I get that this may be a personal question, but why haven’t you become an Autopian Member yet? I mean, if you have, fantastic, we really appreciate it, but if not, I have to ask why? Is it a medical thing? Is there some sort of rash? Maybe on your genitalia? [Ed Note: It’s OK if you’re not a member. JT is just playing. -DT]. Is that why you haven’t taken advantage of all the perks and exclusive content and merch and other mind-scrambling excitement that comes with being an Autopian Member? Because of some kind of rash on your junk? Well, I bet there’s a cream or something like that you can use – there’s really no need for that to stop you, but, regardless if that’s what’s preventing you from becoming an Autopian Member or not, I really do think you should have that looked at. We were just talking about it in our Slack channel – the contents of which we occasionally share with Autopian members, by the way – and we’re all a bit concerned. But, on the bright side, let me tell you about another perk of membership – a custom car drawing on your birthday! From me!
Well, this is actually a perk we have for Velour members and up – I can’t do these for just everybody, now, can I? I mean, I barely keep up with doing these! But, that’s good! That’s how we’re going to make this place work and thrive, by keeping me busy and all of you as happy as possible.
Members get to pick a particular car for me to draw, and, incredibly, we’ve had shockingly few repeats. I’m continually amazed by that, to be honest. Here’s a sampling of some of the cars, so you can see what you get:
I like to have them all generally facing the same way because I was thinking if I ever put them all together in a big image – like I have above there – it might look cooler. Though one member did ask for a BMW 2002 taillight, and I couldn’t say no to that, because come on. And that one dude asked for an amphibious Corvette. I’ll do my best to draw whatever car I can find some sort of photo or other visual reference for. I could make up a car completely, too, I suppose, if you wanted? Just, you know, have pity on me and my limited skills.
Anyway, I like drawing these. It’s a way to interact directly with our members that gives me a chance to show my gratitude, which is significant, and I can listen to podcasts or old episodes of Firefly or something while I’m doing these.
So, become a Velour member and let me draw one of these for you! Matt loves to remind me how many I still have to do around the 20th of the month, too! I think he gets some weird thrill from it. [Ed note: it’s true, sending people their birthday emails is one of my favorite things!]
…could someone (in theory) request a drawing of the junk rash cream (hypothetically)?
No Youabian Puma? Pass.
I am very excited to get mine next month!!
I love mine! The lettering is pretty cool too. Adds a lot of energy.
-Wordguy, aka E-Type Alan
Time to add the official Autopian Not-A-Member Member Rash cream to the future merch list! I would probably buy some… for a friend? Definitely for a friend.
These drawings are awesome and they certainly make me lust for a membership tier upgrade. Christmas is coming after all!
I can’t wait for mine (’74 Pontiac LeMans).
These drawings are great. I put mine in a frame and set it on a shelf surrounded by Lego car models.
’63 Avanti guy wins. Round headlights in those are perfection.
Mine was amazing! I still need to get it printed (better than my printer) so I can get it framed and hung up in my garage
There’s a loop of doom whenever I try and join – it directs me to sign in and then points back to the main page… what do
Try disabling your popup blocker!
Why? I want to say it’s about the money… But then I’ll go out and spend like $45 on a burger and fries from Five Guys. So I need to get my priorities straight. If you can get Murilee Martin to join this site (even as a guest writer) you can have my money, my kidneys, my firstborn, all of it.
https://www.theautopian.com/alternate-history-hot-rod-dilemma-stellantis-edition-humber-snipe-or-opel-kapitan/
I can’t wait for mine!! These look great!
Also, Product review time!
I bought the black with Autopoian logo hoodie from the store after talking smack and being called out by Matt H about the improved materials since launch.
Material- Nice and soft, not the richest, softest cotton blend I’ve ever had, but certainly nice and comfortable. I would rate it a “mid weight” on the border of lighter weight. Good for weather in the 50’s-70’s.
Fit- Nice fit, nothing too crazy about it. I got an XL and I am 6 feet and have wide shoulders.
Style- It’s the logo on black, I think it does the trick for any casual wear, not meant for black tie dinners of course.
Cons- I have had to snip two different threads that have separated without any real wear on my part, besides around the house and to the gas station once.
The logo on the inside…you can feel it clearly, which may be the style of print they used, but it was noticeable and when the hoodie came, the hoodie had to be opened up like a garbage bag because it was all stuck together. Neither are deal breakers, or big concerns to me, still happy with it and will rock with pride.
overall hoodie rating- 8/10
Those look amazing!
This is hugely tempting. If I join can I pick the episode of Firefly you listen to while drawing it?
Oooh, which car to choose…
Too bad there aren’t more episodes of Firefly to choose from. I still can’t believe that show was cancelled after 1 season.
> mind-scrambling excitement that comes with being an Autopian Member? Because of some kind of rash on your junk?
The rash on the junk *is* what’s known as “Autopian member.”
Some people think drawing is an inherent skill. Like you’re born with the ability or you aren’t. That’s not true.
It just takes practice. Anyone can do it.
All you gotta do is start. With time, so long as you continue to hone the skill, you’ll only get better and better at it.
That’s why I’m gonna wait a few years before I upgrade my membership and ask for a Torchinsky original for my birthday.
