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Dr G
07-14-2015, 11:36 AM
I have a lot of pics on my hard drive. Trucks, cars, race cars, parts of cars, interiors etc. Just things I like to look at and that inspire me. I have them revolving through on my computer desktop. I've picked some off the web, others I've scanned out of magazines. I thought I might start a thread where I post some of them, to see if others are inspired by them too. I see my truck as part performance machine, and part artistic expression. I'm heavily influenced by anything vintage, in particular old aircraft. But I love anything automotive that is purposeful and well crafted or executed.

As you'll see from the pics over time, I don't like shine, polish or chrome. I do like satin or matte finishes. I get bored pretty fast by perfect paint jobs and organic engine covers. I like to see wiring and plumbing exposed, but tastefully done. To some extent I feel that opening the hood of your truck (or car) should be like lifting the cover on an SR71 jet engine. Everything visible has a purpose, and the reason it looks the way it does it because that way it can best serve it's purpose, and because it has been used (perhaps heavily) to serve that purpose (leading to patina which I love).

If others have similar photos please share them, and explain why they inspire you.

Here's the first one. I love patina paint jobs on old trucks. Maybe not so much on cars, but on trucks for sure. This truck has what looks to be a real nice original patina. Plus the picture itself is well staged with good lighting, and I love the old building in the back too.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/0a623d5287ff6072ec8e3e8732aa6f19-1.jpg

Dr G
07-14-2015, 01:47 PM
No thread like this would be complete without a pic of Hellboy from No Limit. One of the coolest auto-x tools I've ever seen. With 335's on all four corners very few cars can compete in terms of rubber on the road. I love the wheels too.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/Hellboy202-1.jpg

oldblu68
07-14-2015, 02:13 PM
Man, that is a great picture. I also love patina jobs on old trucks as well. The reflection of the truck in the water is cool. The colors present in the background are readily reflected in those of the truck too. Nice.



Brian

Dr G
07-14-2015, 02:50 PM
Now a pic of some areas of a car, not a truck. This is a Ride Tech car. I think they did a great job with the details on this car. Right up my alley with the "aircraft" theme. The idea is not to make your vehicle look like an airplane per se, but to follow that ambience (in my opinion anyway). Lot's of cool details in this picture. I love the seats and the heel rest in front of the pedals.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/RideTech20roadster204-1.jpg

Dr G
07-15-2015, 09:11 AM
Another GM truck with great patina. Although I would probably not go this route myself, I do like the contrast of the newly painted cab interior with matching wheels.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/gm20patina20truck20with20green20wheels-1.jpg

Dr G
07-16-2015, 08:54 AM
Pic of the day, another patina truck. Can you tell I like this look?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/Fresh20from20Delmos20pic4-1.jpg

Even though I own a Ford truck, I also love Chevys and GM's. In fact there are more good looking body styles from the 50's through early 70's from GM in my opinion than from Ford. I can also appreciate the enormous potential of LS engines. I would not personally want to do one, because I like to stay off the beaten path a bit more, but one cannot deny they make great power and torque with only mild tuning, and can go far beyond that if the builder desires.

I struggle with the look of the wheels and tires on this truck. Whitewalls and steel wheels or billet replicas. I love how it looks, it's just very difficult to go with that look and also achieve good handling. I tried, and finally punted.

I should try and look this guy up, Culver City is just up the 405 from me.

Gustave

Dr G
07-16-2015, 04:09 PM
This is a drag car. And I am not that fond of drag racing. But the car is just bad ass. Not a lick of paint to be found! I love bare metal...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/Street20Evil207-1.jpg

Note the way the inner door panels mimic the roll cage x-brace. Very tasteful. And the diamond pattern embossed on some of the sheet metal. Also very cool.

Gustave

Dr G
07-16-2015, 04:13 PM
Speaking of bare metal... This truck should be sealed in matter clear somehow and just left the way it is. Nice...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/194620bare20metal20truck205Bblood20sweat-1.jpg

Well, maybe I'd add some glass :)

the dan
07-17-2015, 05:42 AM
I like how No Limit's C10 is all business. Truck intake and all.

