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Jan
08
The SAAB Sonett was a nifty little sportscar. Originally fitted with a 1500cc Ford Taunus V4 engine it had enough power to be a fun runabout. Still… not enough to have serious fun with the little bugger. I wondered what a club racing version of the Mk2 Sonett could have looked like. Lowered, of course, with wider wheels and meatier tires and a few aerodynamic tweaks. Because there isn’t much space in the engine compartment, a V6 engine wasn’t an option. Hence I opted for a turbocharger. Now, which version would you prefer? Stock or Club Racer?
Jan
03
SAAB went out of business in 2011, which made me sad because I always liked the odd and sometimes even weird Swedish cars. Especially the vehicles developed before GM bought SAAB had something that made them unique and therefore special.
SAAB customers of yore have been very loyal and enthusiastic about their brand. Instead of building small amounts of special cars for customers willing to pay more for a SAAB than for any other car, GM watered down the design in order to make the cars appeal to more mainstream customers. The idea of selling more vehicles that way didn’t work out too well, did it? Rightly so, because most people thought the vehicles were not special enough for the price asked. If customers want to drive a car that makes them stand out of the crowd, it doesn’t really make sense to design cars that appeal to a broader audience. The decline of the SAAB brand was slow and painful for enthusiasts. Late in 2011 it was finally over. SAAB – rest in peace.
To honor the “real” SAAB cars of yesteryear, I want to create a series of modified SAAB vehicles in 2012. The first one is the 99 Turbo pictured here. With the base vehicle already looking a little odd, the period correct race car wheels fit perfectly with the mud guards, IMO. The 99 has also been lowered and a couple of parts on the body have been altered. Hey… it could have been like that back then 😉
Dec
10
The smart roadster is quite a fun car to drive. A rigid chassis with great suspension setup, low curb weight and diminutive size. The only downside is the automated transmission, really. So, what would it be like to add a proper transmission, bigger wheels, tires and brakes plus a subtle bodykit? Look at the pictures and decide for yourself.
Dec
04
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
FOR SALE | Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series
A car many people dream about – me included. A local businessman is thinking about selling his Black Series and approached me if I could take some pictures for him. I agreed, of course…
The CLK 63 AMG Black Series has been produced from 2007 to 2009. It is slightly heavier than the car on which it is based, but is significantly faster thanks to an updated differential, power-tuned engine, and various other tweaks. The CLK 63 AMG reaches 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.3 and 100 mph (161 km/h) in 9.3 seconds, while the CLK63 AMG Black Series takes just 4.0 to 60 mph (97 km/h), and 100 mph (161 km/h) takes just 8.8. In this Black Series model the rear seats have been removed, so this is a two-seater only. The Black Series Cost £100.000 (£34,000 more than the standard CLK63 AMG). However, thanks to power tweaks it can now reach, but is limited to, 186 mph. The engine is a 6.2L AMG V8 which produces 500 bhp and 465 lb.ft of torque. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_C209 04.11.2011)
Vehicle Details: will be added later.
To prevent any misunderstandings:
This is not my vehicle. I do not sell it myself. I just took the pictures and put them online for the gentleman wanting to sell it.
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series | © Sebastian Motsch 2011
Nov
30
Frequent followers of this blog know that I have a soft spot for cars with edges. This is no exception, as I’ve always liked the styling of the Pininfarina designed Ferrari 348. Found this picture in the internet and thought that it would look a lot better lowered and with a proper set of wheels. Said and done, here is what I came up with in not even half an hour working on it in Adobe Photoshop. Simple, clean and timeless – exactly the way I like cars.
Nov
26
A new species of frogs has been discovered in Florida recently: the Glove Box Frogs
The guys over at Gunnar Racing in West Palm Beach, Florida, put an old Porsche 911 in the back yard a couple of years ago.
Last week, Andy wanted to check whether there was any paperwork left in the glove box.
To his surprise, a frog jumped out when he opened the glove box! Looking closer, he found another six of them chilling in their in-glovebox swimming pool.
