Re iNVision – the ’32 Ford Roadster

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

Re iNVision – the ’32 Ford Roadster

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

I think the Newstalgia would be amazing.

I see where you are going with the rear end on that one. Reminds me of the Cadilac ATS Coupe

janies dirty 37 · SOUTH RIVER, ONT

Also follow you on facebook as well and always look forward to you posts.

I also like where your going oldskool.........with a modern twist. biggrin

hemikev · HAMILTON, ONT

like the 1st 1 . just looks right .....

slim · DUNDAS, ONT

They all look like a 33 with a deuce grill not that I don't like 33's but I wouldn't expect 32 as someones first guess . Hard nut to crack Nick.

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

I'm with Kev, traditional all the way!

You're an ambitious soul, looking forward to the build!

MANCAVER · info@mancavestuff.ca

The first one looks like a prowler to me. Not crazy about the rear ends of the other 3. The lines don't flow IMO.

So I'll go with #1

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

Just before the marker hit the paper to sketch these particular designs I visualized in my mind what direction we may take the appearance. While the guy wants something that 'resembles' a '32, especially the grill as those look simply beautiful ... due to his height, I felt that the '33 Ford's door lines would lend themselves very well. The front rake would make egress and ingress much easier for him as well as compliment the vehicle's feeling of motion. I suppose that's what the designers were also thinking when they created the Prowler's doors.

There are a lot of roasters out there and to create something fresh, yet pay tribute to the very iconic '32 is quite the challenge. Perhaps I bit off more then I can chew? In any case, thanks for all your support, thoughts and input.

Rochie · LONDON, ONT

Nick,
First and foremost, your work is nothing less than spectacular and I'm a huge fan….BUT,
don't let his height govern the look of the car. I'm 6'2", #250, and run a stock bodied 29 Ford roadster. IMHO, a 32 should always look like a 32….hands down. Henry got it right the first time. The look you're after has already been done by Coddington. Tradition is what tradition is and your traditional design is not traditional at all. I'm sorry but that's just the way I feel about certain things and this is one of them.

hemi43 · ONTARIO

I like the bottom 3. My reason (just my opinion) is because it's as far away as the look of a 32. The 32 is a great looking car, but enough already !! That model has been over done and I wish people would concentrate on different years. Last year at Syracuse I think there was more 32s than Ford ever built, with first gen Camaros coming in second. Don't people think out of the box anymore??

It sounds like you will be building the body from scratch, and starting from a blank sheet. You have the know-how and talent, and would love to see a one-off "Body by Invision" with no resemblance to anything out there.
Like I said, my opinion, but whatever you do it will be phenomenal !!

slim · DUNDAS, ONT

I think you discovered how easily the 32 design flowed into the next model year . Its the vertical grill and part lines that really make the 32 stand out from the others. Just a thought but a few degrees slope of the grill in the opposite direction,\ , then you used would retain the 32 look and add a bit of a street fighter feel to it . Not a lot of challenge biting off what you can chew. smile

MANCAVER · info@mancavestuff.ca

Nick the rake of the prowler does not seem to assist with access/egress. The prowler is a little tough to get out of because you basically have to climb up and out of the tub. the seat base does not follow the rake. So the car is raked but the driver isn't. Also, the doors don't open wide enough. One of the first mods we do is to shim out the door checks to get another 5" or so.

I would like to see the grill pointing forward design that was mentioned. When they tilted the Ram grill forward on the latest body style, it really gave the truck some attitude.

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

Back when I designed R2, I raked the A-Post/door's front cut line forward and man what a difference it makes getting in and out as compared to Rhythm. Both vehicles have basically the same door length, but with that "missing" post area it's so much easier to swing my size 12's out.

Anyway, here's a quick sketch with the grill raked forward a few degrees, door cut lines vertical and rear deck's soft curvature meeting a more or less upright rear fascia. This might be another design possibility... will have to present it to the guy.

