Chrysler 'Cuda
BEGIN QUOTE: “(from Detroit Press 4-07) Our illustrator nearly fell off his feet when he heard mention of a possible Chrysler Cuda -- twin to the upcoming Dodge Challenger -- during an interview with Chip Foose, hot rodder, television talent and all-round good guy, at the New York auto show.
Though Plymouth, the original brand to sell the Cuda, has long been out of business, Chrysler seems to be the apparent heir. Whether the market needs yet another muscle car remains to be seen. Chrysler could likely bring such a car to market with relative ease.
This photo illustration takes elements of the Cuda and adds them to the Challenger model. The six-opening grille was a '72 (*) Cuda signature, as were the shaker hood and the lower driving lights. Single round headlights are more characteristic of the '70 Cuda, with Gatling gun LED design similar to those seen on the Challenger concept. Wheels from the Chrysler SRT8 complete the look and are more indicative of the badge that the new Cuda would now call home.”
End quote.
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* Beg to differ. The six-opening-grille was only on '71s, which ALSO, by the way, were the ONLY 'Cudas with four headlights! Also exclusive to the 1971 'Cudas were those way cool "fender gills". That's probably a thanks to Milt Antonik and John Samsen, two of the greatest contributors to 'Cuda designs. Had the tremendous privilege to be able to talk with both of them a while back, and those guys are just fantastic! Great talents, great accomplishments, and great people, as well! Their history is really rich in this genre! Milt and John worked together in the Plymouth Design Studios when the days of "pony" (Milt would take issue with the term "ponycar", PERHAPS. You should see his really cool illustration of a 'Cuda fish with a Mustang coupe in its chops!) and "muscle" cars were in their heydays. John was working earlier in the Chrysler and DeSoto section.
Now, let's go on with MORE of why I beg to differ with the above article. Although the thought and the image of 'Cudas roaming the planet once more even in these highly priced times IS a thought that sends chills up my spine and pains through my wallet, I really believe that someone else had this idea first. Let me pose this question: Do you think that Chip Foose may have seen something that sparked his idea? Creative genius that he is, I cannot help but think that Mr. Foose was inspired by the great “burningman”, Doug Schramm…
To start on Doug, here is a gorgeous rendering he did from scratch of the 1971 “Phantasm” ‘Cuda440. This is the first work of his art that caught my attention:
I confess without shame, that I got palpitations when I first saw this beautiful work of art!
Check him out, he is brilliant at his craft!
Have a look at one of Doug’s original ideas, from early 2004:
Bear in mind this is long before the “Concept Challenger” from Frau Mopar (formerly “MaMopar”).
Then, remember, BEFORE “Concept Challenger”, look what Doug does after this:
Wonder if the design team saw THIS and said: “THIS is our direction!”???
If I was a bettin’ person, I don’t think I’d be minus $20.
Doug has been coming up with great ideas for a very long time, and sharpening his already fabulous Photoshop skills along the way.
Case in point, check out this “Modern Phantasm ‘Cuda” from January of 2005:
followed quickly by:
The A.A.R. ‘Cuda…
Which begat:
The B-5 Bomber (my nickname, not Doug’s)..
And then he refines already “buildable” works of art thusly:
Be still my heart!!!
But wait, there’s more! Look:
Now THIS is how a “Modern ‘Cuda” SHOULD look!
If they make another Phantasm movie, they’d better wrap that d@mned HEARSE around a tree and NOT the ‘Cuda, spammit!
So, as Bugs Bunny might say: “What’s up Doug?”
His mind still is speeding down Mopar Boulevard at a high rate of speed, from my observation!
SEE what YOU think about that:
Based on the current “Concept Challenger”, this fantastic work evokes MANY fond memories of:
*1969 RoadRunners
*All GO no SHOW, with a lack of chrome and pie-pan hubcaps on steelies
*Flared ’69 Dart-like taillamps (thank you, Joe Mannix!)
*Unique exhausts trumpeting the mighty HEMI music to racing losers well behind them
Here are a couple more views of Doug’s RoadRunner:
Side view of functional musclecar.
Bet the Highway Patrol would love a few of THESE in the fleet!
If moonshine would still be transported, this would be the bird for the job.
(notice how cocaine was deliberately snubbed as the illicit substance!)
As far as movie remakes go, how about a remake of Thunder Road, the great Robert Mitchum movie from 1958, with a little more updated theme and a chase sequence with this RoadRunner? Although maybe without a spectacular Carey Loftin barrel roll into an electric transformer station, perhaps (at least make it CGI and spare the cool ride).
Now on to Doug's CHARGER!
Well, WWDD as far as the ’08 Charger R/T revisions would go, you ask?
Behold the next baddie for a Bullitt remake. Let’s not crash IT into a gas station, please!
Looks like it is hungry for a galloping Mustang GT, doesn’t it?
Carrying the 1968 Bill Bradlee theme on, Doug gives us:
THOSE taillights! Plus a bit of recess to the backlight as well!
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One of the first concepts Doug did really grabbed my attention quicker than a Shaker Hood Scoop. This was actually done when the “new” Mustang was not quite to the test-mule state:
In just a couple of years, you can see a difference in his artwork, too.
Doug is ALWAYS going forward!
But here is another side-view. This of the Cougar Eliminator:
Doug seems to be quite a Mopar guy at heart.
Sensible fellow.
Check the scoop on this ’70 Superbird (“Streetbird”) he did:
If Detroit plagiarized HIM, they might start selling cars again! But that’s just MY opinion.
What’s yours???
