In this episode of the Car Chat Podcast, Nikita Bridan, co-founder of Oil Stain Lab, joins us to share his fascinating journey from a career in car design to launching his own automotive design consultancy. Nikita dives into the inspiration behind their standout project, the "Half 11," detailing the unique challenges they encountered during its creation. He explores their design philosophy, which centers around minimalism, problem-solving, and cleverly integrating function into the aesthetics.
We also discuss the decision to use an LS engine in the Half 11, addressing the challenges and controversies it sparked. Nikita sheds light on the design and development process of their latest project, the HF 11, and shares his experience at Goodwood, where the Half 11 was showcased. He reflects on how the car was received at the event and talks about the importance of branding and positioning in the automotive world. Finally, we touch on iconic cars like the Lamborghini Countach and Mazda 787B, and their lasting impact on the industry.
Show Notes:
00:00 Starting a Design Consultancy and Building the half 11
19:44 Challenging Porsche Purists with the half 11
25:18 The Design Approach of Oilstain Lab: Minimalism and Problem-Solving
33:23 Creating a Fake History and Pushing Boundaries
38:05 Cutting a 911 in Half: The Journey of Building the half 11
46:36 Collaborating with Experts: The Role of Engineering in the Design Process
47:42 The Controversial Decision to Use an LS Engine
48:38 The Development of the HF 11
49:34 The Most Undervalued Car at the Moment
52:25 The Most Interesting New Car
01:31:25 Sam's Dream Five-Car Garage