-- Edited by invision on Thursday 19th of December 2013 04:01:37 PM

MANCAVER · info@mancavestuff.ca

Now you're talking Nick! That is a really unique design that still retains some 32 DNA. And the lines work!

Can't wait to see the final approved design.

slim · DUNDAS, ONT

I think Roger nailed the description. It is quite unique.

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

Yep, that's a winner! Best of the ones submitted so far, it'll be interesting to see which design is chosen and how close the actual car resembles the drawing. I'm pretty stoked to see this project take off from "ground zero"! We're lucky to have such a talented member here so we can witness big projects like this from concept to completion - it's so cool!

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

Thanks guys!

Rochie · LONDON, ONT

Hey Nick, that's better. Are you going to use a belly pan or are those flat frame sides just a valance? I guess the frame reveal won't be there right?

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

The area under the doors on all the potential designs will be formed as a cosmetic rocker and blended with the body ... hiding the frame so that it won't be visible from the exterior view.

Once the trigger is pulled on a particular design I'll be developing the chassis/body blueprints. At that time I'll be playing with whether or not the occupant's seats will be set between the frame rails or level with the top of them. I can tell you now that if the decision is made on 'the streetfighter' theme, the vertical door cut lines will drastically simplify the hinge and latch system. The question will be...which way they are swung... conventional or suicide?!? :D

shaggn · LONDON, ONT

Been following current build like fly to !@#%..loving every detail,picture and thorough explanation of build/design process..like many others a fan Nick!I'm with Fordy,this will be awesome to see complete start to finish process right from blank paper.It'll be like all of rodders car,without having to pay!Looking forward to the next challenge,I'm sure it will nothing short of amazing.

JohnnyBgood · ST CATHARINES, ONT

Nick...I am here offering my services to help you with this build for free. I can't weld, paint, do body work, sing or dance. My wife seems to think I could help you out because I love to hang over her shoulder and tell her when she is doing things wrong. She thinks my time would be better spent helping you instead of her so anytime you need a hand feel free to pm me and I will help you out.

janies dirty 37 · SOUTH RIVER, ONT

lmao

Janice

MANCAVER · info@mancavestuff.ca

Here is a unique rod along the same lines with some 30s blood in her

http://www.rodauthority.com/news/video-1930-ford-model-a-meets-prowler-esque-end/

Playin Hookie · HUNTSVILLE, ONT

invision wrote:
Back when I designed R2, I raked the A-Post/door's front cut line forward and man what a difference it makes getting in and out as compared to Rhythm. Both vehicles have basically the same door length, but with that "missing" post area it's so much easier to swing my size 12's out.
Anyway, here's a quick sketch with the grill raked forward a few degrees, door cut lines vertical and rear deck's soft curvature meeting a more or less upright rear fascia. This might be another design possibility... will have to present it to the guy.

-- Edited by invision on Thursday 19th of December 2013 04:01:37 PM

Pretty cool you're talking this concept, looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

I personally need a bit more area between the door and the rear wheel (leading area of the quarter) and the rear seems a bit overly stumpy. Just my feeling anyway but maybe I'm lookin for more 32 than you want.

here's a boydster concept drawing. Interesting comparison side by side. Wonder how the rat's glass bodies (based on'33's but the designs start to blend as they are made "modern")would look along side these representations (ok found one of those too cause I had to see for myself)

Like was said before, pretty hard to break new ground successfully on this style but we know you are up to the challenge!!

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

JohnnyBgood wrote:
Nick...I am here offering my services to help you with this build for free. I can't weld, paint, do body work, sing or dance. My wife seems to think I could help you out because I love to hang over her shoulder and tell her when she is doing things wrong. She thinks my time would be better spent helping you instead of her so anytime you need a hand feel free to pm me and I will help you out.

