dumpster... Nor am I glorfying the utterly retarded things we did as kids... but more to the point, I'm finally at terms with what got me so deep into cars in every respect:

The whole feeling of riding that edge, whether you were screwing around on some back road, or just idling through the local cruise night parking lot. You felt like all hell might break loose at any second, and by golly, you were racing toward that moment. Fortunately, we seemed to, for the most part anyway, escape certain doom and live on into our 30's and '40's... pretty well adjusted at that. Except that burning urge to throw that old small block into the wife's mini van, of course... but that seems natural...

More insight and automotive art on my site: www.problemchildkustoms.com

...and finding a new home in Europe!

Some time ago, I was fortunate to have befriended skateboarding legend, artist, and all-around good guy Steve Caballero. Like all of my artist and hot rod friends, his work and cars are inspirational, and it all kind of becomes like family. You grow attached to the paintings, cars and whatnot, and when a ride or canvas gets sold, you feel a slight twinge of sadness, and hope that the new owner will take good care of it (kinda like my old Chevelle... it's comforting to know it's being enjoyed and cared for!).



You have to imagine my joy, then, when CAB's coupe was sold once more, and wound up, in all places, in the garage of a friend across the ocean!

Geert (aka Von Skip), is a talented artist, and we hit off our friendship through our work, sharing a mutual admiration for one another's style and technique. What this guy does on canvas is amazing (dig it here!). He's owned a number of outstanding cars, and when he saw the opportunity to grab CAB's coupe, well... I became stoked on a number of levels. After all, what are the odds? Two talented artsists (and great people) as owners of the same great car? Two separate continents... and each sharing the same incredible car culture. (and you thought the Dutch were only into wooden shoes and windmills. Shame on you. They like hot rods and customs, too... so there.) The world really is a small place, and lately, I've come to the conclusion that all things happen for reason. Thankfully, for whatever reason, I made the connection with two incredible people, and one fantastic car, and I get to see how it all plays out in the grand scheme of things.

...and, as if creating great art, collecting killer cars and just being an all-around cool cat weren't enough, on June 2nd, Geert and Nanouk welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Moenza into the world!



Congrats again, Geert!! Enjoy the ride, man...

...it's the people that make this such a great racket. Case in point: last weekend Craig (from MyRideIsMe.com) was rounding up hands to help in stripping his '63 Falcon wagon in preparation for a full-on makeover. And by golly, when the local boys call for help, I'm there. Occasionally, it's good to put down the pens and stylus and turn a wrench or two... it keeps you grounded in the real stuff... the stuff that got you into this business to begin with.

...and there we were, a small group that would grow to over a dozen before night's end, attacking the car with near-Overhaulin' precision, save for the most stubborn windshield on planet Earth (more on my glass nemesis later). What was to be a simple transmission swap was quickly escalted to a "while we're at it..." sort of project.. which means "look for some concept art soon".

That Craig sure knows how to pick friends, huh? From "Falcon Master" Mike (a walking encyclopaedia of all things Falcon and Comet-based) to Racin' Dave (runner-up in Super Street this year at Fontana (and 0.054 seconds from a Wally!!), to the always handy and knowledgeable Rob (who brought his killer bobber truck over and aired it out, as if that thing needed any more attitude!), you'd think we had all bases covered.

Hardly.

Dave and his charming wife popped in before heading to a graduation party to offer moral support, and before we knew it, there was Joe and Joel and Devin grabbing tools and jumping in. I mention all of these folks because it's what makes this hobby so great: The people. All of us are from different backgrounds, lives, careers... Yet we share the common car bond. It's that great equalizer, that certain "something" that brings people togteher and gets everyone reaching for a common goal.

When Doug (of Squeeg's Rod and Kustom) popped in (with Sammy and Moose from the shop in tow, following a trek to Southern California to pick up a Woody), all of that "car guy" stuff became clear. Here's a pro builder of the highest degree, wrenching on a local car. No glory in this, just stripping away what needed to go, and getting the ball rolling. It's just that whole "you're building a car? I'm THERE!" mentality that happens to come across between car people. It's the late nights spent in a garage, covered in grease and bondo dust that creates memories, and makes it all so damn cool to be a part of...

Anyway, this is where it sits for now... Look or more on this project as we build steam, and get the old girl rolling once more...

...sure look awesome when looking over old magazines and photos, don't they? All of the killer cars, shiny paint, classic locations, impeccably dressed people and so-on. It makes it all the more interesting when you either stumble across (or are handed!) an old snapshot that captures real life... an actual hot-rodding moment, frozen on Instamatic or Polaroid paper... In this instance, we have such a subject; one that makes you say "D'oh!"

Yep, it's harsh reality, there to smack you in the head, as it always seems to. The photo above came to my desk while hunting for source material to fuel my current background project, documenting East Coast customs and hot rods... My father gave me some surviving photos of old cars and car shows, and mixed in was the gem you see above. The car was his personal ride, a '57 Chevy 210 that he originally purchased with a six cylinder. The car received a nifty little 283, bored to 301ci, and backed with a 3-speed, 4.11:1's, and exhaust he described only as "loud". The car was respectable and quick for the times, running low 13's. Not too shabby for a kid, and especially for a daily driver.

Anyhow, the moment above captures the aftermath of a floor shift install. Say what? OK, not the IMMEDIATE aftermath... You see, my dad had installed a floor shifter that fine day, and, like so mmany times that I'm sure we can all look back on and say "yup... done that!", he rushed through to get to work on time (night shift!), and we all know how shifter installs seem to go... Something ALWAYS goes a little haywire. Needless to say, shifting from second to third resulted in, well, nothing. Youthful thought offeered the option to just reach through the ample hole in the floorboard and grab the linkage, when the stars aligned to strengthjen the Chevy versus Ford battle, and the mighty Chevy plowed into a '63 Fairlane.

