Where are the Gremlins (part 3)?
Thought that I would draw something different this time. This is a Shelby 427 Cobra. I think that I have seen maybe two real Cobras in real life. …from a distance. They are very rare and very, very expensive. I put a little more effort in this one that I usually do with the props and backgrounds that show up in Pesky Gremlins. The ’55 Thunderbird is very near completion. However, I didn’t take any pictures due to the grimy nature of the work that I have been doing over the last week or so. Brake work and other tasks taking place UNDER the car do not lend themselves to good photography. Also, I don’t want to touch a camera while covered in grease and brake dust. Finally, my wife wanted a copy of last weeks Thunderbird to hang in her office. At first, I was just going to print a copy and give that to her. But I thought it might look a little better on canvas. Here is how it turned out: 
…frame to be added. Hope she likes it. If all goes well with the car work, the gremlins could be back next week. That is, of course, assuming that the do not “help” me.
18 thoughts on “Where are the Gremlins (part 3)?”
Jerry Keslensky
When I was a teen we used to watch the Cobras eat Corvettes for breakfast at SCCA sanctioned races. The stuff that legends are made of 🙂
H Stacy
I would REALLY liked to have seen those races in person. I’ve never seen a real Cobra on the road or track.
Binky
That is a beautiful rendition of a Cobra! Wow.
I’ve been privileged to see a few real cobras at some car shows, and even an original AC Ace once, upon which the Cobra was based. There are plenty of kit-car ones around, though.
Did you have your drawing printed on canvas, or is that an original painting?
H Stacy
Thanks Peter! That Cobra was as close as I have ever come to actual art. 🙂 I have several more of those kind of illustrations that I have not shown to anyone. Perhaps, I will post a few more…
The only real Shelby Cobras that I have seen were at a Ford car show where I live. They were roped off and guarded so I couldn’t even get very close. I have seen lots and lots of kit-car Cobras but many of them don’t seem to resemble the real thing very well.
The Thunderbird on canvas was a quick and dirty job. It was a print that was Mod Podged to a small canvas. The texture on top was done with another layer of Mod Podge that was impressed with canvas. Total cost = about $12.
Binky
I think you could easily sell your car art. It’s a lot better than most of the stuff out there.
I didn’t know you could use Mod Podge to do that. That’s something I need to try.
H Stacy
You really think that you could sell this? ‘Cuz I could use a buck to upgrade this old computer!
The Mod Podge really does work but it took me a couple of tries to get it right. When I didn’t like the results, I just pealed it off with an Xacto knife and tried again. Also, I think the I can do MUCH better (and bigger if needed) the next time. 🙂
Binky
Yes, I really think you could sell your art. The Vette and Jag pictures you did before were very good as well, but I think the Cobra is even better. I’ve never had any experience with those online places that sell your art (other than Cafepress), but some of them do seem to work for some artists.
H Stacy
I tied selling something on Redbubble and on another website some time ago. The results were REALLY disappointing. 🙁
However, if you really like the Cobra, I would be happy to send you one (on canvas). 🙂
Binky
Really? Wow, that would be wonderful!
RG2Cents
Great pics, H! I’ve never seen a real cobra. The only ones I have seen were in the movies; “Spinout” and “The Gumball Rally”. That’s a pretty rare car, but one of my favorites.
H Stacy
Thanks RG! Come to think of it, “The Gumball Rally” was the first time I ever saw a Cobra, too. I even saw “The Gumball Rally” at a theater when it first came out (way back when).
RG2Cents
I saw “The Gumball Rally” in the theater when it first came out myself! I was driving my MG Midget back then. I’m not sure if that was the first time I opened her up, but I found out she really was topped between 90 and 100 mph. Not bad for a little four cylinder but no where near the cobra’s 190 mph. Gadzooks! That’s hard for me to imagine!
H Stacy
In a little MG Midget, 100 mph would probably feel just like 190 mph!
Binky
I can’t believe anyone remembers Gumball Rally! That was a great car movie!
H Stacy
Of course we remember “Gumball Rally”! I even have a copy on DVD. 🙂
Binky
That’s amazing. It was a pretty obscure movie, but it was a lot of fun. I even remember the Car and Driver articles that inspired (or covered) the real version of the race, which they ran at least a few times in the 70’s.
H Stacy
I believe that, Brock Yates, a writer a Car and Driver was inspired to introduce the Cannnonball run as a result of the 55 mph speed limit that was introduced during the ’70 fuel crisis.
Binky
Yes, Brock Yates! I had forgotten about that. I know they ran the race a few times, back in the days things were simple and radar detectors weren’t illegal.