Late '70s / Early '80s american boxy cars?

[Slash]

Wasn't boxy enough that's why I didn't post it. I still dig that car though. Looks better with louvers on the rear and side windows. I reall think it would look at ton better if they fastbacked it and had the fastback at a longer slant, coming off sooner from the roof.

 

[shirakawaa]

This will most likely be a failed project (for several reasons. It was supposed to be a quick test for a certain modeling technique), but can anybody guess which car was I attempting to model?

 

[Antonisbob]

Fuselage Chrysler! <3 Could be a 1969 - 1973 Newport, New Yorker, 300 or Imperial. Forget Ferrari's, those are my dream cars.

Lol, why all the Mustang II hate? I like it more than the '90s Mustang.

 

[Tornado]

'76 Caprice?



And sorry it didn't work out for you.

 

[shirakawaa]

Antonisbob is right! The reference was a 1971 Chrysler New Yorker 4-door Sedan. The few high-res photos I have are of the Coupe version of the same period instead. This, plus the fact that it's not exactly boxy (which means it's not the ideal car for a beginner modeler) made me change my mind about modeling it.

The modeling technique I'm talking about is making first a wire cage of the car's main/prominent features (panel gaps, sharp corners, bumpers, etc.) without paying attention to where polygons lie rather than starting by modeling its surfaces panel by panel, with careful mesh (the polygon "ensemble") planning.

A big advantage by starting with a cage is that you can quickly come out with something that can be shown to others (in the example above, even though I haven't invested much time in it, the base car shape is still quite recognizable) and used for reference in the modeling process. All previous lenghty attempts in modeling a car always left me with ugly, vaguely recognizable small car sections (usually the hood or a fender).

 

[Antonisbob]

Ah, shame it didn't work... but that's what happens I suppose. looks good to me (better than what I could probably manage).

All this talk got me thinking, we need a thread just for '70s & '80s American cars!

 

[shirakawaa]

While I was looking for reference photos I found out a link full of super high resolution photos of several Cadillacs of the '80s (mainly the Brougham of that period). It's so good I'm sharing it here:

http://www.mcsmk8.com/cadillacs/mycads.htm

I think I might be modelling one of these. So many superb quality photos form almost every angle just can't be ignored.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

I don't know why but I want one of these. AMC Eagle SX/4'81

 

[Rotary Junkie]

An earlier version of the Mach 1 is in GT5, the 1971 version. The best and fastest versions were 1969 and 1970 ones as they had the best handling and max power for the time (for Mach 1's anyway, so many more Mustangs were better). That coupe doesn't look too bad compare to the 1965 version but definitely not the best one.

Actually... You're pretty much wrong about the 69/70 Mach 1s being the "best".

That award goes to the 2003-4s. Better handling, just as quick (in fact quicker than the 351 powered ones and about dead even with the 428 CJs), etc.

@Leo: You want one because you're a sucker for mountain goats.

 

[Tornado]

I think an Eagle SX/4 would be an awesome car to have if you could get an engine that wasn't gutless in it. AMC Straight-6 is alright in power, but it is still a truck engine.






Edit:

And why do they call the Newport and its ilk "fuselage" cars?

 

[Antonisbob]

While I was looking for reference photos I found out a link full of super high resolution photos of several Cadillacs of the '80s (mainly the Brougham of that period). It's so good I'm sharing it here:

http://www.mcsmk8.com/cadillacs/mycads.htm

I think I might be modelling one of these. So many superb quality photos form almost every angle just can't be ignored.

Wow! thanks for sharing. good pics, I really like that Coupe deVille and Lincoln.

I don't know why but I want one of these. AMC Eagle SX/4'81

Ah, Eagle SX/4. Rare, I've never seen one... I still see lots of Eagle wagons and a few Eagle Sedans. maybe the odd Kammback but not the SX/4.

Edit:

And why do they call the Newport and its ilk "fuselage" cars?

This advertisement explains why they are called such.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

@Leo: You want one because you're a sucker for mountain goats.

Bah, it's reasonably light, came with manual, has ground clearance and can be RWD or AWD when needed, and can be fitted with proper motor.. and it's a coupe!

I think an Eagle SX/4 would be an awesome car to have if you could get an engine that wasn't gutless in it. AMC Straight-6 is alright in power, but it is still a truck engine.

Yeah.. Probably would replace it with something more eager. perhapss supercharged 3800? Northstar?

 

[shirakawaa]

@Antonisbob: by the way, do you happen to know if this kind of Cadillac rims have any name in particular?

I wonder if I can find detailed specifications, drawing, dimensions, differences between each model year, etc., somewhere. It looks like their design changed very subtly depending on the trim/year from what I can see, but at a quick glance they all appear to look the same.

 

[Slash]

Actually... You're pretty much wrong about the 69/70 Mach 1s being the "best".

That award goes to the 2003-4s. Better handling, just as quick (in fact quicker than the 351 powered ones and about dead even with the 428 CJs), etc.

@Leo: You want one because you're a sucker for mountain goats.

AHA. I forgot about the new ones when I posted that. But as far as the classic pre-1980 Mustangs go, those were the best of the Mach 1's.

Off topic, I wonder if any 428 SCJ's still are around...

 

[Antonisbob]

@Antonisbob: by the way, do you happen to know if this kind of Cadillac rims have any name in particular?

I wonder if I can find detailed specifications, drawing, dimensions, differences between each model year, etc., somewhere. It looks like their design changed very subtly depending on the trim/year from what I can see, but at a quick glance they all appear to look the same.

I looked into it more and found they call them Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels. Scroll down a bit on this site & they talk briefly about them: http://1953cadillac.com/default.aspx

This one goes into more detail though: http://www.cadillacworld.net/cadillackelseyhayeswheelsforsale.html

Other than that I don't really know, I've never been around a Cadillac before (Being 16 and all doesn't really help lol).

 

[shirakawaa]

Ok, I see. Thanks anyway. It looks like I'll have to model by eye, it seems.

This is what i've obtained so far:

I'm realizing it's not extremely accurate (yet) but it looks good enough.
The logo is still incomplete by the way. It's not a texture, that's been modeled in 3d too:


(click for full size)

By the way, while I was looking for reference photos I found another website full of high resolution photos of Cads of that period:
http://www.fleetofcads.com/

 

[Antonisbob]

Groovy, that detail... it's looking good. Cadillacs are something the world needs more of! 👍 'Specially GT5. :|