http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png http://jalopnik.com/tag/chip foose http://jalopnik.com/tag/chip foose

Dig the style of a 1930s coachbuilt concourse winner, but are merely moderately rich and actually want to drive the car on the road? The Delahaye Bugnotti Roadster recreates the timeless look with a modern LS1 V8. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5531705&view=rss&microfeed=true

When you picture a tractor you're picturing the classic John Deere 4020 in iconic green-and-yellow. To celebrate the famous piece of farm equipment John Deere commissioned Chip Foose to customize a 1970 model. According to Wojdyla, he Foosed it up. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5485921&view=rss&microfeed=true

Arguably the best build to come out of the show Overhaulin', the Chip Foose-designed 1930 Ford Model A is up for sale on Craigslist for an eye-popping $75,000. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5230086&view=rss&microfeed=true

After years of lusting for the shape he created as a student at Art Center College of Design in 1990, Chip Foose is finally selling his Hemisfear-inspired Foose Coupe to the public. This one is number 4, the second one on sale to Joe Public, and it's just been delivered to a buyer out Californee-way. You may be wondering why we're reporting on rich guys buying cars today. Well. Considering the massive meltdown of the US auto market, we're forced to actually tell you about every car sold in the US. Each one is big news. Press release below. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=398830&view=rss&microfeed=true

Though Unique Performance the company may be dead, the drama lives on. At least until Doug Hasty goes to jail, if that's what ends up happening. We mentioned earlier that an auction of Unique Performance equipment netted more than a million dollars, which was unfortunately only enough to cover taxes and not screwed over employees. But wait, there's some hope. More items are going up for auction for a second round. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=389541&view=rss&microfeed=true

Monday we reported that the feds weren't pursuing Unique Performance in the ongoing Unique Performance drama. We had some guesses for why federal prosecutors might pass on this particular case given the fact that a spokesperson said that federal crimes were obviously committed. Our best guess was that they looked at the 25 state felony charges against the company and decided it wasn't worth it. Our source sort of confirms this below the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=381086&view=rss&microfeed=true

An update on the Unique Performance saga, it turns out that the U.S. Attorney's office in Dallas will not be prosecuting Doug Hasty or the company, saying "Even though federal crimes have been committed" they're not going to pursue them. Though they haven't given a reason why, we've got a couple of guesses. The most obvious is that it would be redundant given the 25 felony charges against Unique Performance submitted by local prosecutors, who are apparently still vigorously pursuing the cars. Slightly less likely, federal prosecutors agreed to back off if Hasty and company agreed to a plea bargain. Another real possibility is that the U.S. Attorneys office would rather be pursuing political corruption or terrorism cases than some crooked carmaker whose assets have been auctioned off. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=379473&view=rss&microfeed=true

Because Unique Performance declared bankruptcy and had debts outstanding, what was left in the UP warehouse was auctioned off this weekend. The hope was that, after the $900K went to the government there would be some left over for the 140 individuals with claims (including 40 employees owed back-pay). According to our source and records on the auction company's website, the auction netted approximately $1.037 million, leaving $137K after the IRS took their cut, which means $978 per person... before lawyers. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=373216&view=rss&microfeed=true

Another development in the Unique Performance drama, as CBS-11 is reporting that the Farmers Branch PD has finished their investigation and submitted 25 felony charges against Unique Performance to the Dallas County District Attorney. The nature of these charges aren't clear, but they likely have to do with fraud and title washing. We've also learned that the U.S. Secret Service has three suspects. What this all means below the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=361333&view=rss&microfeed=true

Many people have read All The President's Men, which covers the investigation into the Watergate scandal that eventually forced President Nixon to resign. Less people have read Final Days, the sequel, which chronicles the final months of the administration and the eventual decision to step down. But those who have read that novel will undoubtedly see similarities between that tale of executive confusion and misdirection and what's been going on at Unique Performance, which until recently was creating ersatz Elanores for wealthy car collectors. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=336789&view=rss&microfeed=true

It's not a big surprise to us, but someone claiming to be a former employee of Unique Performance has said that employees that stuck around until the end haven't been paid yet. Given that Unique Performance filed for Bankruptcy, we're saying the odds aren't great that they're going to get what is owed them. Full email below the jump: More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=330938&view=rss&microfeed=true

The Gray Lady finally catches on to something we've been reporting for more than two weeks and we learn absolutely nothing new. One thing the author focuses on is that the likelihood that the value of these cars, which was probably not going to increase anyways, could seriously decrease. What we know and what all of this means after the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=326188&view=rss&microfeed=true

