What inspires you (And your builds/projects)?

[Mrockatansky]

So about 6 years ago, way before I even thought about a Malibu (which I have always wanted) I was a bit of a Porsche guy and had plans to pick up a 911 (964 or 993) to build and make my own.

I had the money saved and had actively mapped out my project, just needed to find a car to buy. Due to the unexpected and very awesome arrival of my son, Jack, all plans were put on hold and by the time I got around to looking for an old 911 again the values of the cars had shot up so high that I couldn't afford to get one (they literally doubled over about 5 years)

Luckily for me I found my Malibu and am very happy to be restoring it as my own.

Now I know everyone here builds their cars for different purposes, some are track beasts, some are show queens, some are daily drivers or street fighters and some cars are all of the above.

Some of the people and things that have inspired my build share some DNA with Porsche builders and tuners, Magnus Walker, for one is definitely a major influence on me. If you haven't watched the short film "Urban Outlaw" I definitely recommend checking it out:

Question to you all, what inspires you? People? Ideas?

 

[Mike P]

For a car guy/hotrodder I was lucky enough to start out in a Chrysler/Plymouth dealership in the late 60s......the height of the muscle car era. I could never afford the neat factory cars but I could build my own cars that were capable of of beating them. The guys that had the unassuming and extremely quick sleepers always impressed me and had a big influence on a lot of my builds.....besides the 2 door post cars were usually lighter, more rigid and cheaper than the 2 door hardtops. I also tended to stay away from the "belly button" cars like Camaro, Tri-Five Chevys, Mustangs etc an went more for the less desiriable/cheaper models.

The choice for the next project was usually what I could find cheap and struck my fancy at the time. Virtually everything I dragged home came from either a junk yard or someones back yard (and looked it LOL). Anyway here's what kept me busy over the years.

 

[MrSony]

What inspired be really was breaking my V6 and that drove me to get a job, and basically I said "f8ck it" and bought a 350 buick instead of rebuilding the 100hp 231. 3000 later, still excited to get parts in the mail. It's like Christmas every payday.

 

[84_SS]

My Dad is one of the biggest influences on my car. I was originally building a 1980 Camaro Z28 when this monte carlo that he knew everything about came up for sale (my now current car on its second rebuild). All though the old man may not always agree on my choices for the car, hes always been there to help along the way and push me to do a good job and as much of it as I can. He knew every owner of my car and even worked on it when he was a young man. I always though that was cool. But I've always loved drag cars and the way they look so that's also a really big influence.

 

[Vaughn3031]

i'm going with something like this for this year, but gold/black

 

[joesregalproject]

I have had all different influences and inspirations for my different projects. My first experiences with classic cars were with Buicks and Pontiacs, so I've always been more of a Buick-Olds-Pontiac guy than a Chevy guy. For a while I was into cars that were kept all original. When I started doing body work, I got interested in custom bodywork. The inspiration to keep the chrome trim on my car came from 307Regal's (old forum member) Buick Regal and my old boss' '86 Ford Custom truck. The idea to shave the emblems and antenna came from a '50 Mercury lead sled I worked on. The rally wheels and 1" whitewall tires were an idea I got from a '64 GTO I liked that had similar looking wheel and tires. The burgandy paint on my regal is based on a color that a saw on a Porsche 944 that I liked. My idea to convert to crank Windows and manual locks came from a beater Saturn a friend of mine used to have. I liked them simplicity of them. I think my idea to put a Buick motor in it instead of a Chevy comes my interest in all-original cars. Given mine isn't all-original by a long shot, but it's Buick into a Buick stuff. I guess when I see things I like, I take them and try to adapt them to my application.

 

[Garrett1982]

I get some of my inspiration for my cutlass from the factory super stock cars in the 60's. I want mine to be kind of an 80's version, except the engine and trans are somewhat modern for various reasons.

 

[87BlazeLS]

I have been customizing nearly every single vehicle I've owned over the last 20+ years. My last build
was a 1991 Mazda miata. went from bone stock to full custom in just 9 months. I took it to several
big car shows over a period of 2 years. The judges just walked past it like it did not mean a thing.
However, anybody with a Chevy got great scores and high judges marks. So, I decided to sell
My Mazda after a job loss and then purchased my Monte just 8 months later. I had the Rat Rod
bug biting me at the time and was serious about the old school theme to be a big part of what I was looking
for. I have a full 4 years in this cars build and just now it's starting to really take some shape.
I myself have done 99.9% of the build in my driveway. The only parts not installed by me were the wheels
and tires and the torque converter. I was a finish carpenter for some years and loved working with
stained and varnished wood. So a taste of that is also sprinkled around the interior of the car..
I tried as much as I could to keep the majority of the car stock. So many of the mods are hidden
that it appears very stock from the outside. And still rides and drives like the stock car.
I love the responses from the kids. As I drive by they look at me and wave or tell there parents to look.
In the full sunlight the car now sparkles like a jewel. and at night all the interior and engine bay lights
make for a real eye catching interesting car. And the Chicks dig it too.
Whats not to like.... It was a Rat Rod now it's just an Antique Hot Rod.

 

[joesregalproject]

I guess my inspiration for a lot of the pickup trucks and big SUVs that I work on are based on Big Rigs and some of the custom trucks out of the 80s and 90s. I loved 80s and 90s truck culture. Lund Visors, clearance lights, bumper guides, custom striping, big tripod mirrors, push bars, etc. I love all of that stuff. A friend of mine did a Dually conversion on a conversion van that was pretty cool. I've done stacks in the bed of diesels; but they aren't my thing. The '86 F150 truck that I previously mentioned is a hell of a brainstorm by my old boss. He took a single wheel, 2wd, 302ci truck, put a Dually bed on it with a hydraulic lift arm under it so the whole bed picks up and dumps. He used wide single tires instead of duallies in the rear. It now has a 351 Cleveland in it, with a Saleen mustang exhaust. It's got a Cobra Jet hood scoop off of a '69 mustang and ghost flames that you can only see in certain lights. It's pretty bad *ss. I don't think I could've dreamed up something that wild. Attached is a picture of it, still incomplete.

 

[87BlazeLS]

Pretty cool Joe, All that thing needs is some suspension work and some nice rims and tires....
Is it a C6 or a 5 speed ?