Chip Foose Cars

Chip Foose Cars - Talking Shop

Chip Foose Cars - Talking Shop

In 2007, Scott Faircloth had the good fortune to meet and spend time with none other than Chip Foose, of “Overhaulin’” fame (the TV show on TLC). They had a great time looking at custom Chip Foose wheels, discussing the overall Chip Foose design philosophy, and just hanging out in general.

Born in 1961, in Santa Barbara, California, Mr. Foose got a very early start in the automotive industry, working at his father’s company, Project Design, beginning at age seven.

Chip Foose Wheels - Foose Truck

Chip Foose Wheels - Foose Truck

After obtaining his degree from the Art Center College of Design, he went to work with both Sterenberger Design AND Boyd Coddington. After a time, he left Sterenberger and went to work for J Mays, but Coddington persuaded the young Foose to come work for him exclusively, and eventually, Foose became President of Coddington’s Company, “Hot Rods.”

Foose and Coddington parted ways in 1998, and Foose relocated to Huntington Beach, California to start his own company.

Awesome Styling – Chip Foose Wheels

His distinctive designs (and they ARE distinctive…he has been called the Michelangelo of the hot-rod world!) gained him the attention of The Learning Channel, which did a documentary on a modified ’02 Thunderbird known as the Foose Speedbird. This proved to be but the first of several innovative Chip Foose designs. There have been many others, including:

Chip Foose Design - Working on the Ford Flex

Chip Foose Design - Working on the Ford Flex

• A Chip Foose designed ’69 Camero that was slated for a limited production run of 500 by Dallas company, “Unique Performance.”
• The Hemisfear

And
• a unique take on an ’06 Mustang

Unfortunately, legal troubles for Unique Performance caused Foose to sever ties with that company.

Since then, he has gone on to work on a number of other fascinating projects, including continuing to serve as the host to the TLC Program “Overhaulin’” serving as an advisor to the “Big Three” US automakers, and developing a pact with Ford to produce Chip Foose designs.

This year, Foose and Pirelli teamed up to design and give away a customized Ford Flex.

Summary of Chip Foose Designs

’69 Camero Mod
’02 Mustang (Stallion)
The Hemisfear (Foose Coupe)
Foose Flex
The Impression
The Grandmaster
0032
Cadillac SRX
P-32
Foose ’56 Pickup
And of course,
The Speedbird

Chip Foose Cars - Talking Upholstery with the Team

Chip Foose Cars - Talking Upholstery with the Team

Additionally, you can (from his website, http://www.chipfoose.com) pick up any of nearly twenty Chip Foose wheels, custom designed and awesomely styled.

All of this to say that when Scott visited Chip Foose back in ’07, with their similar backgrounds and shared commitment to excellence, they had a LOT to talk about, and to this day, it’s one of Scott’s most memorable visits with a fellow custom auto upholstery specialist.

The opportunity to share a conversation and compare notes with one of the premier custom auto interiors specialists in business today was simply an unparalleled opportunity.

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Filed under: Chip Foose Cars • Chip Foose Deisgn • Chip Foose Wheels • custom auto interiors • custom auto upholstery

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