Lightning McQueen Volvo Rally Art Car

If you were 3 years old, what car do you want your parents to own? It's not an easy question to ask a 3 year old as there answers are limited. However, Lightning McQueen surely has to be one of the top. And, if you need a sporty looking vehicle to base your Lightning McQueen on - what would you choose? A Volvo 740 of course.

In this case, three grown adults made the car of their dreams, apparently. A Volvo 740 plucked from obscurity that had spent its life driving round the UK's home counties, was now made into an art car. And driven across Europe repeatedly on our events.

I've never actually worked out what the motivation to make this car was, apart from further capitalising on a Cars dvd they had obviously bought.

You may be wondering whether there are any similarities between this car and a real sports car. There aren't.

However, the side effect of being the proud owner of Lightning McQueen meant that the owner was constantly bugged by their kids to take them to school in Lightning, which included half the kids from the neighbourhood. As the owner lamented one day, we can do the school run in a brand new Mercedes, or Lightning. Lightning won every time.

So there we have it. How to impress your children. Make Lightning McQueen.

By Justin Clements Street Safari

Spaced out Moonraker Volvo Rally Art Car

From the deranged minds that brought you the Tank Volvo and Helicopter, we have a space shuttle theme.

Not sure what the background to the idea from these particular overachievers is, maybe Moonraker, but they decided to do a space shuttle theme, with a trailer tent (its like a tent, but on a trailer) with a world on it.

Obviously, making a space shuttle out of a Volvo just doesn't work (you need a BMW 1600 for that, which we shall show you in future weeks), so they made their own space shuttle, mounted two side boosters (SRBs) to the Volvo, and effectively made the Volvo into the external fuel tank.

Then, bolt a great big round piece of metal onto the trailer, paint the Earth on it, and hey presto, you have your very own horizontal Space Shuttle Program, with a diagram of the Earth on the trailer behind incase you forget what your home planet looks like.

The team (the overachievers) even put in some pyrotechnics so that the shuttle actually looks like it has an exhaust trail! We like. Partly because it's always fun to see a bit of thought behind these things, and partly because the chance of the whole thing catching fire is greatly increased.

The trailer tent deserves it's own 15 seconds of fame. It was possibly the mankiest tent you have ever seen in your life. They think the previous owners bought all the camping gear, went camping once, didn't like it, packed the tent wet (remember it's canvas), and let the whole thing fester and rot for several years.

When the team opened the tent for the first time in many years, there were literally bits missing from the canvas, large sections in fact.

But quick to their aid came some drinking aids. They installed a set of optics in the trailer for each evening, and as long as you got far too drunk, you didn't notice the howling gail in the car each night. Or at least, I think that's how that was meant to work.

By Justin Clements Street Safari

StreetSafari Rally Art Cars from the UK Now a Regular Feature!!!

StreetSafari, organizer of the world's best banger rallies, has teamed with Art Car Central to showcase some of the countless creations of our teams over the years.

For those unfamiliar with banger rallies, here is a quick introduction: buy a car on a budget (£250 or $500), repair it, make it legal for the road, take it on a journey across Europe or the States with other like minded people. Whether the car will end up in a foreign scrap yard or be taken back home is up to the team and is usually anybody's guess.

As one might imagine, part of the challenge is simply getting the car to the finish line. For most teams, the challenge starts much earlier. What seems to happen between buying the car and getting it ready for the start line is subject to paint, imagination and -- probably -- alcohol.

We get to see everything. You name it, we've seen it. If there was ever a famous car on television or cinema, we've seen at least five examples of it on our events. General Lee, Starsky & Hutch, the A Team, Ghostbusters, all done to death. We see rally themes from Audi, Skoda, Martini, Pink Pig, and just about any other you can think of. The quality of the theme seems to vary with the quantity of what the team has drunk, as much as with their creative ability.

Sometimes a team will just paint or decorate the car to a theme they made up. That's where we get the stand out cars.

Today's fabulous art car is a 1992 Volvo 480, with possibly the most intricate design we have ever seen in all the years and events that we've done. Its nickname on the event was simply "the Rorschach car" and everyone knew which that meant. When we first saw this car we made enquiries that it was being brought back to the UK after event, as it would be a crying shame to send this car to the crusher before it had enough time to be appreciated for the masterpiece that it was.

The story behind this art car is that two friends had bought it but had no idea what to do for a theme until they bumped into a rather talented artist friend. He then proceeded to draw all over the car and took about three weeks to do it. We believe the car was then sealed in a lacquer to give it a lasting finish, and we think the car is now in Glasgow somewhere.

