Chip Foose of Foose Design talks about the concept, theme, mechanics and design of his 2015 Ridler Award winning 1965 Chevy Impala, the "Impostor". Foose Design Merch: shop.chipfoose.com
Chip. This is off the dial . I've seen pictures of the finished creation and hadn't even given a thought about the dimensional changes. So extreme and yet so subtle! I liked the "e" type.....eventually! But this is a work of art ! It's no wonder your so highly regarded and respected. And for the first time ever l saw (at 4mins) lead loading as it should be done. Say's it all for me!! Take care and stay safe.
This summer I visited a small car museum situated on Route 66 a few miles outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma and what do I come across but this very car. I had never heard of this build until seeing it that day. What a car.
Amazing mind and design instincts. Looking forward to seeing the complete video roster on this build. Thank you for your artistry Chip. Grateful for letting us see into your creative mind.
I know that the 65 impala was the icon in this area but I own a 66 impala and compared to 67 to 69 they were big heavy boats. I like the 65 and 66 impala's most of all. I had a 66 impala SS I put a high performance 327 in it and it ran like a bat out of hell. Wish I still had the car to this day, one of my favorite cars. 66 to 67 fairlane the big body 70 to 73 mark one's were my favorite cars. Don't get me wrong like the shelbies from Carol shelby and all the mark one's, heck I liked all the mustang's and nova's. A few corvettes and Camaro's Plus a lot of the older Chevrolet pickup trucks and GMC''s.
Good evening to you. I also made a comment about lead loading. Are you sitting comfortably then l'll begin! Up until the 1960's there was no Bondo. There was only lead. In all car manufacturing up to the 1960's part of the build process involved the use of lead loading , or more simply lead filling. (You cannot use lead on aluminium or fibreglass.) The lead was used ,where in the build process, panels were overlapped and then welded. The lead loading "hid "the joint. However lead loading is an expensive process. Additionally car construction changed and lead was no longer required. Bondo first appeared in the 1960's , it was a much cheaper and quicker repair method. Additionally it was a skill no longer required. I started panelbeating in 1970 and was one of the last to learn the art of lead loading. I trained on Jaguars and we still lead loaded joints. This was because where the panels overlapped they "moved" when the car was driven on the road. If you filled the joint with Bondo it would literally crack at the joint. Simply put, lead moves Bondo doesn't. However , modern fillers are far superior and have virtually negated the need for lead. I very recently restored a Jaguar Mk 9 and used lead as part of the repair process so it does still get used. The owner has been in the trade all his life and had never seen lead loading . He was amazed by the skills required. So in answer to your question your right on both counts. Hope l haven't bored you s**tless! Take care and stay safe.
I emailed Rad Rides by Troy and asked about them building me a 68 Dodge Charger in the same way the built Joe Roagan's Barracuda......that car was a full on handbuilt car, but not Ridler level and nowhere near the chassis/body mods, the price was $175,000, and that was 10 years ago.
I wish can I will doing job, & I have work inside on the car sir you are a great artists you will drow that's you actually you make...(I don't know what can I write my English is not good but i think you understand) I love cars... Sir can I am writing for wrong than am sorry.. thank you...
"...and this car should perform like no other '65 has ever performed" -- BECAUSE IT ISN'T A REAL '65 IMPALA!!!! it's a NEW Corvette... how dumb is that?~ and essentially taking something as new as the Corvette and trying to make the Impala what it ISN'T and despite how nice of a design and hard work put into it, defeats what making a car is all about because, and coming full circle-- is only a Corvette as he stated with the '65 Impala body... it defeats what it COULD have been... and I'm not a fan of cutting the body length down neither... I would have liked to have seen a nice [rebuilt] 396 or something with the same paint-job and he could have added more to it from there, but then with that, you'd still have people having their opinions at how boring it [could] have been versus what this thing is... I just think it's crazy knowing that it appears to be an Impala, and then making a remark as such that it "performs like no other '65 has" is a bit repugnant.
I just dont understand, how Chip let that car leave out of the shop with that ugly corvette interior. Even if you want a modern dashboard, youu should keep the apperance as retro as is.
i want foose to redesign 59 impala or make 59 or 61 62 basicaly do what he does but on 59 or 64 this is a nice car in my dreams so is cadillac 59 i really love this 50s cars but realety is its not that eazy to built or redesign this crapy cars at this moment iam in love with 59 model cars weather its oldmobile plymouth or GM let make impala foose that will look so cool purpule or blue orange in my color i love this cars i hope i see them on the steeets nice blue metalic or olive green cromed out instead aluminum foose is really good but cars i see them as product they like humans cats love smell and tpuch by the artist