Dr G
07-17-2015, 12:19 PM
Nice trio of trucks from Delmo's:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/Fresh20from20Delmos20pic1-1.jpg

Their motto is pretty similar to mine. Make it look old but drive like a scalded goat.

Gustave

Dr G
07-17-2015, 03:00 PM
The wheels are a little to big for my taste, though I do like that wheel style. Too bad most wheels of that style on the market are pretty heavy. The rest of the truck is clean and looks good to me.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/Creen206720C1020with20Patina-1.jpg

And then we have this thing. What is it? Some kind of speed trials machine. All I know is it is Bubba-Cool.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/Bombsheel20Buick201-1.jpg

Dr G
07-19-2015, 09:33 AM
I don't know about you, but I love Trophy Trucks.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/JimcoFordRaptorTrophyTruck01-1.jpg

Watching these things fly down a desert road from the helicopter camera, and seeing the suspension work is just amazing.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/1104or092Bcamburgkinetiktrophytruck2Beng-1.jpg

There are Forums where you can see pics of these trucks being fabricated. The level of sophistication is pretty impressive. Massive frame tables and fixturing. All the tubes are CNC mitered according to CAD programs. The TIG welding is like art. And they leave the frames bare (to detect cracks) so you can see the raw metal in the finished product.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/163_0904_04z2Bvolkswagen_touareg_tdi_baj-1.jpg

My wife and I are waiting for the next gen Raptor. Not that we need it in any way, but we just have to have one!

Dr G
07-19-2015, 12:14 PM
Real nice photo of a pretty bitchin looking rod. I'd love to drive this thing around town to see the looks you'd get.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/1524147_10202680700390918_54591376555269-1.jpg

RobNoLimit
07-20-2015, 04:46 AM
Cool picts, and thanks for the mention. For those that didn't notice, I wanted to point something out about the Trophy Truck picts. No bent tubing. Seven or eight years ago these guys got the chassis and cage dynamics worked out to the very limits of their spec designs. Then the tubing started to fail in the middle of the bends, the stretched material was now the weak point. So, the next generation trucks are all straight tubing, or as much as possible. I thought it was cool to see the development, and I'm waiting to see it transfer to other motorsports.

Dr G
07-20-2015, 11:48 AM
Cool picts, and thanks for the mention. For those that didn't notice, I wanted to point something out about the Trophy Truck picts. No bent tubing. Seven or eight years ago these guys got the chassis and cage dynamics worked out to the very limits of their spec designs. Then the tubing started to fail in the middle of the bends, the stretched material was now the weak point. So, the next generation trucks are all straight tubing, or as much as possible. I thought it was cool to see the development, and I'm waiting to see it transfer to other motorsports.That is interesting Rob. I was not aware of that. You're right, I only see a few bends on this frame, and they have supported.

I was watching some Pro 4 truck stadium racing last night and that is also very cool. The sound of the engines is just incredible, like NASCAR, except they are constantly modulating the throttle so you really get a feel for the RPMs.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/chassisttlg-1.jpg

Gustave

Dr G
07-22-2015, 08:54 AM
A few more of my inspiration pictures...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/273DE2EBF45B4F21AE45FEF0071C41D1_zpsw9dx-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/839d5bfa49164192e37aaace579063cb-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/20131012_170211_143_zpsf7ff2faf-1.jpg

Those shots I like because of the patina on the trucks, and because the photos are well done, with good backgrounds and good lighting.

Now for something completely different:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/Hot20Rod20Hoonigan20article20engine-1.jpg

Ken Block's all wheel drive Mustang. What a machine. The cantilevered front shocks are presumably to make room for the drive axles. If you've not seen any of Block's drifting videos online you must do so. The one set in LA that features this car is especially noteworthy.

Another change-up:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/cure20Red20camping20trailerL-1.jpg

What the heck? A camping trailer? Yes, this picture let's me dream about my wife and I touring around in my truck with this little trailer in tow, staying at small quaint campgrounds and just relaxing. It's my "happy place" as they say.

Lastly, lest you all get the impression that I only think about mechanical machinery for inspiration...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/Hemi20BlastXL-1.jpg

Sure, the girl is gorgeous in her daisy dukes. But the photo is just so perfectly staged, with her genuine look of fear and excitement at the same time. I really like this one.

