Menu
Jul
28
SAAB 900 Turbo Cabriolet | Bōsōzoku Style
Avid readers of Speedhunters and Japanese Nostalgic Car are familiar with the Japanese outlaw groups called 暴走族 (Bōsōzoku) and their tastefully modified vehicles. Most common base for building such vehicles are 1980’s JDM rear wheel drive sedans and coupés. However, if the owner has identified potential for an idea, just about any car might be used as a starting point and customized in one of these particular styles.
A friend recently challenged me to create a Bōsōzoku inspired photoshop chop. Instead of resorting to the popular base vehicles, I opted to start with the least likely vehicle to be modified in this outrageous style: a safe and sensible Swedish SAAB 900 Turbo Cabriolet. SAAB could be ordered with three spoke alloys from the factory and therefore Yokohama Super Advan wheels suit perfectly. Converting this classic and throwing all the visual key elements into the mix was hilarious fun. Based on the prototype of the convertible, my interpretation of a Swedish Bōsōzoku vehicle includes many elements of Shakotan, Grachan and Bōsōzoku styles. Modified bonnet, oil cooler with externally routed oil lines, custom made sideskirts and massive front splitter, classic JDM fender mirrors, riveted overfenders and wonderfully tacky exhaust setup mounted in an unusual location. But because this is still a Swedish car, there are warnings stenciled onto the pipes. Safety first!
[Disclaimer: This picture was created without any serious thoughts. No SAAB was harmed in the process.]
Oct
02
For this picture I challenged myself to a limit of ten modifications maximum. So, let’s see how it went. I started with a plain silver Porsche 911 Turbo (930), which I wanted to stand out but still be somewhat subtle at the same time. Not too easy to achieve, but according to friends who already commented on it, I pretty much nailed it. Here is a list of the changes I made with photoshop:
- Substantial lowering
- Zender Turbo II wheels
- idlers tire stencils
- Front lip modified with a larger splitter
- USDM sidemarkers front
- USDM taillights
- 993 Sideskirt
- 993 rearview mirrors
- Roof spoiler
- Stickers
Not even a dozen things modified and voilà – a 911 Turbo 930 that turns heads everywhere. Next step in the process of modification would be rocking up at bisimoto.com to have one of his famous twin-turbo engines installed. I’d love to have one similar to the engine I used for my Abarth 750 GT Bialbero chop.
Feb
19
This is another one of those 15 minute challenges. I found a (very small and bad quality) picture of a Renault R18 Turbo wagon and thought this might look good converted into a shooting break. The actual shooting break conversion was done in six minutes, but it took forever to modify the rear wheel arch and to get the stance just right. The original ride height is more suited to a 4×4 trail than to a regular road and naturally I changed it. I kept the original wheel design, but increased the diameter an inch to 15″. This was fun, but it’s a shame the quality of the picture is horrible.
Prefer stock ride height and body? Check out the original picture.
PS: I might re-create this with a better picture at some point in the future.
Nov
12
This is another one of those lunch break quickies. Found an old picture of a Renault R21 Turbo, as driven by the French Gendarmerie Nationale. Larger diameter OEM+ wheels, lowering and a few details here and there. Done.
Dec
17
While recently discussing shooting breaks and the design of the Volvo 480 Turbo with a friend of mine, we agreed that the proportions of the vehicle are rather odd. In my opinion, the proportions are off because the front overhang is way too long. Or is the rear overhang just too short? Whatever the case may be – the latter is a lot easier to fix. I wanted to stick to my motto that it must be possible to create something not only in photoshop but in reality as well. This is what we came up with: the Volvo 480 Turbo Wagon. I purposely kept it looking stock, apart from a set of BBS LM wheels, lowering and a front airdam. Looking at the picture I wonder why Volvo didn’t think of that and built it? They are the wagon company after all, aren’t they?
Now only one question remains: who dares to build this beautiful and elegant two-door wagon?
Nov
23
In case you’re not a friend of the Saharabeige BMW 2002 Turbo Panel Wagon, here is a different version for you: medium grey with M-colored turbo stripes. Instead of placing them on the usual location on the front fender, I opted to put it on the door. This creates a nice mirror-like effect with the A-pillar, which is almost shaped like an arrowhead pointing in the direction of travel. Next up will be an El Camino style pick-up. Stay tuned!
Check out the BMW 2002 4-door touring this conversion is based on.
