Concept vs. Reality: Projekt Cars’ Custom Comics-Based Builds

If you’ve ever been to an automobile industry convention or a World’s Fair, or picked up almost any hot rod or car magazine, you’re at least peripherally aware of concept cars. These cars are often radical in design, from the headlights to the muffler tips. They can use non-traditional, exotic, and expensive materials. Some will test the practicality of new and exciting propulsion methods. They tend to have unique layouts and designs, and may sport gullwing doors, an odd number of wheels, and special abilities that would make Batman jealous. 

These concepts are generally not intended for production, but exist more to gauge practicality and consumer reception of each individual feature. Some of the more radical features get toned down for use in future designs, and some are scrapped altogether, but very few make it to the production line looking exactly like (or even close to) the original concept.

The same dynamic is in play, to a certain extent, with custom cars. Projekt Cars’ Business Development Director and self-proclaimed comics nerd Carlos Molina has been sending me photos and build details of several of their spectacular comics-based vehicles. You can find my articles on those vehicles at this link. 

In a recent call, Carlos and I spoke about the differences between the original concepts for these builds and the final product. Some of the cars are nearly identical to their digital renderings. Some have slight tweaks, like solid panel doors vs. tube doors or moving a comics logo 10” from behind a tire to above and slightly behind the tire. 

These changes can be for many reasons, including aesthetics, practicality, cost, time constraints, performance, availability of components, and personal preference. Sometimes the changes are more obvious than others. There are a few where it feels like playing Where’s Waldo? or Spot the Difference. 

Without further ado, check out the images below comparing Projekt Car concepts to their actual builds. Most of these renderings are by Projekt Cars’ Thomas Comer, who is now their go-to guy for their SEMA builds.