The Life Story of John Silva - Part 2
(On Being Your Own Man)
In Part 1 of my interview with John Silva, John told us a little bit about himself and the development of the Maco by Silva. In Part 2, I follow-up with a look at some of the other work John has in progress and his plans to revitalize the Maco design.
In John’s business, there are two kinds of cars. The “one-off” designs and “series-built” cars. Clearly there is more money in a car which can be built in series from molds. But there are some wild”one-offs” that create a stir on the show scene too. Both represent an opportunity to apply your ingenuity, creativeness and technical skills.
VECTRADesigned originally in 1972, the VECTRA still strikes an ultra-modern chord. This is one of John Silva's trademarks -- futuristic design, frequently twenty years ahead of popular opinion. This aluminum monocoque also bristles with technical concepts and leading-edge technological innovations which were equally advanced in their day, and are only now becoming realistic in production terms. While it is easy to discount how advanced the ideas were, the length of time it has taken to move them from the drawing board to real-world application is solid testimony to John's foresight and perseverance. The VECTRA has evolved as opportunities presented themselves; between opportunities is has been set aside for the "bread and butter" projects.
In 1984 a Los Vegas investor contacted SILVA Designs to explore the development of a solar powered car. The VECTRA concept car was reasonably well advanced in terms of its design and the influx of cash permitted the development of an actual prototype shell, complete with chassis, suspension, driveline and computer controls. The VECTRA could not be made totally "solar" but the investor accepted the idea of a multi-energy powered design as a viable alternative. As the multi-energy-source concept evolved, it also proved too expensive for the technologies of the day. John was again left as sole proprietor, but now with a physical expression of how the car might look.
Major features for the VECTRA include gull wing doors, servo-assisted seats and dash which raise up to meet the occupant, a swing axle suspension ideally suited to electric propulsion systems, a very lightweight highly strengthened monocoque for occupant safety, headlights in the roof of the car (to get adequate height) and sequential (safety) tail lights which warn following cars of the precise state of throttle or brake application. John's current thinking involves a conventional power system (probably two-stroke) but he also has an evolution of his multi-energy high mileage concept which he would like to explore.
AERO-STYLE 50's MERCURY ON MUSTANG 5.0 CHASSISAnother project which promises great potential for "series" production is a 1950's Mercury body on a current Mustang 5.0 chassis. The "lead sled" business is enjoying quite a resurgence at the moment adn John sees this as a market for a modern expression of the average guy's desire to have a "driveable" custom. Joh is friends with Terry Cook, the promoter for LEAD EAST which takes place in Persipinee (NJ); John gives seminars on "scratch-built" cars and has attended LEAD EAST recently. The huge crowds are continuing to impress him. The 50's, 60's and 70's cars are having an especially strong draw and John is flooded with calls asking when his Mercury will be ready, every time he shows the promotional material. There really are people lined up to see buy this highly reliable and reasonably priced rocket.
In John's words... "I figure that a modern car which can be serviced anywhere and which offers comfortable and reliable transportation must be a success. It will appeal to the average family guy who can't do extensive repairs or wants to make sure that he gets where he is going. The car is also designed with additional reinforcements so it will be safer than the Mustang. Because the car is going to be built in small numbers it will not have to comply with federal regulations on the impact absorbing bumpers but it's going to be a very safe automobile, regardless. Safer than the Mustang!"
John was about half way through this project when I visited his shop.
MIAMI-EDITION (RACING-STYLE) CAMARO "AERO" DESIGNAnother customer car sitting in the shop is a recent generation (85-92) Camaro being modified for a more futuristic "aero" style. Hood, fenders, and wheel wells are being flared and rounded. Character lines are being changed and the roof line is being visually extended to disguise the Camaro lineage. A ZR-1 rear fascia incorporates dual outlet/dual exhaust into the licence plate area and a moveable wing has been built into the diffuser in the lower rear bumper to act on undercar air flow. The extended front air dam is likewise molded to accept a hydraulically operated wing mounted low in the airstream.
This is a model which may also prove popular for either "series" builds or for individual component sales.
MUSTANG "RANCHERO-STYLE" CONVERSIONMustangs and pick-up trucks are huge sellers today. Mustangs are an economical pony car and used Mustangs are especially attractive to the youth. But insurance rates are killers. Now pick-up trucks are also popular, probably in part due to lower insurance costs but new vehicles are pretty expensive. So, if you combine the two and make a Mustang pick-up, what do you think the market would be? Well, John recently helped one customer in the used-car business complete a Mustang pick-up conversion; John finihsed off the project for him by doing some of the design work and developing the extended lower valance. The car sold instantly, so he is pretty sure the market for similar versions would be large. Due to time pressures, he was unable to take molds for the body panels but may take-on a repeat of this project when time permits.
THE NEXT GENERATION "MACO"The original "Maco" by Silva was not the full expression of the car that John wanted to see. When GM introduced the original Mako Shark II, that was the car that John had wanted to see produced. The pop-up brake flaps, the varying intensity brake lights, the periscope mirrors. These were the innovations that "walked" on the wild side. Given his preferences, and if demand is there, John would like to take his old molds and revitalize them to incorporate some of the original concepts that were dropped when GM brought out the 1968 SHARK series.
