Chip Foose - 1966-present


    In a relatively short career, Chip Foose has created a legacy of designs and accomplishments that are well beyond his years. Chip was born and raised in Santa Barbara California and automobiles were definitely in his blood. Chip's first job was working for his father's (Sam Foose) company where Chip specialized in project design. By age twelve, Chip already had five years experience under his belt, and had also painted his first car; a Porsche 356.

Early on, a chance meeting from Alex Tremulis, the designer of the "Tucker", was actually Chip's motivation to attend Art Center, where he majored in automotive product design and graduated in 1990 with honors.

Chip's career profile is staggering; in 1986 he was Staff Designer/ Fabricator for the Asha Corporation, eventually becoming director of design in 1989. Chip was responsible for conceptualizing new proprietary ideas and fabrication of prototypes for the OEM's.

Other work has included: Stehrenberger Design as an automotive designer, creating colored illustrations and conceptual models, Baker Sportronics, as chief designer and fabricator of both models and prototypes of electric vehicles to be used in the NFL and NBL, and of course, going to work with his father and Project Design, designing and building street rods, customs, studio vehicles and show cars for films such as Blade Runner, Robo Cop, and Gone in 60 Seconds, which featured "Elinor".

November 1990 brought about the beginning of a relationship with Boyd Coddington and Hot Rods by Boyd, becoming a full time position in 1993, which lead to Managing Director where Chip eventually became the President of Hot Rods by Boyd. Chip, who is widely acclaimed for his "Boyd Look" design and creative skills, was responsible for many internationally known vehicles such as: Roadster, Sportstar, Boydster I and II, and Boyd Air to name a few.

Chip's venture with Boyd however, ended in 1998. At this time Chip and his wife Lynne started their Huntington Beach, California based company Foose Design, an automotive and product design Development Company. His company specializes in illustration, graphics, ideation model making, surfacing and complete construction of automobiles and automotive related products. These products are available to private individuals, television, film and the automobile manufactures.

In November of 1997, Chip was inducted into the Hot Rod Hall of Fame at Peterson Publishing's 50th anniversary held at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada. This induction made history for Chip, being the youngest member ever inducted into the Hot Rod Hall of Fame at the age of 31.

In 1998, Chip was honored at the SMRA banquet and was the first recipient of the Good Guys Trendsetter Award, once again creating another historic moment in the Hot Rod industry.

In 1999, Chip won the prestigious AMBR (America's Most Beautiful Roadster) Award at the 50th Anniversary of the Grand National Roadster Show with Fred Warren's "Shock Wave". Similarly, in 2000 Chip won the AMBR again with Chuck Svatos' "0032". Overall, Chip has been involved with six different AMBR winners, including the 1995 winner the "Smoothster", the 1996 winner "Boydster", the 2001 winner "Impact" (designed by Chip and finished by Barry White), and the 2003 winner "Boydster II' (designed by Chip and finished by Bobby Alloway).

The new millennium also meant new endeavors for chip. In January of 2000 Chip signed a licensing agreement with MHT Luxury Alloys, allowing Chip to start the production of Foose Wheels.

The Millennium was proving to be quite prosperous. Chip won the coveted 2002 "Ridler" Award at the 50th Anniversary Show of the Detroit Autorama with Bob and Wes Rydell's 35 Chevy Master, otherwise known as the "Grand Master". The year of 2002 was very exciting for Chip as he was inducted into the Darryl Starbird Rod & Custom Car Museum Hall of Fame. The end of the year closed with a bang for Chip and his highly acclaimed staff at Foose Design when the Discovery Channel filmed a documentary, which aired repetitively on the TLC network in March of 2003. The documentary featured several of Chip's award winning vehicles, but the show's focus was to give the viewers a chance to witness Chip's visionary talents come to life with a re-design of the 2002 Thunderbird. The redesigned Thunderbird otherwise known as the "Speedbird" received another award for Chip, as it made its debut at the 2002 SEMA show in Las Vegas, where Chip was presented the "Best of Show" award from Ford Motor Company.

The year 2003 was equally exciting for Chip. He was honored once again with an induction into the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame. This year was filled with enthusiasm, especially when Chip received a second "Ridler" award at the Detroit Autorama, which featured Ron Whitesides 34' Mercury Stallion. 2003 came to its pinnacle when Chip embarked upon a new venture, designing clothing and accessories featuring many of his award winning cars.

Throughout the course of Chip's career he has been honored to receive the Good Guys Street Rod of the Year Award seven times, and his cars include: 1990 a 32 two door sedan, 1991 a 29 two door sedan and 40 delivery for Dick Mattiolli, 1995 a three window coupe for Bud Simes, 1997 a 39 Chevy Coupe built by Troy Trepanior of "Rad Ride by Troy" named the "Predator", 1999 a 54 belvedere also built by troy at "Rad Ride by Troy" named the "Sniper", and last but not least, in 2001 Chip received the Good Guys Street Rod of the Year Award featuring the "Grand Master".

Chip and his wife Lynne reside in Southern California with their two children.

Please watch Chip's television series "Overhaulin", which currently airs on the TLC network.

 

    For more information please read:

www.chipfoose.com

 



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