Making a life size Hot Wheels car

I know a lot of you guys aren't big into the Christmas thing. While I think the advertisements, etc…start waaaay too early, I'm a sucker for the holiday, especially since my kids were born. My wife and I have slowly built our display, both inside and outside. Last year, I added software/hardware to my outdoor display that has my lights to dance to music that I broadcast in FM stereo. I'm still a total novice programming it, but I'm practicing.

Being a car guy, I wanted to incorporate something auto related. After much discussion with the wife (mostly centering around "so where the hell will you put it the rest of the year"), this is what I came up with.

I picked up this gem over the weekend for $200, a Bradley GT. No engine, but that's even better, as it's less weight to push around. They look so much like a Hot Wheels car that when I saw it, it set off all kinds of ideas. Here's my plan…I'm going to give it a wild GRM budget paint job. I'll clean up the inside, etc… I'll then enclose it to look like a Hot Wheels car in it's original packaging. I'm thinking a box with plexiglass walls, and sign material as the tall backing label. I'll put a bow around it and have a giant blow up Santa standing next to it. Considering adding LED lights to the headlights/tailights, but not sure yet.

I guess I'll start a build thread when I actually get to work on it, but that won't be until later this summer, or early fall. For now, it just sits under a cover in the driveway. Man, I owe my wife big time...

Chevrolet is supposed to be selling you a Hot Wheels this year.

I'm really glad I'm not your neighbor.

Find a way to do half-restoration, half-decoration. You can fix up the interior, fix the lights and give it paint, turning it into an ornament while getting some restoration work done at the same time. Figure out a wild Hot-Wheels-like paint job you could live with.

I always had a feeling there was something wrong with you...

Sky_Render wrote: I'm really glad I'm not your neighbor.

I should have mentioned that I have 3.5 acres. My closest neighbor is about 400' from me. So I'm not flashing lights into their kitchen window....

Sports Car Craftsmen out of Arvada Colorado did a similar display for their supercharged Bugeye. They usually bring it out for the British Car Conclave in September.

I've seen a hot rod with a similar display that used a life size AMT 3-in-1 model box as a backdrop.

Are you going to put a Santa in the driver's seat?

bgkast,
No, Santa won't be in the drivers' seat. He's going to stand next to it, as if it was a present he was giving. I have future plans for something that Santa will sit in...just have to do a bit more smoothing over with the wife first. Either that, or I need a giant pole barn.

That's an awesome display for that Bugeye. Maybe I'll have a more WalMart-ish version...

Yeah, the guys at SPC do a great job. Here's their website for more inspiration:

www.Sportscarcraftsmen.com

If you don't finish it you could always try this

Win