Perfect! I really need a hand here. biggrin biggrin I'll get you to take over some of the fab work and get some build sketches done while I get to work and sweep the floors. Getting neck deep in metal cuttings!

JohnnyBgood · ST CATHARINES, ONT

Sorry Nick your too late. Just bought myself a piece of crap house to renovate. Got the wife a new shovel and we should be done digging the basement by the summer. Have you ever tried to gift wrap a shovel and not have it come out looking like a shovel...not as easy as it sounds. Anyways I should have time to still read your posts....keep up the good work..

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

JohnnyBgood wrote:
Sorry Nick your too late. Just bought myself a piece of crap house to renovate. Got the wife a new shovel and we should be done digging the basement by the summer. Have you ever tried to gift wrap a shovel and not have it come out looking like a shovel...not as easy as it sounds. Anyways I should have time to still read your posts....keep up the good work..

And here I was planning on working on my sweeping and dustpan pick up techniques.

Nope, never had to gift wrap a shovel, but I'm sure it must take some serious skills.

If you ever feel like taking a break from the reno, you're welcome to drop by the shop and check out what we're up to...bring the wife along too. smile

Cheers and have a very Merry Christmas.

Nick

JPB · AYLMER, ONT

invision wrote:

Hi boys and girls, we have a new build coming up that I'd like to share!
A good friend and long time supporter has asked me to design and build him a custom roadster - from the ground up. He’s loves the simplicity of the traditional '32 Ford styling, but also wants a more ‘road race’ feel incorporated into the body style.
Here are a few initial concepts we’ve been playing with for the iNVision '32 Roadster. At the top left, a loose thumbnail sketch indicates the basic body shape of a stock '32 Ford. From the top down we have 4 different styles - 'Traditional', 'Newstalgia', 'Speedster' and 'Roadrace'. These sketches just indicate the basic shape of the body and stance. Wheel sizes will probably be around 17”/18” in front and 19”/20” in the rear. These details including the drivetrain will be addressed once we move from sketches to the actual design stage.

So far, he's leaning towards either the Traditional or the Speedster design, but I'd like to hear what you guys think. And yes, I already know that I'm off my hinges.
Thanks for taking the time to look and share your thoughts!

Nick,they are ALL COOL!

JohnnyBgood · ST CATHARINES, ONT

Thax for the offer..im going to take you up on that...wife might not be able to make it though ..you know digging the basement is hard work and takes a long time.... merry xmas to all...

-- Edited by JohnnyBgood on Wednesday 25th of December 2013 07:51:06 PM

Seeker1056 · DOURO, ONT

just some thoughts - everyone has done this car to death, and they are all the SAME ol same ol - swoopy, leaned, aysymetrical section front to back - and other than details look like cookie cutters - as does this one

try maybe leaning the entire car forward,including the grille, pull the front wheels back behind the grill using an F150 twin I-beam style suspension so it is very clean and simple, - pull the rear wheel forward enough to put a nice reveal behind the wheel, put curved lites into the body belt line, then adapt a GMC SSR retractable style roof into it so it can be coupe or convertible with Solstace or thunderbird style headrests/tonneau in he open position - the windshield glass should be bubbled/curved/convex - whatever you wish to call it, not flat...headlight pods that fold out from the hood sides just behind the grille or better yet - folds out from the frame rails or is incorporated into the front frame rails, suicide lambo style doors with a reversed 33-34 style door lines etc etc etc - in other words - something entirely new - not a revision of the cookie

smiles

drive train - a front mounted corvair flat six with a potvin style dual blower setup, with efi, connected to a 6 speed corvette tranny setup, the cylinder heads would stick out of the hood sides , with the exhaust as side pipes, that are molded running boards/belly pan

