As you might surmise, there are no straight lines surrounding the Lola T70 Mk IIIB Coupe headlights. Such a sensuous body demands curves just about everywhere. Three-dimensional curvilinear lines abound. The original 1982 version of the Co-Hog Lola had subtle grooves to delineate the headlight shapes. The resulting interior surfaces were then painted silver. Seems it would be a simple proposition to duplicate the idea on the totally reshaped nose of this restored version. There was only one problem - I’d forgotten how I did them 40-odd years ago!
Read MoreFinished wheels and tires ready for final assembly.
Lola T70 MK IIIB - 007 - Stance Matters
Race cars have a stance that instantly catches and holds the eye. This effect is created by the relationship between the wheels and tires to the forms surrounding them. Aggressive, low, and ready to attack. The Lola T70 Mk IIIB Coupe is one of racing’s most sensuous race cars. It relies on its stance to help accomplish that.
Read MoreFirst reassembly of all partially restored parts.
Lola T70 MK IIIB - 006 - Persistent Bodywork
Repair and renewal of the Lola T70 body have been my main focus but work on the other parts is ongoing simultaneously. An occasional dry reassembly gives me a feeling of progress and a sensible check that all is going in the right direction.
Read MoreSpecial Edition - Ferrari 512 BB
The Co-Hog version of the Ferrari 512 BB was introduced in 1982 and a scant 45 were made. Two were given to Enzo Ferrari (#28), and Brenda Vernor, (#29), his private secretary for 16 years (1977-1993), by the late Gary Kohs (#33). Gary was an appreciative Ferrari collector who had been granted unusual access to photograph the complete build of his 1:1 512 BB and wanted to show his appreciation.
Read Morephoto courtesy Susie Cushner
Commission - Porsche 917-10
One of the first Co-Hog commissioned sculptures I made was the Brumos Racing Porsche 917-10/007 as raced by Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood in Can-Am from 1972-1974. It was commissioned by a gentleman in Florida who was well-acquainted with many of the top drivers of the time.
Read MoreLola T70 MK IIIB - 005 - Ongoing Enhancements
It took a while, but I finally decided the front end had to be improved over my original (1982) Lola T70 MK IIIB sculptural interpretation. It just didn't do justice to the voluptuousness of Tony Southgate's original design. With so much more visual information available today, I've been working on gradually creating a whole new nose.
Read MorePorsche G935 - 021 - First of Four Completed
The first of only four Co-Hog Porsche G935's has been completed. Three more will be finished, one for each of my sons and a final one that will stay in the Co-Hog collection. It has been quite a development process as I've squeezed them in with the other on-going projects over the last 3+ years.
Read MoreSpecial Edition - F1
Formula One racing is about to begin again. Love it or hate it, drama at the highest-level swirls around it like a tornado. This Co-Hog Special Edition F1 distills the essence of an early 1980’s F1 race car into a 7" (18cm) long sculpture that looks like it’s ready for the coming season.
Read MorePorsche G935 - 020 - Graphics - Clear Coat - Assembly
The first of four Co-Hog Porsche G935's is ready for its beauty shots photography. The next three are in various stages of completion and will be finished in due time.
Read MoreLola T70 MK IIIB - 004 - Cutting Tire Profiles
Precise and repeatable profiles are best cut on my tiny lathe with custom form cutting tools. The Lola T70 restoration has big tires - relative to my regular sizes. To properly interpret the 1:1 tires I've made this first tool using techniques new to me but ancient in origin.
Read MoreSpecial Edition - Lamborghini Countach
Countach! Just the name elicits strong reactions. Even 50 years on, the shape and presence of the car are scintillating. This Co-Hog Special Edition Countach distills the essence of the phenomena into a 6 1/2" (16.5 cm) long sculpture that creates a similar strong feeling for the icon.
Read MoreLola T70 MK IIIB - 003 - Searching For Symmetry
I don’t strive for perfect bilateral symmetry in my automotive shaping. The eye and visual primal brain prefer a slight asymmetry as being just right. However, it is important for the overall balance to be quite close.
This is especially key as I make subtle changes to the nose of the 42-year-old Lola T70 MK IIIB I'm renovating for the gentleman who commissioned it. With access to a wealth of new photo data I can see where my original work needs updates.
Read MoreSpecial Edition - Mercedes-Benz 380SEC
Road&Track once called the 80s vintage Mercedes 380SEC a "svelte vault". It remains one of my favorite cars. It combines classic great looks with grace, power, and handling into an everlasting beauty.
Read MoreA Moment of Creative Appreciation
Stopping now and then to appreciate the transient beauty of a single moment is critical to the creative process. Mechanical processes are inherently creative and have a natural fluid beauty.
Read MorePorsche G935 - 019 - Custom Wheels
One Co-Hog Porsche G935 is being made for each of my sons. The fourth one I’ll keep for the collection. Shea's automotive passion has endured from very early on. Many of his exploits have become family lore and others remain secret.
Read MoreSpecial Edition - Porsche 928 S
Love it or hate it, the Porsche 928 was a challenge to the status quo on many levels. It was Porsche's first completely in-house design. It had a water-cooled V8 in the front and it was a comparatively heavy luxury cruiser that could still make great haste.
Read MoreLola T70 MK IIIB - 002 - Restoration Progress
Wood never stops moving. Forty-one-year-old lacquer likes to crack. Don May's 21" (53.3 cm) long Co-Hog Lola T70 MKIIIB body was created using jelutong wood and painted in Sunoco blue lacquer. A complete restoration is well under way.
In 1982, when the Co-Hog T70 was built, there was little reference material available other than the photos Don provided. Now there is a plethora of, photos, specifications, and stories. They help me make subtle adjustments to my original forms.
Read MoreFiat 124 Sport Coupé - First Drawings to Rough Prototype
Sheila taught herself how to drive a stick, in Boston traffic, in a clapped-out 1971(ish) Fiat 124 Sport Coupé. That is just one of many outstanding accomplishments that made her supremely attractive.
Read MoreChaparral 2
Chaparral Gallery Treasures
Chaparral's immense racing spirit and the earthly evidence of it are safely established and maintained in a superb gallery at the Petroleum Museum in Midland, Texas.
Read More1980 Co-Hog Porsche Restorations - Final
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!
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