Yesterday, I made my annual pilgrimage to the Del Mar National car show. It still hasn't recovered to its pre-COVID-19 levels yet, but had some very interesting vehicles.
Still sorely missed by me is the San Diego Roadster Club. They do the wildest, most innovative things, but were absent this year too - bummer. I take a lot of photos of the details on cars because I'm interested in fabricating. This used to be a big part of the huge parking lot show where guys would bring their homebuilts and show off their skills. I'd spend hours walking around and talking to home builders. There's less of that now, but still some good examples.
Here are a few, random samples to give you a Sunday morning car fix. The lighting in the fairgrounds buildings is horrible, so I apologise for the quality of the inside photos.
This is called the Marcel Roadster. It was designed by Chip Foose, but the bodywork is done by Luc De Lay of Marcel's Custom Metal in Orange County, CA. It's his car. There are much better photos of it on the Internet if you want more information. Just Google Image "Marcel Roadster." I did have a nice conversation with Luc De Lay about the car and metalshaping in general. That kind of opportunity is why I really like the show.
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Marcel Roadster 1.jpg
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Marcel Roadster 2.jpg
Even if the lowrider style isn't your thing, the level of detail on these cars, and the quality workmanship is awe inspiring. I always look forward to the lowrider pavilion.
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LR Caddy 1.jpg
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LR Caddy 3.jpg
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LR Caddy 2.jpg
The hydraulics on these cars is mind blowing. It takes a lot of engineering to make them work. This is a mild example of what they can do. Note even the multi segment driveshaft.
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LR Hydraulics.jpg
Here's a builder who somehow managed to get hold of a Porsche 917. It probably had a blown engine, so therefore practically useless. Could you even find a 917 engine? If so, how much would it cost? His solution? Repower it with a Dodge Viper V10.
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Porsche 917 #1.jpg
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Porsche 917 #2.jpg
Like I said, I take a lot of photos of details. The kinematics on this hood fascinated me. It was really hard to figure out, and I was standing right there looking at it and talking to the owner. It's such a trip.
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Hood Kinematics 1.jpg
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Hood Kinematics 2.jpg
Cheers all,