Tag Archives: Oddball Cars

Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Chevrolet Silverado Limousine, Route 1 in Delaware

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On our way back from the St. Michael’s Concours at the end of last September, Nick and I stumbled on a rather strange sight.  We were stuck in traffic with traffic leaving Dover Speedway after a NASCAR race, and weren’t really paying much attention to the cars around us until this traffic light.  What we initially thought was simply a pickup truck with a cover on the bed turned out to be something much more wacky.  As we inched closer, we both realized that this must be the ultimate redneck chariot.  Complete with a NASCAR-style spoiler, a set of roll-cage-like bars on the rear window, and a smorgasbord of sponsorship decals, this big Chevrolet limo might just be the classiest way to travel to and from a NASCAR event.  I can’t say that I like it.  I can’t say that I’d want it.  But I can say that I sort of respect its  insanity.  Someone took the time and spent the cash to create what might be the most unique limousine I’ve ever seen.  Props to the guys who thought this up.

Spotted by: Al and Nick

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Drive’s Inspiring Interview With Bill Caswell

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Many know Bill Caswell as the man who took a $500 Craigslist BMW rally racing and managed to do extremely well. Drive’s Mike Spinelli sits down with Bill to discuss his awesome automotive adventures over the last few years. If you are a car fanatic, this will be quite inspirational.

-Nick

Car Shows

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Boano Coupe

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1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Boano Coupe

At the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, every car is nothing short of immaculate. However, even among the hundreds of exquisite automobiles, some find a way to stand out in the crowd. This 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Boano Coupe does it with a stunning color draped over a sleek, if a bit peculiar, design.

Jalopnik even said they thought this car should have won “Best In Show”, but naturally they are always into the most offbeat thing present. While I don’t agree that this car should have won “Best In Show”, I really did enjoy getting to see this Indianapolis Boano Coupe in person. It definitely brings an event with it wherever it goes, and at a big car show such as this, that is what really matters.

Enjoy the photos.

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Cars We've Seen, USER SUBMITTED

Spotted! 1981 DeLorean DMC-12, Pasadena, CA

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My brother Matt sent this photograph and some others my way while he was out driving with his colleague Nick near Caltech over in Pasadena.  It’s quite a pretty area and there’s actually a good amount of older classics and quirky old cars running around (there are lots of hipsters in old Beetles there too, if I recall correctly). What’s strange about this example is that it seems to have had its louvers over the engine cover removed and replaced by Back to the Future style fins. Matt, thanks for sending this in.

-Albert S. Davis

Spotted by: Matt Davis and Nick Cowper

Opinions

The Malaise Era: As bad as it gets, or misinterpreted?

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We all know how bad cars in America became after Nixon won a second term.  From that point until the end of Reagan’s second term, cars built here in America were, to most of the country, lacking in performance, quality, and innovation.  I understand the sentiment.  Looking into the cars built during the era, we see engines strangled by emissions regulations, stylists stymied by big safety bumpers and lighting changes, and salesmen who were stuck with cars that Americans didn’t want.  I do not want to go into any of  that today, however.  The reason?  I think the Malaise Era of the USA deserves another look, from a more universal perspective. Continue reading The Malaise Era: As bad as it gets, or misinterpreted? →

Cars We've Seen

Spotted! 1948 Tucker Torpedo, Carmel, CA

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1948 Tucker Torpedo in Carmel CA

While at Monterey Car Week, we saw this incredible 1948 Tucker Torpedo numerous times. This was the first time that either Al or myself had seen a Tucker on public roads, so we made sure to get photos.

The first time we saw it was in Carmel, right as we were arriving for the Tour d’Elegance. We saw it cross the street a block down, realized it was a Tucker, and then I proceeded to sprint a block and a half to catch it. After that, Al was able to shoot it while we were in the car a few times, once in Monterey and once in Carmel.

Only 51 of these masterpieces were ever produced. They were way ahead of their time technologically, with a rear-mounted flat-6 engine (yes like a Porsche), and a center headlamp that turned with the steering wheel, among other things. They made a movie about Preston Tucker and his car, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in a great story. The Tucker is a legendary piece of American automotive history, and it was beyond thrilling to catch one out in the wild. Enjoy.

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Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

Obscure Auto: 1978-1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck

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The late 1970s were a bleak time for America.  The country was stuck with a bad case of stagflation, there was rife conflict in the Middle East as the shah of Iran was losing his grip on his country, and if you wanted anything fast and American, you were either wrenching on an older car, or looking longingly at the used car lots for a Hemi Challenger that wasn’t beat to within an inch of its life.  This, however, didn’t stop Dodge from trying to bring the magic back. Continue reading Obscure Auto: 1978-1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

The Petersen Automotive Museum

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On June 30, I flew to California to meet with my brother, Matt.  He was kind enough, after a gut-busting BBQ lunch in Hollywood, to take me over to the Petersen Automotive Museum.  Here’s some highlights from the floor.  Some of the notable cars in the building include a selection of cars that have become legendary in their own right, including a Bugatti EB110, Steven McQueen’s Jaguar XK-SS, and many other unique and gorgeous cars.  Enjoy the gallery.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Hacking your car, yes this is real

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This video from Forbes takes a look at what hackers can do with a car. If you are familiar with modern cars, you know that literally every part of a vehicle is run by computers. That makes all of those parts hackable. Now this isn’t meant to scare you — Not everyone on the sidewalk holding a cellphone is trying to shut off your brakes — but it is definitely an interesting thing to consider for the future.

-Nick

Car Shows

CF Charities Supercar Show: Lamborghini LM002

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Lamborghini LM002 SUV

The LM002 is what happened when Lamborghini decided they wanted to go off-roading. Built from 1986 to 1993, the LM002 featured the same 5.2L V12 as the Lamborghini Countach supercar, only it was mounted up front for better off road handling characteristics.

Inside you will find a luxuriously appointed interior, a sign of who actually purchased a vehicle like this. Despite looking like a Humvee, the LM002 was not some rugged military vehicle (although there were originally hopes of selling a military version). It was instead an offroad exotic, with a similar relative appeal to Lamborghini’s supercars of the time. Many crazy people, like Uday Hussein, bought them, helping to cement the LM002’s image as the “Rambo Lambo.” (Uday’s LM002 was blown up by the US Army in a bomb test)

Only around 300 LM002s were produced during its 9 year production run, making it extremely rare. It was an interesting exercise for sure, but not one that yielded much commercial success. The LM002 is unbelievably cool when you see it in person. This one, at the recent CF Charities Supercar Show, was only the second or third LM002 I’ve seen up close, so it was a special sight. Enjoy the pics.

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Car Shows

Hopewell Cruise Night: The Beatles’ Beetle

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The Beetles’ VW Beetle

This sweet VW Beetle, all decked out with The Beatles, was at a recent cruise night in Hopewell, NJ. Gotta love when people make an otherwise common car into a work of art. Enjoy.

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Car Shows

CF Charities Supercar Show: Campagna T-Rex

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Campagna T-Rex

 

I always love seeing a Campagna T-Rex, so I was ecstatic when this thing rolled in to the CF Charities Supercar Show this past weekend. Great color too. Enjoy the pics.  Continue reading CF Charities Supercar Show: Campagna T-Rex →