The car was fixed, using the remains of a t-boned Bel Air hardtop, with the same car supplying the interior for this same car a bit later. The car was sold when my father entered the service, and marked a three year span of ownership in his life. We'll have to look at the '64 Impala and '66 Charger that followed at some point, too, all with somewhat better results!

Granted, I've done worse myself (and with no shift linkage to blame!), and that's not the point here... It's just an interesting look back on a moment frozen in time... one of those images you don't often see. It's real life mixing with youth, hot rodding, and all of those experiences we try to teach our own young 'uns with...

...on the shelves at once with my work is always a cool feeling! (now there's an understatement) I've been fortunate to have my work in print in Rod and Custom, American Rodder, and now Truckin' this month, making it a great start to the Summer months! I hope you find time to pick up all three of these issues, if not for the artwork, but the great content in all of them.



The amazing Mercury wagon in American Rodder is worth the price of admission alone, we've already been over the amazing '54 Merc (hey, I see trend here) in R-n-C, and the special horsepower section in Truckin' makes for some good reading as well!

Thanks to Dan over at Truckin' for slipping my artwork once again into the Radical Renderings pages (and look out soon for a project that he and I collaborated on, which spawned some great concept art!). I hope you enjoy them all as much as I did creating them...

...with some killer wheels...

Some years back, I was contemplating the move to designing hot rods and custom cars as a full-time gig, and was just gaining a foot-hold, grabbing a slice of ink (thanks again, Damon!) in the magazines, and getting my work out there. During this formative time, I had run into a guy whose work I admired and had seen just about everywhere, Jason Rushforth. I had the opportunity to not only meet him, byt we hit it off, quickly becoming fiends. We share a similar outlook on many styling issues, and differ enough on others, keeping it interesting and making for some great, and often informative talks.

A while back, Jason had told me about his pending wheel deal, and I was stoked. Here's a fellow automotive stylist making his way into yet another region of the industry... Awesome! I've always been proud of my ability to diversify, and offer a wide range of services all keeping with our passion for excellence, and when I see a friend and colleague doing likewise, it makes me proud, and just wildly happy to see it take off.

Jason and I were communicating back and forth at the start of this busy show season, and he took some time to discuss his favorite wheels from the new lineup... Granted, it's like choosing your four favorite kids, should you have twelve really good-looking ones... And that's what he's got brewing: Twelve wheel styles, in a variety of finishes, too!

The design of the wheels is great, offering numerous options for size (17-24-inches, and widths from 7 -15-inches), offset, backspacing, and the gunmetal powdercoat finish is killer... as are the other finishes -- brushed, polished, (polished rim w/brushed centers? Certainly!), black, smoked titanium... Don't want perimeter hardware (the fasteners around the wheel center)? No sweat... get 'em without it!

...and just when your head was spinning, you can choose from two- or three-piece construction, too! I'm particularly fond of placing well-known manufacturer's products on my spec sheets when designing, and these wheels are already finding their way into a few new cars on our board. The styles are diverse enough to be used on hot rods, customs, musclecars and classics, without looking like some other "private brand/designer" wheels so prevalent on the market that look more at home on an SUV than a killer pro-touring ride.

Again, I couldn't be happier to watch a friend embark on yet another adventure in his career, and can't wait to see where it all goes from here for Jason. Congrats again, man... and if you're interested in his wheel line, hit me up, and I'll get you in touch so you too can experience what Jason refers to as the "Power of Great Design".

...and how killer is this??! A while back, I had written a bit about one of the more influential custom cars in my past, Mr. Jerry DeVito's '57 Ford, aptly named "The Maze" (first part is here, and the second part here). I had reported what I found through research on the car, and was left with a few lingering questions about the car... so I did what was natural, and asked for help finding those answers.

I was fortunate to not only find those answers, but got them FROM THE MAN HIMSELF! Mr. Jerry DeVito took time from his day to chat for a while, and I walked away from that great conversation with not only some fantastic insight, but a great new friend. I'll report more on this soon, but wanted to share my excitement over meeting the man who created a car that left an impression on me as a car-struck kid, and one that always creeps into my imagination as I draw and design.

Suffice to say, there are a few facts that need ironing out from the first posts on this car (as I said, the research materials were limited), and we'll do just that in subsequent posts... But to answer that nagging question about the split bumper treatment, they were '57 Pontiac units, and the change was made in the first year (after the peaks and scoops). Jerry's inspiration was to always keep the car fresh, making changes after each show, always remaining at the of of his game...

We'll trace the car's history in the near future, from delivery at San Jose Ford in '57, through to its sale, and subsequent loss. Thanks for the interest, and especially to Mr. DeVito... wow...

Dreams...
...have a funny way of mixing things together. Consider just about any weird dream you've ever had... you know, "it was my house, but it wasn't my house, you know?"... Ever said that? Or maybe you wind up working at a job that you've never had... eating something odd, bizarre or exotic... Odd things happen in our subconscious.

Such was the case a few months back when Tim at Rod & Custom Magazine hit me up to create a "Dream Car of the Month" again.



I absolutely love creating artwork for the "Dream Car of the Month" in Rod and Custom Magazine. I dig it because it's not only the magazine I grew up dreaming of being published in, but the project affords a completely open-ended spectrum of creativity. For this go-round, I took the "dream" part literally, and scoured my subconscious for wild ideas.... What came from it all is a mish-mash of A/FX, gasser, funny car, street machine... You kinda have to see it to believe it...

And even if you're not a big fan of spicy taco-induced dream cars, grab this iissue if you don't already have it. The features this month are just outstanding, from Mark Morton's bsolutely understated '54 Mercury that we drooled over at the GNRS in January, to Rob Ida's unbelieveable Caddy, and the super low, super cool '32 three window of Larry Roller... The details will have your head spinning for days!