The ongoing Unique Performance saga continues, with Chip Foose and Foose Design joining Shelby as ex-partners. Not only is the company jumping ship, it's also considering legal action against Unique Performance. No one has gone to jail yet, but property has been seized and it looks like it's heading that way. Calls to Unique Performance Owner Doug Hasty (pictured here with Foose) have not been returned. Full release after the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=321480&view=rss&microfeed=true Ashley Van Dyke over at the Lane that's Fast and Daily had a chit-chat today with Chip Foose where she doesn't even ask him what his promotional gameplan for Foosical: The Musical will be. Today's episode also includes a interview of Alex Zanardi by a man who's head is bald like a Gumball, has a last name of Roy and didn't play goalie for Montreal. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=318440&view=rss&microfeed=true

Just for SEMA, Ford's let two designers have their way with their new people mover, the Ford Flex. First up is none other than the star of "Foosical: The Musical," Chip Foose. He's put his personal touch on the Flex by dropping Foose Design 22-inch wheels on the feet, and Eibach springs customized for "a lower appearance," and a custom-mixed, tow-tone blue and cream pearl paint job. It's the Foose Flexy, kiddies — all the same "great" looks of the Flex, with absolutely no performance upgrades. Yup, enjoy — or something.
More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=317234&view=rss&microfeed=true

[UPDATE: It's not a done deal, just a what-if scenario fielded by Mr. Foose in an Automotive News piece] Word from Automotive News is that custom-car impresario Chip Foose could be plotting to revive the Duesenberg name — once synonymous with robber-baron luxury — with SoCal concept-car builder Metalcrafters. The plan would be to produce a limited run of 50 of the elaborately appointed luxo-customs — rodded out with open wheels. Buyers will likely have to shell out upward of $299,000 — the price of a Foose Coupe — for said Foosenburg. We're not sure if such a revival would affect alternate plans by Minnesota's own Duesenberg Custom Coach, which has been fielding plans for the new Duesenberg Torpedo Coupe (see image) — powered by a novel, rotating powerplant derived from a firefighting waterpump. Either way, it's good to be a mutton-chomping, multichinned fat cat these days. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=284349&view=rss&microfeed=true

One of the pitfalls of being immersed in the constant barrage of all things automotive is the danger of becoming jaded. Walking the line between facilitating inadvertent product placement and conveying genuine enthusiam about automobiles can be a tricky balance. Just when we think we've seen enough and seriously contemplate going to get a job driving a flower truck, something comes along so astounding as to completely restore complete faith in the fine art of building automobiles and the enthusiasm this craft creates. A recent trip down to Foose Design world headquarters and then onto the Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters infused us with enough wonder to repel even the worst automotive kryptonite back into outer space for a long time. More after the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=255977&view=rss&microfeed=true

On hand for this past Sunday's Autorama festivities in Detroit were Chip Foose of high hot-rod art (and Overhaulin') fame, and his partner in crime/sidekick Chris Jacobs. Apparently Foose is kind of a big thing in hot rodding circles, as evidenced by the throng of fans awaiting a signature in what I could only assume was an infinity hour-long line. I'll just take my forget-me-not pic from the sidelines and call it good.– Ben Wojdyla More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=244010&view=rss&microfeed=true

We had some other things on our mind a couple of weeks ago, so we've got to apologize to the man, the myth, the marketing maven that is Chip Foose. Foose announced earlier this month his newest creation, the Mustang-derived Stallion, is now available for purchase at all sorts of local FoMoCo dealerships. The Stallion, distributed to dealers by way of Unique Performance, includes all sorts of "unique" performance enhancements like a Ford Racing exhaust, suspension and a "power pack" from Ford Racing that includes cold air induction and ECM recalibrated for premium fuel for an estimated 335 hp. You can also tell Chip's put his manly n' meaty hands on the now Foose embroidered seats, custom sill plates and a signature logo on the dash. Plus, it's got the upper and lower billet grille and those big ol' 20-inch Foose Nitrous wheels so you can spot it from at least some of the other Mustang variants in your dealer parking lot. We're not exactly sure of how to order one of them — but you may want to try walking up to the front of the store and yelling at a security camera, "I've been Overhauled!" Gallery below and full press release after the jump. – Ray Wert More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=230533&view=rss&microfeed=true