From a distance, the drawing appears as one giant doodle. The closer you look, however, the more diverse and detailed the images become. A real piece of car art if ever we saw one.

By Justin Clements of StreetSafari
 

Chicken Coupe 1971 Morris Traveler Art Car

Chicken Coup Art Car - After

Michael Thompson is the creator of this Chicken Coupe Art Car made from a beat up old 1971 Morris Traveler in the heart of Norfolk Broads.

He went looking for something a little more unusual to make into a hen house and asked a friend of his who owned a body-repair shop to keep his eyes peeled for an interesting vehicle that he could use.
Weeks went by when one day this beat up old Morris showed up on its way to the scrap yard and Michael took about thirty seconds to decide that this was what he was looking for in chicken coupe art car. 100 quid (bucks) later and a pint of beer it was delivered to Michael's House.

The front end was a total loss so he chopped it up and used the back end that went on to become this really cool chicken coupe art car for Michael's four hens complete with ramp and bumper sticker.

His final words on the matter were... "Re-use, Recycle... one planet - to the max!" via

Chicken Coupe Art Car - Before

Porsche 356 Art Car painted with M.C Escher Reptiles

This Porsche 356 was painted by Author and Graphic Designer Jasper Fforde with M.C Escher's famous reptiles. This art car was based on a car driven by a character in one of his books.

Hot Turbo VW Radio Flyer Art Car Built by Toby Hall

Hot Turbo VW Radio Flyer Art Car Built by Toby Hall
Toby Hall is one of those people who will forever remain a kid at heart, just by looking at his latest creation. He recently built a full size Radio Flyer on a VW bug chassis, with a 1641cc flat-four and a Renault 5 turbo that will turn heads and burn rubber. Toby got the idea by watching Tool Time on TV during an episode when Tim the Toolman brought home a motorized Radio Flyer as a Christmas gift. He knew instantly that he had to build one and then went out and got busy. Toby spent a lot of time building his new toy with a tubed frame, bomber style seats, exposed engine and a great paint job. One the coolest features is the tow that can be pulled both by car and by hand when the handle is tilted down. Toby's Radio Flyer was just featured in this months volksworld magazine out of the UK and its my prediction that his art car will go viral. So glad we could have another hot Radio Flyer along with the one Bob Castaneda built in the US back in 1996.

Ford Kuga Art Car Painting by Ian Cook - Painted with RC Cars and Tires

On Saturday 4th September - Artist Ian Cook aka Popbang Colour painted the Ford Kuga live on the Internet using radio controlled cars. The Ford Kuga team was there to capture all the action. Check out the video of how he did and for more photos go to flickr.

Burberry Gets a Black Eye by Chavs in the UK.

Some time ago I posted my first Burberry Art Car, but last night I discovered that this was just the tip of the British iceberg. In the UK Chavs is a phenomenon, youths of ill-repute, often football hooligans, who dress in designer brands, and Burberry being the particular brand of choice. According to a BBC article, the Burberry brand became a victim of its own success when Chavs co-opted the brand and now is associated with people who do bad stuff and many even think that Burberry is be worn by the person who mugged them. Fortunately sales of Burberry outside the UK did very well in spite of the "Chav" stigma.

So for your Art Car pleasure I present the most complete line up of Burberry art cars and other Berberry gear associated with the "chav" lifestyle now in full swing in the UK.

CarPuchino - Car Powered by Coffee Grinds

For those of us who plan their trips from coffee shop to coffee shop finally a better solution. A car that is powered entirely by roasted coffee grinds is now a reality, I can feel my hear raising as I write this.

The car is called the Car-Puchino and was created using a 1988 Volkswagen Scirocco that sorta looks like a time traveling DeLorean from back to the future. It was created by a team from BBC1 science program Bang Goes The Theory and driven 210 miles between Manchester and London.

