Tag Archives: Tim Inman

A trio of blue automotive delights [Feature]

LEGO car guru Tim Inman is on fire lately and no amount of stop, drop and rolling can squelch this blue streak to stardom. First we were wowed by this 1933 Willys Gasser. The term gasser denotes a particular style of retro drag racer known for their heightened stance and exaggerated exhaust pipes that reside usually behind the front tires. It is not named for what happens when you eat refried beans but, truth be told, it sort of sounds like that when it rips down the dragstrip. This particular model is a study in lovely teal blue.

Then we were floored shortly after when Tim dropped this Bill Thomas Cheetah prototype. As the name implies, the Cheetah was designed by, well, Bill Thomas for Chevrolet in order to dominate the Ford-sponsored Shelby Cobra. Things looked promising for the mid-engined prototype until a fire at the factory halted the project. Do I sniff a hint of competitive sabotage, maybe?

Click to see more of the Cheetah and the stunning conclusion of this blue trio

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The low-rider you live in

At first glance, I didn’t realize this was a LEGO build, primarily due to the wonderful scaling. But I was also caught off guard by Tim Inman’s choice of model. I have seen low-rider trucks, and I have seen campers. But I have never seen a low-rider camper. While the exterior design, from running lights to the paint scheme, is great, don’t skip out on a peak at the interior.

The engine and cab fit the time period perfectly…space to jump around in both!

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Dogpool slobbers her way into our hearts

IYKYK- That’s internet speak for if you know you know. Those of us in the know would know that, in the blockbuster film Deadpool and Wolverine, Dogpool was a complete scene stealer. Which is some feat considering all the muscle flexing, celebrity cameos, and gut-busting humor. Tim Inman replicates her unsettling slobberpuss nicely in LEGO and we’re all drooling with giddiness. While her ridiculous tongue and bugged-out eyes aren’t without their charm, my favorite part is the sparse fuzz on her head made with white LEGO plant stems. The doggo in real life is a Pug/ Chinese Crested mix named Peggy and she’s been voted Britain’s Ugliest Dog- which is a total bummer for whoever Britain’s second-ugliest dog happens to be.

The flatulent green gasser

Leave it to LEGO automotive superstar Tim Inman to build a car with a mullet and a flatulence problem. It’s a 1963 Chevy II Fastback Gasser. With its heightened stance and crazy pipes, it’s not the kind of thing you can buy at your local Chevy dealership, not even in 1963. No siree, this beast is custom! Gassers were a thing in the 50s through the 70s and, while I was a product of the early 70s, I wish I had been born just a bit sooner to really enjoy this gasser phenomenon. I totally would have loved seeing these rip down the dragstrip! This is probably the best thing I’ve seen all day and I’ve Googled “potatoes and jelly”.

Tim’s take on the Slab Wagon

LEGO car and sometimes architecture builder Tim Inman has built a 1963 Chevy II Station Wagon and suddenly I’m tickled pink. Or tan. I’m tickled tan, actually. It’s a well-known fact that they commonly call the Chevy II Station Wagon the “Slab Wagon”. By “they” I mean me and by “well-known fact” I mean I made that up just now. But it’s fast thinking like this is the reason why they pay me big bucks here at The Brothers Brick. Or so they tell me. It’s hard to keep track of your fortunes when everything is direct deposit. Anyway, I’m loving the red interior juxtaposed against the understated tan paint job. The roof rack, even the ice skater blades used as door handles are all great touches.

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The Palm Beach concept that took 1956 by storm

Palm Beach, Florida is known for idyllic beaches, palatial mansions, and Jeffrey Epstein. Wow, that escalated fast! But optimism abounded in the 50s and legendary Italian designer Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina created the Rambler-Nash Palm Beach concept car in 1956. This ended up being one of his most eye-catching concepts and Tim Inman has replicated the design nicely in LEGO. It has all the niceties you can expect from a piece this size; the doors open as well as the hood and the interior is well detailed. Whether it be the thin flex-tube strip along the side, the rounded air intake up front, or the sloping tailfins around back, there is plenty to love about Tim’s creation. Tim has really been on a roll lately as we’ve also featured his Mercedes G550 recently.

LEGO Mercedes G550 4×4 is a beast

When it comes to off-road capable vehicles, the motto seems to be, go big or go home. So it is no surprise that the 2020 G series from Mercedes is a beast. And LEGO builder Tim Inman has built a beast of model to show his appreciation. I especially love the low angle of this hero shot, showing the 4×4 in its natural habitat, driving over rocks.

Not only does this model of a Mercedes G550 look good on the outside, but it features a complete interior as well.

Tim dropped a Deuce and a Half

The M35A2 is a powerful military truck aptly nicknamed the “Deuce and a Half” for weighing in at two and a half tons. However Tim Inman’s rat-rodded version has shed some considerable weight. It’s been lowered, chopped, channeled, stretched and bobbed (removed second rear axle). The result is a mean rat-rod that loses its military function but retains its color and some of its prior identity. Maybe it’s more of a peace offering now?

But before you go thinking such silly ideas a rear view reveals a gas can, fifth wheel for towing and a skull taillight cluster letting any would-be peacenics know this ratted-out deuce still means serious business.

Not your grandpa’s Cadillac (or is it?)

Back in 1989 the late car building legend Boyd Coddington built a very special custom car for ZZ Top’s guitarist Billy Gibbons. It started with a 1948 Cadillac Series 62 Sedanette but nearly a million dollars later it had become a custom showstopper like no other. Now in 2019 LEGO car building legend Tim Inman has produced his own version. It is unusual for us to feature a three-quarter rear view of anything as the primary photo but in the case of CadZZilla, its low-slung roof line easing into the rear bumper and its signature taillights are what gives even the seasoned custom car enthusiast heart palpitations.

No less impressive up front, this model replicates CadZZilla’s famous grille and expansive hood. A mark of a good builder is if they can imagine a LEGO piece not for its intended purpose. Tim has utilized upside-down minifigure legs as part of the front bumper detail. A posh tan adorns the interior while the stance is that of a crouching aggressive animal. Of course, there is enough dark purple LEGO here to please any Prince impersonator. While Billy Gibbons is of grandparent age, he seemed to have bucked the rock star stereotype of siring multiple kids. So CadZZilla truly is not your grandpa’s Cadillac.