76-77 Ram Air & Trunk Spoiler

[brad442]

Guys, I proposed a question to Len a while back, here is his response. I'm not really in the market for any kind of "air induction" or "ram air" hood for my car, but I think some of you might. This might be really cool...

BB: "Len, over the years many of us who own the 73-77 years have seen many guys make their own hood scoops or retro fit a hood scoop from another make or model onto their car. For example, some guys have taken the Trans Am “Shaker” hood and applied it to a mid-70's Cutlass. It is also popular for guys to purchase and install the older style “Ram Air” hood (from the 442’s of ‘70-’72). They look good, but in my opinion, the lines of the older “Ram Air” hood really don’t match up with the lines of the 73-77 cars. To me, they just look a little too “forced” to fit and function but just don’t flow with the car. My question to you is, what or how do you think you guys would have designed some type of hood scoop or air intake had there not been a whole lot of government sanctions at the time? I know that’s a tall order, but that is a question that has been on my mind for sometime now..."

Len: "I agree with your assessment of the 73-77 olds hood scoops...other than to say they should always be dual scoops ( Olds design philosophy was "split grilles" dual tailamps as opposed to wall to wall, etc ).Tell you what, find a company that can lay up fiberglass and I'll design a hood/scoop specifically for the 73-77, that would really be a pretty straightforward design effort....If you are interested, I can also design some "fairings " for your deck spoiler that will blend the ends into the quarter panels. If you can work from an accurate sketch or accurate small "scale " drwg., this would not be difficult. For ex.., mail me a qtr. scale drwg. of the area ( rear qtr./spoiler ) I will draw the part and mail it back. let me know."

[sumrof75]

Would be neat to see the "what might have been" concepts. With the right connections may become the "could be".

[MrRocket]

I think that would be awesome! I like the subtleness of the 442/Hurst hood designs but a dual scoop made for our cars with a functioning ram air set up would be killer! Now I'm all excited!!

[kgl271]

Brad, I think that was great question. Since we now have the original designer it would be cool to see how he would have made it. And if a company can make them that would even be better. I like that he is willing to help complete the tail as well.

[Doug Blake]

Interesting!!

[76Supreme455]

I am very interested in this.

[texxas8902]

I've liked the existing hoods enough to want one. Dave and Ken's cars look great with the hoods but the scoops don't line up with the original character lines in the hood just right. The angle is just a little off. Not enough to keep me from coveting one but enough that I noticed exactly what Brad is pointing out. Len's design should be very interesting and I hope could be made to work with the 70-72 OAI filter set ups.
As much as I would like a sketch of my car, a hood designed by Len could get my money. Not that I don't think it is worth the price, times are just tough around here.:(

[Oldsketcher]

Guys, I proposed a question to Len a while back, here is his response. I'm not really in the market for any kind of "air induction" or "ram air" hood for my car, but I think some of you might. This might be really cool...

BB: "Len, over the years many of us who own the 73-77 years have seen many guys make their own hood scoops or retro fit a hood scoop from another make or model onto their car. For example, some guys have taken the Trans Am “Shaker” hood and applied it to a mid-70's Cutlass. It is also popular for guys to purchase and install the older style “Ram Air” hood (from the 442’s of ‘70-’72). They look good, but in my opinion, the lines of the older “Ram Air” hood really don’t match up with the lines of the 73-77 cars. To me, they just look a little too “forced” to fit and function but just don’t flow with the car. My question to you is, what or how do you think you guys would have designed some type of hood scoop or air intake had there not been a whole lot of government sanctions at the time? I know that’s a tall order, but that is a question that has been on my mind for sometime now..."

Len: "I agree with your assessment of the 73-77 olds hood scoops...other than to say they should always be dual scoops ( Olds design philosophy was "split grilles" dual tailamps as opposed to wall to wall, etc ).Tell you what, find a company that can lay up fiberglass and I'll design a hood/scoop specifically for the 73-77, that would really be a pretty straightforward design effort....If you are interested, I can also design some "fairings " for your deck spoiler that will blend the ends into the quarter panels. If you can work from an accurate sketch or accurate small "scale " drwg., this would not be difficult. For ex.., mail me a qtr. scale drwg. of the area ( rear qtr./spoiler ) I will draw the part and mail it back. let me know."