It does about 60mph and uses about 2.2 lbs of coffee for every three miles or 56 espressos per mile (56epm). Its going to take 154 lbs so price depends on the type of coffee you use:

1. Premium = Kona Coffee = $30/lb = $4,620
2. Plus = Starbucks Breakfast Blend = $10/lb = $1,154
3. Regular = Folgers = $5/lb = $770

A trip like this is a bit of grind since you have to stop every 40 miles to add coffee grinds, every 60 to clean out the coffee filters. Even with a top speed of maybe 60 mph a relatively short trip could take all day to complete. On the plus side, there will be plenty of coffee and bathroom breaks.

via

Auction: 1935 Bentley 3.5 Litre

We've seen our fair share of auto auctions over the years. At this point, it takes something truly rare and truly unique to catch our eye. The car in question has to be more than four wheels and a beautifully engineered engine, which explains why we're all riled over word that a 1935 Bentley 3 ½ Liter Saloon will be auctioned off by Historics at Brooklands. Yes, the car itself is something special. It wears a unique Flying B hood ornament – one of only three ever created – and has extensive documentation following nearly every mile on the odometer, but that's not what makes this particular lot so interesting.

You see, the car is being sold along with complete ownership of Freestone & Webb – the company that originally built the Bentley's special body way back when. The company is being auctioned off with neither assets nor debt, so the winning buyer will essentially have rights to the name alone. The coachbuilder hasn't built anything since closing its doors for good in 1958.

The Bentley and Freestone & Webb will be sold alongside a total of 65 other classics on June 2.

via:autoblog




Press Release

Classic Bentley to be auctioned, complete with free ownership of the company that built it

75 years after it was coach-built to the highest standards of the day, a 1935 Bentley will be auctioned at Brooklands on June 2 with a unique, free 'accessory' - ownership of the British coach-building company that created it.

Billed as one of the finest examples of its kind, the fine 1935 3 ½ litre Bentley Saloon is a jewel amongst 65 other fine classic and collector cars offered by specialist auction company, Historics at Brooklands.

Valued at between £75,000 - £90,000, the Bentley is offered by Historics with a comprehensive array of diaries documenting it's many trips in great detail. It is adorned with a single winged 'B' radiator mascot; believed to be one of only three examples of the experimental design ever produced, whilst the company which originally built the bespoke bodywork and interior of the car - Freestone & Webb - has even greater rarity value.

The renowned British coachbuilder was formed in 1923 by V.E. Freestone and A.J. Webb and, at its height, was producing 15 Rolls-Royces and Bentleys a year with exquisite hand-crafted bodywork and interiors. Freestone & Webb regularly exhibited at the London Motor Show and, for nine consecutive years, its excellence in the industry was recognised with the Gold Medal in the Private Coachbuilders competition.

Following the death of Webb in 1955, the company was taken over by HR Owen and continued to build bodies until 1958, after which the name was shelved.

The car's vendor discovered and acquired the company name and registered the limited company in 1990. It is now offered, together with the Bentley, as asset and debt free, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own not only a fine motor car, but also an iconic piece of British automotive coachbuilding history.

For more information, and to attend the Historics at Brooklands auction on the evening of June 2, call 0800 988 3838, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk. Entry by catalogue only, available prior to, or on the evening.

3-litre Bentley Saloon.

Christened 'The Silent Sports Car', the chassis of the 3 ½ litre Bentley Saloon was built from September 1933 in Derby alongside Rolls-Royce – and indeed designed under the influence of Sir Henry Royce - earning its moniker, in part, to excellent handling characteristics and a top speed of 97mph when adorned with the lightweight bodywork.

Despite early examples of the Bentley 3 ½ litre costing around £1,500, the unique blend of style, grace and performance proved popular amongst the inter-war elite, with over 70% of the cars built between 1933 and 1939 said to be still in existence some 80 years on.

A small selection of the 65 fine motorcars consigned to the first Historics of Brooklands auction on Wednesday, June 2, includes the following. Please visit
http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/online-catalogue.aspx for the full consigned list of vehicles.

High res photographs are available of all vehicles

1930 Bentley 4.5 litre Vanden Plas Tourer

A beautifully presented 1931 Bentley 4.5 litre boasts a well-documented and wonderful history, a fabulous finish with the correct engine and period-style supercharger. Examples of these important cars rarely come to the market, and a high level of international interest is expected £625,000 - £775,000

1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe

Very original, four owners from new, long-term owner since mid 80's
£110,000-£145,000

1954 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe

Discovered in a barn after 20 years and recently re-commissioned
£48,000-£50,000

1987 Aston Martin Zagato Volante

Extremely rare, 1 of 37
£45,000-£60,000

1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I

Body by Thrupp & Maberly. Engine, body and interior restored
£130,000-£155,000

1955 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

Stunning body on uprated XK140 chassis
£45,000-£55,000

1937 MG TA Special

All aluminium body, built to very high spec, demonstrated at Le Mans Classic 2004
£25,000-£35,000

