Menu
Jul
28
SAAB 900 Turbo Cabriolet | Bōsōzoku Style
Avid readers of Speedhunters and Japanese Nostalgic Car are familiar with the Japanese outlaw groups called 暴走族 (Bōsōzoku) and their tastefully modified vehicles. Most common base for building such vehicles are 1980’s JDM rear wheel drive sedans and coupés. However, if the owner has identified potential for an idea, just about any car might be used as a starting point and customized in one of these particular styles.
A friend recently challenged me to create a Bōsōzoku inspired photoshop chop. Instead of resorting to the popular base vehicles, I opted to start with the least likely vehicle to be modified in this outrageous style: a safe and sensible Swedish SAAB 900 Turbo Cabriolet. SAAB could be ordered with three spoke alloys from the factory and therefore Yokohama Super Advan wheels suit perfectly. Converting this classic and throwing all the visual key elements into the mix was hilarious fun. Based on the prototype of the convertible, my interpretation of a Swedish Bōsōzoku vehicle includes many elements of Shakotan, Grachan and Bōsōzoku styles. Modified bonnet, oil cooler with externally routed oil lines, custom made sideskirts and massive front splitter, classic JDM fender mirrors, riveted overfenders and wonderfully tacky exhaust setup mounted in an unusual location. But because this is still a Swedish car, there are warnings stenciled onto the pipes. Safety first!
[Disclaimer: This picture was created without any serious thoughts. No SAAB was harmed in the process.]
Jan
02
Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG Widebody with Overfenders (C126)
A good friend of mine recently complained that most of my photoshop chops are side-view only. That is true, because I have more ideas than time and 3/4 view pictures need a lot more time to finish properly than the simpler side-view pictures.
Read More»
Sep
23
This is another one of those “what if” photoshop quickies. What if somebody would take a USDM Volkswagen Dasher 2-door sedan (Passat in other markets) and modify it? Slap on a set of overfenders, mount a set of coilovers and wheels in a size that has never been intended to be used on a front wheel drive car. Replace the anemic original engine with a 1.8T with a bigger turbo setup and build an exhaust with motorsport components. Once finished you should have a pretty fairly decent, water-cooled, Volkswagen. I suppose it’s safe to wager a bet that it would be the only such vehicle at any VW meet. Is there anyone crazy enough to tackle this build and take it to the Wörthersee next year?
Sep
05
A rainy sunday with cold wind gustst at the end of a super dry summer. No reason to leave the house and plenty of time to photoshop something. After fiddling around with a couple of projects that never quite get finished, I found a picture of a BMW E21 323i and immediately started modifying it. The most obvious choice would have been a BMW V8 engine swap, but because I wanted a USDM style theme on the vehicle, it made more sense to pretend that it is converted to a GM LS1 V8. The NASCAR inspired steel wheels give the car a more or less period-correct look and the overfenders add a more modern touch. The stance is a compromise between aggressive fitment and driveability – not too low, to remain functional. I removed the trim on the sides and the rear bumper and replaced them with two black stripes. The Alpina front spoiler, the rear wing and the diffusor create an aerodynamic package that has yet to be tested in a wind tunnel. This BMW E21 could be a daily driver with ample power and excellent gas mileage. Now, who wouldn’t want to have one?
Aug
01
Lately I had a phone conversation with a friend and he asked me what I think about Daihatsu. Due to my experiences with Daihatsu vehicles, I’m quite fond of the engineering, reliability and longevity. I drove my first Daihatsu Cuore (aka Mira) while studying in Karlsruhe, had a long-term hire Sirion while living in South Africa and even took that one to 4×4 trails without any worries or problems. Mind you, it was not the all wheel drive version. I have never driven a Materia, but it definitely is on my bucket list. I like the styling of the body very much, but the dashboard with the centered instruments doesn’t do it for me. Researching the PCD and availability of tuning parts, I stumbled upon the Inden Design shop truck. Taking this concept a bit further is easy with photoshop. Remove the rear doors, convert it to a panel van and it’s done. Or isn’t it? To make the converted car look good, I modified the rake of the B-pillar and changed a few things here and there to get the proportions right. Once finished it received some spice: I lowered it, added vintage Gotti wheels and converted them to multi-piece with BBS barrels. Now, would you jump into this Materia to fetch some parts or deliver pizza?
Jan
10
Ever since driving an early Porsche 928 at the age of 21 I loved these futuristic but timeless grand tourers. The only thing that always bothered me design-wise was the shape of the fenders. On the later models they are wider, but still have a weird shape that make the car look strange when lowered. No worries though, as this can easily be improved with photoshop. While at it, I realized that this wouldn’t work on the real car and I had to find a solution. Overfenders have been popular to fix wheel fitment issues for decades and are now more popular than ever before. Instead of taking an exaggerated approach like Kato-san from LB Works, I designed a more subtle set of overfenders that tie into the original design of the 928 and cover the concave Forgiato wheels. To clean up the flanks, the door handles have been integrated into the side trim of the car. The air vents are integrated into the original bodywork and help to keep the brakes cool.
Originalists might cringe and prefer to look at the original picture.
Dec
04
This was another one of those 15 minute challenges: create a camper van or RV that would be fun to drift, if equipped with an engine that makes suitable torque and horsepower. I started looking for a base picture to begin the photoshop chop. The Roadtrek 210 Popular, based on the rear wheel drive V8 Chevrolet Express Van, has a very nice and sporty looking body kit that accomodates a set of overfenders nicely. With a set of Watanabe-style wheels that are converted to an 8-lug pattern and a healthy drop in ride height this beast might take you to the race track, provide all kinds of drifting fun during the day and living quarters for the night. You would have to secure all your cutlery and other items very securely for the drift sessions, though. 😉
PS: It could also be a nice and capable tow-rig for a drift car.
May
27
The designers of the Subaru SVX (aka Alcyone) went all out to create something very futuristic in the 1990’s. My favorite color combination on this UFO car is white and black, because it gives the vehicle an elegant look. But stock cars are not really my thing – I love to modify them to better suit my taste. Especially with delicate designs I try to keep the modifications rather subtle, because I don’t want to mess up the original lines and ruin it in the process. That’s why I only lowered it over a set of Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am wheels that resemble the classic BBS E50. The front and rear skirts have been modified to give them more volume and to line them up with the sideskirts. Please let me know in the comments if you would drive it like that or what you would do differently. Thanks in advance. 🙂