Hey Brad, I kinda forgot about our conversation until I came across this posting...I've been having so much fun drawing Oldsmobiles again after 30-40 years that I only mentioned the hood scoops and spoiler as an interesting opportunity to have some more fun. Then I started thinking a few days later while I was working on a drawing....wow...unbelieveable....doesnt matter if we pursue this or not, but who would have thought that I would even be considering "Designing" on these cars again. That thought alone has had me grinning the past few days. Even started taking it to another level, how about 19'' wheels & low profile tires,wider stance with wheels out to the width of the body, an even more aerodynamic front end with flush headlamps, flush glass, slight wedge to the profile.....now see what youv'e gone and done, hah. Thats the problem with us designers, we never leave well enough alone, but do you ever wonder what a 442 might look like if we were to design one today and keep the spirit of the original vehicle? Think next gen. Camaro...that car has the essence of the original but in todays form vocabulary. Ah well...like I said, designers can drive you nuts, but I just might do a sketch of a "2010" 442 , when I have nothing but time on my hands. Len

[442MUCH]

Hey Brad, I kinda forgot about our conversation until I came across this posting...I've been having so much fun drawing Oldsmobiles again after 30-40 years that I only mentioned the hood scoops and spoiler as an interesting opportunity to have some more fun. Then I started thinking a few days later while I was working on a drawing....wow...unbelieveable....doesnt matter if we pursue this or not, but who would have thought that I would even be considering "Designing" on these cars again. That thought alone has had me grinning the past few days. Even started taking it to another level, how about 19'' wheels & low profile tires,wider stance with wheels out to the width of the body, an even more aerodynamic front end with flush headlamps, flush glass, slight wedge to the profile.....now see what youv'e gone and done, hah. Thats the problem with us designers, we never leave well enough alone, but do you ever wonder what a 442 might look like if we were to design one today and keep the spirit of the original vehicle? Think next gen. Camaro...that car has the essence of the original but in todays form vocabulary. Ah well...like I said, designers can drive you nuts, but I just might do a sketch of a "2010" 442 , when I have nothing but time on my hands. Len

Len,

That would be so cool to see. I've often wondered what Oldsmobile would have come up with, with all the retro cars (Mustang, Challenger, Camaro) coming on the scene. Who knows, if you did a '10 442, perhaps GM would consider doing a limited production...probably not, but it's nice to dream....

[Firethorne77]

I just might do a sketch of a "2010" 442 , when I have nothing but time on my hands. Len

:cool: It would be FANTASTIC to see your take on a "2010 442".

[brad442]

Hey Brad, I kinda forgot about our conversation until I came across this posting...I've been having so much fun drawing Oldsmobiles again after 30-40 years that I only mentioned the hood scoops and spoiler as an interesting opportunity to have some more fun. Then I started thinking a few days later while I was working on a drawing....wow...unbelieveable....doesnt matter if we pursue this or not, but who would have thought that I would even be considering "Designing" on these cars again. That thought alone has had me grinning the past few days. Even started taking it to another level, how about 19'' wheels & low profile tires,wider stance with wheels out to the width of the body, an even more aerodynamic front end with flush headlamps, flush glass, slight wedge to the profile.....now see what youv'e gone and done, hah. Thats the problem with us designers, we never leave well enough alone, but do you ever wonder what a 442 might look like if we were to design one today and keep the spirit of the original vehicle? Think next gen. Camaro...that car has the essence of the original but in todays form vocabulary. Ah well...like I said, designers can drive you nuts, but I just might do a sketch of a "2010" 442 , when I have nothing but time on my hands. Len


Len, I can't tell you how many times myself (and I'm sure many others) have looked at a new Camaro, Challenger or Mustang and asked ourselves "What if?" I love looking for ways to improve on design solutions. The "Intrigue 442" that Olds built a few years ago was cool, but not "Retro" enough for my blood. By starting a concept with a car form our "era" to me, would lend itself for a much more inspiring design, not to mention a much higher level of "coolness", at least in my extremely biased opinion :D If you are able to design a concept that would be incredible. If nothing else, it would be a win/win situation even of a car like that was never built. A concept, design and drawing of a "retro/modern day" concept from the guy who designed the cars to begin with. The Chevy/Dodge guys can't make that claim.

With the bailout, I would guess it will be years before GM ever focuses back on older/retro models, or restocking the Heritage Collection. It all seems to be about hybrids & gas mileage now-a-days...:mad: but you never know... Then again, there are guys like Jay Leno... maybe someone like that would front the cost on building a car like you mentioned...Ok, now we're thinking...:rolleyes:

Speaking of the 19" wheels, those are already in production based on the original SSII design. Check them out on this '83 Hurst/Olds:

http://www.streetsmartclassics.com/wheels.html

[76Supreme455]

I love this idea. I too have always wondered what if Olds somehow had just kept making the design from 73-77, but continually improved on it, but never left the original design goals. I suppose that's what they tried to do with the 78-88 Cutlass to some extent, but that design never inspired me as much as the 73-77 did, even though I did own several of the 78-88's and still do. But my idea was, that if the 73-77 design had been kept and had small yearly changes somewhat like Porsche has done with the 911. It still has the basic shape of the car that came out in 1964 but today in 2009, the car still looks like the basic design, but much improved with the technology available today. I welcome your ideas of what a 2010 442 or Cutlass would look like and the thought of having the functional hood scoop and spoiler for our cars designed by you, the original designer.........well, it just does not get any better in my book!

[mdkingsley]

This just keeps gettin funner, cooler, neater, you get the point!