Nov
21
Creating the BMW 2002 Touring was so much fun that I decided to run with the idea and turn it into a panel wagon. I kept the shortened front doors to maximize cargo space in the spacious rear compartment. Having done that I noticed that the half of the vehicle looked rather bland. 2002 Turbo fender flares and BBS E50 center-lock wheels help tremendously to remedy this situation. Gotta haul those BMW Motorsport parts in style!
PS: Wait for the next iteration if you don’t like the period-correct Saharabeige (oo6) of this version. 😉
Jul
26
Back in the 1970’s vanning was hot and a lot of people converted ordinary run of the mill vans into plush and colorful expressions of their (often weird) ideas.
Round bubble windows proved to be a popular addition and I wanted to include this period design feature by utilizing the rising sun flag theme. However, this vehicle is based on a more luxurious trim level and therefore I had to remove a couple of windows first.
Keeping the old spirit and adding current customizing flavors is what I had in mind with this one. The overall theme and choice of wheel design are a nod to the seventies, but the details take it right to current trends. The Nissan Caravan was therefore properly stanced to ensure nice fitment of the wheels. All the chrome trim has been blacked out for a more modern look, but all the badges are still proudly displayed. And just in case you’re wondering whether or not I would take this van for a surfing holiday: hell yeah!
Sep
28
Another one of those challenges from a friend who likes French cars: “Photoshop this picture of a Renault 25 in one hour, just using what you have in the picture. No imported wheels, spoilers or anything else.” Unfortunately, the car pictured is only a base model, meaning it doesn’t have painted bumpers. Now, who is happy about having flat black/grey bumpers? People in Paris! The traffic and parking is so bad that your bumpers are always going to receive a ding here and there (see Video below). Hence the Paris sticker 😉
There is not much more one can do with this particular picture, but I hope you like the outcome anyways.
Sep
24
The Lancia Thema is a nice example for timeless design from the 80’s/90’s. However, even in 8.32 guise it seems to be a little too slim. Grafting on a set of Lancia Delta Integrale inspired fenders on a four door sedan might not be that easy in reality – but well worth it! It gains so much presence when widened and lowered over a set of concave wheels. As often with VirtualModels modified pictures, you find some USDM sidemarker love in the picture. 😉
Nov
21
An instant classic. The SAAB 900 Turbo has always had it friends and foes. I always liked them because they are a bit weird – but very well engineered. This shape doesn’t need a lot of tweaking, so I reworked the body carefully. The fenders have been flared a little, the door handles shaved and some of the trim removed. A healthy drop over enlarged wheels, a front spoiler and that’s about it. Not much drama for a rather subtle effect. Like it or don’t 😉
Aug
04
Just a few subtle changes added to the Mitsubishi Lancer 2000 Turbo. Lowered with a set of coil-overs, mounted set of larger wheels and grafted on fender flares and an extension to the factory body-kit. I then converted the picture to grey-scale, because I didn’t like the colors in the reference picture.
Feb
26
Oh yes – it’s another one of those pocket rockets from the 1980’s. The Mitsubishi Mirage, or Colt as it was called in other markets, could have been a lot of fun. Unfortunately Mitsubishi never made a hot hatch version of it to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Peugeot 205 GTI, Renault 5 and many others in that league. All you need to do is inserting a turbocharged engine of your choice, adding a set of adjustable coilovers and a nice set of polished Starion wheels and you’re done. No need to shed a lot of weight, because these cars have always been featherlight (unless all the small cars of today).
Sep
23
The FIAT based Abarth 750 GT by Zagato features the typical double-bubble roof. Rather diminutive in size, it packs a lot of power per kilogram in original guise. Imagine a Porsche flat six with a set of turbochargers in it and… you should be scared as hell by the power-to-weight ratio! Due to fitment issues, this fortunately isn’t possible in reality. Otherwise you would definitely need to register it as a weapon at your local DMV. 😉
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 😉
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
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.
Mar
06
I do like edgy cars. And even the rather boring ones can be modified to look (a little) less boring. This Mitsubishi Lancer Mk4 (aka Mitsubishi Mirage) was modified to appear like a car that was build on a shoestring budget. Lowered, larger steel wheels and flared rear fenders. Easy as that.
Feb
14
Even the most mundane cars can be transformed into something fun to drive. Driving a Daihatsu Sirion rental car in South Africa inspired me to virtually modify one. A more aggressive front, a bodykit and a set of larger wheels help this little car to look more grown-up.
Feb
14
Even though overlooked by most people, the Renault Fuego is a nicely designed car. It does however lack sportiness when factory stock. I flared the fenders, added larger diameter OZ Futura wheels with low profile tires and removed some of the plastic trim.