Thanks again to Tim and Kevin at R-n-C for another great opportunity...

...and we're not heading too far from the Studio, what with gas prices going haywire, work on the boards and so on... But I wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday, and take a moment to thank all of our servicemen and women, both past and present for their service, sacrifice and dedication, and take a moment to honor those who have fallen, protecting this great country, and making it possible for us to enjoy this hobby so much more each day.

If you're currently enlisted, or have been in the past, and are looking to pick up a shirt or print before June 1st, hit us up HERE for a coupon code prior to placing an order, and we'll make sure you get free shipping, as well as something extra thrown in... It doesn't compare to what you give each day, but I thought we'd try to express our thanks in some way.

Thanks again, and have a great Memorial Day weekend...

Blake ran the 'Bird again a few days ago... and added more evidence to the claims that a PCK Studio sticker WILL make your car faster. How's about four tenths faster?! Since we last checked in, the car was pulling low-11's and very respectable high-10's. Simply by peeling the backing and applying to your clean car, perhaps you too can gain speed, cut times, and launch like a rock star!



...of course, individual results may vary.



(...and here, on an Olds!:


On the subject of running quicker, check out Blake's latest video... There's drama, tire smoke, and dig the way the car launches... poetic, in a way:

CLICK TO VIEW IT!

Can't wait to see what happens when the 3.23 rear gear gets swapped, and some slicks get mounted!
In any event... there's a moral in this story, as well as a great bit of knowedge to be gleaned: Our stickers will make your car faster. Less than five bucks got an actual client four tenths. Now to work on that miracle cure for flatulence...

...Problem Child Kustoms Studio-style.

I got to thinking about it, and figured I'd do my part as we head into some unsure financial times... None of this "we'll cash your IRS refund check and give you a gift card" crap. Nah... not our speed, nor our position to do so.

Rather, I figured I'd slash our t-shirts to cost, and make sure that we're not only moving 'em out where they belong, on bodies at shows and cruises, but keep it all affordable.

On that note, hope all is well with anyone looking in, and if you're looking for some new threads for the show and cruise season, click on over to the online store on my site, and grab a few.

Enjoy the Spring, and by golly, hang in there. Thanks again...

Whipped cream...

...and salsa.

Salsa?!

I know what you're thinking. "Where is he going THIS time?!"

I like looking at things from a decidedly different angle, and am often inspired to seek out the inspiration behind a trend, or a particular style... I'm a fan of mixing and matching themes, styles, whatever...and an even bigger fan of just having fun with whatever I'm doing, and often seek out things that reflect this attitude. Whether in friends, books, movies, or music.

Occasionally, this leads me to seek out stuff that's a bit off the beaten path. Such was the case here in the studio once again.

(Yeah, it's gonna be another musical jaunt... and it'll all wrap up nicely, as usual, with cars. Stay with me, I think you'll dig this little side trip.)

Anyway, I got to thinking, of all things, about Herb Alpert (not Marv Albert. That'd be weird.), and gave a listen to "Whipped Cream and Other Delights"... A far cry from what I was listening to a week ago, to say the least... and by far much stranger cover art (if not quite risque', considering its 1965 release date):

Granted, this album was released before my time (in this dimension, anyway.... there may be another me in some other dimension, hanging out in a lounge...), but man... how cool were these cats? If you're not familiar with the Tijuana Brass, here's a quick history lesson:

Herb Alpert was a trumpet player who developed a unique sound that was a mix of south-of-the-border, mariachi and distinctly lounge-y sounds, probably best described as "Ameriachi" (as I learned from a few sources). If you're really lost here, think of the theme from the TV show The Dating Game, called "Spanish Flea", which was a Herb Alpert/Tijuana Brass tune, and you'll have an idea... or their version of "The Lonely Bull".

Anyway, the 'Brass cranked out a few albums in the '60's (even a cool Christmas album! Find a copy, and mambo your way through a Christmas Wonderland...)until Alpert called it quits, and took his (and business partner Jerry Moss') record label A&M, and signed some heavy talent, releasing a few albums of his own along the way (out-selling Michael Jackson in the late-'70's! Says a lot for that era, I guess), before selling the company to PolyGram in the late 1980's.

So what's this got to do with cars? Think traditional lowriders. Bellflower custom style(named after the city in LA county where the look spawned). A mix of the lowrider and custom car, and you'll see where I'm headed.

Consider Watson's Caddy:


It is the embodiment of the Bellflower look... the low stance, simple (if often ANY) body mod's, the bold, yet somehow understated paint technique (much like his T-Bird that came before), and those killer pipes. The East LA style, mixing elements from two cultures (like the Tijuana Brass did!), and coming out the other end with a clean, cool style. It's all about class, luxury, and style. Just like a lowrider, but with custom roots.

Lowriders embodied Mexican tradition. Crusing in a decked-out ride to impress the ladies, and show off your skills was more than just about the cars. Cruising may be traced back to the "paseo", where singles would walk around in the central plaza of the village, basically checking one another out. The idea here was to impress. Put these kids in cars, and it sure looks a lot like cruising... Which brings us forward a few years to the end of the second world war. Hot rodding was booming as young men returned from military service, eager to make creative use of their new mechanical skills. On the other end of the spectrum, the Mexican immigrants were making their cars look luxurious. It was style over speed... lowered stance, different hubcaps, an accessories like spotlights, skirts, pipes... many items shared in traditional customizing.