Nobody has a clue how they got in there – the glove box has been closed for many years!
So here are some frog facts: Frogs lay their eggs in water or wet places After 21 days the embryo leaves its jelly shell and quickly becomes a tadpole. After five weeks, the tadpole starts to grow hind legs, then forelegs, etc.
Then, eleven weeks after the eggs were laid, the frogs are fully developed! Now the question is… how long have they lived in here as fully developed frogs??? They were different sizes, so do we have more than one generation here?
They might be some kind of tree frogs. If anyone knows, please leava a comment. Thank you.
Andy took a few photos and then set them free! They hopped out of the glove box and went into all the nooks and crannies in the car.
Cute little guys!
Sweet 🙂
The guys at Gunner Racing are going to leave the glove box open – in case the frogs still think this is home.
Many thanks to Kevin from Gunnar Racing, for giving permission to feature this story here at VirtualModels.
Nov
22
In 2011 you can still buy a Volkswagen Jetta Mk2 in China. That’s almost 30 years after the first Mk2 Jetta has been sold in Europe 1984. Modernized with all the current VW styling cues, the latest facelift has transformed the Jetta Mk2 into a handsome car. Quite nice, isn’t it? Yes, you might say, but definitely lacking power. Well, the standard engine has been replaced with the 2.o liter engine of the Mk6 Golf GTI. In order to make the car more attractive and sportier looking, I added a redesigned front bumper, side skirts and rear bumper. The car has been lowered and a set of MTM alloy wheels have been installed. Do you also think the crowds at the 2012 Wörthersee festival would love it? Write a comment and let us know.
Nov
19
Let’s imagine you own a company operating in the express delivery business. If somebody orders e.g. car parts, your company usually delivers the parts with a van or truck. But what if you need to deliver something in a more remote area, which standard delivery vehicles can’t access? Well, here is my solution this side of a parts drop from a helicopter: the we-deliver-your-order-anywhere-without-hassles Range Rover off-road delivery vehicle. This Mk1 has been modified to carry boxes and parcels in the back. The cargo bay is accessible from three sides via roll-up doors. Who wouldn’t like to have that?
… and for your well-earned holidays, just add a roof-top tent and put your supplies into the cargo bay. 🙂
Nov
14
The Nissan Sunny California is one of those typical Japanese cars from the late 70’s / early 80’s. Wood paneling as a styling cue from the 70’s? Check! A crude mix of chrome and black plastic parts? Check! Rear-view mirrors on the front fenders? Check! I took this yellow Sunny California and transformed it into a two-door Shooting Break. Why? Just because I like ’em better this way. The B310 wagon body has been modified extensively, lowered and fitted with a roof rack. A set of period correct wheels with white wall tires have also been added.
Nov
12
Citroën is a company that has always been famous for building genius but sometimes rather weird vehicles. Well, how about a Citroën Ami 6 that doesn’t need rear wheels at all? The French engineers might have come up with something like that in the sixties. And no, I really don’t have an idea what they might have been smoking. 😉
Nov
11
This is my first attempt at what I call vintage chops. Taking an old photograph and customizing the featured vehicle like the guys might have done back in those days. This time it’s the Fordson ET6. It has been top chopped, cleaned, lowered and some period correct details have been added. Creating this has been a lot of fun, so expect to see more of those vintage chops here at VirtualModels.org.
Nov
10
To be honest, the Mk2 Granada has never been one of my favorites – I’ve always preferred the Ford Granada Mk1. Yes, I do love cars with straight lines, but the Mk2 Granadas’ design is a little bit too dull. Nothing that couldn’t be fixed by altering a few pixels, hehe. The front grille is from an Escort RS2000, the bumpers are from a Jaguar XJ-S. Why did I do that? Well, quite easy to explain, actually: I had the Granada and XJ-S pictures next to each other on my desktop. By chance! Inspiration struck and a couple of minutes later the idea had been transformed into what you see here.
