And now for something a little different...

[454bug]

Hey everyone,

A local guy in town came up with a pretty wild kit that might appeal to some of you and turn off some others... Maybe the big car guys will like it or the El Camino guys...

I don't think I would build one myself but it does look pretty cool in person!

The wild thing is the "donor" vehicles used for the projects!!! Here's a list of the "donor" cars used for the project's frame, front cab, and running gear:

1983 - 1985 Pontiac Parisienne 4 Dr
1980 - 1984 Buick 4 Dr full size
1980 - 1981 Pontiac 4 Dr full size
1980 - 1984 Olds 4 Dr Station Wagon
1985 - Olds Custom Cruise 4 Dr Wagon
1980 - 1984 Chevy Caprice 4 Dr and Wagons
1985 - 1990 Chevy Caprice 4 Dr
1986 - Pontiac Parisienne 4 Dr
1987 - 1988 Pontiac Safari Wagon
1986 - 1988 Olds Custom Cruise Wagon
1986 - 1988 Buick Estate Wagon

He came up with his own design, built his fiberglass molds (the front kinda looks like a Camaro!), and fitted it to one of these frames. They even had a show on the Speed Channel a few months back where they participated in a contest to build a complete car and painted it in just 7 days... (The one that has the kinda Nascar paint job was the one done for the Speed Channel show).

Whatcha think??? If nothing else, I appreciate his creativity...

HERE'S SOME EXAMPLES:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/donorkit-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/Nascar-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepsideFeature20621-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepsideFeature20821-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepsideFeature20685-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepsideFeature20687-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepsideNewest20014-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepsideNewest20026-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepsideNewest20087-1.jpg

CHECK OUT HOW THE REAR WING IS ATTACHED TO THE SLIDING BED COVER!! Neat idea!

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepsideNewest20111-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepsideProfile939-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepsideProfile853-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepsideFeature20899-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepsideFeature20896-1.jpg

[454bug]

Here's a couple more examples of completed cars (from Wild to Mild):

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepNewest20516-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepNewest20474-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/JoePark012-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepNewest20577-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepNewest20398-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepNewest20594-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepNewest20367-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/StepNewest20161-1.jpg

Here's a few more projects that aren't so over the top...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/SSS1FrontQtr1-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/SSS1Interior1-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/SChicago3-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/SChicago2-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/WHtTrkE0001-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/WHtTrkE0004-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/WHtTrkE0003-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/KitPickupFfront-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/frank2-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/WHtTrkE0006-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/KitPickupInterior-1.jpg

[454bug]

If interested, here's their website: http://www.superstepside.com/

Here's some pictures from the Speed Channel Build Challenge:

BEFORE:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1134_sized-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1084_sized-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1085_sized-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1136_sized-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1137_sized-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1138_sized-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1139_sized-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1140_sized-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1141_sized-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1142_sized-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1143_sized-1.jpg

AFTER:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1154_sized-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1157_001_sized-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1159_sized-1.jpg

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

and im trying my damndest to like this one..

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/SSS1FrontQtr1-1.jpg

[454bug]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Man, Vinnie, you come up with the FUNNIEST pictures!!!!

That was kinda my thoughts as well. I was just appreciating his ingenuity... not so much the outcome!

I don't know which one would be worse to drive around in...

THIS:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1134_sized-1.jpg

OR THIS:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/03/DSCN1154_sized-1.jpg

OR BETTER YET... NEITHER ONE!!! :rotfl:

But.... If I had an old '85 Caprice sittin' around... It might be fun to drop a BBC in with some really big meats on it...

I just thought it would be fun for good laugh!

[formula]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/i_frew_up-1.jpg

[formula]

I think I'd rather drive the original, except fast.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/i_frew_up-1.jpg

[Johnny Blaze]

Okay, out go out on a limb.

I actually like the sthe front 3/4 shot of the copper/orange car.

All other views of every car are fugly though. I still see big ugly car inside all that fiberglass

[surlyjoe]

He is about 20 years to late. In 1990 it would have looked ok. I actually have a 85 lesabre and I can still see it in all the pictures.

[twosaturns]

um, er, ah....WUT?

it's still gonna drive like a full size POS impala, what's the point?

[Scott Parkhurst]

It needs all sharp lines or all curved lines. It's got too many of both.

The proportions are off.

Design and fabrication are different things. Very few can do both. Most can do neither.

It's just ugly to me. No 'flow'.

Looks like an el Camino humped a 914 and made this.

[silver69camaro]

Wow...

[6'9"Witha69]

Looks like an el Camino humped a 914 and made this.
LMAO :rotfl:

[dadto2jays]

I seen the TV show when they built the first one, I am a truck guy but I would much rather drive the caprice the way it was....:scared:

[John Wright]

The blue "super stepside" isn't too bad.....it'll grow on me I think, the others...not so much.

[fordsbyjay]

Is he a friend of yours Ray? It sure looks like a lot of work and it was too bad he didn't come up with a little better style. Personally I think it is uglier in real life than the pictures. But that is just my opinion and I own a Pinto so what the hell do I know about style. LOL.

[454bug]

It needs all sharp lines or all curved lines. It's got too many of both.

The proportions are off.

Design and fabrication are different things. Very few can do both. Most can do neither.

It's just ugly to me. No 'flow'.

Looks like an el Camino humped a 914 and made this.

I agree Scott. The flow is all wrong... It's nice and curved on the front and just like Surlyjoe said, you can still see the square lines of the Sedan shining through...

Designing a body from scratch and getting it right has got to be a monumental task! I'm sure the major manufacturers as well as companies like Factory Five have got many talented people working on a new body design and probably go through many renditions before they're happy with all the lines on a new vehicle or body style change...

