From the Ground Up: The building of the JL FULL THROTTLE Hemisfear designed by Chip Foose!

While the 1:1 JL Full Throttle Hemisfear comes together, our team is working with Foose AND Metalcrafters in creating the JL Full Throttle Collector Diecast of this AWESOME ride! We're posting the progress we've filmed on location at super-secret Metalcrafters in Fountain Valley, CA.

There, Foose's sketches are being turned into 3D computer files from the wheels up to create just about every part - other than the engine and transaxle - for the various partners to manufacture. It's an amazing build and the JLFT is in the thick of it to bring you the JLFT Hemisfear in both Small and Large collector scales. Look for them at your nearest retailer in Noivember, 2006!

JLFT Hemisfear Suspension Notes....

7/13/6

John Hotchkis, owner of Hotchkis Performance, and his two engineers are creating the Hemisfear’s high-performance suspension. The front and rear suspension is based on an A-ARM design (commonly referred to as a “double wishbone) as specified by Foose. Aero tubing or “slipstream” tubing which has an aerodynamic oval shape is used for the control arms.

According to John Hotchkis “This is a race car suspension built for the street. It’s engineered from the ground up by our team to harness the enormous amount of horsepower, yet provide exceptional handling qualities”. Another handling challenge for Hotchkis is Hemisfear’s lightweight carbon fiber body and mid-engine design, plus Foose’s styling hallmark to hide all brake lines. Sleek styling is a key component of the Hemisfear and the front suspension utilizes in-board shock design, to hide the shocks inside the body, while conventional outboard shock placement is utilized in the rear. John is set to have the prototypes manufactured by next week for Chip’s approval.

Few performance suspension firms can actually engineer and manufacture suspension components to this degree. It’s what sets Hotchis Performance apart from all the rest. Interestingly, John Hotchkis is also a graduate of Art Center College of Design, located in Pasadena, CA, which is where Chip Foose graduated with a degree in transportation design.

- JLFT Team

Foose Partners Join the JLFT Hemisfear Build

7/6/06

Baer Brake is custom making the calipers. The calipers are monster-sized 6 piston design. They'll be able to stop a freight train on a dime.

Pirelli is contributing the tires: Front: 245-40 X 18, Rear: 335- 30 X 20. Based on super-high performance Pirelli ZERO Rosso tire. The tires will likely feature a custom design tread pattern.

MHT is creating the wheels, possibly in 5 different styles.

Exhaust: Al Noes at Stainless Works in Chagrin Falls OH will be creating the stainless steel exhaust system.

-JLFT Team

JLFT Hemisfear gets a BAD A*S HEMI

6/21/06

The engine is getting an upgrade to Dodge’s new 6.1 liter Hemi. Horsepower is being pushed with a Hilborne injection system. Chip is looking at this setup to deliver 600+ horsepower with over 550 ft. lb. of torque (efficency measurement of applied power). This nearly doubles the torque of today's average "production" V-8.

Hang on tight!

Stamped Steel Takes a Back Seat

6/14/06

Did I mention that the body on this bad boy is carbon fiber? Isn’t Chip a metal guy? Yes he is, but his decision to build the body using carbon fiber came about after meeting with MetalCrafters custom car builders in Fountain Valley, Caif. More on MetalCrafters later. It became clear late last year that MetalCrafters was extremely interested in building the JLFT Hemisfear. They are masters at creating carbon fiber bodies and have created concept cars for the big three, Ferrari and race cars for John Force among others.

Working with carbon fiber is tricky and expensive, but the time to completion and resulting body lightness are well worth it when high performance is on the table. Chip decided to go with carbon fiber for this build and most likely, future custom builds. The JLFT Hemisfear body has now been molded out of foam and coated to enable easy viewing of how the shape reflects light. Chip made slight curve changes to heighten the way the light plays off the surface. Stone sculptors do a similar process so they can see imperfections and how light reflects off of thier large work of art in progress. Unpolished stone sculptures look dull and lifeless. When stone is sprayed with water, these chalky surfaces "gloss up" and come to life, revealing the true form and shape. Any imperfections can be corrected before going to the final sanding and polishing. Same for the JLFT Hemisfear body.

- JLFT Team

RC2 is the MAIN SPONSOR of the JLFT Hemisfear Build

6/7/06

We had heard that Chip had always wanted to build the Hemisfear. After speaking to Chip about the car and how it blended classic hot rod styling with today's performance technology, our parent company, RC2, sponsored the JLFT Hemisfear build to make Chip Foose's dream car a reality. The Full Throttle team and Chip will hold a World Premier of both the real car and the Full Throttle diecast JLFT Hemisfear replicas in both small and large collector scales at the 2006 SEMA in Las Vegas. Stay tuned for more info on this.

I can’t wait to drive the car. At 500+ hp and a vehicle weight of 2400 lbs, this is going to be one fast ride. Frame rails are complete, tubing is being worked for correct engine position. This mid-engine rod will utilize a modified BMW transaxle, due to the transaxel size and fit with the Hemisfear's dimensions and fit with the Dodge Hemi engine.

- JLFT Team

Building the JL Full Throttle Hemisfear

6/1/06

I want to bring you up to speed on the progress being made on the JL FULL THROTTLE Hemisfear being designed by Chip Foose. Our Huntington Beach FT design team is replicating this awesome, high-performance roadster in both JL Full Throttle Large and Small Scales.

The building of this incredible ride has been a fascinating process. The design has been on Chip’s drawing board as part of his senior thesis design while he was attending Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. This is his dream car that was never made. Until now.

I'll continue to update you all the way through the final stages of the build. Also look for video of the build as it progresses on our JLFullThrottle.com website as well as still shots.

It's going to be an awesome ride!

- JL Full Throttle Team
SoCal