Shoebox with soul

[EmDee]

Soul, shoebox, geddit?

The last time I posted a shoebox it divided opinion. Erm no, wait that's actually not true. Nobody liked it at all. In fact I didn't even like it myself, just thought it was interesting.

This one is - well it's still not perfect, but it's a little closer.

Built by MadMods



I like the steering wheel:
























edit:

no thread complete without crappy burnout video:

[johnboy]

i like it

[niwid]

i like it a lot

[tri]

Wow! I love it!

[luckyseven]

I'd go to bed with it ;D

[waveman1500]

I really don't like that at all. This is what happens when you try to be 'rat' to fit in with the scene. And they even fail at that.

Why does it have 1980s style Pro-street air cleaners? Why is there a hideous modern, shiny chrome alternator jutting proudly out of the front of a rat-rod engine bay? Why spoil the lines to expose the engine when there's nothing unique or interesting going on in the engine bay? Why have Auto-meters and boy-racer toggle switches? In my opinion, the builder just doesn't seem to 'get' it.

Now, that was a negative post, so I shall add some positive energy. If they gave it to me, how would I fix it?

The first thing to do would be to replace the generic small-block with an interesting motor. Let's have a Buick Nailhead with as many carburettors as possible! Not too much chrome on the engine either, mine would be painted and not as shiny as below.



Much better. Next, put the interior back to stock. There really is no excuse for a billet Lokar throttle pedal in a rat-style car.



If I was feeling creative, I might hit the wreckers and look for a dash cluster out of something else to make it a bit more unique and interesting, but that can wait until the car is at least half-decent!

The rear end is actually kind of interesting, but it's crying out for a recessed (frenched) number plate. After that, I would actually drive it.

To be honest, I would really want to paint it and put a bonnet back on it, but if they are going to build a rat-style shoebox car, then please at least be consistent in using pre-1970s parts only!

My one question about cars like this is, what period of history are they trying to re-create? In the US in the 1950s, used cars depreciated so quickly that high-school kids were driving and modifying '50 Fords by the time they were 5 years old. So they were never actually particularly rough. A lot of the famous '50s customs were built using near-new cars.

[EmDee]

Dec 3, 2012 13:48:43 GMT waveman1500 said:

My one question about cars like this is, what period of history are they trying to re-create?

Not every car is trying to "recreate a period of history", some people just want something cool to drive round in that turns heads. I can't help but think you're taking this whole thing way too seriously.

[waveman1500]

Dec 3, 2012 14:45:59 GMT EmDee said:

Not every car is trying to "recreate a period of history", some people just want something cool to drive round in that turns heads. I can't help but think you're taking this whole thing way too seriously.

I don't mean that it has to be perfectly period-correct, I'm just saying that the modern parts clash with the rest of the car and ruin the look. Everyone's entitled to build their own car how they want, but I think it would look a lot better with a coherent theme to it.

Everyone else seems to like it though, so I must just be a grumpy purist.

[EmDee]

Nah it's alright i get what you mean.

I'm just here to remind you that you're critiquing a car with lawn chairs in it.

[Dez]

third time lucky mart

[Copey]

love that!!

[EmDee]

Dec 3, 2012 14:58:25 GMT Dez said:

third time lucky mart

HA!

Truth is Dez, I don't really like chopped shoeboxes! I just thought both cars were interesting and deserved a look. When I saw this one it reminded me of the other thread, so i thouhgt i'd post it and see what sort of reaction it got. It's a step in the right direction, but I think if you mixed the two it might be better, like this with the paint and interior and bay of the other?

As for the chop, I reckon the proportions look better closer to stock.

In fact if I had to have a shoebox, mine would look more like this:



or maybe this

[shanehaward]

[Rusted Pistons]

I think mr beans face says it all! Me likey a lot

[lemon]

Other than the bike chain steering wheel (!!??), I would...

[fred]

Like eyeing up your best mates missus
wrong very wrong, but sometimes you just cant help it

[waveman1500]

Dec 3, 2012 18:25:46 GMT shanehaward said:

Now THAT's what I'm talking about! ;D

[chairchild]

Utterly, utterly.. love it!

May end up pinching that grille design too

[Seth]

Flamed one from shanehaward's post for me please.

[Deleted]

i love a nice shoebox but thats not a nice one. does nothing for me lost me at the rusty bits