[chevyhector]

Chingado ! no mames buey !

[454bug]

Is he a friend of yours Ray? It sure looks like a lot of work and it was too bad he didn't come up with a little better style. Personally I think it is uglier in real life than the pictures. But that is just my opinion and I own a Pinto so what the hell do I know about style. LOL.

No, I just went to Rick's Rods and Performance a while back to talk to them about some interior work on my Bug. He showed me around his shop and the projects there were presently working on. Their shop accepted the challenge of building one of these vehicles in 7 days for the Speed Channel Challenge. Their shop doesn't have any affiliation with the creator other than they constructed the car (Nastruck) for that show. The vehicle was still in his shop so he showed it to me. That's all... I haven't ever met the guy that designed it.

I just thought everyone could get a little amusement checking out his creation! :)

[MonzaRacer]

um, er, ah....WUT?

it's still gonna drive like a full size POS impala, what's the point?


You sir need to go look at the Caddy that Schwartz Performance built to run 2002 Real Street Eliminator, ,,uh and they won it.
Oh and the fact that a "full size POS impalla" runs similar suspension to a second gen Fbody.
As for other peoples opinions, so be it but to me it looks very much like a modified SSR or heavily modded stepside chevy pickup.

[MarkM66]

Yeah, they built one on that "kit car" tv show on speed.

JMO, wouldn't even want to be caught dead, near one.

[fordsbyjay]

No, I just went to Rick's Rods and Performance a while back to talk to them about some interior work on my Bug. He showed me around his shop and the projects there were presently working on. Their shop accepted the challenge of building one of these vehicles in 7 days for the Speed Channel Challenge. Their shop doesn't have any affiliation with the creator other than they constructed the car (Nastruck) for that show. The vehicle was still in his shop so he showed it to me. That's all... I haven't ever met the guy that designed it.

I just thought everyone could get a little amusement checking out his creation! :)

If you are heading south down Johnston st and turn right on East Broussard (does that make it west Broussard?), go about 1/2 mile to where that body shop is on the curve and there has been one of those truck deals there since before I moved here 8 years ago. I always figured they were the ones to come up with it but that is just a guess.

[454bug]

If you are heading south down Johnston st and turn right on East Broussard (does that make it west Broussard?), go about 1/2 mile to where that body shop is on the curve and there has been one of those truck deals there since before I moved here 8 years ago. I always figured they were the ones to come up with it but that is just a guess.

I've been to that guy's shop but I didn't see one there. If you go to the guy's site that created the kit his address is listed as Gloria Switch Road which is on the North side of town...

Rick's Rods & Performance that built the one for Speed Channel is on Congress Street (the old Cajun Harley Davidson site).

[Lowend]

I'd call that one "almost cool"
I want to like it, but just too inconsistent in shape.
The taillights look like they are from a bad JC Whitney / GMC 1500 conversion

[twosaturns]

You sir need to go look at the Caddy that Schwartz Performance built to run 2002 Real Street Eliminator, ,,uh and they won it.
Oh and the fact that a "full size POS impalla" runs similar suspension to a second gen Fbody.
As for other peoples opinions, so be it but to me it looks very much like a modified SSR or heavily modded stepside chevy pickup.
yeah, they won it w/ a heavily modified caddy, not a stock clapped out caprice, like this kit car has.
so your comment lacks relevance, but thanks.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

oh and on a side note.. i still love your bug.

that is all.

[454bug]

If you are heading south down Johnston st and turn right on East Broussard (does that make it west Broussard?), go about 1/2 mile to where that body shop is on the curve and there has been one of those truck deals there since before I moved here 8 years ago. I always figured they were the ones to come up with it but that is just a guess.

Hey Jason,

I realized what truck you're talking about at that shop... I went by there this morning and saw the truck. That's an employee's S-10 truck that he modified himself. I agree it's really ugly but that's not what we're talking about here...

[WS6]

I think it has potential. No seriously, I really mean it.

[fishtail8]

I think if they would have the front fenders flared out a bit like the rears, with another piece that would hide the squareness of the doors might help. The curves, then a big square door, and more curves deal sits funny with me.

Like WS6 says, there is some potential there...

[69stang]

I think if they would have the front fenders flared out a bit like the rears, with another piece that would hide the squareness of the doors might help. The curves, then a big square door, and more curves deal sits funny with me.

Like WS6 says, there is some potential there...

I agree about the doors but it'd still need more. The biggest part of the problem is the upper part. You got that square A-pillars, roof and B-pillars in the way of a nicely contoured, possibly too exaggerated (its too busy), body.

[454bug]

The taillights look like they are from a bad JC Whitney / GMC 1500 conversion

The tailights are obviously C5 Corvette lenses...

[WS6]

I was thinking more along the lines of squaring everything up like Scott mentioned. that way you're working with what's already there ie the door and making the body conform to those lines. Something edgy would look good I think.

[fishtail8]

I was thinking more along the lines of squaring everything up like Scott mentioned. that way you're working with what's already there ie the door and making the body conform to those lines. Something edgy would look good I think.


True, but then I'd rather start with a C/K R/V body style truck and modify from there... Might be easier. To each his own...

[fordsbyjay]

Hey Jason,

I realized what truck you're talking about at that shop... I went by there this morning and saw the truck. That's an employee's S-10 truck that he modified himself. I agree it's really ugly but that's not what we're talking about here...

Now that you mention it I do see the difference. What are the odds of two similarly ugly custom vehicles being within a two mile radius...LOL.