Founder's TravelogueIt happens - and usually not by accident. Whether you collect, drive, or even just admire classic cars your interest can likely be traced back to someone or something specific. Maybe it was an older brother, a friend, neighbor - or even a television show featuring a George Barris custom like the Batmobile or Munster Koach. Heck, one of my clients traces his lust for T-Buckets back to Kookie’s rod from the television series, 77 Sunset Strip.
Me? It was that sweet spot in auto history in the late 60’s, so as a kid of just six I didn’t really stand a chance. American muscle was in full swing, and Detroit had already been churning out a steady stream of classic cruisers for nearly 15 years. I vividly remember a Sequoia Green '68 Camaro that sat outside the Old Bay House in Jersey City where I spent part of my youth. Summers in the City. Then there were Saturday mornings where you’d find me scampering to the living room window every 5 minutes, anxiously awaiting a visit with my father. Rain or shine that visit always included a cheeseburger at McDonald’s and a Hot Wheels car from the corner store on Ocean Avenue. I must have had every car twice over. From time to time, my father still asks me where they all went. Hummm… My interest in cars already firmly established, things only got worse (or better) when my mom remarried and my new stepdad came complete with a silver, split-window 1963 Stingray. When you grow up riding between the rear tubs of a ‘63 'Vette, you become accustomed to a few things. Bumps on my head, occasional rug burns that accompany the winding road, and a nose full of high octane at the filling station are just a few of my childhood recollections. Looking back I could hardly appreciate how visits with my father, Hot Wheels, and rides to the country in the Stingray would flavor my perception of the world around me. Forever. The Beatles were often there along with us, as were the Beach Boys, and others who together provided the best soundtrack any kid could possibly ask for. War abroad, unrest stateside, and political turmoil would eventually stand in stark contrast to the good vibrations of my early childhood, but through it all, even now in adulthood, I've never lost the love or thrill for the ride those early experiences came to represent. Surely, many of you reading this have similar stories and fond memories of your own. Cars, like music or perfume, can take you back in a very strong and visceral way. Some of us are still fortunate to step into our own classic "time machines". They continue to inspire us, as well as others who honk along the highway flashing us hearty grins and big thumbs up. So when I got to thinking about my next great adventure, I began to give some thought as to how I could Serve & Preserve the Classic Car Culture for both its enthusiasts and admirers. My daughter, who at 5 years old began discovering her own motoring thrills, has also been a tireless advocate of returning my vintage '64 Thunderbird to the road. It's no muscle car by any means, but I'm betting she's going to love the growl of that 390 and the wind making mischief with her hair! Out of this desire, and our mutual affection for older iron, the mold was cast for Clutch Custom FX. Simply put, Clutch supports our Classic Car Culture with professional grade, one-off products that put the thrill of your Ride front and center in your life. You don't have to wait for a car show, date night, or even a midnight run to the grocery for milk to enjoy your Ride & Joy. Now you can feel the thrill standing, or even sitting still. At Clutch, we use every tool at hand along with what we've learned in over 30 years in the advertising and marketing industry to make custom products you've never seen - or even dreamed of. And it all revolves around Your Ride. We shift custom into the next gear, and also create the traditional items you need as good (if not better) than any other's found elsewhere. It's just the start, but we've got a full tank of gas and some great tunes cued up in the 8 Track. If you're visiting today as a client, we appreciate you coming along for the ride. If you're a first time visitor, well hop right in! There's a long, winding, and undoubtedly interesting road ahead. Now, if you're ready... let's roll! |
The Starting Line
Your Clutch Classic Photo Session Here at Clutch, we've been busy dreaming up some of the most exciting and innovative products ever offered to you, the Classic Car enthusiast. To create the best products possible, we start with a comprehensive professional photo session of your vehicle. This can be done at the show, on location, or in the studio. Here, your Ride is captured from multiple angles in high definition, 24 mega pixel images including engine details, badges, interior, and architectural features specific to your particular make, model, and year. Once your images have been downloaded, edited, and archived in your Master folder, a feature or "Hero" image of your vehicle is selected and work begins in earnest. Be prepared to fall in love with your Ride all over again! Our professionals know how to capture your vehicle in it's best light before the images are turned over to the Chop Shop. Once completed, our 5 step production process yields an impressive 20" X 16", high-definition, archival print guaranteed to stop traffic in both directions. Prices starting at $139.00 |
The Chop Shop
Once your initial photo session is wrapped and a Hero image selected, the second step in the process is to construct an opaque mask that precisely follows the exact contours of the vehicle. From here, the artist can cleanly isolate your vehicle from distracting background elements. |
High Resolution Screening
Expertly isolated from the background, your vehicle is now ready to be fine-tuned. Enlarged more than 300% and placed under our 800+ point screening system, the image is then meticulously scrutinized quadrant by quadrant for minor vehicle blemishes, imperfections, and digital anomolies. |
Nip, Lift, & Tuck
To enhance a 3-Dimensional appearance, drop shadows are worked into the final rendering along with other small flourishes. Specular highlights, embellished reflections, and dodging & burning techniques bring an added dimension to your vehicle’s presentation. |
The Last Mile
The final image is now completed with the addition of a charcoal gray background and optional Specification Graphics. The dark, neutral background in this final rendering shifts the viewer's emphasis entirely onto the vehicle, resulting in an optical boost of contrast that brings your vehicle alive in it’s full vibrant color. |
The Clutch Classic Portrait (Nocturne)
* FRAMING OPTIONS BILLED SEPARATELY
Upon completion, a 20”X16” camera-ready file is produced for output on high definition, archival photo paper with archival inks. It is then inspected for overall quality, signed by the photographer, and authenticated with the Clutch CFX watermark. Securely packaged, it is shipped first class via USPS or your carrier of choice along with your complimentary *CVR. Before you know it, your new product arrives at your doorstep ready to be displayed and enjoyed.
