Funny! When I was painting my engine for the new issue of R&C where it's on the cover- the stars and stripes was a HEAVY thought, but I went with project X yellow instead. The engines of that car have inspired me more than any other car's engines.
Great question for the King of Klones.......Von Franco. For me I say really do your homework before you do, I had a hand in Franco's Lightnin Bug' and it is pain staking to get things right and building only by photograghs. Franco was not satisfied until it was perfect.
Man did that picture bring back memories, I built that same model as a kid and always wanted a full-scale version..... Thanks! Gary
Like you said there were so many variations on that car over the years you can never do an exact "clone", but a two door post 57 painted yellow, done in a mid 60ish theme would be hard to beat.
funny cause i have that same model...i remember bein younger and my dad always told me about his build of the origional badman, heres mine with more lift in the front
Everything I do to customize a car is inspired by something I've seen before, even if the context is completely different. I have a Jaguar-looking interior in my shoebox, for example, because it was the best-looking interior I could think of. Nothing wrong with that. If there was a car out there that I thought was irresistibly wonderful, better than anything I could think of myself -- and if it was a kind of car that I really wanted, maybe I'd be tempted to clone it. But when I got done, I'd just have a copy of something that somebody else had already done, and I don't think that would be all that much fun. I think this thing we do -- customize and hop up cars -- is a creative act, and the fun is in creating something that's different, or better, than what has been done previously. Even if it's just a combination of borrowed bits that nobody else has put together before. But that's just me. If cloning a car floats your boat, go for it!
There were thousands of '55- '57's roaming the streets and drag strips of Amerixca when Project X was started. I think that was part of the appeal of the car, everyone could relate to it. I think I would refer to any similar build as a tribute more than a clone. Besides, can you just imagine the anal retentive replies to your effort. Like, "Why did you use stainless phillips screws to hold the ashtray retainer in place when YOU know perfectly well the origional used cadmimun plated heater duct self tappping? Scheeesh, Get a life. As far as an idea, I hope you do it. I had a 2dr post back then and if I had had the bucks it would have been damn close to what your trying to do. Frank
Speaking of the General Lee... Meet my best friend's tired ol' General Lee we built during high school back in the 1980/81. He still owns it, now it's at my house. I'll be pulling the engine this week to build for my roadster project. We had a lot of fun in that car... lol
After reading this post I found out IM GAY......I feel so cheap when did it happen, did I have a good time .....Oh well at least I got a good B.J. out of it lol...........So for you answer Jim A....Clone the fucker man and be gay as hell. .....Endsville Shit im gonna have to stop saying that now?????LoL.....
This post actually has me considering other color options- especially after a rumor about the original car that was PMed to me.
I'm not sure what the big deal is. It isn't like there was never another yellow two-door post Chevrolet. Build it how you like, and drive the hell out of it. Sounds like a great project.
Makes me think of Lamar from Revenge of the Nerds. "Wormser designed this hotrod specifically for Lamars limp wristed driving style."
Actually that's my more personal favorite (I LOVE '56 Deliveries), but I get really revved up thinking about a hard launching '57 post coupe- DAMMIT!!!! Now I have to build TWO cars!!!
I agree with the make your own part. Sometimes when you change what didn't work for you on the first one but took the essence of what appealed to you in the first place; you get what you want, not almost what you want. Look at some of the cars that have been cloned and see that sometimes even the original builders are impressed with the changes.
In the very same breath you're saying that the '66 Project X is EXACTLY what you want and then you ask should you build something different... Holy crap man - is your uterus inflamed?!?!?! If the X is EXACTLY (your emphasis) what you want then why are you asking? Paradoxical queries like this are best left to wives and girlfriends in the throes of a PMS attack. It's a simple proposition - which version of the car rattling around in your head makes your crotch get all tingly? Build that one and piss on anyone that don't like it.
I was asking because while I LOVE the spirit of the car- I don't want an EXACT replica. And this post brought up some REALLY good points to consider in the building of this car. If you can live in a vacuum and build cars without EVER bouncing ideas of of friends- both for inspiration and direction you are better than me. Thanks Jim
Jim, maybe it really ME that's PMSing. I'm just rattling your cage a little. The way I read it you seemed really stoked about the Project X version but then you're asking about something different. Struck me as kind of incongrueous. I just let it get under my skin because it seems that lately there's a lot of folks asking each other "what color should I paint this", "what motor should I use for that". I do tend to make most of my decisions about what I'd like to do based up on what gets me going and I don't often ask for others ideas. I wouldn't classify that as living in a vacuum. I'm well aware of what's going on in our world of rodding and I know what I want most of the time. If other's don't like it that's OK with me. There's nothing wrong with asking for guidance or opinions, I do it too, but not often. I suppose the point I was trying to make is build what you want.
When I was in High School the parking lot lot was full of 55,56 & 57 chevys set up alot like you are wanting. The Project X wasn't much different except more emphassis on actual drag strip performance. The school cars at least looked the part. I'd say do it, but make it your own. There is nothing wrong with building a car thats just based on another one. Ed Roth's Tweedy Pie is my all time favorite T bucket, but if I "tributed" it I couldn't paint it purple. I hate purple on cars. Same car, different color. I also like John Milner's deuce, but I never liked the chopped radiator shell. A badly porportioned icon. Right or wrong mine would be full height.
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