(Cover image: sketches by Jon Leu and Tom O. Rascoll)

Drawing by Tom O. Rascoll

The 8th design competition started by Local Motors asks its community of roughly 1,600 designers worldwide to create a car tailor made for Chicago and inspired by what makes the Windy City unique: skyscrapers, Lake Shore Drive, Al Capone, and gangster culture.

The submission deadline is January 20, 2009. The prizes are $1,500, $300, and $200 for first, second and third placing designs respectively.

For more information visit Local Motors.

The Brief - Background

"We need you to move forward in a way the OEM’s will not: bring jobs back to Chicago. 

"Design a car for this city, a city with a rule-breaking history, a city of rebellious humanists with a gangster flare.  [...] We want to bring pride, jobs, fun and hot design back to Chicago automotive and Lake Shore Drive.

"Design a car for Chicago that is hot and fast, but has room for 2-5 people [...] is affordable and make sure this car is usable in the sun and snow. "

(Source: Local Motors)