-- Edited by Seeker1056 on Wednesday 25th of December 2013 11:27:20 PM

-- Edited by Seeker1056 on Wednesday 25th of December 2013 11:29:46 PM

-- Edited by Seeker1056 on Wednesday 25th of December 2013 11:33:00 PM

-- Edited by Seeker1056 on Wednesday 25th of December 2013 11:33:57 PM

-- Edited by Seeker1056 on Wednesday 25th of December 2013 11:36:07 PM

-- Edited by Seeker1056 on Wednesday 25th of December 2013 11:39:55 PM

-- Edited by Seeker1056 on Wednesday 25th of December 2013 11:41:23 PM

-- Edited by Seeker1056 on Wednesday 25th of December 2013 11:46:15 PM

-- Edited by Seeker1056 on Thursday 26th of December 2013 01:38:08 AM

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

Hi Guys!

A final design has been chosen!

Thanks very much to everyone who shared their thoughts and suggestions for the Re-iNVisioned Roadster. It's definitely a lot of fun to create a fresh, unique look, while still paying tribute to elements of the '32's fantastic shape. Our customer would also like to thank everyone for their engagement.

Top and side two-dimensional full scale drawings of the body and chassis have been created from final renderings. We'll be starting with the body first by creating a wire-frame buck. This will also allow him to see his roadster take shape right before his eyes ... before any sheet metal has even been shaped. If necessary, at this stage, small shape changes can be made.

Thanks for looking! smile

slim · DUNDAS, ONT

That's great nick . Most of your designs have been unibody , what are your plans for the front suspension and steering. The lack of fenders really adds to the challenge of retaining the clean flowing lines.

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

slim wrote:
That's great nick . Most of your designs have been unibody , what are your plans for the front suspension and steering. The lack of fenders really adds to the challenge of retaining the clean flowing lines.

Unibody designs? Which vehicles are you referring to Slim? Rhythm has and R2 will have a full length DOM tube chassis that the body will be mounted on with a series of polyurethane bushings.

As for the roadster's drivetrain and rear suspension, we'll be using components from an sn95 Mustang donor vehicle. I'm currently working out the details for the front suspension that we'll fabricate from scratch or to save the owner some coin find components from a suitable donor.

Thanks Slim. biggrin

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

Let the challenge begin!!! IT'S ON!!!

Cat in the Hat · BRANTFORD, ONT

ABSOFREEKINLUTELY AMAZING.....Nick you are the master!

Schnitz · MILTON, ONT

Some people are just born with it. You being one of them.
I wish I could design like that.

janies dirty 37 · SOUTH RIVER, ONT

Looking forward to watching this build Nick.

slim · DUNDAS, ONT

Sorry Nick I had just assumed that ,seeing the substructure itself is built like a battleship . Scrolled through the first two pages of R2 and I don't see a frame. Frankly It has never crossed my mind that someone would build the body first and then the frame to fit it... LOL

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

Thanks very much everyone! biggrin

Grumps, please, no bowing for me... There are a lot of very talented individuals here on the site as well as out there in the hotrod world.

No worries Slim. We build the bodies as in such a way that we're not relying totally on the frame to keep panels in-tune. The reason you don't see the frames built first is because getting the body more or less completed is the longer leg of the journey...at least when you build it from scratch. Final drawings for the body and chassis are always completed before we get into a build. Once the exterior body panels have been completed, the frame's body mount locations are established on the frame-table allowing us to work the body's structural areas towards them. Then when the body is removed and fabrication on the chassis begins those established mounting points are the constant that we work towards when building the chassis. When the two components are mated we have a perfect fit. Hope this makes sense...

Thanks again for checking out the happenings here.