Chip Foose must live in an alternate reality where days feature at least 4,678.5 hours while the rest of us have to make do with a paltry 24. Besides his TV show, the past year has seen the announcement of the Hemisfear, the Foose Mustang, the CNN Hummer for SEMA, the Challenger collaboration with Unique Performance and the appearance of his P-32 roadster at the Detroit Autorama. And now, at the Detroit Auto Show, the former Solvang kid (Uff da!), will be debuting the limited-production Foose F-150. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=224243&view=rss&microfeed=true

Earlier this year, Foose Design and Unique Performance announced a teamup to build a limited-edition 1970 Dodge Challenger. Say hello to their little car. Production of the E-body throwbacks — which are built on the bones of original 1970 and 1971 Challengers — started midyear, with the first series model planned to be sold at the 2007 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale. Visuals come by way of the Foosian pen, while mechanicals include a choice of crate Hemi, rear suspension by Unique Performance and speed tech by Georgia's Year One. For you? $189,000. [Gallery] – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=212627&view=rss&microfeed=true

Chip Foose must have lost a bar bet he made with Boyd Coddington and got stuck building a Hummer for CNN. The "Warrior One" appears to be a salute to the reporters covering the Iraq war, though it may alternatively refer to Wolf Blitzer's "blitzkrieg" career path during which he stuck a butter knife into Bernard Shaw's epiglottis. The real question is this: Even if it's for charity — why does every entity in the world need a custom car created in their honor? The end of days is just a "Yes, Dear"-themed Volkswagen away. Full gallery of the nausea-inducing Hummer below and the full press release after the jump.– Ray Wert More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=211049&view=rss&microfeed=true

It's actually been a while since we've checked out an episode of Overhaulin', but this build seems pretty cool. After shunning '20s and '30s iron for most of the show's run, Foose and the crew decided to build the type of car that made him famous in the first place — a hot rod. After hijacking the vehicle from its owner, they dropped the Model A tub body on a TCI chassis, dropped in a 312 Y-Block Ford mill (nice to see something other than a Chevy small block or a flathead in a rod, after all), and well, Rod and Custom will have the rest of the build next month. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=200945&view=rss&microfeed=true

Chip Foose, customizer, illustrator, artist (and all-around decent guy), is extending his association with Unique Performance — builder of six-figure custom muscle-car (don't-call-them) reproductions, like the Foose '69 Camaro, Foose Stallion Mustang and Shelby GT.500E Super Snake. The two are planning to give the Mopar freaks some, with a run of supercars based on the 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger. Buyers will get a choice of Hemi powerplants (347 ci and 426 ci) hooked to a TKO five-speed tranny, and the cars will feature shaved bumpers, Foose 18" wheels and a custom DuPont paint scheme. A prototype Challenger is scheduled to debut this Thursday, June 15, 2006, with production set to begin next month. Don't ask the price; it'll only make that bank hit you've been considering seem doable. Or else wait until Dodge comes out with its own, albiet less potent, Challenger for around $100,000 less. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=180384&view=rss&microfeed=true

Chip Foose must live in alternate dimension with roughly three times the hours that most of us experience in a day. It's the only way we can explain how the man can take on so many projects, make so many appearances and appear on television so often. Then again, we've rarely encountered Chip when he wasn't on the move; he's a talented multitasker, that man. And he's now at work on his next task — the Hemisfear. Sponsored by RC2 brands, who will release die cast models of the car in August, Foose premiered the concept model at the Petersen Automotive museum, with the full car to debut at SEMA this November. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=165403&view=rss&microfeed=true

Chip Foose has always been a guy who's generally nailed his own renderings. He draws something, and then blammo, it's made flesh in steel. But we feel like he missed the mark with his P-32. It really should've been more "Foose-y," for lack of a better word, instead of the mishmash of Foosification and aged rod that it turned out to be. We really like the rendering, and we love the P-40/Mustang/Spitfire-style exhaust, but as these pics that reader Eric snapped at Chip's Huntington Beach facility show, something got lost in translation. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=158973&view=rss&microfeed=true

Waggish wag and a man who knows a thing or three about the way a hot rod's s'posed to look, Iowahawk, exclaimed upon seeing Foose's P-32 roadster, "That hi-buck 'traditional' roadster of his looks like it has a gigantic forehead tumor." We understand that Chip was going for the whole WWII fighter look, but yeah, that nose treatment might've been taking it a wee bit too far. Thanks to tha Wonk for grabbing the photo for us. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=158749&view=rss&microfeed=true