The Nocturne PLUS Session
We have high expectations of ourselves, and everything that we do at Clutch Custom FX. As such, a great deal of time, preparation, and care is required to process each and every image employed in our product offerings. To create the desired value while preserving quality, our portrait pricing provides for the preparation of a single Hero image for portrait presentation. However, when an additional product or service requires additional imagery, those archived photos from your original session need to be prepared - with a Production fee attached to each. Want a show board, custom poster, sell sheet, or just a variety of photos of your Ride? The Nocturne PLUS Session includes everything from the base session, PLUS up to 5 more images of your Ride, expertly prepared and ready to roll. No further photo or production fees – ever* Spend now, save later. This is an upfront investment that will save you big time.
Prices starting at $269.00
We have high expectations of ourselves, and everything that we do at Clutch Custom FX. As such, a great deal of time, preparation, and care is required to process each and every image employed in our product offerings. To create the desired value while preserving quality, our portrait pricing provides for the preparation of a single Hero image for portrait presentation. However, when an additional product or service requires additional imagery, those archived photos from your original session need to be prepared - with a Production fee attached to each. Want a show board, custom poster, sell sheet, or just a variety of photos of your Ride? The Nocturne PLUS Session includes everything from the base session, PLUS up to 5 more images of your Ride, expertly prepared and ready to roll. No further photo or production fees – ever* Spend now, save later. This is an upfront investment that will save you big time.
Prices starting at $269.00
Now, Let's Roll...
Passion has no boundaries and knows no limits. Your Ride is proof of that. So, with your vehicle professionally photographed and multiple images archived, we're now ready to engage the clutch and seriously start working the gear box. The question is, where do you want to go? And if that sounds a bit wide-open, well, it's meant to be. At Clutch, we're on a mission to Serve & Preserve Classic Car Culture one ride at a time. We are here to provide you with the products and services that will put your Ride front and center in your life. That's what we do, and it's all we do. Period. In fact, we've already cooked up some pretty cool ideas we'd like to share with you. And with our client's Rides as a constant source of inspiration, we can't wait to see what the future brings, and what you may also bring to the process.
GraphX Portrait Treatments
In addition to our classic Nocturne presentation, clients are afforded the opportunity to shift up to any one of our limited edition portrait themes. Each offering is a signature Clutch custom design with no two portraits alike. Ever. Guaranteed. Themes run from the sublime to abstract color theory and beyond, covering a range of ideas taken from American culture past and present. Ghost Town and Rockwell below, are just two such featured treatments. Look for new themes in your monthly product offerings.
In addition to our classic Nocturne presentation, clients are afforded the opportunity to shift up to any one of our limited edition portrait themes. Each offering is a signature Clutch custom design with no two portraits alike. Ever. Guaranteed. Themes run from the sublime to abstract color theory and beyond, covering a range of ideas taken from American culture past and present. Ghost Town and Rockwell below, are just two such featured treatments. Look for new themes in your monthly product offerings.
