Claude Thibodeau

Hi Phil! What a great display. Wish I could be there... CT

Hi Sera! Great work on a very significant race car. Bravo! CT

Thank you Bill! I'll try to attend this coming Classic Plastic show in october in Mass. with this model, among others. Might see you there, who knows! CT

Thank you Ian! Much appreciated. CT

Thank you John! It was the pleasant part. The bodywork was more "demanding". Oh well... CT

HI RRR! Thank you for the compliments. And yes, it should come back like all the rest. As for Mr. Coddington, he had a few financial tribulations that left some "holding the bag" as we often say. Movers and shakers? It comes with the territory, I guess... CT

Merci Philippe! CT

Hi Francis! Thanks for the comments. Indeed, the green air valve caps are back! To your point about the licence plate: many smooth look rods have a "tilt-down" electric plate holder that shows the plate only when the car is running. Therefore, I modeled it in the "retracted" position. Allows a better view of the IRS. And keep quiet: my wife doesn't know I keep this production pace with steroids. Don't blow my cover... LOL CT

Hi Scott! Thank you. The IFS was inspired by the one-off that Mr. Coddington created for Buz Di Vosta's Roadstar. It was massive and delicate at once. I have no CNC, but styrene can be bent to your will sometimes... As for the hood hinge, space limitations dictated such a design. And you are right: it sweeps all the way up and forward, allowing the hood to be raised as you fancy. Who knew? CT

Hi Mark! A very nice, and soooo rare model. Bravo! CT

Hi David! Thank you for the compliments. I see that you pay great attention to details, as it should be. The devil is in the details, I'm told... CT

Thank you Steve! I'll keep an eye open for them... CT

Hi Steve! The stance on the Chevy pick-up is absolutely perfect. If I may: what exactly are those wheels on the PU? Aftermarket or from a kit? CT

Thank you Chris! CT

Hi Oliver! Thanks for the comments. This era was something: the "less is more" smooth look was a major influence in all the automotive currents that followed. And for that, we have to thank Mr. Coddington, of course, but all the luminaries that surrounded him: Thom Taylor, Buttera, Marcel Delay, Foose and many others. As they say in the music biz: "and the hits kept on coming"... CT

Hi Robert! Thanks for the enthusiastic comment. Much appreciated. As you may know, time often compensate for skills. I just have too much time on my hands, really. I'm certain you could do as well if you get at it! CT

Hi Manuel! Thank you. Yes, the hood and trunk hinges are my design and fabrication. The hood one was influenced by space limitations, but it works fine! CT

Thank you Sir! CT

HI Alan! Thanks for the comments. I have built more detailed scratchbuild models, but the 33 roadster is hard to "miss", such a fine basic shape! CT

Hi again Terry! If you like streamliner, please pay a visit to one of my threads in this very section: The Fulmine Di Sodio, at the bottom of the list. It might make you smile... CT

Hi Terry! Very nice. There can never be too many Bonneville cars! CT

Thanks Glen! CT

HI! You are right: there were 3 manufacturers of those kits on the south shore of Quebec city: Coast to Coast, Wild Rod, and OZE Rod shop. Their common thread? My good friend Renaud Gagnon, who developped the plugs and molds for all of them, and ended up with his own concern, OZE. He was the guy whose bodies impressed Mr. Coddington. Now, to your version, here's mine: a quick curbside that I made for the owner of the 1/1 above. It's a small world! CT

Hi Phil! Thanks for the comments. I never visited his shop, but I talked with Mr. Coddington a few times, in person and over the phone. When he was preparing to launch his line of Boydster fiberglass cars, he was shopping around for a fiberglass sub-contractor, and I "negociated" with him on behalf of a friend of mine who was one of the better "glass men" around. The exchange rate at the time made it even more appealing, but ultimately, he chose a supplier in New-Zealand: about the same exchange rate, and boat delivery to the port of L.A. carried the day. Oh well... As to the Smoothster, I build a bunch of 1/1 "copies" for myself and a few customers, out of Coast to Coast or OZE kits. (see pic below). CT

Thank you Gerald! CT