Fast-forward a few more years, and combine this look with the growing custom scene, and well, you got some clean, mild cars that made the most of the new styling coming from the factory... Apply it to a luxury car, and you're well on your way to a crossover look beyond compare. Imagine in late 1957 (coincidentally, the same year Bellflower was incorporated as a city), a young Larry Watson crusing into the Clock Drive-In in his panel-painted T-Bird...

I have a soft spot for this look... A couple years back, I sketched up a modern take on the look, combining it with the pro-touring look -- note pinstripe whitewalls on a 5-spoke as a nod to the classsic "Supremes and pinners" look (OK, and a mild chop, extended quarters, relocated and shortened trim...):



The idea behind the Bellflower look is clean lines, cool, vibrant and rich colors mixed with just enough chrome to keep your eyes happy... Make use of some 'flake or pearl, some striping... In other words, think mild custom, but dressed a notch higher. It's a fun style, to be sure, much like Herb's band of session musicians belting out "Ameriachi" cover versions. Take one thing, and spice it up with another influence, and man, you can't help but feel the vibe, and nod your head approvingly as you smile.

And that's how my mind works: From whipped cream to salsa, stopping in between for some quick history, and leaving you to consider mixing up some styles on your project...

... apparently involved a maze. Well, THE Maze, actually.
Recently, a conversation with a client (debating the merits of a few avenues we could travel with his '57 Ford) turned to one of my all-time favorite late-50's customs, Jerry Devito's "The Maze".



The car is a great example of restyling at the time, employing seven scoops of Grande Brothers bodywork (not to mention shaved trim and handles, extended peaks over the tunneled head and tail lights) all covered in a green/gold, and finally, a topping of scallops in seven colors by Bob Hendricks. Outrageous? Certainly... Are we going to duplicate the car? Unlikely... but there are aspects of this car that are so "right", it's scary, and will make the final cut. (however, if anyone is up to creating a similar, maybe even a tribute car... I'm ready for you!)



Dig on the stance for a bit... It's awesome. The right amount of sidewall on the tires, the chrome reverse wheels are incredible, and the lack of a rear hubcap hints at performance potential. Devito's ride utilized the original engine, with the addition of an Offy three deuce intake, Isky cam, and the ever-popular Magspark ignition -- we may go likewise! Interesting to note is that the car had some chrome engine dress-up parts... This was the era when such underhood detail began to gain ground... As the cars became lower and more "custom" in appearance from the factory, the emphasis on body modifications (current example exempted!) began to wane, and it was in vogue to simply drop the ride height, and go wild on paint. Consider that this same car, if built a couple of years later, may have worn thin whitewalls (Royal Masters, perhaps?), no lakes pipes, and the body restyling would have been decidedly different... '59 was the tail end of wide whitewalls, and the beginning of a steady decline of the "golden age" of customs.

In any event, I thought it would be cool to share this car, as it had a profound effect on me so many years ago when I first saw it, thumbing through some "little pages" at a family friend's shop (imagine a kid in the '80's discovering this car in his VERY early teens... "impressionable" begins to describe it!). Later in life, I'd stumble across a piece of art by VonFranco featuring this car. Wild! While I'm certain many folks knew of the car, it was awesome to see it immortalized by a modern master in that way.

Odd fact: The car appeared in print wearing the stock front bumper on at least one occasion (as seen here):



and then later in print, with an odd split bumper and molded pan...



Anyone know when this happened? If so, drop me a line!

There you have it... a quick trip through the maze, complete with some cool eye candy as your reward...

When last we left off, we were discussing the '57 Ford aptly named "the Maze" (scroll up to read it, if you missed out on part one... we'll wait up!). A little digging unearthed some cool stuff, and really fills in some of the voids. The shots I posted of the car lat entry were of the car in its '57-to-early-'59 guise, and the query made as to when the front end was changed-up to the split bumper/molded pan...



No answers yet on that...and apparently, this was not the end of the restyling of this radical ride... far from it, in fact!

It seems that the car was wrecked sometime before early 1960, received a more radical body transformation, and, ironically, much more subtle paint. The front fenders saw the removal of ten inches from the front, effectively setting the upper headlamps deep in the body. A new grille shell and front pan houses more lights, and a pair of grille bars created from ribbed exhaust pipe (I built models like this as a kid!):



This round of custom work was done by Gene's Body Shop in San Jose... anyone have info on them, or maybe any other notable customs? (how about Burns Upholstery while we're asking? I swear, this thing is becoming an obsession! Any help is greatly appreciated.)



The car, in this version, has a style similar to the Trendero, built around '61 by Trend Automotive (in Lyons, IL!! See? Great midwest customs from the early days!):



Anyway, the Maze, by this time, had gold paint, and no longer wore a rear bumper, utilizing a rolled pan and nerfs that shared theor shape with the sloping "beaks" off of the roof scoops and tail lights.



Sadly, it's another of those great customs that have disappeared. While we may no longer have many of these greats from the age of excess (although, the Trendero lives!!), we have the archives to study them from. Of course, seeking out info on this one car has led me through some amazing territory, and truly whetted my appetite to pen some late fifties/early sixties show customs... anyone up for something truly unique?

Drop me a line...

...is defined by Webster's as "skill or cleverness in devising or combining : inventiveness, or: cleverness or aptness of design or contrivance".

It's been a word that has spent an unholy amount of time bouncing around in my brain lately. I find it to be a powerful word when applied to our hobby/industry of hot rodding in general, as it's really the backbone of what we do. Consider an engine builder, working to tweak every last ounce of power, Sam Barris chopping the first Merc roof, or the first guy to conceive the idea of using lace to create killer patterns in custom paint. Hell, each day I'm confronted with the challenge of bringing unique ideas to a project, and in some cases, finding ways to stretch a budget, and draw in some wicked little details to set a car over the top. It's a matter of using what's there in front of you (and occasionally what doesn't exist!) in a new or different way, and then getting it all to flow.