-- Edited by invision on Tuesday 21st of January 2014 07:55:28 AM

Cat in the Hat · BRANTFORD, ONT

Perfect sense. And your right it takes the stress out of the body

Eliminating body flex to frame

Thus perfect panel fit every time. Tada

And your right about easier to make frame fit body

Than visa versa

Your a smart guy Nick

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

Grumpsbodyworks wrote:
Perfect sense. And your right it takes the stress out of the body

Eliminating body flex to frame

Thus perfect panel fit every time. Tada

And your right about easier to make frame fit body

Than visa versa

Your a smart guy Nick

Thanks Grumps. smile

Unfortunately, if one is working with a production pre-unibody vehicle ... this system won't work. You would definitely need the frame mounted to the body when tackling substructural rust repair and mods for everything to fit after the work is done. Knew a guy who pulled the body on his '56 Belair, cut out all the rot and replaced panels with new. This was all performed while the body was on a make-shift table .... only to have nothing come together when he went to reunite the body with the frame. Long story short, the project is still sitting outside under a tarp.

slim · DUNDAS, ONT

Thanks for the explanation Nick. I'm not sure you could call it a stressed member as that would imply the body is part of the frame or structure holding it all together . For example if you used a front and rear sub frame that are not connected the body would be a stressed member. I do fully understand what your getting at. The body certainly is a stand alone structure independent of the frame your bolting it to.

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

You got it Slim biggrin

Was just trying to convey the concept that the body structure works to unify the panels while the chassis maintains the suspension and drivetrain in check. Rhythm has been on the road regularly since 2008...the doors close effortlessly and if you look at the gaps they've remained a constant 3/16" with no chips from misalignment.

Thanks for your patience. With the amount of sleep I've been getting lately I'm surprised I make any sense at all.

RacerRick · TORONTO, ONT

invision wrote:
Grumpsbodyworks wrote:
Perfect sense. And your right it takes the stress out of the body

Eliminating body flex to frame

Thus perfect panel fit every time. Tada

And your right about easier to make frame fit body

Than visa versa

Your a smart guy Nick
Thanks Grumps.
Unfortunately, if one is working with a production pre-unibody vehicle ... this system won't work. You would definitely need the frame mounted to the body when tackling substructural rust repair and mods for everything to fit after the work is done. Knew a guy who pulled the body on his '56 Belair, cut out all the rot and replaced panels with new. This was all performed while the body was on a make-shift table .... only to have nothing come together when he went to reunite the body with the frame. Long story short, the project is still sitting outside under a tarp.

I have fixed a few cars like that. There is one in my hobby shop like that now. They put the rear crossmembers and trunk in with the body off the frame and got the angle wrong and the frame won't bolt up now!

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

Ok, so here it goes.

Before the frame-table is set up, Steve is adding a few more staples to prevent the drawing from dipping.

Anytime we do custom work on a vehicle or in this case, create one from scratch, we work from this fully adjustable frame-table.

My Dad is applying new linear scales to the tops of the longitudinal rail surfaces. It's a simple, yet very effective means of ensuring that everything remains true to the scaled build drawing on the wall as well as from side to side.

Setting up cross members at specific locations.

Fabrication begins. The rails seen here aren't the roaster's actual frame members, but a foundation for the buck. We'll get to the real frame later...

Specific mounting points are being established.

Now we're ready to start bending the rod and flat bar.

slim · DUNDAS, ONT

Thanks for sharing Nick . Grate incite on your build method .

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

So damn cool!

MANCAVER · info@mancavestuff.ca

Hey Nick, any chance you will be making this one out of aluminum?

invision · NIAGARA FALLS, ONT

When we had the design discussion for this roadster, I proposed the option of creating an aluminum body... however, the gentleman didn't really see a benefit to this. He's not really into attending carshows and as he also mentioned "after she's all painted and I'm cruising with my granddaughter who's gonna know".

It's ok with me. I just might make an aluminum version for myself when R2 is done.

Thanks guys!

Cat in the Hat · BRANTFORD, ONT

Nick. I would kill for your table!

I still use levels, angle finders, stinglines and a level spot on the floor

I follow your builds for insperation, tricks and tips

I think a ROAD TRIP for ONTARIO RODDERS this summer to your shop

Would be amazing! Please think about opening your shop one sat morning

I think you would be overwhelmed by the responce

Just asking