Barn Find Friday: '57 Ranchero

There were a few b.f.f. potentials today, but I thought this was the most interesting of the bunch. Off the road for 23 years, complete, looks to be the highly optioned Custom model given the paint and trim, and it's a big block (always a nice option) though I don't believe you could get a 390 in 57, so either it's a later model swap, or the owner thinks it's a 390, and more than like it's a 352, which wouldn't be hard to mix up since they look pretty similar if memory serves me correctly.

The CL Ad

SENROC Shirt Design

New shirt for my buddies at SENROC Classic Rod & Custom down in Australia featuring their 58 Chevy shop truck.

Here's the rough sketch that we settled on:

And the final design:

Barn Find Friday: 36 Ford, and 58 Vette

Wow.  Talk about your odd ball finds! The posting states that the heavily modified 36 has been buried for 40 years. The Vette seems to have endeavored a similar fate, both in cosmetic treatment and abandonment.  Definitely worth reading the story...and one more that proves that yes, they are still hiding out there. :)

The HAMB Thread

The 1949 Ford: Politics, drama, & mystery!

As a designer and a car guy, I have always loved the 1949 Ford for the paradigm shift it brought to the automobile styling word. Super ahead of it's time with it's stark simplicity, it pioneered a new era in surfacing. What I didn't know, however was how much drama and conspiracy theory surrounds the conception of the design.

I found this old Ford PR video on YouTube, which outlines the design process as it is supposedly went.

But when you read the attached article, you will find that something entirely different went down, and it's crazy to think about how explosive or damaging  a secret like this would have been had it gotten out back then.

The Hemmings Article: "Styling Simulation-Did the 1949 Ford really begin life as a Studebaker design?"

Granted, this isn't new information. In fact, the article in hemmings is from '05, but I just came across it yesterday for the first time, so it's news to me! :) Whether or not you believe it all is up to you, but regardless the story is a very interesting piece of automotive design history!

Barn Find Friday: '56 Wagemaker

I love wooden boats. My dad has a '41 Chris that has totally gotten me into the look of old floating works of craftsmenship. I have never heard of Wagemakers before, but that's not surprising, since I know as much about boats as I do about motorcycles, which is very little.  Anyway, I saw this, and it fits the mold as far as barn finds go. Been in storage for 56 years.. looks complete and has style for miles.

The CL Ad

Another golden oldie: Lil' Red Express

 I'm suddenly busy as hell, but I don't have anything new to post up just yet, so in the name of posting fun stuff, it's back to the archives.

 Odd that it hasn't happened already... I've seen some really odd things become pro-touring monsters, but I've yet to see a late 70's Dodge dressed for the part. I figure a Lil' Red (or any d-100 step-side for that matter) would be a great candidate. For this one in particular, I smoothed a few details, tucked the front bumper in, and rolled the rear pan, as well as kicked up the ramp angle in the rear fenders. The stacks have been shortened and mufflers integrated. Wheels are large diameter chrome jobs that look like the original stamped parts.

Mike's Toys : Interior Ideas

Some quick interior ideation work for Mikes Deuce