A recurring theme here in the old blog has been that of cool details and inventive use of materials on a project, and this entry brings in some really neat stuff. First off, time had shot over some pics of his new, self-made planishing hammer. Confronted with pre-made units that maybe had the power but lacked the throw he needed, or even vice-versa, he did what any hot rodder might do: He made his own.

Pretty slick, indeed, and a great illustration of the point here. The human mind is capable of solving problems with amazing agility at times (there's even some grace in banging a sheetmetal panel to shape over a 2x4 when it's in the right hands!), and when it comes to creating tools to aid in work, provide convenience, whatever, it's always cool to witness.

Speaking of ingenuity, a recent side trek on the web, seeking more info on Sam Barris' Merc led me to a video highlighting a car that's always kept me fascinated (and, amazingly, another Barris-constructed car -- I say "constructed", as the majority of the innovations on the car were those of the owner), the Golden Sahara II, from the ingenuity (see a theme here?) of owner/designer Jim Skonzakis (aka Jim Street). Every inch of this car is loaded with ingenuity, and inventive, if not a step beyond state-of-the-art for its time (this was pre-1962!)... Man, consider that this was the FIRST car to have a TV in it, much less every other technical marvel thrown in. You may know this '53 Lincoln Capri from the Jerry Lewis movie Cinderfella...



or even the old Rob't. Williams "Leadsleds" poster (it's there in the original incarnation, anyway), too! In any event, over on YouTube is the following video (via the HAMB)... take a peek, and we'll pick this back up in a few:

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO GOODNESS

How absolutely freaking cool is THAT??!

Ponder the thought that went into this car, the forward thinking, the sheer inventiveness... the INGENUITY. Granted, there's a lot of gimmickry going on here, but isn't this car just the perfect illustration of the times? That whole "world of tomorrow" kinda vibe going on, and all wrapped up neatly in a pretty slick custom.

The ILLUMINATED tires were the product of Goodyear, in the form of Neothane Glass, effectively a thermoplastic, polyurethane resin that could be created to handle the stress and strength levels required for tires. The translucent tires were then lit via light bulbs in the wheel rim. (dig it below!)



I had shown this to my kids, and they flipped that the car had a TV, a remote... and then they said "they had TV back THEN"? Illuminated tires, whoopie... TV? Amazing to kids. Go figure...

...speedometer, that is.
...and did I mention that it's a factory piece?



Anyway, a few weeks ago, I took some time away from the Studio and had an absolute blast, with good friend Josh dropping into the Valley for some time at the Barrett-Jackson auction (and subsequent menagerie of auto- and non-auto-related goodies and sights and sounds), as well as a Saturday morning trek for some breakfast and to take in a Chrysler 300 Show (the Chrysler 300 Club's 15th Winter Meet). Josh is a big 300 fan, and owns a '57, too, along with his killer, slammed '58 Buick, and happens to be a great photographer, and true auto afficianado.

Back on track here, as we strolled the small -but high-quality- show, I was thrown for a loop by just how friendly these folks are, and how into the 300's (letter and non-letter cars), and was just kinda soaking up the great rides on display, when I came across one of the coolest things I've seeen in my car-gazing life:

A 1960 300F (Special Gran Turismo).

Consider: a Chrysler 300 is a big, luxury automobile that brings performance to the table. Light years ahead off the competition, this was a muscle car in its purest form. In 1960, the 413 Wedge was the new engine, and cranked out 375 horsepower in stock trim. You've probably seen a few with the unique cross-ram intake, which places the carbs over the fenderwells (more on this later). Chrysler also created a special short-ram version of the engine (the tuned runners for the intake were about 15%u2033 long), pushing 400 horsepower. They created only 15 of these cars, backing the mighty Wedge with the French Pont-a-Mousson four-speed transmission, originally created for the Facel Vega.

So, in effect, we have a luxury car with muscle car tendencies, wrapped in a killer styling package. All cool, but what blew me away was this:



...yes, that reads 200 MPH. Factory piece, from 1960. Consider that for a minute. (hell, the cars rode out of the factory on 15%u2033 wheels wrapped in Goodyear Stock Car Special Blue Streak tires... the same as used in NASCAR!) This was no ordinary car. This was a race car with STYLE.

I just wanted to share this, as it's a neat piece of history, and a very cool conversation piece, to say the least. We'll touch back on these killer cars in the future, to be certain.

Oh, and thanks again, Josh! Great times at the auction, man... too bad you didn't bring Robosaurus home. Maybe next time...

...and eight pistons.

While it sounds remarkably like a first-time engine build gone awry, it was actually a development engine from Ford, designed and built by Eugene Farkas.

In the 1940's, Mr. Henry Ford was experimenting with lightweight, tube-framed cars, attempting to create a structurally rigid, but overall simple-to-construct car. And what better to power such a car than a very unique powerplant. Understanding Ford's mindset of simplicity is key in the development process (even if this seems a bit extreme for only seeking to eliminate some engine vibration!). You see, the world was changing, and getting more and more complex. Ford wanted to retain the simplicity of the Model T, but create something powerful, efficient and reliable to work in then-present day America. The four cylinder engine illustrated this simplicity, but it lacked the balance of a V-8 (far less torsional vibration, even in a solid-mount configuration). In his quest for a vibration-free engine, this twin-crank eight was born:



