Custom/G-Machine Cars - Is It Just A Phase?

[Carlwalski]

Now, before I start, this is not a dig at custom E-Body owners in any way, shape or form. I like all Mopars from /6 cars to uniquely optioned big block cars. I was just wondering what you people thought about the current "Custom/G-Machine/Foose" build cars? Cars with custom interior, big wheels & modern suspension, is it just a phase? We all know that this hobby has been through some changes in the past but has always returned to "Stock is right".

Late 70's to early 80s we saw bright paint jobs and several stripes on the one car & flames. Mid to late 80's we saw the huge rake look, side pipes, big graphics and rear tires that stick out 5" from the 1/4. In the 90s they came back around to the stock look again. So, my question, do you think in a few years to come, the E-Body (and hobby) will return back to the stock appearance "sells/is right" look or is this the way of the future. Obviously the majority will always be stock appearing cars but as far as customs go, big wheels and modern engines is "in" now. Back in the 80s the above mods were looked at as "wicked" or "totally righteous" now days they're not exactly "big sellers" to put it nicely. So, in 5 years time will we look back at these "G-Machines" and think, what were we thinking? Like the 80s, we don't know any better.


Opinons?

[Grec]

Just another phase in the long line of hot-rodding, IMHO.

Used to be flames, fuzzy dice and blowers sticking out of the hood.

Now it's 20s, shaved door handles and fuel-injected 5.7 Hemis etc etc etc.

Stock is always "right". ie, it never goes out of style and will always have the most admirers. :-)

[Bullitt-]

Excellent topic NZ...A lot of the newer fads were just not possible a few years ago..there were no 17"++++ tires or wheels & therefore no big brakes to fit in them to create a G Machine, not that even 30 years ago there were not efforts. I saw plenty of widened 15" rims with N50s stuffed under more or less stock height cars. There will always be a few retro rides like your 1st couple of pics but at least in the near term I believe most customs will be in the Touring or G category.... What seems to have disappeared is the "Pro-Street" for the better IMO..
     My question is what will be powering the HOT ROD of the distant future. H?

[Moparal]

I have found myself over the last few years putting any mopar I got back to the way it was. Un doing everything that had been converted on it from nastalga days. I've had them all, and the pro street cars, making the look stock again seems to be more fun to me. Even a stroker engine seems boreing and faddish to me. Who needs all the tq and pwr.  Seems everyone wants to get a stroker. They run great the way they were built.

Before strokers, the cars still ran fast, but you had to really know what to port and what parts to install to make a good 10 sec pro street car.  I built my first bb stroker in 1989. Everyone said it would fly apart. Went a 9.72 through the exhaust the first time I drove it to the track. So yes fads come and go, but the real cars will be as they were.

I was guilty of n50's, air shocks, slapper bars, hood tachs, cherry bombs and hush thrush, orange painted rearends, chrome everything under the hood.

I like the clean simple look.....I'm getting old.

[340kiwi]

There are 2 sorts of fool, one says "this is old and therefore good" and the other says "this is new and therefore better"
I appreciate the engineering and the handling improvements would be nice on the G cars but the big rims / skinny tyres / just don't suit the cars IMO. regardless of weather that look is just a blip on the radar those are not cars that will be able to be returned to stock anyway.

[6packCuda]

I think it's just another phase as well. It's fine for cameros and mustangs, but I feel that Ma Mopar got it right from the factory and they should be kept that way, or at least close to it.

[360 'CUDA]

I like this subject too  

It should be interesting what the next big "thing" will be but I hope the days of purple lights and lowered pickups are gone forever...

I think the mod trends will be to make the cars cleaner and more "fitted".  Radiused wheelwells, prefabed subframes and smooth floors with little or no exhaust showing.  Perfectly measured tires that are taller then the ones now on 18" wheels will be normal but the tops will be hidden about 1/3.

Hope the days of Corvette A-arms and pinto spindles with shopping cart engine cradles and rubberband tires will be gone soon

[Robb]

cars and bikes and whatever other man toys you want to talk about will always be customized.    Its just a matter of what is fashionable and supported (driven) by the aftermarket (which thrives on customization).

[GreenFish]

I love the modern suspensions and stuff that makes a car more pleasent to drive and more drivable. I dont really like the crazy paint scemes and outragous wheel combos.

some of the 17in wheels look nice, but I am partial to the original wheel look. I like when you can upgrade all that stuff and still keep the stock appearance of the car. Which is the way i am heading for mine. Maybe the alterktion but with steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps. A hemi under the hood but its an alum block Painted orange with stock black wrinkle valve covers and EFI hidden under a shaker bubble.

Just my style.

[Alaskan_TA]

I have seen people buy rust free cars with perfect sheetmetal and tub them out for show and / race.

I have also seen people buy tubbed show / race cars to return to stock.

People will always buy cars to do "their way" regardless of what anyone else says or thinks, myself included. 

Barry

[Carlwalski]

I like when you can upgrade all that stuff and still keep the stock appearance of the car. Which is the way i am heading for mine. Maybe the alterktion but with steel wheels and dog dish hubcaps. A hemi under the hood but its an alum block Painted orange with stock black wrinkle valve covers and EFI hidden under a shaker bubble.

Just my style.

That sounds exactly lime mine too! Except I'm using the XV level 1 kit.

Barry - The subject isn't that of the customizing but the styles I'm talking about. Every car brand, following and enthusiast will always make the car their own from a simple decal to all out wild. I'm talking about the era of style. I'm pretty sure I'm safe to say no one these days puts on lake-pipes, tubbed with wheels sticking out the 1/4s, pin stripes and blowers with "80's" style paint and add ons. So, what I'm trying to say is, present "what's in style" cars, will it last? Is it just a phase? (as per the thread title). I also do the cars my way but like GreenFish I try to hide most if not all of the modern upgrades but that's not what I'm talking about.

[Alaskan_TA]

I saw a Duster last weekend with over half of the rear tires sticking past the quarter panels, so it still happens. 

Mini skirts and hip hugger jeans have made a comeback, so side pipes and Hi-Jacker shocks with Thrush mufflers may be next......

If the disco era hair styles come back I may puke though. 

[360 'CUDA]

 

[Carlwalski]

True, it still happens but it's no longer "hip" if you catch my drift. Lots of the cars still driving around like that seem to be "80s survivors" though. Either that or a Chev guy owned it and restored it that way.  


You'd look great with a Fro Barry.  

[Jacksboys]

I think it may just be a trend, but who knows what the next trend will be.  I would rather keep my Challenger simple, that way there will always be parts to fix the problems.