Claude Thibodeau

Hi! To your point, many old timers exended their wheelbase nonetheless on these 32s, if only to have a better ride. Let's not forget that those cars were, engineering wise, almost farm tractors... No offense meant here, cause I had a real 32 3W, and I extended the WB by 3 inches, and never regretted it! Besides, the famous Harley Earl of GM design fame kept calling for "longer, lower, wider!". Case in point: my 32 Speedwagon with 32 Chrysler front fenders and smoothed hood. Long and low, way to go! CT

Hi! You are absolutely right, sir. Sometimes, the "concept" carries more impact than a fully detailed but more "expected" car... Just to keep my sanity, I try to throw a curbside or two in my mix of cars under construction. Although a marathon is satisfying, a quick dash is sometimes needed for mental balance... CT

Hi! I used that very color to paint some frame hardware on the 33 Ford pictures above, thinking it would be an almost exact match... but it was not. It had a pinkish or magenta hue under certain light circumstances, whereas the Burple remained more "blue", or darker. I remember that there were numerous Ford Escorts and Ranger PU in that hue. Nice color in itself, but no true "Burple". alas... CT

Hi Delton! Thanks for the update. My own brochures date back around 96. I'm sure they expanded the range and variety of Burple products, because it was very popular back then on custom Harleys I was painting... CT

Hi! Thanks for the infos. Same general design, but I suspect slightly different, measurement-wise... CT

Oups... Sorry for my mistake! As they say: "It's not over untill it's over"! CT

Hi! Very nice cars. Bravo! Is the chassis on the Mustang coming from Revell's 55 Chevy "Pro mod" ? Sure looks like it... CT

Hi! Alas, it's discontinued. I took a habit of stopping at every hardware store in any small village or hamlet I happen to drive trough... juste in case they may have some leftover cans. So far, no luck! Very nice finished car! CT

Hi! I envy your ability to weld aluminium. I tried it, but can't get it to satisfy my expectations. I had a Vette once, a brand new one in 79. Alas, kept it for 6 months. Was the most troublesome car I ever had. Was very disappointed... CT

Hi! Well, everything seems to fall in place wonderfully, isn't it? Think twice, cut once, enjoy forever! CT

Hi Martin! Thank you for the compliment. Actually, I sold that car after building it (in 1999) to a gentleman from New-Hampshire, and last time I heard about it, he drove it to Hot August Nights in Reno, Nevada, and auctionned it to a buyer from Boise Idaho. Cars have wheels, so, they move around a lot, don't they? CT

Hi! Interesting styling. Can't wait to see the end result! CT

Hi! Nice clean work, looks promising. It seems the stance will be dead on, circa 1960's... CT

Hi Delton! Not to argue, but the pearl base you refer to from HOK is Passion Purple. It's a straight base-coat, designed to be topped by HOK urethane candy. My car actually had a silver base coat under the Burple candy color. (see picture). However, it may indeed have a slight difference from the color I saw on the model above, which would make sense, since it is not the exact same paint. I just indicated it reminded me of HOK's Burple. Nothing more... Regards, CT

Hi! Great project. When I built custom frames like yours, I often use clear styrene pill-boxes (or Crazy-Glue boxes) as the basic material for the rear tubs enclosures... They are avail in many sizes, and react well to styrene glue. Half-round styrene (Plastruct) in very small size can be used on it to replicate the beading/embossing usually done on aluminium tubs to stiffen them. The Revell Mat and Debby Hayes TBird is also a very good donor for rear tubs, but be advised that they are very tall, meaning the may interfere with the tulip panel at the base of the rear window. But I'm sure you may have your own plan. Oh, the joy of scratchbuilding! Keep going. Inspiring! CT

Hi! Impressive interior. Have you tought of a name for that style? Post-industrial TiKi? Hawaïan Bomber? Just curious... CT

Hi! Well, formal invitation extended: I will pick the tab for our lunch upon your first visit. How's that for the "there is no free lunch anymore" mantra? Styrene rules!!! CT

Hi! Great build. To your "egg" comment: back then, when Mr. Coddington introduced the Aluma Coupe (another Erickson design!), a famous magazine editor called it the "Fabergé Egg on wheels". It's a small world... CT

Hi Dennis! I was surprised to see it fit with such a reasonnable amount of work. I cut a section of a leftover transparent twin-blower Stude hood to marry to the twin grille contour, and had it to reach as far up as I could before it veered into the blower hump, and adjusted (shortened) the Ford hood to fit. Nothing a bit of bondo couldn't take care of... I ended up filling the oem grille openings, and used a lower air intake to feed the radiator and squeeze in the "sliver" flashers. I wanted a different look from another Stude concept I built last year (see pix). Hours of fun with styrene! CT

Hi Patrick! My eldest daughter lived in Ft MacMurray for 8 years, and I visited Alberta twice, but alway in summer. great place! As to Québec city, we are under a foot of snow this morning, all trought the night. But with six cars on the bench under progress right now... who cares about the oudoors? The snow blower session is not schedule untill late pm, so... CT

Hi Pat! The show was here in Quebec city. It's called L'Exposition amicale des modèles réduits, and was held for the 19th year in a row. Very well run show, with about 6-700 models shown. We are been blessed to get coverage in Contest Cars for the last 8 to 10 years. You should attend next year! CT

Thank you Michal! I really like your expression: Brutal Beauty. Actually, I think I will use it on my next Pro-Mod, if you allow me... Bold graphic treatment would make for great home-made decals! CT

Hi! Thank you Patrick. You are right to say that the lid makes it more "different"... but it hides the interior details, because it is so low. I can't decide which way I prefer: top;ess or with the lid. Decisions... CT

Hi! Show results: many comments from customs afficionados... but no trophy. With spectators' vote, you never know. Vox populi... Vox Deii! CT

Hi! Very nice. That should take care of what ergonomics experts call "pressure points! ?! Keep on! CT