Granted, it's technically a four cylinder, but with two cranks and eight pistons, each moving in the opposite direction on combustion, thus balancing either side of the assembly. The engine had an overhead-cam, with a chamberless design (leaving the the actual combustion chamber in the block), running 1.5-inch valves. At 83 cubic inches (2.25-inch bore, 2.625-inch stroke), and running such a short stroke, this design would've been great for some high-RPM action, but, sadly, suffered from poor crank design (the billet cranks had no counterweights on the cheeks, thus exposing the center mains to some heavy abuse, consequently deforming at higher speeds). The cranks, incidentally, were geared together via herringbone gears (a pair each of left-and-right-hand helical gears per side), which were as quiet as a standard, single helical gear, but suffered no thrust issues. A large idler at the rear of the assembly acted as the flywheel, with the pressure plate (from a V-8 60) bolted to it. Furthering the quest for low vibration, the driveshaft speed was low, as the idler tgransferring power spun at roughly on-half of engine speed. A simple design engineered to arrive at the solution!
Another interesting fact is that this engine was constructed mainly of cast iron (aside from the aluminum oil pan). At the time, almost all of Ford's experimental powerplants utilized aluminum. This considered, the assembly only tipped the scales at around 260 lbs, and looked pretty slick, too:



Looking back, a simpler solution, such as rubber motor mounts, isolators, etc, may have been the more logical, stop-gap answer, but Mr. Ford had sought perfection in design, and running a solid-mount would have reinforced that notion. Besides, it was a pioneering effort like this that makes for such a great story...

...versus "enthusiasm". There's a line between simply visiting a place, and taking it all in. You can always spot the tourist, right? The guy with the louder-than-most Hawaiian shirt, fifty necklaces from local vendors, and the loud voice trying to pronounce a word on a sign in a foreign (to him, anyway) language.

It's harder to spot the enthusiast, the guy who comes here "all the time". They blend, they know the customs, they drink in the experience. They don't eat at the local Applebee's and catch the fire-walking chimp boy's mime act, they eat at the greasy spoon, and mingle with the locals. In fact, this is how they know so much about the area. Exploration. An open mind.

Hot rodding is a lot like this. With the advent of TV shows (running the gamut from "reality" to "drama" to "do-it-yourself"), we've seen an influx of tourists in the hobby/industry/lifestyle ... the casual observer who might decide to dip his or her toes into the pool, and build a car. Sadly, some are swept up in the excitement, and go strictly on what they saw on a particular episode of "Bling My Rat Rod", and wind up frustrated when the car lacks quality/fun/visual appeal, or all of the above. It's not their fault entirely... after all, can you honestly say you've never thought "hell, I can do THAT!" as you leapt in and destrpyed a perfectly good dishwasher or alternator? Blind excitement, coupled with a need for accomplishment is often a recipe for disaster, and I've ordered that plate before.

I'm suggesting, then, that if you're a "toursist" that you choose a proper guide. Seek out experienced builders ("enthusiasts"), and ask questions. Mingle. Avoid the tourist traps of "to fit into a certain classification, your car MUST have this size wheel, this hood..." and other such peer nonsense. Don't rely on the communal approval of a messsage board, quite possibly populated by teenagers armed with the latest magazine... (I'm not saying this is true of ALL forums... just a couple of 'em) Trust simple design principles. Trust advice garnered from listening to experienced rodders. Seek out information. Compare notes, and build what you want, not a clone of 30 other cars, only this time with 18 video monitors. It's the same when considering "new" products. A few years back, it was billet grilles. How many companies rushed to market? Do we need 400 variations of billet door handles, latches, or other nonsense? What happens when the bandwagon gets overloaded? It spills over, and breeds contempt.

My point is, if you travel somewhere, you could see what the tourism board wants you to see (the sanitary places you can spend money at), and bring home the same photos your neighbor did, or you can seek out a trustworthy local to guide you through the back alleys (if you're REALLY gutsy, go it alone!), and taste the REAL culture of a place, and formulate your own opinion, and pull out some astounding, fresh photos back home. Be an explorer, innovate a bit, and above all, be an enthusiast. Jump in, feet first, and absorb the culture. The locals are friendly, approachable, and love to talk about the local customs, literally and figuratively. (granted, deep in the darkest jungles, there are cannibals and more fearsome creatures, and they are best left alone to observe... going all missionary on them can be hazardous, but paying them respect can have you returning home with untold wealth in the form of knowledge, and a head on your shoulders)

Last weekend, a group of us (Boston Mike, Paul, Jimmy, Pike and I) took off for Pomona and the Grand National Roadster Show... an epic trek to be certain, and it did what all great road trips do: left a smile on my face that even a jackhammer couldn't erase. But beyond that was the EXPERIENCE of the show, not merely wandering rows of cars and looking at shiny (and, in the case of the Suede Palace not-so-shiny) paint, but meeting up with friends and colleagues, and just breathing in the atmosphere (yeah, and your Polo cologne, pretty-boy). What made it all click for me, though, was witnessing a friend as he met some heavy players in the hot rod world, and listened as some of us spouted or knowledge and memories of cars and people past, I'd bet that it made an impact on him, to be certain... And I'd bet more that it made an even greater impact on me to witness it. It was like re-living my past, my introduction to the industry I embrace for a living. It's always cool to watch someone learn, and even greater when it's learning a subject you enjoy and just live for.

What's the point? I felt like tourist and tour guide at the same time, and realized that we were all kind of navigating a world best left explored without a map. Hot rodding is like that, when you let go of your pre-conceived notions and ideas, and just flow with it. Wandering the back alleys and rolling hills, and just EXPERIENCING it. Take your kid, or wife or a friend to a car show, and just roam around, and look at EVERYTHING. Not into bikes? Look anyway, and appreciate the details. Not into a restored, steam-powered vacuum cleaner? Look anyway, and take in the finishes and style available at the time it was created. Who knows? Maybe an idea from that will put your pro-touring Camaro over the top, as no one has ever seen that idea used on such a car. Head off the beaten path, and enjoy some new flavors, just be careful which water you drink, and avoid the gold watches on a street corner. Be open, not stupid.