Gustave

Dr G
07-23-2015, 04:36 PM
So, pedal clusters anyone? Some may think I'm nuts, but I am always very interested in looking at the way top level race drivers set up their controls (steering wheel, pedals, shifter(s)). For most hobby builders pedals are an afterthought, but on a WRC car, it's of primary importance to the driver.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/793d645a2b0ba05e810e62b99afaa9c7-1.jpg

Note how big the brake pedal is, for left foot braking. Also note the little box next to the throttle pedal for the driver's foot to rest against. And the heel rest built into the floor cover.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/2-1.jpg

Similar setup as before. Big brake pedal, brace for the throttle foot. Here we have a large carbon fiber box covering the master cylinders, which are mounted in front of the pedal cluster. The box raises the bottom of the driver's heel quite a bit above the pivot point of the pedals. Also no heel rest is incorporated.

Switching gears a little, here is a Ring Brother's car:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/15714234805_7e0965b743_o-1.jpg

These guys achieve a level of finish on their projects that seems almost unearthly. How the heck to they make everything look so perfect? Those interpretations of seats should go into the Modern Museum of Art. The leather wraps on the door pulls, the twist knobs for the electric windows, the custom billet steering column mount, the one-off steering wheel. WTF? Impressive.

hotrodalex
07-23-2015, 05:13 PM
I love those seats since they remind me of the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento's, which are literally just cushions placed on the chassis structure.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/TheHogRingAutoUpholsteryCommunityLamborg-1.jpg

Dr G
07-25-2015, 09:03 AM
[QUOTE=hotrodalex;1145534]I love those seats since they remind me of the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento's, which are literally just cushions placed on the chassis structure.

I had never heard of this Sesto Elemento until you brought it up. I researched it a bit. Wow, that is a phenomenal car. Just about the whole thing is carbon fiber or CFRP. Cool.

Dr G
07-25-2015, 09:27 AM
Some more pics from my collection of inspirational subjects.

First another wild bare metal creation. The door art would suggest it was built by Eddie's Chop Shop. I love the theme of this car, mixing old, new and work-in-progress (WIP) together.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/d0e51aa1d5d6d486c446dd1e58dd9ca1-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/hrdp130305couprageous1937fordcoupebomber-1.jpg

I like these gauges. I have them in my truck. They were developed by Moal (Berkley, CA) for Classic Instruments. Moal does some real nice custom cars btw. Very unusual stuff.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/hrdp130306couprageous1937fordcoupecage-1.jpg

This headliner really does it for me. I think it is made from leather, and I love the way it is fit around the roll cage tubes.

This next picture is of a truck that might be someone from this forum. The patina, mixed with new frame fabrication, old school aluminum tank and new school carbon fiber tank is unique. I've used carbon fiber plate on my truck for brackets here and there, just because it is very easy to cut and incredibly stiff for its weight and thickness.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/4620small20stuff20029-1.jpg



Now, just have a look at this fabricated steel control arm. I don't know where I found this pic or what this part is for, but I love suspension parts when they are fabricated out of welded steel plate (sheet). Much sexier than billet aluminum in my opinion, and a lot harder to pull off.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/IMG_1060-1.jpg

To really do it right, you would use 4130 plate with 4140 machined bushing cups. Weld the whole thing in a fixture, send it out for heat treating (in a fixture), re-face all the bushing cups to make them round again, and do any final straightening (cold setting) if necessary. It's certainly a lot easier to whip up a cad file and push the GO button on the CNC machine.

I use this picture as a reference for the size of the heat affected zone (HAZ) left behind from welding to make sure I'm not pumping too much heat into my own parts. I'm not quite there to be honest!

Next is a pic of Orange Rush. Another late 60's C10 auto-x machine with 335's (I think) on all corners. It's a beautiful truck. What strikes me about this pic is the front flip hood. Man would it be nice to have that on my truck, so much easier to work on things. I don't know if they welded up the original steel parts or if it is fiberglass. Sort of looks like glass.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/OrangeRushC10flip20hood-1.jpg



And we could not leave off without a nice patina shot of an old truck right?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/07/C4BC397D7B8C4A03B6904B580FCAD9CF_zpsu67w-1.jpg