Shlomo Fattal is a CARFREK. At least that's what his license plate says. As a kid he participated in newspaper trivia contests that challenged participants to identify a car from only a photo of a specific detail. He could glimpse a picture of a car zoomed in so close it revealed only the molecules of the exterior metal and he could still blurt out the make, model, and marital status of the driver. OK, that's an exaggeration, but only a slight one. He won around 13 of these contests before he was 18 years old. Yeah, he's a FREK.
Shlomo put his love of autos to work five years ago, blending his passion for cars with his 16 years of graphic design experience that he refined during his studies at an art school in Tel Aviv, Israel, and at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Now he is the co-founder of The Sketch Farm, an independent design studio that caters to the automotive industry and provides multiple design services under one roof.
This Ranger belongs to Leer, one of Shlomo's clients. Shlomo designed Leer's award-winning hybrid on display at last year's SEMA show. Called Zero Gravity, this Ranger is the ultimate ride, repair, then ride-some-more cruiser for the high-bouncing BMX rider. A tonneau cover mounts two bikes on top of it. Under that lid is a pull-out storage compartment for tools, replacement parts, first aid, Red Bull...whatever a BMXer needs to fly. Suicide doors seal in custom tunes, while a spoiler adds a finishing flourish to Shlomo's zero-g insanity.
Enthusiasts haven't gotten their hands on Chevy's HHR yet, but that hasn't stopped Shlomo from fiddling with Chevy's fresh-off-the-griddle design. His version is lowered for a sportier stance. The color scheme and graphics emphasize the vehicle's horizontal lines and create tension between the two oversized wheels. Large air intakes complement the headlamps and give the HHR an aggressive attitude. The two-tone paintjob flows unimpaired by the shaved door handles and, with the custom body kit, rounds out the fenders and hugs the rims. Blacked-out B and C pillars create the illusion of one streamlined window. Inside, passengers can lounge in custom recliners and enjoy movies and music, or they can step outside and admire an HHR that Hollywood has yet to dream up.
To learn more about Shlomo Fattal, check out: The Sketch Farm, P.O. Box 642544, Los Angeles, CA 90064, 310-444-FARM, www.sketchfarm.com.