By Craig Fitzgerald
Yeah, you can probably grab a copy of the SkyMall Catalog, drop a grand and have yourself a nifty 1957 Chevy couch by the end of the week, but where’s the fun in that? We like DIY stuff that costs just as much, takes six times as long and skins a few knuckles along the way. Here are 10 projects that people with nothing more than an angle grinder and a dream took on:
Citroen DS Couch
They say driving a Citroen DS is like piloting a feather bed, but a couch might not be such a bad descriptor, either. Using the front fender of a Citroen DS, this crafty car fan built a comfy sofa that even features working lights.
Citroen DS Seats
Citroen has obviously inspired more than one furniture builder. The front seat out of a DS is a perfect lounger when paired up with a set swoopy cast aluminum legs. The springs at the back even allow for a little rocking action.
NSU Wall Hanging
This is my pal Max Hall. This isn’t exactly furniture, obviously. It’s more like wall-art. The scooter is the front half of a 1950s NSU Prima.
Jeep YJ Table
Max did come up with some great automotive furniture, though. He was working on a Jeep project and ended up with a spare fender, which he turned into a cool table, thanks to some square tubing, a glass top and a little time.
Mercedes-Benz Table
The cool guys over at Ran When Parked actually put a tutorial together on how to build a nifty table out of a reclaimed decklid. They chose a Mercedes-Benz 220D, but you could build one out of just about anything. A Buick Electra 225 could be the source of your next dining table.
Jeep Chair
We’re digging this Jeep grille. Not sure who put it together, but there’s something interesting here: Most seven-slot Jeep grilles would be too wide for a chair. This one is a five-slot grille from a DJ — a unique, two-wheel drive Jeep derived from the CJ, but featuring the 153-cu.in. four-cylinder from the 1971 Chevy Nova. The DJ Jeeps were primarily used as postal vehicles. The lack of turn signals in the grille is a tipoff.
BMW Fridge-Couch
Designer Adrian Johnson, who now practices his craft in New Bedford, Massachusetts, came up with the idea of using the rear seats of several vintage BMW models, matched with the body and part of the door of a vintage refrigerator for a super-cool couch. He even uses the emblems from the BMW on the rear of the couch.
BMW Office
This BMW 2002 became a whole office ensemble. The back half and rear seat became a loveseat, the grille is a wall-hanging, the camshaft and steering wheel work as one table, the crank and pistons as another, and the engine becomes the basis for a coffee table. A perfect project for when your shock towers completely rust through.
Chevy Pickup Tailgate Bench
Chevy pickup tailgates from the 1950s and 1960s are the perfect material for some reclaimed furniture projects. This tailgate bench comes from an early 1960s stepside, put together by Yesterday Reclaimed.
Engine Block Coffee Table
An engine block — especially from something aluminum — can be a visually striking coffee table. This example is a V-8, but you could choose just about anything. A camshaft welded to a four-way lug wrench and the remaining pistons from your coffee table project becomes a great lamp.
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