There's always a theme for these "Sketchpads," so we'll call this one "Potpourri," because, really, there is no theme. Some of the ideas are cars, some are trucks, and some don't start with anything but Bondo and foam. One of them is Swedish, and another is wooden. Whatever the case, i usually have ideas banging around in my head, and i wanted to get these out so i could mentally move on to other (and some may say better) things. and just so you know, ye editor Kevin nixed a couple of them as being too "out there." he said, "you don't think we're going to get letters about these drawings?" So, for those feeling squeamish about the following, thank Kevin for keeping out the stuff that would really make you urp.
Big Daddy Roth-Type Modern Outlaw
Nobody could do them like Big daddy, and far be it from me to try and out-Roth ed Roth. But after all these years i still like the Modern Mysterion i drew up for R&C in 1990, and i'm sure it influenced him to make his own contemporary Outlaw in the mid-'90s. i've had contemporary Roth cars sloshing around in my head ever since and finally decided to put another one down on paper. however, this version is just a little further reach than the one Big daddy created. The proportions are about the same, but overall it's lower. also, the bubbletop is handled, so it's actually not a bubbletop but a big wrapping windshield with a big wrapping rear window. it gives the profile of a bubbletop without the impractical aspects-such as the microwave effect they are normally associated with. i also stuck a door into it, but you wouldn't have to do this if you choose, and not having one would make the body a much simpler proposition. i could imagine this with 24-inch or even bigger wheels to really exaggerate the rake and stance-something you can actually allow for when you are building your body from scratch. Big daddy was always a great influence on me, and that hasn't changed.
46-48 Town And Country Sedan
I drew up a later T&C with the arcing Buick trim tied into matching wood many years ago in R&C. later, somebody actually carried out this theme on a '37 Ford custom, but it didn't come together well because the '37s are too squat and small, unlike these huge Chrysler T&Cs. So i'm showing an earlier sedan, which is even longer than either my earlier example or the aforementioned '37 Ford. What makes this idea so cool is that probably nobody would actually take one of these and do this, yet it would have been a perfectly good candidate to slide over to the Barris Brothers to perform their kustom magic. The top is handled just like a chopped Merc, with the rear window leaned down, and the rest of the mods shown are typical from that early '50s era of great customs-especially the Matranga/hirohata hardtop window frames. With all the bucks floating around for big projects, everything has a basis in reality these days, so we may see something like this yet.
Crosley Comp Coupe
Many a Crosley and nash Metropolitan body were used in this fashion in the late '50s for the Competition classes of drag racing, so this is nothing new except for me slightly tweaking the concept and making it a little more streetable. a simple rectangular tube frame with the front end out, suicide fashion, would kick this off, with the weed burners positioned exactly within the confines of the front wheel opening. For legroom you would probably want to set this up with two seats as far back as they will go. The chop is extreme, but you may actually be able to pop your head above the header to see where you are going, as this body is the rare convertible version. even with this being the most desirable body that Crosley made, the price tag is still within reasonable grasp. So are Metros, if finding a Crosley taxes your scrounging abilities. anything from a modern high-rev 'banger to a hemi would be at home in this sucker, and it ought to handle like a slot car with it being so small and low.
'60 Chevrolet/Gmc Pickup
This one starts off where some of the previous "Sketchpads" i've done have left off. This is another one of those rusted bodies bolted down to a different frame (C5 Corvette, shortened '90s Caprice, Mustang, etc.) in any position you wish to put it in. Tilting the body gives maximum rake and visually lets you off the hook for the gap between the cowl sides and front end. you could do this to just about any late-'50s through '60s pickup, but these early '60s Chevys and gMCs have that cool, snarky nostril-like hood. i also have a quickie sketch with the body in a more common relation to the frame, but with the hood just slammed down to achieve the nasty rake. it's also shown with a filler panel behind the front wheels in case the rawness of the primered example turns you off. The headlights and Moon tank fill the gap, and the shortened bed adds up to a better proportion for the truck. it's extreme, but it works!
Saab 95 Wagon
It seems that anything is fair game these days as a starting point for your next project, so why not go european? These SaaB 95 wagons were the longroof versions of the 96 sedans and were built in the '60s and '70s in fairly high numbers-enough so that they shouldn't be too hard to snag. Cutting out the bottom of the body and sitting it down on a better chassis would be the way to go. you'll get a modern suspension, steering, powerplant-and best of all, less modification time because it's already figured out for you. Plus, you can position the body down onto the frame for that low look we always want. The size is right, they're two-door, the fins are cool, nobody really wants them today, and they are odd enough that you probably didn't see too many even when they were new-so it's a perfect candidate for the "dare to be different" in you. Paint it red, call it a Ferrari, and proudly stand on the pedal! instant respect!