Chip Foose - love him, hate him, couldn't care less?

[xs29bb1]

I've seen bits and pieces of that Overhaulin' show several times and although the quality of the work always seems terrific, I've never been even remotely impressed w/ their "designs".  IMO every car comes out w/ a very similar style - big 20" custom wheels, quasi-low rider look, big stereo, etc, etc.

Well I saw a show today where they took a 67 Coronet 440, and IMO basically ruined it.  They did their usual 20" custom wheels, and the usual over the top, no actual need for it stereo, but I think they desecrated the damn car.  Instead of rebuilding the 440 I guess they junked it and put in a "new Hemi", then they went ahead and put in these bogus Super Bee stripes.... on a 67 and the stripes didn't look legit for any year Bee.  They simply eliminated some of the trim pieces, and quite frankly turned the car into, well I can't even put a name on what they turned it into.

Now I'm a bit of a stickler w/ keeping the car more stock looking than not, so I could easily see where my opinion of this kind of stuff would be considered "out of line", so I figured I'd ask you guys - do you like the work that this guy does or not? 

[polywideblock]

wait till you see what they do to a numbers matching 71 challenger rt

   
photo above not it but no good befor pics just an example
 

[don duick]

I am tired of his two tone paint jobs and big wheels also. All of his creations all seem to look the same to me Suppose a lot of young people out there like that sort of bling. It is a bit over the top is popular now but I cant see it standing the test of time. Give it a few more years when someone else comes out with a different styling then all those Foose jobs will be painted over or depending on vehicle eventually be junked. Unless of course Foose stays around and keeps up with the changes or continues to be an innovator.

[dyslexic teddybear]

JHMO


Nope.


Have seen a few......not liked anything about any of them. Just not my style.


For me, I think it comes from that I think stock looks so good......there's little that can be done to improve. Better rubber, wheels[not 20+] are pretty much it. When the bar is set that high.....


Poly.......that Challenger shows my point excaltly.....take perfection and make

[1974dodgecharger]

I think its great for the 'TIMES' im sure none of this would of passed and his showed canned if  performed in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s, but I think its great.  IM sure in the future when we will be flying around in hovercrafts we will look back and think, 'what were they thinking using wheels to drive and not cheap jet propulsion'  

[JB400]

I'm not much for Chip's overall designs, but I do like his attention to detail.  His builds look real good in bare metal.  I can do without the over sized wheels and the flashy (tacky and dated) paint jobs.  I think if he spent his time developing one off stripe packages instead of two tones, his builds would look much better.  The stripes on the Challenger aren't that bad.

[polywideblock]

maybe if from time to time the builds were more "stock" oriented .      like the challenger  why didn't he on hearing how they were going stock say, right full bogey resto in a week instead of hot rod in a week   

[Tilar]

I haven't watched it in a long time. His "creations" are a bit over the top for my liking. However to give him credit, I think many of these cars are owned by some of the "I'll get to it one day" crowd.

[cavemanno1]

Not a fan i am!Big wheels and the two tone paintjobs are hideous!But to each his own!He got famous so some people must like his work.

[1974dodgecharger]

its either west coast customs or chip foose right now thats the trend....

[Cooter]

Met him, good dude. Bad taste in car mods.

[six-tee-nine]

I think he just builds what people want to see...

On the otherhand he looks like a skilled guy when it comes to bodywork. I see some amazing things they change on some cars that are very subtile and cool.
As many already said before, the two tone paint jobs and big wheels always make it go over the top....

[bill440rt]

I remember the show about the Coronet, & thinking it wasn't one of the better designs. However, IIRC Chip did not design that car in that episode, his co-host Chris did.
I happen to really enjoy the show & like many of his designs, but there a few that did nothing for me as well. I really liked the '71 Challenger, but then there was another Challenger build ('72? '73?) that I did not like at all.

Like it or hate it, it is definitely one of the better car build-themed shows out there. The premise of the show is the best. It could be about flippers that show how little they can build a car for to see how much profit the host can make at the end, or a 60-minute long infomercial. But it's not. It's about helping someone who may be less fortunate, or who may not have the means or skills to do so.