You can either hop on the tour bus, or feel free to wander with the enthusiasts through the local markets, and load up on fresh ideas. Either way, leave your baggage at home. We travel light...

...there really is something inhrerently fun about cars in general.

Growing up, I was always infatuated with cars. Toys, model cars, Hot Wheels cars, Matchbox cars... hang on a second... quick moment of introspection here. Anyone else ever stop to ponder the difference between a Hot Wheels and a Matchbox car? I always felt (and I may be crazy here) as a kid, that the Matchbox cars were more "serious" cars. Replicas that were like the stockers running around town, while Hot Wheels were like the fun, rebellious cars... the hot rods of your town. Weird, perhaps, or maybe just right on track with their marketing idea... I just always played a little rougher with a Hot Wheels than a Matchbox. (oddly ironic is that, looking back, Matchbox cars always gave me some great hot rod and custom ideas... besides, they has some of the coolest colored windows... and when those boys busted out with a hot rod or custom-influenced car, they went NUTS with it.)

In any event, I was talking with the wife the other night about commercials, namely TV commercials for cars, and how they all just about suck. They've become serious, in a lot of ways... Granted, VW has their underlying humor, but, for the most part, the car commercials today all have a stodgy, buttoned-up feel.

We got on the subject of cool commercials, and by far, the greatest ever were the Nissan commercials from the nineties. Man, those were killer. Maybe it was a subconscious pondering of those commercials (which gave a solemn nod to the old Datsun days) that inspired me on a recent rendering to have fun, get loose, and throw a tip of the hat to their storied racing past... but there's one commercial from Nissan that everyone knows and loves:

WATCH IT HERE

...and how can you not love it? It was fun, and really played up a great image. It was a grown-up look back at your youth, playing with cars, and just inventing bizarre scenarios (especially if you had a sister... their toys always provided interesting back-drops for toy automotive-induced mayhem...)
The follow-up to that classic was just as entertaining:

WATCH IT HERE

In any event, I guess that my point is that even as we "grow up", we still hang on to the things that we enjoyed as kids, in some small way. While I may not have the toys I grew up with anymore, I have the memories, and I enjoy looking back on those times, as well as creating some similar memories with my kids, and taking that inspiration to the drawing board with me on each new project. I have fun doing my job, and hope it shows... Will playing with toy cars now have a similar effect on my kids? Who knows? Maybe they'll grow to become car-obsessed hot rodders, or maybe they'll just enjoy it for what it is, and go a different path with their interests (and take some cool memories along). The important thing is, we're having fun, and that's the name of this game. Go and do likeswise...

I had received a call from Nick Licata (via our friend Steven Rupp) a little while back, regarding a rendering, and behold, it's on shelves now as a part of Super Chevy's "Chevy Classics" Annual! This is great, not only because I get the chance to show some forward-thinking ideas, but being a part of the whole Super Chevy history is HUGE to me personally. Growing up, the first magazine I had a subscription to was Super Chevy, and it fueled many a dream car in my imagination, most notably tri-fives!

Obviously, I'm stoked to share my vision of an alternate take on the Projext X theme (which, ironically, is the cover car!) with some very modern and traditional ideas thrown in for some '56 Chevy stew. Grab a copy before 11/4, when they leave the shelves, and thanks again, Steven and Nick!

I've written a lot about this year's choice already, and will paste in some excerpts if you feel like reading my soap box rant... Granted, when we got back to town after the show, I made it a point to congratulate the guys at Scott's on a job well done, and their dedication... I have some strong feelings on this car, and even more on the direction a choice like this could lead future contenders... in any event...

... a well-finished car, certainly. The fit, paint, and detailing were superb, no doubt. But, in the end, it's a car with trendy big wheels, an uninspired interior treatment, and it looks, sadly, like some off-the-shelf, pre-fabbed roadster body, something like you might see 1,000 of at the next NSRA meet. I am not picking on this car, nor am I following the crowd that has seemingly banded together en-masse to spread their hate for it. Enough has already been posted by people doing this, and, besides, that's not my thing, nor my overall opinion. It just fell into the "trendy" mode, and missed the mark, in my opinion, of what a true AMBR car should be.

It has TREMENDOUS skill and patience (if not blind dedication) involved in the construction, finish, and detailing. It's SUBTLE in many respects... the re-worked lines would probably go unnoticed by may show attendees... It has a lot of key changes in many areas. It just fell a bit flat in a few key areas (from my vantage point), and that hurt the car. It's like that new mini mall you pass on the way to work: Yeah, it's shiny and new, and is packed with new, shiny stuff... but it's still a mini mall, and it looks remarkably similar to every other one you just drove past. A little more creativity in the wheel/tire combo and that interior, and this car would have crept silently into my recent favorites, no exceptions. (speaking of the wheel/tire combo... it's probably the part that struck me hardest, and polarized my overall opinion... The huge rears make the car appear out of proportion, if not somehow distorted. Then again, consider, for example, the first car ever to wear an exposed supercharger. Think THAT may have caused some controversy?) (OK, it completely changed my life, that first blown ride I saw... damn... I was hooked!)

As I said earlier, what I'm getting at here isn't to knock the car... it was well done for what it is... but rather to question if it has the longevity and certain "something" deserving of being a part of AMBR history. In 50 years will anyone want to restore it to it's AMBR-winning "glory"? Probably not. Why? I think that maybe it's the trendy factor. It's a dated car, and when the giant wheel phase is over, it'll be a back-dated car. Consider the height of Pro-Street back in the late-'80's/early '90's. There were some killer cars, no doubt. Hell, even the most over-done, Dobberton's J-2000 is still a stand-out, namely because it was SO overdone. Worth saving? Yes. It illustrates an extreme in the genre, and is a great piece to serve in that respect. But would you save every neon and pastel-colored, huge hoodscoop-wearing monstrosity from the era? No, probably not. There were so many variations of the same thing, that saving them all would be redundant. It takes a certain "something" to make a car a stand-out. Would this be a car to modify slightly and run again? Hell yes. It has outstanding workmanship, just needs the right changes.

