CHESNUT Coupe rough mock up-what do you think?

[john chesnut]

I've been thinking of an all weather version of my car. So, I pieced together a roof from cardboard and a windshield frame. I think the green house is a little tall looking. I'll need to lower it a little and/or add some body to the top of the door area. I also wasn't able to get the rounded shape to the back of the roof line. I want to make the coupe roof look like the XKE.
This body is on my C5 Vette Dragon frame .
The recessed area below the body line gets filled up with the side pipe. The body profile dosen't look like a wrench when they are installed.
My idea is to make the roof removable so that the car can run with it or as a roadster.
I apologize for the trash. I have been waiting for the snow to melt to make a dump run.
I have thick skin, so feel free to make ANY comments. You guys are my focus group! Thanks, John

[IMG]http://www.dragonmotorcars.com/images/DragonCoupe34Rear.jpeg

[WildBill3]

Well it's an interesting start.If the cowl was longer it could have more windsheild rake.I would like a pic from the rear also .That looks like an FFR roof how much head room did it leave you?Have Fun with it!WB3

[mr bruce]

fastback looks goofy to me, how about a vette top, save yourself some time and work. get one and splash a mold http://www.swiss-bandit.ch/forsalebi...%20ca%2076.jpg

[mikeforte]

Hi John,
I have a 68 up hardtop if you want to check it out.
Call me..

[Got the Bug]

John,

While other people are sleeping, you're dreaming man.

What's cool is that you just put it out there and say "whaddya think?"

I like the lines. For me, the top of the front fenders could be cut down a bit. The hood bump is also a little wide and high in relation to the car.

[decooney]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

... For me, the top of the front fenders could be cut down a bit. The hood bump is also a little wide and high in relation to the car.

John,
Hope you don't mind me sharing the front/rear bump view and revisons on this. To Doug's point on the center bump - this ended up as a complete face replacement, including bump reduction and full nose job or complete scratch built construction. Surgery was not fun for a few different people. Never again I say. Hats off to you John on more creations. As for this, COOX 001 may be the only one ever created like this one. Car is bad a** and wonderful to drive though, that's for sure.

[LMH]

I like the hood ornament!
A little off-center but looks good.
One of your banks?
Larry

[Three Peaks]

John,
I loved the look of your Cobra, but this just doesn't blow up my skirt. The finished car looked okay, but the hardtop is just not working at all. It just doesn't seem to flow the same way the body lines do, so it just isn't a good complement to the rest of the body.

For a body with such outrageous lines, you need a top with equally outrageous but complementary lines- otherwise it just takes away from the car and makes it look cartoonish and/or kit-carish.

I think some flares on the fenders would add a lot to the look of the car.

Bob

[Ozgur_Tan]

take a look to my fastback hardtop with integrated windscreen and split rear window that I made for my scratch built cobra project @ "Scratch Builders Forum"

[RICK LAKE]

John Chesnut John looks good. The only problem will be getting into and out of the car with the door opening and seat in the body. Head room clearance will be the other issue. John will you still be able to get into the trunk without removing the top? A water test and side curtains are next. Some people get nervious in tight places. Is the roll bar in the body? Work in progress. Rick L. Ps John can you add a set of Lambo door hingles to the doors? Will make getting in and out alot easier, just a thought.

[landerson]

John, I like where you're heading, but I have a couple of suggestions:

1: The car is very curvaceous, and the flat top and upright windscreen don't match the body. I recommend a more curvy approach where the windscreen angle and top curve blend into one another better. You might even consider a more "coupe-like" look with less of a fastback.

2: You could improve accessibility by utilizing the same flip-up roof design that I think I saw on the Dragon Mk2, and that Meyers uses on the Manxster. That way you might even be able to dispense with the doors altogether to keep it simple.

3. Unrelated to the roof, you might want to think about moving the visual center of mass on the front a bit toward the rear. This could be fairly easily done by making the fender aft of the wheel opening as thick as, or thicker than the same area in front of the wheel. It'd be a bit less like the original Lister, but I think the proportions might be even better than they are now. Hmmm... On second thought, you'd have to do the same thing to the rear fenders, so it might be more trouble than it's worth.

I like what you're doing with the chassis, and that you're willing to try new designs (that no one can sue you over). I'll see you at Carlisle.

[john chesnut]

Thanks for all of the input.
Bill, You have a good eye! My cars use the Jag xjs iwndshield. FF uses the same glass for their coupe.
Mike, Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it.
Duane, Again I say that the build you guys did is amazing! I wish that you had pulled a mold from it!
Rick, There are a lot of issues to work out. I had to make the roof as tall as it is for good head clerance. I think that I can solve the other things, like making it weather tight, ect.
Ozgur Tan, I will check out your build site. Thanks.
Larry, I bet it's the camera angle that is making the emblem look off centered. And, it's not one of my banks. The emblem is something that Kevin, the owner of the car came up with.

Well, It's clear that this project needs rethinking and design.

I have been having some health problems which are complications from diabetes. My doctor told me yesterday that I need to make some significant changes. So, I am taking a few days to rest, try to get my sugar levels under control, and make some decisions about my future. But, I couldn't sleep last night because I was thinking of a Can Am inspired body for my chassis. Cars, like Diabetes is a disease!

[mikeforte]

Hi John,
I've learned a lot about type 1 in the past 14 months. I have a Salter 1400 scale I would highly recommend. It has a code for food and the weight then tells you an acurate carb value. Eat more protein and insuline your carbs.
Call me....

[powerslide]

Screw the car, take care of yourself first! The car will always be there.
It needs gullwing doors, and she'll be a stunner.

[fastraxsg]

We need more guys who can inspire all of us...take care of yourself first John. We need you to keep lighting the fire of imagination..
ken

[Buzz]

John, you and your story are an inspiration. Look after your health first and foremost. I agree with some of the feedback the guys have given, so here are a couple of sketches showing more of a "bubble top" look with a twin domed cross section for additional headroom and easy visual integration with the muscular bulges of the bodywork. The abbreviated back and semi-wrap around rear window allow the use of the trunk and provide good visibility. The major feature though, is the use of hinged "T-top" panels cut into the top that are hinged along the inside edge and flip open for entry/egress into the very low cockpit. I think a fastback look may be possible with a slightly different profile and an opening hatch for trunk access. I will try sketching it out to see how it looks.

[john chesnut]

Hey Buzz, I like it. The car that you did the photo shop on is a series 1 Dragon and is owned by Lenny in Connecticut. I planned on having the top hinged in the center as you propose or to have the entire unit hinged in the back. It would flip up with pressurized cylinders.

[Buzz]

Glad you like it John. I hope the owner doesn't mind me taking liberties with his ride!

The fastback version doesn't look too bad with a slightly rounded profile, wrap around rear window, subtle "bubbles" and a lift-up rear hatch for trunk access.

[john chesnut]

Hey BUZZ, Want a job!!!!!! I need to learn how to use the computer, including CAD and PHOTOSHOP. I built 32 scale models and several full size chassis's before I was satisfied. The bodies have been a similiar process. I do love my new SPEEDSTER version that I am finishing.

[Three Peaks]

Buzz, you got mad skills buddy. That is exactly the look I was thinking when I responded to John's thread, but I couldn't draw my way out of 1st grade class....

Great job on the Photoshop.