[hawkeye]

Just wait 20 years, his designs will be as dated as some of the custom work in the 80's and the stock look will still be in style.  I don't like his designs now.

[Rosco]

I think he just builds what people want to see...

On the otherhand he looks like a skilled guy when it comes to bodywork. I see some amazing things they change on some cars that are very subtile and cool.
As many already said before, the two tone paint jobs and big wheels always make it go over the top....

That's it - if nobody wanted to see cars that look like that, he wouldn't have a job making them look that way.

I'm definitely not a fan of most of his stuff that I've seen, but there's no denying he's good at what he does.

[myk]

Love or hate his work, you have to respect his skills.  I don't know about you guys, but IMO the ability to draw and craft things on paper and then realize that work of art into something real is a talent that should be acknowledged.  Personally, I don't like his work either, but again I truly respect his skills...

[Nacho-RT74]

I respect his Job and is a great guy, but I don't like all the ideas... maybe just some.

And please, keep away from Mopars

He has been in Venezuela Twice on a 3M Challenge tour

signed a 70 R/T 4 speed ( the only one known in Venezuela )

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150280676687026&set=vb.8266368533&type=3&video_source=pages_video_set

[cudaken]

 Seems we are all agreement, he has talent and we don't like his designs.

I normally like his choose in power plants. If I had a number matching 440 car and had a chances of a free Hemi, heck yes! We got to remember he is not doing collectors cars, but street cars. With him being a car guy, I am sure the 440 he pulled did not get thrown away! 

Far as the wheels, didn't he make his name in aftermarket wheels?  I still don't like them, anything over 15" is to big for me.

Cuda Ken     

[Homerr]

If I had a car an my wife took it to Foose this is how it would go down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=mvpSP4fIz_U#t=12

[tan top]

wait till you see what they do to a numbers matching 71 challenger rt

   
photo above not it but no good befor pics just an example
 

yeah I remember that show with the challenger ,   think it was a original  71 383 R/T  , the guy was a real mopar nut , had the car  for years if I remember correctaly , Foose with all the best intentions F***ed the car  up for him, then put his hall mark on it by shaving the door handles      you could see his face when he saw it , sure he put it up for sale some time after  , unless i'm thinking of another car  

foose & his mob are clever guys ! just not my taste , better suited to rods & customs etc

[dyslexic teddybear]

Met him, good dude. Bad taste in car mods.

Interesting take.

That's kinda the impression I got from the little I have seen of him onscreen.....he does come across as a good guy.

But he really should know better then to mod Mopars beyond something that can be changed back easily.

[Ghoste]

For the most part I couldn't care less.  He seems like a legit car guy but he had one original idea and then just kept doing it over and over and over and over.
But a huge tip of the hat for being able to pull it off so profitably.

[charge69]

I watch the show every now and then just cause it is like watching a train wreck in progress!  If someone was to trick me and then let Foose screw up the Charger as bad as he usually does the rides he features, I would beat them within an inch of their life then beat them again!!!

[polywideblock]

wait till you see what they do to a numbers matching 71 challenger rt

   
photo above not it but no good befor pics just an example
 

yeah I remember that show with the challenger ,   think it was a original  71 383 R/T  , the guy was a real mopar nut , had the  for years if I remember correctaly , Foose with all the best intentioned F***ed the car  up for him, then put his hall mark on it by shaving the door handles      you could see his face when he saw it , sure he put it up for sale some time after  , unless i'm thinking of another car  

foose & his mob are clever guys ! just not my taste , better suited to rods & customs etc

6 months later it was on ebay   

[Dreamcar]

I'm a little in the middle...I like what he does, but for my car i would want it a little toned-down.

For example:
- bigger wheels? Sure, but not more than 17 or 18s.
- Better brakes and suspensions...ok if not a ultra rare car.
- Engine swap...ok if the original is gone or very undersireable.

However, I fine that his cars are borderline too much of a show car/trailer queen, and to me I want to know that I can drive it without having to worry about scratching a one-off paint job with a custom color. If its too customized from stock, I think it stands a much better chance of being dated more quickly.

I agree completely that the guy is a true car guy, and his talents are amazing. I also admire his charity work.