Our pal Max over at Bio Kustumz posted a video and question about eco-friendly cars today on his Facebook page, inquiring as to just why they're all so damned ugly... This naturally spurred me to dig out an old piece I drew up for a Super Chevy Tri-Five special a couple of years ago. Yeah, it'd be pricey... and certainly not for the non-techie rodders, but a sampling of the technology would blow the roof off of the SEMA Show, and lay waste to those homely hipster movers and Blade Runner refugees that car makers think we want. Hell, work some tuning magic and build a 1-G, 10-second, 30 MPG boulevard bruiser using off-the-shelf parts... NOW!!
Growing up, the first magazine I had a subscription to was Super Chevy, and it fueled many a dream car in my imagination, most notably tri-fives! Obviously, I’m stoked to share my vision of an alternate take on the Projext X theme (which, ironically, is the cover car!) with some very modern and traditional ideas thrown in for some ’56 Chevy stew...
What I have is a take on a Project X-like ride…. After seeing so many G-Machines in the dream Car pages of different magazines, I thought “how about the kind of car that got most of us into this in the first place…. a bad street machine?”
Growing up, the first magazine I had a subscription to was Super Chevy, and it fueled many a dream car in my imagination, most notably tri-fives! Obviously, I’m stoked to share my vision of an alternate take on the Projext X theme (which, ironically, is the cover car!) with some very modern and traditional ideas thrown in for some ’56 Chevy stew...
What I have is a take on a Project X-like ride…. After seeing so many G-Machines in the dream Car pages of different magazines, I thought “how about the kind of car that got most of us into this in the first place…. a bad street machine?”
Let’s REALLY play up the “Dream Car” aspect, and use some emerging and existing technology to create a technological wonder. Our fictional 1956 Chevy 2-door sedan will be named “Project W”. It’ll run a 409-based W-block, all aluminum, blown and injected, running E-85. The idea is an environmentally-friendly, rocket-like street machine with killer looks.
The techno-fun kicks in with a CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission), which’ll keep us right in the powerband, in a state of almost constant acceleration. Off the line, we’ll be assisted by a pair of electric wheel hub motors, which’ll provide some extra torque off the line, and re-charge on braking.
Retro touches, certainly… it’s a nod to the Project X, but a very modern, extremely engineered piece… Sitting on a full tube frame, the body is angle-channelled over the rails to exaggerate the rake, and runs full modern suspension. The look here is a drag strip refugee bred with an evil street car from the ’60′s, with pure attitude oozing from every pore. Removing the front bumper, pan and lower grille bar allows extreme lowering, and we’ll even knock out the vertical grille bars, just for kicks.
A light shave eliminates handles, locks and badging, and Carbon fiber doors have lost the vent windows, and a carbon fiber hood and deck lid keep the lightweight theme in check. Bright yellow paint hints at the Project X-like heritage, while the black two-tone shows that this eco-friendly bruiser has a darker side.
Chris Alston’s Chassisworks Varishock system up front, Eliminator 4-Link out back, with one of their Fab-9 housings swinging away. Big brakes are a must, and we’ll powder coat any exposed parts black to keep everything stealthy. behind the Billet Specialties custom-sized wheels. Why different fronts and rears? A nod to the gasser days, grasshopper. We’ll set this thing on some meaty M/T rollers out back, as we’ll need as much traction as we can find.
A full interior is a must, with power NOTHING… hey, this is a street machine first and foremost. Buckets, a floor shifter, and full gauges are all you need. We’ll keep the front windows operational, should any passengers get whiny and need “air”.
The spec sheet:
Chassis/Driveline:
All-aluminum 409 W-block based, blown and injected, running E-85
Toroidal Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT)
(not only can we launch and stay right in the optimal powerband, but “shifts” would be imperceptible, there’s almost no power loss, and we gain fuel efficiency!)
Chris Alston’s Chassisworks FAB9 rear end
Each rear wheel is fitted with a regenerative braking electric wheel hub motor
(approx output is 100Kw, or about 100 HP per wheel)
Chris Alston’s Chassisworks Eliminator 4-Link
Wilwood 6-piston front calipers and 14″ rotors, rear braking via wheel hub motors
Chris Alston’s Chassisworks VariShock ShockWave’s, 4×2 A-Arm crossmember
Billet Specialties Altered front wheels (19″ one-off’s), and one-off Apex-G’s out back (20″) for a retro gasser look, on Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/R tires.
Exterior:
Shaved emblems, handles and locks,
Front bumper, pan, vertical and lower grille bars removed
Carbon fiber hood, front fenders, doors and deck lid
PPG yellow pearl and black two-tone
Vent windows removed
Interior:
Lightweight materials replace factory dash and trim,
Full ‘cage,
Corbeau GTA low back buckets
Full Simpson harness system
Fire suppression system
Full AutoMeter gauges
Need more inspiration? Head on over to www.problemchildkustoms.com !
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