If demand is not manifest, then he still hopes to re-introduce the "Maco" as originally marketed. To do so, he had to buy back one of his own original vehicles just so he could "play" with it to re-familiarize himself with the workload and to identify areas where new materials could be injected. This wasn't as easy as it sounds, however. If you've ever tried to find one special car for yourself, you will know that the search can be long and convoluted. In this case, the "Maco" now sitting in stripped condition on the floor of Silva Design was found when a person attending one of John's seminars in Hartford (CT) on scratch-built" cars came up to him and said that he had one of John's cars. He wanted some work done, so they arranged a swap.
The car was built in the Cambridge shop about 21 years ago, but it was not one of the two original cars. John recognizes his cars by the tell-tale signs of his personal handiwork; this car was one of the early cars and it bears the evidence of being a total in-house job. All of the original stuff is still there; it has been beat-on but it's not too far gone. It can be brought back.
If the market is there, John would like to bring it back. He estimates a basic price for a modest version would now be in the range of $35,000 while one with all the tricks would probably be about $45,000. The real question is whether the market is really there; the nostalgia theme is strong but there is a lot of competition in the specialty car market. And, as John himself says... "Also, remember that when we first introduced the car we sold them for about $6,500; that was our advertised price in the brochure. I could get repossessions or insurance jobs for under $1,000 and then put in three weeks of labour to convert it. We could make money that way but today it's just so much harder. Those prices just don't work today..."
“... Right now, if I could get 150 calls inquiring about the car, and out of that number 10 calls turned into real sales, I would like to take the car to the next step. When the car was introduced I had fallen in love with a lot of the really wild innovations but the 1968 dropped all the wild concepts. If the market was there, I would make new molds and do an updated design. If enquiries were lower, I could still use the old molds and reintroduce the old car, as it was run in the late 60s and early 70s. With respect to the kinds of changes I would make to an updated car, I don't think I would go with any of the newer style "aero" tricks. I would stick with the original concept. That was a design that had a lot of integrity. I would try to get closer to GM's original car with the pneumatically operated brake flaps and spoilers, a stiffer chassis, the custom interior and maybe add a TPI injected engine and some good brakes”.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CURRENT GENERATION C-4 DESIGN?On the subject of the newer style designs, I think that GM is missing a lot of opportunities. They are too cautious and everything looks the same. The "trade dress" status thing that we talked about earlier is a two-edged sword that they are stuck on.
I guess that GM is looking a lot at its target audience and saying to themselves that this is a "business-lease" crowd. They don't want wild design, they just want comfort and prestige. I guess that works. In fact, the one aspect of that whole philosophy that actually appeals to me is the "lease" aspect. We havef a lease company for our electronic air filtration system and it seems to me that we could do the same with custom cars.
I have been talking with people about the possibility of leasing out "custom" cars. The market seems to be there. A lot of people would like a custom car but they die at the thought of a "kit" car or the skills and work involved in building their own. The lease program can get you into a custom or hot rod, so you can go and play NOW!
WOULD YOU THINK THAT THE GS-90 DESIGN WOULD FIT ON THE "SHARK" SERIES?I am sort of familiar with the design and I like it a lot. I'm not sure about putting it on the 68-82 chassis. The Corvette chassis is a really good start point for any conversion like that but I am just not familiar enough to give you an opinion.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT RESTORATIONS?I think that some of these restorations are overdone, in one sense. The cars cost more than the re-sale price when the guys are finished. Really, they're building show cars not "drivers". So you have to keep the context in mind; if that's what they want, then any restoration shop like mine would be happy to do the work. It's not our job to make judgements. But I personally like to drive the cars and be seen in them.
WHAT ARE THE TRENDS?You may not like to hear it, but the Mustangs and pick-up trucks are clearly two big trends. The insurance item works for the kids who want pick-up trucks. And the Mustang is so easy to work with. Other trends that are growing are the "lead sleds" and to some extent the show cars.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT THE SHARK YEARS?My wife, Jeanne, and I went on a trip to Florida with one of my Macos. We stopped at a gas station and I got out to pump the gas. The attendant, a young kid, came over and was ruanning all around the car yelling, " I don't believe it! A Maco by Silva, a real Maco by Silva!" He then asked me , "Did John Silva build this for you?" I said, "Yes he did." I finished filling the tank and got into the car and drove off. My wife couldn't believe tht I did not introduce myself. I hadn't done it because I didn't think he would have believed me. But it just shows that people everywhere love the design of this car and that love is still alive. If I can do it, I want to make it better than it ever was.
ELECTRONIC AIR FILTRATION BUSINESSIt's not really about cars, but John's latest business is the development and sale of his AirEASE 6000, air cleanig system. Most dust particles are positively charged and are repelled by the negative charge of ionized air; without the benefit of a specific charge to hep repel them from the ground, gravity takes over and they fall to the ground. Normally, even heavier particles will float for a long time before they are finally overcome by the force of gravity. By adding a negative charge to the air, the repulsion is diminished and dust can not float and falls to the ground more readily. The system also adds some ozone to the air for that "fresh" smell that you sense after a thunder storm. If yo run a large shop of your own, you mght have an interest in this product.
Brian Silva (cousin) runs the electronic side of the business. Gary Kmiec is the automotive shop manager.
For further information contact:
John Silva AUTO TRENDS EAST / SILVA DESIGN 36 Mitchell Rd., Ipswich, MA USA (508) 356-1337 (T) 01938 (506) 356-3380 (F)
