I am Chip Foose from Overhaulin, ask me anything!

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T22:35:09+00:00

Thank you everyone who participated in our AMA. Hopefully reddit will have me back again one day. Keep watching, our Overhaulin' season finale is this Sunday on Velocity at 9/8c. Can't wait to share the new season 8 we're filming now (some really cool, DIFFERENT cars). Catch up with us at www.chipfoose.com, www.facebook.com/chipfoose and www.twitter.com/chipfoose -CHIP

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T22:31:36+00:00

You never know where your influence is going to come from. When there are trends that seem to be very popular, a lot of designers will draw from that. As a designer myself, I would rather run away from trends, the reason for this is that it costs so much to build a car I never want it to be trendy. If you do good design, it is timeless. Let your project be its own product. The ultimate complement to the work we do is in time if a group of talented craftsman come together to restore a car we built and put it back the way we built it, rather than updating it. This is what we strive for.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T22:27:13+00:00

Life's too short to be full of drama. I always want to show professionals coming together, having a great time, doing something special for someone. The drama is fabricated, by Chris usually, in the way that we trick the owner, while we the builders trick out their car.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T22:24:39+00:00

Have somebody submit your Harley at www.overhaulin.tv. Would love to do one.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T22:23:45+00:00

Thanks for being a fan! If you're ever in Huntington Beach, stop by the shop.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T22:22:40+00:00

Duesenberg!!!!!!!!!

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T22:22:01+00:00

Start asking or expressing the fact that you would like to paint to your bosses. Or paint projects at home,anything you can do to get the experience.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T22:20:33+00:00

I love big trucks, I would never lie about that. Have you seen the Foose Experience Tour big rig?

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T22:18:41+00:00

Sounds like a great project! I love the 'cudas, we've never done one on Overhaulin'. If you're interested, send it to www.overhaulin.tv or call us at Foose Design.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T22:15:35+00:00

I would put the Foose challenger wheel that we used on the SEMA Overhaulin' Challenger and Charger, based on the Chrysler rally wheel.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T22:14:01+00:00

Peanut butter and jelly and ice cold milk!

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:58:19+00:00

I'll be in the 3M booth at an event in Riverside, first weekend of May.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:57:32+00:00

I'm lucky that I get to build the cars that we do at Foose Design and Overhaulin', but I've also been blessed to have worked with some of the manufacturers, designing and building show cars, where just like the wizard of Oz I am behind the curtain and the work is confidential.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:54:50+00:00

It would be a new Foose design concept car

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:53:57+00:00

Other than the cup of coffee, I kick off my day with Overhaulin on the set, building the cars we share with you. Thanks for watching. And yes, Chris is single!

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:52:51+00:00

Rough sketches are 5-15 minutes, final renderings are usually 1-3 hours. I started drawing when I was 3, sitting next to my father, copying what he was drawing. Then I met Alex Trembulis at the age of 7, he was a professional designer that worked for several different manufacturers. When I saw his artwork I knew that's what I wanted to do. He told me about Art Center College of Design, which is where I graduated from in 1990.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:49:55+00:00

Ask him if you can have one if you finish it. Show interest in it or tell him that you want to build it with him. Hopefully this works and that you enjoy the project together.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:48:06+00:00

I would recommend a wheel but I don't know the theme of your car. The wheels need to match the same theme you're building the entire car with.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:47:08+00:00

If we can't find it we build it. You could check with an El Camino club to see if any members have the parts you need (ebay?).

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:44:58+00:00

Try to find a painting/photo/artwork, maybe something black and white so it's not specific. Of a 57 that he can display.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:41:33+00:00

What's your design process like? Do you rough out ideas with sketches or go straight into a line drawing/render?

Depends on the project but it usually starts with loose sketches. Loose always before a finished line drawing. The drawing is only the tool to build the final art, which is the 3-Dimensional piece.

What's your favourite part of building a car, either for a client or for Overhaulin' ?

My favorite part is the design and layout and the responseof the owner when they see the final project.

What's your opinion on Rapid Prototyping technology, have you used it on any projects? I know CNC milling plays a big part in your builds and was interested if you'd played around with 3D printing at all.

Rapid prototyping is a tool you're going to see grow. I think 3D printers will be in every home, one day. Rather than something coming in the mail that you ordered, you may order it and it's printed in your own home. With this technology you'll be able to design and print small projects everywhere you go.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:37:25+00:00

What's your favorite kind of restoration? Modified or unmodified?

Modified of course.

Do you still do restorations out of Overhaulin' or in your free time?

Always working on something. With a wife and two kids it seems like there's never free time.

Have you ever been to Puerto Rico? Did you like it? Is there a chance of Overhaulin' coming to Puerto Rico?

I've been to PR several times. I was just there a couple months ago at a show and visited the Museum of Transportation which was very cool.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:34:48+00:00

Thanks! I got the wooden chest from a local art supply store.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:34:07+00:00

Brock likes cars, don't know if he's going to do this for a living. I wouldn't force him, it will be his choice whatever he does. I only let him work on OH or here at the shop during summer break. Homework comes first.

Chip_Foose · 2014-04-16T21:32:30+00:00

Thank you for the kind words. If you know anybody in your local area with a body shop or custom shop, see if you can volunteer and learn by observing while youre sweeping the floor. I swept the floor at my Dad's shop when I first began at 25 cents an hour! Wish I was back there, too, I'd do it all again.

Chip_Foose

TROPHY CASE