Nocturne GraphX Treatment You know every inch of your Ride like the back of your hand, but what about everyone else? After all, Beauty is more than skin deep. Do you have a rare feature or configuration that takes your vehicle above and beyond? How about your custom build? Opt for the GraphX Features Bar at no additional cost and show off your Ride inside and out! Included on request at no extra charge Ghost Town GraphX Treatment The Glory Days of Americana may be long gone, but they’re not lost forever. Like the Classic Hero Session, this package includes a comprehensive photo shoot and HD portrait of your Ride – with a twist! Thanks to the combined efforts of our research team and creative department, we can now take your Ride back in time and set it against any number of iconic backgrounds. Park your vehicle outside Joe and Aggie’s on Route 66, or at Battery Park with the Twin Towers in the background. Remember being somewhere as a kid? Perhaps there’s a location you always wanted to visit – maybe a location that no longer exists. No matter, let’s travel back in time and let the Good Times roll! Prices starting at $169.00 |
Rockwell GraphX Treatment Similar to the Ghost Town series, Rockwell harkens back to yesteryear - but in a much more intimate manner. These full color renderings are tailored specifically to your personal memories and recollections. Remember sitting on the curb in front of your neighborhood 5 & Dime watching the cars roll by? You could only dream about that ‘57 Thunderbird then, but now that you own it you can go back to where it all began. Come full circle with a Rockwell rendering of your Ride. Like the Nocturne and Ghost Town portraits, your Rockwell portrait is a 24”x16” HD photo, printed on canvas – with custom, hand-applied paint flourishes. Prices starting at $169.00 |
GraphX Custom Posters
This is truly where the Rubber Meets the Road. As a kid, did a poster of your dream car ever grace your bedroom wall or occupy a special place in your garage or workshop? Well chances are good you may actually own that car today - with a few custom embellishments. But what ever happened to that poster, or the photos you tore out of the hot rod magazines of your youth that inspired you at every glance? Long gone, we suspect, but not to worry. Our design team would like to once again stoke those flames of inspiration with something you nor anyone else has ever seen - a professional 1-Off, high definition poster of your Ride complete with custom graphics designed especially for your vehicle. Seriously. Let us put the get up and go into your GTO, or other classic vehicle. Our research team will compile a folder of era-specific reference art to assist in creating an authentic period style poster. Or, if you prefer, we can just push the pedal to the metal and design something totally unique that personally suits you and your Ride.
Prices starting at $239.00
This is truly where the Rubber Meets the Road. As a kid, did a poster of your dream car ever grace your bedroom wall or occupy a special place in your garage or workshop? Well chances are good you may actually own that car today - with a few custom embellishments. But what ever happened to that poster, or the photos you tore out of the hot rod magazines of your youth that inspired you at every glance? Long gone, we suspect, but not to worry. Our design team would like to once again stoke those flames of inspiration with something you nor anyone else has ever seen - a professional 1-Off, high definition poster of your Ride complete with custom graphics designed especially for your vehicle. Seriously. Let us put the get up and go into your GTO, or other classic vehicle. Our research team will compile a folder of era-specific reference art to assist in creating an authentic period style poster. Or, if you prefer, we can just push the pedal to the metal and design something totally unique that personally suits you and your Ride.
Prices starting at $239.00
1-Off SHO Boards
A staple for all Car Show participants, our 1-Off SHO Boards can be scaled to any size to fit existing displays, or even an entirely new presentation. Created specifically for your vehicle, each board features custom graphics designed to show case your Ride in it's best light possible. No templates here (or anywhere at Clutch) insures your board is guaranteed to be every bit as unique as your ride. Available on select substrates, our core presentation is UV coated on 5 mil. Sintra for maximum durability and fade resistance. These boards speak volumes on the passion and commitment you have for your vehicle, and are a great way to share your enthusiasm with potential judges and admirers alike.
Prices starting at $239.00
A staple for all Car Show participants, our 1-Off SHO Boards can be scaled to any size to fit existing displays, or even an entirely new presentation. Created specifically for your vehicle, each board features custom graphics designed to show case your Ride in it's best light possible. No templates here (or anywhere at Clutch) insures your board is guaranteed to be every bit as unique as your ride. Available on select substrates, our core presentation is UV coated on 5 mil. Sintra for maximum durability and fade resistance. These boards speak volumes on the passion and commitment you have for your vehicle, and are a great way to share your enthusiasm with potential judges and admirers alike.
Prices starting at $239.00
Personal Accessories & Accents...
