The tuning design is a challenge for professional designers, as we consider many factors that are often not considered by manufacturers of modified or redesigned parts. This responds to the fact that the skill of such people is in the construction of the pieces themselves and not in the design.
Next, I will explain the re-design process performed on the body of a very popular car: the Fiat 128. This car was extremely popular in many countries. And it is an ideal car for Tuning because of its low cost, which allows you to invest more money in modifications.
Another positive factor of the Fiat 128 is its good sports performance. While this small car has a tiny engine and its design does not have proper aerodynamics, its mechanics are simple and easy to optimize while being a light and agile car (considering its age).
The redesign shown here was done for a particular customer. The design premise in this professional project was to modify as little as possible to maintain identity. Of course, the changes had to be evident enough for the car to be recognized as a unique specimen at first glance.
The three redesign proposals submitted to the owner of the car were based on the same criteria and objective described above. A common factor was the removal of the bumpers (front and back) plus the suppression of unnecessary grooves and ribs in the side window frames. Another element excluded from all windows was the “ventilate”.
Treatment of the forehead consists of two main elements. The first change is located on the grill. The headlights were shifted back to stay behind the grille, which only has horizontal lines in black or matt grey. All the grill would be made of aluminum and the contour edge would be with the color of the semi-shiny polished metal.
In the lower front, an air inlet was delineated maintaining curvature radii similar to those present in the rest of the car, in order to maintain the familiarity of design between elements and not appear to be a sum of disconnected factors.
To emphasize the sporting spirit were added broad-wheeled pass-wheels. This allows you to extend the distance of the troches. In order for the wheelstand to stand out without being excessive size, I decided that the upper arch slightly exceeds the lateral line. That little detail contributes visually from what might be called a suggestive factor, which is so often used in car design.
Finally, the body in red and metallic grey colours provide dynamism, also helping to define the volumes. In turn, this combination turns out quite sober and elegant.
The removal of the lateral line is of crucial importance for the inclusion of two main elements: the lateral air outlet (near the ground) and the paint motif.
Without a line marking it can be freely drawn on the body with better results. In this case, we sought to draw lines that separate the main colors but with a certain link between them. The strokes have the same movement as the famous flames but not.
The side air outlet brings character and the desire to make the car look “unique”. The same molding format would be used on the hood, with two parallel and symmetrical air vents.
The overhangs would be manufactured from artisanally molded aluminum to generate volumes that would take the role of bumpers. They would be very subtle so as not to have an important role in other distinctive design elements.
The side mouldings are quite straight and the spokes in their curves are small to pair well with the spokes in other elements, such as windows.
The rear section received special attention and changed completely with respect to the original car. The circular headlamps have a large outer ring for the brake light and an inner circle divided into two halves, one for the turn light and the other for the reverse light. This detail takes into account an important factor such as safety. Each ring is delimited by a fine chrome ferring.
Continuing on the tail, the lights are linked by a horizontal wall lamp in matt grey colour with the embossed and chrome FIAT letters. Under each light there is a circular opening through which the exhaust pipes come out. This trait was shocking for everyone who saw the sketches.
The last element present is a bas-relief section with the right size to place the legally binding patent. In this way, the plate is included in the overall design without standing out. The reality is that very few people like the plate to stand out, since it is not an aesthetically pleasing element.
Finally, in this version the body is also painted in two colors: green plus metallic grey. The division brings dynamism and the dark color above is intended to suggest that the car is lower in its overall height. This combination is very sober while maintaining a considerably elegant look.
© Adrián Blanco 2006 — Prohibited the total or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. The designs exhibited in the sketches are intellectual property of the author — Law 17.011 —