That P1800 has to be perfect.
Practice away my man, till the words membership and arthritis are indistinguishable from each other. Until the wrinkles in your brain grow saggy and droop like your old man spine over your drawings.
Then you will be ready… to draw another car.
No seriously. These are fuckin awesome. Drawing is one of those skills all kids enjoy and most adults kick themselves for not preserving.
Keep it up man. It’s inspiring.
(Opens old box Prismacolors)
*of
HA! your polished torch work with be worth nothing compared to the OG flames torch will create, your grandchildren will weep at the auction.
This is freaking amazing Torch!! One of the coolest things i’ve seen in ages.
And yes it’s interesting there aren’t many double ups.
You know i should tell you why i’ve decided not to become a member,because you deserve to know.Basically i’m trying not to spend too much time on this site,and being a member would motivate me to ‘get my moneys worth’.
Now i have ADHD so i have no idea if that sounds like a reason or a made up excuse but it makes sense to my mind.
But also yes,i am a cheap bastard too
Torch’s drawings are glorious! I love my R53 drawing!!!
Sounds good! What’s with the drawing that says “Happy Birthday, There’s A Time To Comment”?
the name they gave I am guessing to have put on it.
I love seeing the drawings! Maybe do a monthly birthdays post at the end of the month, revealing the drawings and birthdays for that month. You did not disappoint, and I got a 3 wiper MGB pulling an Airstream! Do we get to pick a new car when we renew?
+1 cool idea.
He did not disappoint:
https://i.imgur.com/LHLIJwn.jpg
Eventually, I will have that LeMans bonnet on my GT6 with the rain gutters professionally shaved. I really want that aero slipperiness. The ADU1B could reach 137 mph on the Mulsanne Straight with only 111 brake horsepower. And it was far from a streamliner, having a Cd value of 0.32. But its low frontal area of about 1.4 m^2 helped it a lot, as did weighing around 1700 lbs.
Awesome: now I can visualize it when you talk about it.
I wish I had the time and workspace, because I’d build an elongated streamliner version with a sub-0.20 Cd value.
If I merely match the ADU1B in aerodynamic slipperiness, I’m looking at about 120 Wh/mile to hold 70 mph on flat ground on a smooth, paved road as an EV. Sub 100 Wh/mile, which would be comparable to an Aptera, is theoretically possible with yet more slipperiness. With a 35-ish kWh pack of Model 3 battery modules and a Tesla Model 3 drive system with a transmission delete, I’d have in excess of a 300 mile range on the highway, and it would weigh 250+ lbs LESS than stock as an ICE car.
As it is today with 490 lbs of CALB CA100FI, a Prestolite MTC4001, and Soliton 1 controller, it’s making only 120 horsepower if my math is right. It’s already scary to drive and somewhat uncontrollable with the accelerator to the floor with just this meagre amount of power. I did retain the manual transmission, out of necessity given the motor used, but a modern drive system would allow a delete, and I could easily end up with 2-3x the horsepower.
Would be a very hoonable thing.
I just got mine-Volvo 1800es-in Rootbeer as requested, and it’s even better than I expected. I particularly like how Jason put just the right amount of detail in the wheels: not too fussy, but enough that my mind fills the rest in.
Now I’m wondering if my nephew still has access to that fancy large printer…
You’re welcome to share mine, too!
Share mine too if you please, 70 LTD, I believe. Gave me a little thrill to see it. Worth every penny. The drawing, I mean. WTF happened to my pseudonym, anyway?
Honestly it’s been one of my favorite perks of being a Velour member. I love love love my drawing.
Holly — 76/77 Celica GT Liftback.
Here, I’ll share it with everyone, if that’s ok by you! https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/hollycar.png
Very nice! Loved them back then—and it’s only grown with time
Thanks, it’s super interesting seeing one full size. It totally didnt occur to me you’d use computer based drawing.I guess that really shows my age!
A thought: I’m sure many here would like to see you drawing.Could you make a video in real time,or perhaps just show the highlights?
It would make a good members-only thing
Hmmm…
theoretically, I’d like to see the process….however, I’m not 100% positive I’m ready for what that process might actually be.
You know what I’m sayin
These are awesome! Your art has always been a highlight for me since back in the Jalop days. I’m a lowly peasant Vinyl member but I gotta say, the bday art was the main feature tempting me up to the extensive comfort of Velour. As my bday approaches on thursday, I’ll be filled with a poignant sense of longing and spend another sleepless night debating whether Vinyl was truly the right choice.
Thanks again for all you guys do here at Autopian– I’m hoping the site is doing as well as it seems to be, and all the improvements have been awesome.
Birthday twin! Maybe I’ll share my birthday Figaro drawing with you.
Well I didn’t get one for MY birthday. Bloody members get it better than the staff around here!
Perhaps the ambulance drawing is in the transatlantic mail?
The mocking from management will continue until the writing improves.
No pasties, just pastels.
We’re all saving up to get you a portrait of Andrew Eldritch in a Holden Commodore SSV.
If you have a bloody member, see a urologist asap
I was hoping he’d made one for you so I could co-opt it and white-out the roof.
Judging just from the comments, apparently the only cars owned by multiple Autopians are Volvos and Ferraris!