SEMA 'CUDA: a mostly scratchbuilt 69 Cuda Pro-touring for the SEMA show

[Claude Thibodeau]

Hi!

Every year, the convention floor at the SEMA Show is covered with eye candy, and the Mustangs and Camaros have been seen aplenty. What if we tried something less mundane?

Take a Polar Light Big John 69 Cuda Funny-car body, already shaved, chopped, lenghtened, with flush-fitting contemporary glass, and add scratchbuilt: frame, air-ride suspensions,  disc brakes, rack & pinion steering, firewall, floor pan, gas tank, inverted hood hinges, air filters, door panels, seat belts. rear deck, taillight, mirrors, exhaust, etc. Fully wired and plumbed.

V10 from Sidewinder's truck, 9" Ford from 76 Torino, rolling stock from Prowler, chrome bucket seats from 65 Grand-Prix (custom option), dash from unknown glue-bomb 928 Porsche.

Testor's Metallic black  & Diamond dust silver & Maroon red  lacquers, airbrushed Metalflake's Red Flip-Flop real-fire flames, Mr. Hobby's premium top coat clear, fully polished. Revell's spray chrome accents and Tamya's clear red acrylic on chrome accessories. 

Hours of fun with styrene!

CT 

[Oldriginal86]

Looks Fast and LOUD!

[PappyD340]

Very cool!

[AMT68]

The clear red looks absolutely amazing on the chrome. I'll have to experiment with that product sometime on chrome pieces.  

[michelle]

very awesome custom  nice work 

[Yeah Nah]

One mean looking beast! Excellent creative work there Claude.

[happy grumpy]

A beautiful take on the barracuda. Looks fast even when not moving. Another great looking creation Claude. Thanks for sharing.

[Steve H]

Another extremely creative build from the slightly twisted mind, and very talented hands of Claude. I would love to see the enormous pile of styrene leftovers from your kit bashes!! It would definitely hold its own next to the Camaros and Stangs at SEMA. The flame job is stunning . Well done sir, bravo. 
 

Cheers, Steve

[Flatout]

Great concept Claude and as always, flawless execution!  Nicely done…

[XYHARRY]

Excellent creativity there Claude, great engineering too. Well done.

Cheers, 

David. ??

[Claude Thibodeau]

17 hours ago, Oldriginal86 said:

Looks Fast and LOUD!

Thanks Randy!

Keep in mind that funny-car body was "slimlined" already, so it shows. As to the sound, I don't know if you ever heard a real Viper V10 engine turn... It is NOT exactly the most exciting sound for an engine... But it pulls, for certain! 

CT

[espo]

Great concept turning a race car into a streetcar. The paint work along with the flames look great. Like the power train and the interior. 

[Rattlecan Dan]

Great imagination and stellar creativity. Nice build.

[Oldriginal86]

9 hours ago, Claude Thibodeau said:

Thanks Randy!

Keep in mind that funny-car body was "slimlined" already, so it shows. As to the sound, I don't know if you ever heard a real Viper V10 engine turn... It is NOT exactly the most exciting sound for an engine... But it pulls, for certain! 

CT

Looking at the exhaust, I was thinking “cut-outs” , but that’s it in its entirety. Stellar build!

[Claude Thibodeau]

On 2/12/2024 at 7:57 PM, PappyD340 said:

Very cool!

Thanks for the comment, Larry!

CT

[Claude Thibodeau]

On 2/12/2024 at 8:44 PM, AMT68 said:

The clear red looks absolutely amazing on the chrome. I'll have to experiment with that product sometime on chrome pieces.  

Thank you Tom! 

It's easy to do with an airbrush, and replicates the anodyzing process seen on aluminium body work of some custom vehicles. On the wheels and engine it is shiny, and on the tailight it is satin. Totally different effects. 

CT

[TransAmMike]

Whoa Claude, that's one wild and crazy 'Cuda, awesome build (as usual by you}.??

[Claude Thibodeau]

On 2/12/2024 at 8:45 PM, michelle said:

very awesome custom  nice work 

Thank you Michelle.Much appreciated!

CT

[Claude Thibodeau]

On 2/12/2024 at 9:12 PM, Yeah Nah said:

One mean looking beast! Excellent creative work there Claude.

Thanks Garry!

CT

[Phildaupho]

Great combination of parts. Definitely SEMA worthy. Another fantastic creation from your bench.

[Claude Thibodeau]

On 2/12/2024 at 9:46 PM, happy grumpy said:

A beautiful take on the barracuda. Looks fast even when not moving. Another great looking creation Claude. Thanks for sharing.

Merci Mario!

CT

[bill_67]

Great build, love the painted wheels reminds me of a Bentley i saw at the 2020 Toronto autoshow 

[Claude Thibodeau]

On 2/12/2024 at 10:45 PM, Steve H said:

Another extremely creative build from the slightly twisted mind, and very talented hands of Claude. I would love to see the enormous pile of styrene leftovers from your kit bashes!! It would definitely hold its own next to the Camaros and Stangs at SEMA. The flame job is stunning . Well done sir, bravo. 
 

Cheers, Steve

Hi Steve!

Thank you, happy you like it. My wife is on perpetual alert about the styrene dust and shavings on the floor of my work room. Oh well...

CT

[Brudda]

Another great build from the studio of CT Design. Fantastic build. Love the hood hinges. 

[ea0863]

Looks like a totally stock build Claude, so unlike you!  This stunner would certainly win Best-of-Show at SEMA!