At the Grand National Roaster Show, there was, on display, the A La Kart. A purpose-built ("to win shows" car, that had won the AMBR 50 years ago. It was there, restored, for all to enjoy. Rightly so, the car still impresses. It was built in a manner consistent with its original era, certainly, but pushed the envelope in all the right directions. Would I consider it the pinnacle of great hot rod design? Not especially... it works well, in my opinion, anyway, as a novelty, an illustration of a bygone era, and marks a point in hot rodding history worth studying. Should it have won this year? From a pure nostalgia vantage point, why not? But in current judging and trend standards, no... 6 It was a reminder of days gone by, and why we were all there in the first place. Observed as an object of reverence, it was tremendous to see it on hand.

Orosco's ride was my personal pick... outstanding in every way, and just has that AMBR "look". Am I saying that every AMBR winner should be a traditional-styled car? Nope... I'm saying that it should have that certain "something". Orosco's car grabbed at you, and gave you that giddy feeling that a great car does... And THAT'S why I do what it is that I do for a living. That "something"... that emotional draw of a well conceived and constructed automobile. It transcends merely being a car. It takes on a life beyond the material;s used to create it... A great car opens some inner communication, and creates a bond with you. Ask a true car guy to list and accurately describe 15 beautiful women he may have seen in his life. Then ask about 15 of his favorite cars. Amazing the details you'll have described about the cars. I'd bet there's at least one in that set that gets the best description... the stand-out, THE ONE... be it a car or a woman.

Does this year's winner rank that? Again, in my opinion, no. Not at present. We have a few years of billet-wheeled, mega-buck budget cars to choose from already that more than illustrate the era, and that do it using better, more cohesive design. Were there other cars from the A La Kart's era that have been forgotten (and probably for good reason)? Yes there have. We, as humans, always enjoy the first unique thing, and grow to hate the followers after some time, it's natural... Who knows, maybe in 30 years, I'll share photos of the car with my great-grandkids, and have a much softer spot for it. Some cars just do that, too.

... the part that saddens me most about this year's AMBR winner: It cut off its own potential by trying too hard to fit in to the rulebook. It's a great illustration of what happens when you let the rule book build the car: You remove the butterflies that want to float around in someone's stomach when they see it... But right or wrong, it was the chosen winner, and illustrates where one aspect of the hobby was at that particular point in time.

So... what do YOU have to say about it all?

Mathematics, guest appearances, music and cars ...all combined in my head over the past couple of days.

I had been in the studio almost non-stop this past week, trying to keep up, and finishing up some bigger projects, and as usual, began to ponder mysteries of life.

One topic that often entertains my gray matter is that of innovation. I enjoy looking back on instances where one single event or idea made enough of a ripple to change something. Consider skateboarding (not much of that happening with a knee like mine lately)... A simple trick like the Ollie took it from slalom and simple "sidewalk surfing" into a whole new universe. Arials, tricks previously unimagined... Hell, almost all extreme (board) sports can trace some lineage back to this simple trick (consider how surfing was transformed by the arial). Car-wise, consider Sam Barrris chopping the first Merc... better yet, his fastback Buick! Style moved in a whole new direction! Lower, cleaner designs poured from Detroit following this most basic (yet complex) custom idea.

It's all simple math, really. Add where you must, subtract what must be removed for the sake of style, and, if you do your math carefully, you have a winner! Consider that there are an almost infinite number of equations to arrive at a solid design, and it boggles the mind. It all falls on vision, and carrying elements to the right places.

Speaking of innovations, simple math, etc... I listen to a lot of music in the Studio, and I enjoy a broad range of styles. A recent spinning of some classic R & B really got the brain firing on all cylinders. I began to think about guest appearances, and the blending of occasionally different, and sometimes similar elements, and how they can affect the final product, be it music, cars, or even food. Canned Heat recorded an album with the legendary John Lee Hooker, entitled Hooker n' Heat, as the band was getting back to their blues roots.

The album is almost, in essence, a John Lee Hooker album, with the Heat playing backup... But it works. In fact, it's something beyond a simple listening experience... it takes on a life of its own (namely in Wilson's unbelievable harmonica playing-- sadly, also his last appearance). The meshing of Canned Heat's loose, funky, boogie style, with Hooker's down and dirty demeanor make this not only a great listen, but inspiration! Consider how, in most cases, a guest appearance by anyone (be it TV, music, or anything) is often watered-down. In the case at hand, Hooker just stomps his way in front, and stays there... It's pure "attitude music" if ever such a thing existed.

How does this apply to cars? Like any good design, it's in choosing the right ingredients, and using them to the right level... pulling the most from their potential. It's not about just bringing in the hottest "at-the-moment" thing (remember composite headlamps being installed on EVERYTHING in the '80's? There's a warning.), it's choosing some elements that may be, on the surface, anyway, entirely different... and finding some common ground or theme for them to work from. Looking at the raw material, and then seeking out an element, a slice of character in either a part or a modification that just makes visual "sense". Consider the use of Buick trim on a Merc. Just looks "right" somehow. A good idea that spawned countless clones. I suppose that my point is simply to hone your ability to discern what makes for good design, and to absorb those things that look (or sound!) "right"... and make sense of the WHY (why they look right, why it flows). In short, don't be afraid to kick the tail of your board, invite a different co-host (or opinion), or throw a few new numbers into the equation.

After all, when it comes to innovation or imitation, there's really only one way I'd like to go...