We don't know Chip very well, but he was always really cool to us when we were a struggling hack. One of our favorite memories came from the night before the Grand National Roadster Show a few years back. Chip was displaying his then-recently-finished Speedbird, and he was out there on the carpet, in his socks, detailing the car himself, no minions in sight. It's nice to know that even though he's like 2500 times famouser than he was at the time, that some things don't change. [Photo courtesy the illustrious, StarQuestrious Bumbeck.] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=150720&view=rss&microfeed=true

For those of you not of the hot rodding persuasion, there're two historically important shows that shine above all others the Detroit Autorama and the Grand National Roadster Show. To win the big Don Ridler Memorial award, it doesn't matter if the car's a roadster or not, but it has to debut at the show. Foose has won three of the last four Ridlers presented, but two were with coupes. Now, with this insanely-detailed '36 Ford, he's taken home both awards for the same car. We're afraid to ask how much owner Ken Reister spent on this thing. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=150513&view=rss&microfeed=true

Okay, so this one's a little incongruous. Don Pardo, fill us in, yo? Unique Performance, known for building the Shelby Continuation Series Mustangs, has teamed up with Chip Foose to build a run of '69 Camaros. Wal-Mart membership-warehouse spawn Sam's Club has procured the right to sell one of these Foosified F-Bodies, for the low, low price of $198,000. But that's not all, you also get a flight to lovely Dallas, Texas, where you'll ferried by limousine to a luxury hotel. You'll be greeted by none other than Chip himself when the time comes to view your new Camaro, and the car will be shipped via hermetically-sealed container to the destination of your choice. Only the ghost of Sam Walton and the magic pen of Chip Foose could possibly bring you such a once-in-a-lifetime deal! Specs follow after the jump. [Thanks to Trent and Bill for the tip] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=135670&view=rss&microfeed=true

One thing that bugs the snot out of us about the rodding hobby is that it's dominated by old, out-of-touch types who operate roughly eight to ten years behind the curve. F'rinstance, last year, the Detroit Autorama folks pulled a page from Rick Perry's San Francisco Rod, Custom and Motorcycle Show and designated an area for traditional rods and customs. And then they called it Xtreme. Please, somebody hand us a bag of Doritos to relieve the contents of our stomach into. In any event, Chip Foose is building a car for the '06 Xtreme display. Which means that either, depending on your point of view, rat-rodding has officially jumped the shark, or the level of competition has just been raised. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=128213&view=rss&microfeed=true

A few years ago, a friend of ours won the Chip Foose Design Excellence award at the Grand National Roadster show. When Foose presented him with the award onstage, our friend leaned over, pointed at the trophy a two-foot black-anodized pencil milled from aluminum billet and quietly said to him, "This is what my dick feels like right now." Foose didn't quite know how to respond, but we've always liked him anyway. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=125757&view=rss&microfeed=true

We reported last week on the Foose Mustang Stallion, which at the time we thought was a one-off like his Speedbird of a couple years ago. Autoweek reveals that the car will actually be available through 85 selected Ford dealerships, built in runs up to 3,000, depending on demand. However, as we mentioned previously, at the moment the car is primarily a styling exercise, with no power enhancements to speak of. However, the Stallion's builder, Unique Performance is working on a Stallion blower (Lord, that sounds wrong) with Ford Racing. Pricing should range from 38-41k. We're still waiting for the Owen Wilson/Foose Stallion money shot, though. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=122242&view=rss&microfeed=true

But would the Butterscotch Stallion be seen in the Foose Stallion? (Oh, how we love you, brother Defamer.) Or would there just be too much in the way of carefree, rip-snorting equine testosterone for Southern California to handle? It almost seems more like a vehicle for the aging Italian Stallion. Perhaps in his Judge Dredd getup. With Rob Schneider at his side. In any event, the car was designed by Foose, built by Unique Performance, has upsized Baer brakes and shorter Eibach springs. Besides the styling mods, that's about all she wrote. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=122221&view=rss&microfeed=true

As Boyd Coddington was to the 1980s, Chip Foose is to the current decade, but perhaps even more dominant. "Impression," Foose's third Detroit Autorama Don Ridler Memorial Memorial Award winner since the clock flipped '00, is an obscenely detailed '36 Ford roadster. However, musing on the amount of actual Ford equipment makes up the car is akin to inquiring as to how much of Janice Dickinson is OEM. Foose and his crew, though, unquestionably did a better job than Dickinson's surgeons. Check the Street Rodder article for photos and informational tidbits that'll make your jaw drop, even if high-dollar rods aren't your particular ball of bearing grease. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=122151&view=rss&microfeed=true