Art Center, the 'center' of modern automotive design. I got to visit and dream when I was young junior college; photojournalism student. But at the time tuition of thousands of dollars and a father in the Navy wasn't gonna happen. But you can see the vision the school offered with the comparison that Ryan shows above. Oh yea, that guy Chip Foose designed what became the Prowler while at Art Center.
Went to a benefit car show at the Art Center years ago – all the students had their models on display. And they all looked sorta the same.
I agree with all the negatives above.....especially the chin....less chin or a bumper to hide or soften it.... and it does need two colors...but....STRIPES ?!?!?!.....sorry boss....plenty of room for the first version at my house....the second ain’t gettin’ in the door yard......Mark
Yeah ....poor taste is timeless, never really goes out of style. Noble ambition is commendable however, regardless of immediate outcome. I'm guessing that down the road there were styling advances that maybe had a more positive response.
Another case where the finish ruins the look. If it was finished in a dark color (maroon?), no stripes and tasteful nerf bars it would look totally different. I guess you could call him a visionary, he had the Datsun 510 look down before Datsun made 510s. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Really bad. reminds me of a Model Car book AMT put out in the 60s, lots of kustoms with not to scale mods
If there was no version#1, version #2 alone would be interesting and special. It is more of a race car/hot rod than a custom. But knowing that it was #1 before, makes it kinda sad.
Not sure if everyone recognizes the name Pete Brock, who went on to design the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. I personally prefer the first iteration of this 46 Ford Convertible. Mainly because it corresponds to a nostalgic full customs with all the right modifications: Chopped, channeled, raised front and rear fenders, sectioned hood. But the second, racing version was truly innovative and visionary for the period. In a way, the two versions are like Dave Cunningham's 40 Ford Sedan that was destroyed in a Southern California fire last year. The first iteration would be 100% HAMB approved, while the later George Barris modified monstrosity was a travesty.
By the way, in the Trend Annual Ryan references, another customs was on the facing page - Glen Hooker's 39 Mercury convertible built by Valley Custom. Two masterpieces!
I spoke with Pete at SEMA and he said the stripes were carried over to the Daytona Coupe. Also, he mentioned how he really like the 1st version, did not Have a pic and I was able to find and print back at the hotel. I gave him an 8x10 the next day as he was sharing stories with his friends on his new book. He was very happy to see and to show others.
I had the chance several times to visit the Art Center and took notice of the student work that was exhibited there, drawings and models. Having been a student in an art school myself, Stan Back's remarks of the similarity in the designs is often the result of a particular instructor's influence --- because he or she is, after all, taking them from one level of knowledge to the next. And, it is his or her direction they follow in order both to learn and certainly to make a satisfactory enough impression to receive the best possible grade possible. Add to this peer pressure, of those invisible forces in a group that imposes social mores on what is allowed and what is taboo within both set and setting. I have mentioned meeting "Big Daddy" Roth and in that short span of time got the impression of his dislike for art schools and the artists who come out of them. It has taken me a long time to process what he said, in that some things learned in an academic setting are counter productive to 'thinking out of the box'. Something he did quite well. This, perhaps does not fully explain the abject failure of the second version of this car, because the first version was built before Mister Brock attended the Art Center, but it goes to show that artists can fail big time when they try to go past the limitations of the material. What was designed by Ford Motor Motor Company was limited by the nature of mass production. Each individual part needed to come together to make a whole. In customizing any vehicle, those who thrive are able to understand that at least some of what already exists can only be complimented by their work, not altered to such a degree that the original beauty of it is lost. As to the paint job, this reminds me of the purpose of camouflage --- to hide and alter the forms of an object so it is no longer recognizable in its original form. Which makes me wonder what it would look have looked like if it was painted one color. One thing is for sure, it would certain change our impression of it.
I don't think Ryan was endorsing the second version. Agreed, I've seen both pictures before and never realized it was the same car. I don't hate the second version, it's odd and different and it blows my mind to see Lemans stripes on it. But after seeing the original version, it's a real travesty. I wonder if it still exists?
man that 2nd one looks like a Cobra impregnated a VW beetle, or me wearing a tube top and a speedo that being said, id drive it but that isn't saying much considering what I drive
I recall a Car Craft mag 'trend', where there was a fad to 'round off' all the recognizable corners of a subject and sand it to 'perfection'... Rod & Custom was more my 'style'...