Art & Inspiration The Edsel Raven

Two more versions this is only 3-4" back from initial versions posted
1) rear axle only re-position in convert version
2) axle and wheelwell re-position in removable hrtp. version








Got me thinking when we buy a new car and ad a color or skirt its pretty straight fwd but this is pretty radical surgery. The ghosted image is the original profile provided. The other thing is you are now a designer. Definitely a challenge...anyways its all good...opinions?
Squirrel you can weigh in it's your machine...tough call for sure...at least you have a few visions as well as whats in your own. Thanks Fif-t​

 

its going to need a paint job at any rate....

 

Sweet googley-moogley that is one UGLY paint scheme!

 

Oh stop, there's something in that for everyone....

 

Like the epileptic seizure you'll get from staring at the rear quarter panel too long?

 

If there was a car club called "The Sharks", and they had 8-10 cars painted exactly like that then that would be a sight to behold! WAIT!! There's a movie in that idea! We need mega-stars and mega-$$$. Let the cameras roll!!

 

If it were a removable hardtop....

 

I know you are wanting to keep the amount of work to a minimum, but would it be too much work to graft pieces of the doors together and let that rear door make the hump on top of the door transition? This would mean using the front door front section and the rear door rear section. Then let that door length determine what all is removed in the cabin area. I would suggest using just the rear doors but they look pretty short plus I am not sure if it would match up with the front fenders.

 

I thought about doing just that...but it makes the doors either complicated, too long, or the car too short. We'll see what happens

 

another couple pics....12" at the outside of the tape lines on the quarter panel, 18" for the door.



and my crude attempt at paintshopping:

 

Jim,I like the idea of stretching the doors and taking a little out of the rear panel,it makes the proportions of the car more aesthetically pleasing and cleaner lines. HRP

 

Just saw this on ebay. Similar concept:

 

are there more pics? link?



it's good to see what others have done, and learn from their experience

 

Sorry! Here's the link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Other-...6f86bc91:g:bo0AAOSwCfdXpJ9n&item=152194956433

 

The 53 ford could be neat but needs to be lowered desperately.

 

It looks a little tail heavy to me, almost cartoonish. Something the Shriners would use in a parade

 

thanks. Looks like that was a 2door that was cut and shortened ahead of the rear axle, and the rear was left the original length, plus it has the continental kit making the back hang off even more. Ditto on lowering. The early 50s cars are quite different shape than the late 50s car, they got a big dose of low and long by 1958.

 

I agree, looks like it was cut between the rear quarter "bulge" and the rear edge of the door but also appears to have been cut between the front of the rear wheelwell and the forward edge of the bulge (thereby moving the wheel opening forward on the bulge).

 

You just can't take out that much length and the roof without sectioning. It's not just about length, it's about proportions. The Edsel takes it a bit better because it's longer and lower in profile but still, less is more. 12" out of the rear overhang and 18" out of the back door area seems much more in proportion than the first proposal. That, and some rounded door corners, would be a good start.

 

That's why I asked

 

It looked so fun I had to play too First photo is the original 4 door with the top removed:


Next I removed the rear door, shortened it behind the front door, added skirts, and removed the funny mirrors. I left the rear quarter alone and the door size:


Not bad looking at all in my opinion....

Next I shortened the quarter a little:


Here you can compare the original with the new (original rear quarter size, just shortened behind the door):

 

I see it as a fail with the short front doors that 4-door cars have. I can't see it looking right unless the longer door is used.

 

The project is intended to loosely copy the original Tbird. Which had very short doors.

It would help if I added a lot of metal between the front wheel, and the door.

 

SLV63 has some good suggestions. I think those designs would be even better without the vent wings.

You could consider reshaping the front wheel openings to resemble the T-bird ones more, would be much easier than actually extending the nose but would give more sheetmetal area between the wheel opening and door gap.

This version goes a few steps further but you can get a general idea of the vent wings deleted and somewhat reshaped front wheel openings here.

 

You guys are psycho.
I mean that in a good, I wanna have a beer with you kinda way.

 

DO IT!!

 

And if shortening it isn't hard enough, this is with the door moved back and extended.

 

Nice looking car, but way too long for me...

 

Here it is shorter still. Anything more and the proportions get weird it seems. At this point this is probably similar to what others have posted, but another view. I also used Squablows idea of redoing the front fender. It really helps give it more space in front of the door.

 

Jim, I agree that lengthening the front end behind the wheelwell is key... but not easy.