Personal Stationery
What says more about you than your Ride? Every detail from year, make, and model, to engine specifications to color, defines you and your tastes. Business cards, note cards, postcards and more. When it comes to personal correspondences and contact information, share your passion with others! |
Clutch Signature Plates
Vanity plates have been around for nearly 40 years and are a great way to customize your Ride. But with millions of combinations already taken, it's become more difficult to get the plates you might ultimately desire. Fortunately, our GraphX Design Studio can create any plate you might imagine. Now your Pre 1977 vehicle can sport era specific vanity plates, model year, or any other messaging you might desire. |
Display Signage
What? Don't like J.Q. Public lending their finger prints to your Masterpiece? That's totally understood and appreciated by fellow enthusiasts and admirers alike. Say it nice, but make it clear, with Clutch Display Signage in a variety of colors, styles and sizes to match your message and vehicle's personality. |
Clutch Co. Parts Store
Over the next few weeks and months, Clutch Custom FX will begin offering a complete range of traditional products to supplement our exclusive monthly product offerings. Here you will find many of the staple items you might need or desire to take your show, office, or home experience of your Ride to the next level. Sure to please, even our base offerings are custom in nature and of the highest quality and professional design available with such commonly requested items as Display Signage, Calendars, Screen Savers, Mugs, TShirts, and plenty more.
Custom is literally our middle name, and all of our products are built to each client's specifications. Searching for an elusive product you’ve been unable to locate anywhere else? With our extensive experience in retail and fabrication processes, there's very little we can't provide for your Ride. Give us a call or drop us a line and just try to stump our crew!
And this - since your images have already been archived, there is no need for additional photography. We simply access and prepare those additional images from your Master file as necessary, on a per project basis. A one-time Chop Shop fee is assessed for each new image requiring preparation for product placement and like your Hero image, once prepared a new image is good to go from here on into the sunset no matter how many products you order.
Custom is literally our middle name, and all of our products are built to each client's specifications. Searching for an elusive product you’ve been unable to locate anywhere else? With our extensive experience in retail and fabrication processes, there's very little we can't provide for your Ride. Give us a call or drop us a line and just try to stump our crew!
And this - since your images have already been archived, there is no need for additional photography. We simply access and prepare those additional images from your Master file as necessary, on a per project basis. A one-time Chop Shop fee is assessed for each new image requiring preparation for product placement and like your Hero image, once prepared a new image is good to go from here on into the sunset no matter how many products you order.
Founder's Bio
Steve Yankers Regan is a 31 year veteran of the Advertising and Marketing industry. He holds a BS from the SI Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University where he majored in Illustrative Photography. A commercial artist by trade, his photography, graphic design, and copywriting assignments have taken him cross-country and served as the foundation for his entrepreneurial aspirations. As a founding partner of Zed Publishing,(A Merv Griffin Company) he co-authored 300+ retail products. Bringing an advertising perspective to the greeting card industry, Zed revolutionized the stationery industry, enjoyed an international audience, and was awarded 3 Louie Awards for copywriting and design. His second venture, The North Pole Experience, has been recognized by CNN Travel as "One of the 10 Must-Do Christmas Experiences World-Wide". Clutch Custom FX is his third venture in which he brings his broad-based professional experience to Serve & Preserve today's Classic Car Culture for both it's enthusiast's and admirers. An enthusiast himself, Steve is currently restoring his own 1964 Thunderbird under the watchful eye of his 5 year-old daughter Sadie.
Steve Yankers Regan is a 31 year veteran of the Advertising and Marketing industry. He holds a BS from the SI Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University where he majored in Illustrative Photography. A commercial artist by trade, his photography, graphic design, and copywriting assignments have taken him cross-country and served as the foundation for his entrepreneurial aspirations. As a founding partner of Zed Publishing,(A Merv Griffin Company) he co-authored 300+ retail products. Bringing an advertising perspective to the greeting card industry, Zed revolutionized the stationery industry, enjoyed an international audience, and was awarded 3 Louie Awards for copywriting and design. His second venture, The North Pole Experience, has been recognized by CNN Travel as "One of the 10 Must-Do Christmas Experiences World-Wide". Clutch Custom FX is his third venture in which he brings his broad-based professional experience to Serve & Preserve today's Classic Car Culture for both it's enthusiast's and admirers. An enthusiast himself, Steve is currently restoring his own 1964 Thunderbird under the watchful eye of his 5 year-old daughter Sadie.
Special Thanks
Your passion allows us to follow our passion and we are grateful to each client that entrusts us to enrich their classic car experience. In particular, we'd like to thank our friends from the Show Low Friday Night Club - Jared Ratcliffe, Larry Wagner, and Al Mercer, for their patronage and support. Your Rides have inspired us to dream big and to share those dreams with fellow enthusiasts. See you all at the next show!
Your passion allows us to follow our passion and we are grateful to each client that entrusts us to enrich their classic car experience. In particular, we'd like to thank our friends from the Show Low Friday Night Club - Jared Ratcliffe, Larry Wagner, and Al Mercer, for their patronage and support. Your Rides have inspired us to dream big and to share those dreams with fellow enthusiasts. See you all at the next show!
Phone
Direct: 480-465-0345 |
EMail
Steve@ClutchCFX.COM |