Nov
09
Would a V8 engine fit into a Citroën HY van? Probably not in real life, but in my phantasy. It would be fun to drive, though. With rear wheel drive, of course. I kept the corrugated metal looks outside as original as possible. Just had to alter the rear fender a little bit to accommodate the more substantial rubber. How about drifting the shed?
Nov
06
Found this picture of the Chevrolet 3100 Pick-Up over at autowp.ru and instantly thought I’d have to modify it. The truck is now a top-chopped dually. Quite impressive, isn’t it? The proportions now make it look like a larger truck. Other than the modifications already mentioned, I kept it mostly stock. No need to mess with a great design like that!
Nov
05
Sometimes you just stumble across something by chance. This happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I went to my local shopping mall and they had a dozen or so Formula 1 cars from all eras on display. It was just a couple of minutes before the mall closed and on the last day of the exhibition, so I could only snap a few pics. Thought I’d share them with you here at VirtualModels.org.
Nov
05
Well, does it always have to be a high gloss paint job and perfect finish? No, definitely not. Sometime less is more. If you focus on the fun to drive factor, optics are somewhat irrelevant. Therefore it’s a base trim model this time. Black bumpers and trim, just a set of multi-piece Alfa Romeo wheels added to this Mk1 33. And lowered, of course. 😉
Nov
03
Why shouldn’t Hybrid cars be fun to drive? Why having a small and lame engine when you could have a nifty Type-R engine? Why are most Hybrid cars so ugly? The first generation Honda Insight had potential to succeed the famous ED9 CIVIC. Unfortunately the potential has never been used at all. The size and proportions of the car are actually perfect for a little runabout – with the engine and powertrain carried over from existing Honda models. Would I drive the Insight Type-R? Hell yeah!
Nov
03
For many years I have been wondering, why Renault didn’t build a proper turbo version of either the 15 or 17 coupé. The powertrain of the Renault 5 Turbo would have fit in the coupé bodies. Well, with some minor alteration to the original shell, of course. Because this is very easy to do in Adobe Photoshop, I just went ahead and did it: transplanting the powertrain and adapting the wide fenders. Voilá, c’est le résultat.
Oct
30
Color splash! When I found the picture of the 1956 Chevrolet Nomad with the color-matched Shasta trailer, I instantly wanted to convert it into a color splash picture. But that’s not all. The car and the trailer have been lowered substantially. The track has been widened along with a few touch-ups here and there.
Oct
29
Relatively small and nimble, with a beefy V8 engine. Why should the Chevrolet Nomad Concept not become a racecar? I imagine it to be quite a lot of fun drive. Many pieces from other cars have been added to this otherwise clean design. Lowered and with uniball joints all around it should go around corners like the looks suggest. There is no idea for a livery as of now.
Oct
28
The BMW M1 has always been a design icon. There isn’t really much one could alter on that fabulous design. Well, apart from converting it into the famous ProCar Championship version, of course. So, subtle design alterations only. Lowered, deep dish cross spoke wheels and a few other modifications. That’s it.
Oct
23
How would a turbocharged FIAT 126 go? Yes, you’re right: it would go like stink! Just imagine the little bugger having a Turbo engine from a FIAT Uno Turbo I.E. in the back. Smoking burnouts? Likely.
Oct
16
Why shouldn’t you have fun making those express deliveries? And have a nice van to use as a billboard for your advertisements? Ford thought about that and created the Transit SportVan. Already a rather nice van as it is, I thought there was a bit of room for optical improvement. The Transit is lowered over 80’s style deep dish cross-spoke wheels and the body has been cleaned. Add your company logo and you’re settled.
Oct
05
Ever since the Dodge Nitro came out I thought that the car had potential. The edgy looks and pronounced fenders sure make a good base for a proper 4×4 conversion. I got rid of the rear windows, installed a suspension lift kit and an ARB-style bull bar up front. Proper offroad tires and a custom snorkel add to the appearance.