Ron Berry’s Animated Automotive Artistry

Get ready for a joyride into the wacky world of Ron Berry – where cars aren’t just cars, they’re living, breathing, rolling cartoons. Picture yourself cruising down to St. George, Utah, only to stumble upon the most outrageous, smile-inducing rides you’ve ever seen. This is where Ron’s imagination has turned classic car designs into something straight out of a Saturday morning cartoon.

The Maestro of Whimsical Wheels

Ron Berry isn’t your average car guy. He’s a seasoned craftsman with over 50 years of experience, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he’s stuck in the past. His workshop is a Willy Wonka-style wonderland for car enthusiasts, where every vehicle looks like it’s been plucked from an animator’s sketchpad and brought to life with a twist of metal and a sprinkle of madness.

The Shore Break Woody

A few years back, Ron dropped jaws with his creation, the “Shore Break Woody.” Imagine a classic wood-paneled surf wagon, then throw the rulebook out the window and crank up the cartoon factor. It’s a car that looks like it could surf the waves itself! With its exaggerated curves and playful proportions, the Shore Break Woody was an instant hit, making waves (pun intended) at every car show it rolled into.

The 24-Window VW Bus

Just when you thought he couldn’t top that, Ron went and built a reimagined 23-window VW bus… adding a bonus window for good measure. That’s right, it’s a 24-window bus now! This isn’t your average retro van. It’s got a split back window and a vibrant color scheme that’s impossible to ignore. Think of it as a love letter to the iconic VW bus, but with a wink and a nod to the cartoons that inspired it.

Inspiration and Imagination

Ron’s designs aren’t just about making wacky shapes. They’re inspired by the classic cartoonists he grew up admiring, combined with his own artistic flair. Each vehicle is like a rolling piece of art, designed to make you smile and maybe even do a double-take. You just can’t help but wonder how these things even exist outside of a drawing!

What makes Ron’s work even more impressive is his old-school approach. Ron isn’t using high-tech gizmos to build these masterpieces. Nope, he’s all about the basics: mallets, sandbags, and a whole lot of skill. The bodies are handcrafted from metal, not fiberglass, giving these cartoon cars a solid feel. But it’s not just about making them look good – these babies are fully functional too!

One of Ron’s favorite tricks? Turning ordinary objects into car parts. For instance, the headlights on his VW bus? They’re made from stainless steel bowls he found at Walmart. Seriously!And how about the mounts for the bulbs? He repurposed juju cups to make them fit perfectly. Talk about thinking outside the box!

The fun doesn’t stop at the exterior. Step inside one of Ron’s creations, and you’re in for a treat. From “road couches” to custom dashboards with quirky gauges, every detail is crafted to keep the theme going. It’s like stepping into an animated world where even the interiors are in on the joke.

Driving a Cartoon Dream

What’s it like to drive one of these beauties? Imagine steering a piece of animated history down the road. Heads turn, smiles spread, and you can’t help but feel like you’re part of something truly unique.

So, the next time you’re dreaming of a custom car, why not go all out? Take a page from Ron Berry’s book, and remember: sometimes, the best cars aren’t just built – they’re imagined first, then brought to life in a way that makes everyone around them wonder, “Am I seeing things, or did that car just step out of a cartoon?”