Blasts from the Past: Early Chops

Chopped in the "early days" when I was posting my work at Autoweek's Combustion Chamber forum, 2005, this large hybrid Buick would have revived their classic "Electra" nameplate. And, really, wouldn't that be an awesome name for a plug-in electric car? Electronic "aero-spats," or fender skirts, could tilt open a few inches in the front to assist in brake cooling, tilt open in the back for braking assistance creating more drag, or remain closed for maximum aerodynamics. They would also be powered "out and up" for tire changing.

My Caducatillac, a high-end Cadillac "pickup truck" with a bespoke custom Ducati motorcycle "holder" in the back. Pushing a button would open the rear tailgate and set in motion a conveyor belt of sorts to "park" or "retrieve" the motorcycle and lock it in place. This is based on the early 2000's Caddy concept car, the Imaj, and was chopped in 2006 or so.

Another Buick, this time a large, rear wheel drive Lucerne 225 luxury sedan. Evoking the vaunted Electra 225 nameplate, this would be a petrol- and diesel-powered formal sedan. A modern take on GM's formal roofed late '70s and early '80s sedans, this sedan would have all the bells and whistles in a more subtle styling package than contemporary Cadillacs.

 

Mercedes is about to introduce a compact-sized 4-door "coupe" to its lineup, based on the corporation's newest A Class. In 2006-07, I created this tiny sport sedan from a C Class. I bet they end up looking fairly similar. I shortened the C Class sedan's hood and wheel-to-dash proportions to simulate a front-wheel drive platform.

 

Chopped back in 2008, with this Scion xB Cabriolet, I just wanted to see if I could inject some fun, and better proportions to the second generation box. Could be a Mini Cab competitor at a lower price point.

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Something Different: Lincoln MK/GT V12

This is a quick chop representing a two-seater Lincoln V12 sports coupe, the MK/GT. It would be the marque's "halo car" and be priced in the high $60Ks. All contemporary electronics would be present, the V12 would use Eco-Boost technology, and perhaps even a hybrid-assisted, stop/start drivetrain. Click image to enlarge to a full 1100 pixels.

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1958 Lincoln Premiere Coupe Pickup

Just the thing for the "Gentleman Farmer" of 1958—the Lincoln Coupe Pickup.

C  H O P S — While "chatting" on FB today, in a post about the original '57 Ranchero and '59 El Camino, I mentioned that I liked both of thm, but that I'd like an uplevel interior in them. The Fairlane 500 and Impala trim would have been nice to be able to choose, but then again, in that time period, both of those car-based trucks were considered pretty "fancy" anyway, even with their bargain basement interiors. I began to wonder what a similar period Lincoln or Cadillac car-based pickup would look like. At the time, I thought the Lincoln Mark's reversed C pillar would look great on a pickup. I had a few minutes tonight to relax, so I thought I'd give it a go.

I soon realized that I preferred the "regular" Lincoln Premiere's wraparound rear window. It would give a bit more space behind the front seats, perhaps to enable them to recline, and it also gives a nice symmetry with the front windshield. And it's not as if the car needed an extra foot of cargo space, lol, this first series of unit-bodied Lincolns was almost 19-feet long to begin with! I "painted" the car in a period salmon-beige with a white roof and Photoshopped a new background in that complimented those new colors. I also added some of my flowers, lol. I think this worked out a million times better than expected. At least! : )

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My Lincoln Project Continues: MKS/2 Plug-In

Bringing Two-Tone Back! My newest Lincoln illustrated in Palm Springs with the available Copper and Pewter Luxury Group.

C H O P S — My latest Lincoln would be a sleek plug-in Hybrid, RWD/AWD replacement for their MKS. The MKS on sale now, at its core, is based on a Volvo platform, from the days Ford owned that Swedish marque. I used Volvo's new S60 sport sedan as the base for this sedan then. I extended the front end to make room for a brand-new Inline 6 EcoBoost, the first new inline engine from a domestic automaker in quite some time. I also extended the rear overhang for more trunk space and so the rear seat could be moved back a few inches for more legroom. Most obvious, perhaps, is a return to a classic two-tone paint job, in this case, the Copper and Pewter Luxury Group. Lincoln has a long history of designer packages and "luxury groups" based on colors and this bold 21st century interpretation just might help get New Lincoln noticed. 

I placed this new Lincoln in front of a classic Mid Century Modern home in Palm Springs I found while Googling. I think you'll agree it's a classic pairing.

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Lighter and Glassier Accord Coupe for 2014?

To answer the headline, sadly, no. This lighter and glassier Accord coupe isn't going to be introduced at any time soon. 

C H O P S — Honda Styling's long descent into heavier, thicker, fuller, blobbier cars continues unabated with their recently introduced Accord Coupe for 2013, and I continue to try to push them in another direction, lol. Hondas once had some of the lowest beltlines and thinnest pillars around. No longer. I've tried to bring back a simpler Accord coupe with this chop. It's a hatchback, too. I think all Hondas should have hatches. And badass, high-strung, and frugal, cutting-edge, powerplants and drivetrains.

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2020 Lincoln MKH/3

The Future of the Performance Luxury Sedan?

Well, sometimes you just want to have fun: Turning a Ferrari FF into a H-igh-performance H-ydrogen fuel-cell H-ybrid Lincoln kinda fun!  The MKH/3. Click on image to enlarge, as always.

This roomy-but-small Lincoln would be offered in the year 2020 and would include a hydrogen fuel-cell, as well as a tiny supercharged diesel engine and programmable lithium-ion hybrid drivetrain. "Gas" mileage would be measured in the months, not miles and when plugged into the grid at night, your little Hot Rod Lincoln would create enough energy to run your 21st century clean & green home the next day. A solar-paneled roof would help power the Lincoln's batteries during the day.

Base photo was the just-introduced Novitec-Rosso Ferrari FF.

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2013 Flex Country Squire Sport Activity Coupe

The Flex Country Squire's woody heritage is recalled on the new Coupe in two ways. Brushed stainless steel trim strips on the body sides remind one of the famous "yacht" paneling, and the electronically assisted liftgate is adorned with a hefty and artful slab of actual American Walnut, beveled and embossed, highly varnished, and waterproofed. Click on image to enlarge. They can be further enlarged by right-clicking on "View Image" or by saving to your hard drive.

Paying respects to the original 1951 Ford Country Squire, the marque's first use of that iconic name, this completely contemporary Sport Activity Coupe is a 2-door wagon just like that '51. Prominently featured is a forward angled "basket handle" C pillar, a nod to the Crown Victoria coupe of '55-'56, the '77-79 Thunderbird and the early '80s Fairmont Futura sport coupes. And yes, I said "C pillar." Just behind the long single side doors are small triangular windows, shades of vintage Thunderbirds, which slide electronically into the pillar when the doors are opened, creating the first, true, pillarless coupe from Ford in decades.

The standard Flex's severely vertical roof pillars were ditched, along with the third row of seating. With the slanting and aerodynamic roofline, the interior has been reconfigured for only four people. Twin rear bucket seats were moved back and closer together, taking advantage of the space formerly reserved for the third row. The rear side panels have "wraparound" sections leading to the rear buckets, and with the full length central console, giving the rear seat the comfort and glamour of Ford's 1960s Thunderbirds.

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