[gm4life]

Camino I got to thinking about your flagship request, and decided why not try! Anyways with my interest in the Caprice growing I thought seeing if it could pass for a Caddillac would be great fun. So here it is! (I did base it off a Holden Statesman not an HSV because I could not find a large enough photo to work with!) Please leave your comments, and keep in mind this is one of my few chops I have done. I think it looks pretty good!

How it started...

...Finished...

Bonus if anyone can tell me what I changed and what Cadillac model all the added parts came from. (Hint I only choose one Cadillac to get the parts from, with the exception of the blade antenna that came from a 2010 LaX.)

UPDATE and now the Interior...

This post has been edited by gm4life: 24 October 2009 - 12:51 PM

[§carlet §wordfish]

I'm guessing you got the parts from a an XLR.

You've deleted the rear quarter windows, changed the wheels, front fascia, headlights, taillights and antenna.

Not bad, though the lights look a little short. But a good quality chop.

[C.H.U.D.]

XLR ;)

[gm4life]

Hey thanks guys, all parts came from the 2009 XLR. I did end up also extending down the lower kick plates (under the doors) along with the rear panel as well (to make make the car look a little lower to the ground and tie in with the drop in the front). I might try to adjust the back light again. Thanks for the kind words, I certainly had enough time in it.

[Dodgefan]

Clean, good quality chop but the front overhang got longer (and my favorite thing about Zeta is the short front overhang) and it still doesn't look like a Cadillac.

[gm4life]

Clean, good quality chop but the front overhang got longer (and my favorite thing about Zeta is the short front overhang) and it still doesn't look like a Cadillac.

Thanks DF, that means alot coming from you. Good eye I had to extend the front overhang to make the XLR head lights and nose job work well. I know it still isn't edgy enough to be a Cadillac especially in the green house/window department. Although some Fleetwood badges and chrome mirror caps might not hurt either. I really only had some much to work with and given my limited skills (like the 4th or 5th chop, I had ever done) I really didn't want to get in over my head.

This post has been edited by gm4life: 24 October 2009 - 03:52 PM

[Camino LS6]

Not bad!

I had actually forgotten about my request.

[Dodgefan]

Yeah the problem with chopping the Holdens is that they are very handsome but also very understated. Like pre-Bangle BMWs. Cadillac is going for more edgy and dynamic designs these days which are hard to chop onto a car like the Statesman/HSV.

Honestly, if I were to do one I would have the Holden as a reference for proportions but use a Cadillac model of some sort as the source.

[Camino LS6]

Yeah the problem with chopping the Holdens is that they are very handsome but also very understated. Like pre-Bangle BMWs. Cadillac is going for more edgy and dynamic designs these days which are hard to chop onto a car like the Statesman/HSV.

Honestly, if I were to do one I would have the Holden as a reference for proportions but use a Cadillac model of some sort as the source.

I think this model, above all others, could use a bit more understated class and less bling.

That said, I'd like to see your version DF.

[gm4life]

Not bad!

I had actually forgotten about my request.

Thank you sir, I will take a "not bad" any day. Well in your defense it was ALONG time ago, but I was busy and had to think about it alot before going for it. I wanted to make sure if I went for it the chop would be clean and good quality. I will not use MS paint or half a$$ a chop in photoshop, it must look good for me even to consider keeping it and not destorying it via the eraser tool!

[gm4life]

I think this model, above all others, could use a bit more understated class and less bling.

That said, I'd like to see your version DF.

I kind of see it both ways, understated like the Holden is a good thing but nor should it be so "plain" or wild like a CTS. I tried to give a balance of that in the chop. Having said that understated in this class is a good thing, but with some Cadillac swagger. A chop based off of the sold in China SLS would be interesting to see though.

[gm4life]

Yeah the problem with chopping the Holdens is that they are very handsome but also very understated. Like pre-Bangle BMWs. Cadillac is going for more edgy and dynamic designs these days which are hard to chop onto a car like the Statesman/HSV.

Honestly, if I were to do one I would have the Holden as a reference for proportions but use a Cadillac model of some sort as the source.

This is very true, and a STS/SLS based chop with more Zeta sizing might be a good idea. You can only do some much to a clean design like the Statesman/Caprice/Park Avenue. One reason I like them so much is the understated elegance.

[cire]

The exterior looks much better than either the current STS or China market SLS. I think you and Dodgefan have both definitely proven that there is no reason why a Cadillac flagship sedan can't be built on the LWB Zeta platform. Good job!!!!!

[gm4life]

cire, on 11 November 2009 - 01:59 AM, said:

The exterior looks much better than either the current STS or China market SLS. I think you and Dodgefan have both definitely proven that there is no reason why a Cadillac flagship sedan can't be built on the LWB Zeta platform. Good job!!!!!

Well thank you sir for the kind words! I think it turned out well too!

[cire]

gm4life, on 12 November 2009 - 09:51 PM, said:

Well thank you sir for the kind words! I think it turned out well too!

I think I would pick your version to be the proper Zeta based flagship sedan for Cadillac.

I would use Dodgefan's ZTS version as a 4-door flagship sports coupe built on an extended version of the Corvette's Y-body platform.

I think there is room in Cadillac's lineup for both versions. Both of them look phenomenal and serve distinct purposes.

[§carlet §wordfish]

cire, on 22 November 2009 - 12:18 PM, said:

I would use Dodgefan's ZTS version as a 4-door flagship sports coupe built on an extended version of the Corvette's Y-body platform.

Say, there's quite an idea...

[cire]

§carlet §wordfish, on 23 November 2009 - 09:49 PM, said:

Say, there's quite an idea...

Thanks! I would still like to see a Corvette platform mate in Cadillac's lineup. A 4-door "coupe" on a stretched Y-body might sell better for Cadillac than the retractable hardtop XLR did. Combining a little "practicality" with a killer design might appeal to a wider audience.