We’re looking for reader projects under construction, and we’ll print every car you send us!

Right now, you’re probably “digging” snow, while your unfinished project sits happy as a clam in your garage. I want to give you some added motivation this winter to get that ride in finished form by spring, so here’s the deal: I want you to snap some digital pictures of your unfinished project, and send them to me. You’ll probably have to stand outside and shoot into your garage to make your car fit totally in the picture, but that’s ok! I don’t care how far along it is, I want to see it, and I promise I’ll print everything. Engine on the stand, body on the rotisserie, fenders off, trans on the bench, interior stripped, body work in progress, “before” shots, rendering, send it all in—we’ll print everything!

So who qualifies, and who doesn’t? The answer is simple: if you’ve got a muscle car project that is not finished yet, or is being refurbished, or is being upgraded, you qualify. If you just bought a project and haven’t started, you qualify too, as long as you’ve got a specific plan. We like renderings too, so we can show readers what the end product will look like, but it’s not a requirement. Above everything else, we need good solid photography to print. Here are the guidelines:

-Get the whole car in the frame. Move stuff if you have to. It’s cool if you roll it outside.
-Turn on all the lights and use your flash. The more light, the better.
-No blurry shots! It helps to use a tripod or set the camera on something steady.
-Send key detail shots, like engine, interior, and special fabricated parts.
-If you’ve got a rendering, send it to us also (a digital copy only—we can’t return drawings).
-Include a detailed list of specs. The more detail, the better.
-Include your story! Who are you, and what’s making you build this? Why this style?
-Include a photo of you with your car (you’ll need someone to help you take this photo).
-Tell us how to contact you (daytime phone and email address). Do you have a website?
-Send lots of pictures! Put them on a CD, and include prints. Please, no emailed photos.

Send your photo CD, prints, specs, and cover letter to my editorial address: Source Interlink Media, attention: Johnny Hunkins—Reader Projects, 774 S. Placentia Ave., Placentia, CA 92870. In order to make the cutoff for the Reader Projects issue (August 2009), we need them no later than April 2nd. And remember, we will print EVERY car you send, as long as you follow the guidelines. And check this out: we’re picking one lucky unfinished project to photograph for our cover. We’ll even come to your house to shoot it!