177 Co-Hog Porsches were made between 1980 and 1983. They were sold as single cars or as part of one or two car race teams. I had always wanted to upgrade a few with the turned aluminum wheels and Delrin tires from the Co-Hog Porsche 956/962 edition. In late 2023 I found four complete bodies from 1980 that had never been finished. Game on!
Read MoreSpray Booth Progress - Fully Functional
It's been over five months since we took a look at progress on the spray booth. A lot of things have happened and the booth work has been interwoven with all of them. It's certainly not done, but I'm ready for some serious spraying. Warning - this is a long post - you may need additional sustenance before the end.
Read MorePorsche G935 - 018 - Ever Closer to Paint
Traveling to see two new grandsons, family visitors and the holidays have been the focus of activities for several months now. But the pleasure of working on Co-Hogs has also been squeezed in. A good bit of progress has been made on the four G935's for my sons.
Read More1980 Co-Hog Porsche Restorations - Part 4
Finding four ratty 1980's Co-Hog Porsche bodies way back in December of 2022 has allowed me to restore and upgrade them with aluminum wheels and Delrin tires from the Co-Hog Porsche 956/962 series. Three of the four have been completed and sent to their new homes. When it’s finished, number four will stay here as part of my collection.
Read MorePorsche 956 Restorations
Even good stuff breaks. When Paul Allen received a pair of auctioned Co-Hog Porsche 956's from the Hank Hammer collection, they were damaged, so he sent them home for restoration. The cast edition of the Co-Hog Porsche 956/962 series with properly scaled wing supports did not provide enough gluing area for solid wing attachment or to protect against the inevitable sharp knocks.
Read MoreWorkbench Full of Projects
I would never be hired based on the excellent organization of my workbench, but at least it's interesting to explore. This shaky clip shows and identifies a random day's projects in progress from the top of the bench down to the desktop.
Read MoreLola T70 MK IIIB - 001 - Restoration Started
Don May III commissioned this Co-Hog Lola T70 Mk IIIB Coupe in 1982. As the proud owner of of the last original documented factory-built Lola T70 Coupe (Ser. No. SL76/158), he wanted a smaller version that he could keep and enjoy indoors. The Co-Hog version was finished just over 40 years ago and has recently been sent home for a thorough restoration to overcome the ravages of time, weather, and movers.
Read MorePorsche G935 - 017 - Overall Progress
The group of four Co-Hog Porsche G935's is moving right along. There have been plenty of improvements since my last update. Temporary prototype graphics have been applied to give a better feel for overall proportions which, in turn, helps identify areas for further refinement. Front and rear wheel to tire ratios have been modified (again), using turned and painted maple. The result is a better overall look and stance.
Read MoreNew Co-Hog Logos
There have been many ways used to label and individualize finished Co-Hog pieces. Most frequently the final touch was a machine printed label and a hand stamped number or a signed paper label. I've finally worked out something more fitting for current smaller, more refined editions.
Read MoreSpecial Edition - Ferrari 400i
Thoughts of subtle elegance glide through my mind whenever I see a Ferrari 400i. It has long been a favorite of mine despite the naysayers. Leonardo Fioravanti's design for a 2+2 coupe for Pininfarina is timeless. Just imagine striding across the continent in the comfort of this grand tourer.
Read More1980 Co-Hog Porsche Restorations - Part 3
The group of four Co-Hog Restoration Porsches from the 1980's is nearing completion. They were started last November and have been progressing along with numerous other Co-Hog projects.
Read MoreSpecial Edition - BMW 733i E23
This Co-Hog Special Edition Lapis Blue BMW 733i E23 was handmade and completed on 2/13/84. Only two were ever made. The body and bumpers were constructed from multiple pieces of jelutong and basswood. It measures about 7" (18 cm) long. The tires were made using maple.
Read MorePorsche 935 Artist's Proof - Turbofan Wheel Prototype
It's been over two years since I finished the Artist’s Proof (AP) for a tiny edition (less than 5) of Co-Hog Porsche 935 sculptures. Although the basket weave wheels shown here look great, I intend to offer the option of turbofans as well. This post will concentrate on the creation of the prototype which was finished shortly after the AP 935 was done.
Read More1980 Co-Hog Porsche Restorations - Part 2
Big progress has been made on the group of four Co-Hog Porsche Restoration cars. The upgraded tire/wheel assemblies are ready to mount. An outside shop originally machined the tires and wheels in 1984 for the Co-Hog Porsche 956/962 series, but they required some serious tuning to bring them up to snuff.
Read MoreSpecial Edition - Ferrari Dino 308 GT4
This handmade Co-Hog Special Edition Ferrari 308 GT4 was introduced in late 1982 and only four were made. This example, made for Bob Russell, is the third constructed and was completed in October of 1983. It's about 6 1/2" (16.5 cm) long and is constructed from jelutong and maple with my silkscreened interpretation of the Ferrari wheels.
Read More40 Years On - Going Strong
In late 1982 Dr. Shane T. Maa ordered an almost complete collection of Co-Hog Catalog toys and a select group of Special Editions. Once they were all delivered in early 1983, it became one of the largest US Co-Hog collections. 40 Years later they still look great.
Read MoreFerrari 312 T F1 Prototype
Due to their innovative flat V12 engines and transverse gearboxes (and fantastic drivers, of course), the Ferrari 312T series of F1 cars brought dominant success back to Maranello. From 1974-1979 they won 27 races, 4 F1 Constructor's Championships (their first since 1964) and 3 F1 Driver's Championships. Niki Lauda earned two Driver's Championships - 1975 & 1977, and Jody Scheckter won it in 1979.
Read MorePorsche G935 - 016 - Engine Bay Progress
The noisy end of a Porsche 935 is also the most complicated part - full of intense, power-producing, ear-splitting loud bits that makes it go like the Dickens. The Co-Hog G935 engine bays are certainly far quieter, but still filled with parts. They've been moved along considerably and it’s time to show some progress.
Read MoreCo-Hog BMW & Lotus - Tiny Handfuls
Most of us love race cars that are only a tiny handful. Something about the size turns us into kids and we want to have fun, complete with loud noises and crashes! These little Co-Hog racers were a blast to make. "Production" was limited to 1980-81 and only 44 BMW's and 74 of the Lotus were finished.
Read More1980 Co-Hog Porsche Restorations
While rummaging through the boxes of surprise goodies back in December, I found four Co-Hog Porsche bodies from early 1980. They were complete but in pretty sad shape. The happy realization that I could restore them to better than new felt great. I could also do something I've wanted to do for a long time - try replacing the wooden tires with the wheels and tires from the Co-Hog 956/962 series with aluminum rims and etched brass centers. Game on!
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