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Sep
02
While researching pictures for an upcoming FIAT 500 photoshop chop, I stumbled upon a picture of a Gutbrod Superior 600. As usual, an idea sparked and immediately I had the finished project already in my head. So I went to work and what you see here is not quite what I had imagined, but the result of a hilarious late night brainstorming session with a good friend. The Gutbrod body was altered slightly by chopping the top, louvering the hood, converting the doors to being hinged as suicide doors and relocating the wheel wells. The front axle has been moved further towards the front to get rid of the long front overhang and improve the overall proportions. Lowering was mandatory and after some trial and error with other wheels, I decided to go for Wolfrace slot mags, but kept the original hubcaps for that period correct feel. A joke referring to the German band Fettes Brot led to the sticker you see on the fender: Fettes Brod, which now also is the nickname of this hot rod project.
Aug
15
Vanlife doesn’t only mean living and traveling in a van full-time. Most people actually just use for recreational purposes on the weekends and during their holidays. I found a picture of a 1990’s Toyota Previa All-trac and wondered if it would be possible to create a low-budget vehicle that has the ability to take you off-road to those remote hiking trails. After returning from the trail you could cook a meal, have a cold drink and sleep until the next morning. I removed the rear windows to make insulation easier and create room for storage. A body lift helps to tackle dirt tracks with more clearance and the light guards protect all four corners of the Previa. The bumpers have been shortened to improve approach and departure angles. And if you manage to get stuck, the winch will pull you out of trouble. Old school Wolfrace slot mags give it a that 1970’s vanlife touch and the roof rack provides storage for the spare tire and a couple of gas and water canisters. Add a CB-radio for those areas without cellphone reception and you’re set to go exploring. Happy hiking!
Dec
05
Avid followers of my blogs VirtualModels and Drive-by Snapshots may already be aware that I have a sweet spot for classic French cars. Spending many a school holiday en vacences in France certainly is one of the possible reasons, yes. This and my preference of straight lines and low waistlines are perfectly combined in the Peugeot “05” generation. The greenhouse of the Peugeot 505 is more elegant than that of a Ford Granada Mk2 and at the same time almost as delicate as a Jaguar XJ‘s. This however becomes obvious only after the 505 is lowered, which also changes the overall appearence and makes the car look longer than it actually is. As with many cars from that era, there is no need to alter the body to get a great look. Just a few minor adjustments here and there… et voilá! C’est ça. Très bien.
PS: I do know that the classic Wolfrace wheels are a better fit on the early chrome bumper models, but I choose them anyway to offset the blacked-out trim pieces. Doesn’t hurt the stance either, does it? 😉