1937 MG TA

Well-known 'Team Rosbif' racing T-Type. Raced extensively from early sixties onwards in the UK and Europe
£23,000-£28,000

1955 Ford Thunderbird

Imported to the UK in early 1960's
£12,000-£18,000

1969 Chevrolet Camaro 396 SS Convertible

Genuine numbers-matching 396SS in restored condition
£30,000-£40,000
1968 Ford Escort AVO Rally

Absolutely correct period rally car, beautifully restored.
£35,000-£45,000

1939 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith by Mulliner & Co

A stunning Razor-Edge saloon with a 6,000 hour restoration.
£30,000-£40,000

Infiniti Announced FX30ds price for UK Market

Infiniti has announced today the Infiniti FX30ds price for the UK market and that it can already be ordered here. The deliveries of the diesel Infiniti FX30ds will begin in Britain from July. The Infiniti FX30ds is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 piezo-injection engine that develops 235 bhp and 550Nm (406 lb ft) of torque from 1750rpm. The company says the Infiniti FX30ds has a combined fuel consumption of 31.4 mpg (9.0l/100km) and a CO2 emissions level of 238 g/km. The engine of the Infiniti FX30ds is coupled with 7-speed Adaptive Shift Control automatic transmission.

via:zercustoms




Press Release

• More miles and lower CO₂ from Infiniti’s first FX diesel
• Bespoke 235 bhp piezo-injection V6 with class-leading 550Nm (406 lb ft)
  of torque
• Still a sports car at heart – a diesel with available Rear Active
  Steering (RAS)
• Choice of luxury GT or sporting S themes, both topped by new Premium
  grades equipped as standard with every feature in Infiniti’s portfolio
• Infiniti’s Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Prevention
  systems now available in Europe
• FX30d prices from £45,150 – virtually the same as FX37 petrol versions
• Orderable now with deliveries to start from July

ROLLE, Switzerland (May 6, 2010) – The Infiniti FX, one of the sportiest
driving – and certainly the sportiest looking – large crossovers on the market
is now available with a sporting new engine under the bonnet. A diesel. This
isn’t the only first for Infiniti in Europe because with the new engine comes
the availability of new safety technology: Forward Collision Warning and Lane
Departure Prevention.

Playing to the FX’s strengths, the state-of-the-art 3.0-litre V6 enhances the
FX’s already torque-rich performance while significantly lowering CO₂
emissions and fuel consumption for real customer benefit. To be called the
FX30d, the four variant range joins the FX petrol V6 and V8 models in a new look
line-up for 2010 – and at prices that are virtually identical to equivalent V6
petrol models.

Announced today, the FX30d costs from £45,150, just £200 more than the
equivalent FX37 petrol model. Available in both luxury GT and more sporting S
guises, the arrival of the diesel also marks the addition of new Premium
specification grades with every possible feature included as standard –
including the sophisticated new safety technology to help guard against
collisions, available for the first time on any Infiniti in Europe.

The FX’s advanced construction, aerodynamic prowess and highly efficient
intelligent all-wheel drive system provide the perfect accompaniment for the
bespoke new V6 diesel engine. Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is trimmed
to 31.4 mpg (9.0l/100km) while CO₂ emissions drop to 238 g/km.

The diesel FX, however, remains a performance car at heart – as the new
engine’s impressive 550 Nm (406 lb ft) of pulling power, available at just
1750rpm, demonstrates. Paired with the standard 7-speed Adaptive Shift Control
automatic transmission, the piezo-injection engine powers the greener FX from
0-62 mph in just 8.3 seconds. But with more torque than even the petrol V8 of
the FX50, it’s the diesel’s effortless overtaking pace that is set to leave the
lasting impression.

The FX’s sports credentials are enhanced in the FX30dS model which puts the
emphasis firmly on driver appeal. The S spec diesel includes 21-inch alloy
wheels, sports seats, sports suspension and Rear Active Steering (RAS) – the
first time this incisive handling technology has been available in the FX range
on anything other than the FX50 flagship.

Sacrificing neither performance nor refinement over the petrol FX, the
FX30d’s engine provides an exceptional breadth of capability. The exhaust has
even been tuned so it sounds sporting. Uniquely, the V6 features a compacted
graphite iron (CGI) block which combines the light weight of an alloy block with
the smoothness of an iron block engine – without recourse to complicated extra
engineering.

With 238 PS (235 bhp) the power output is among the highest of single-turbo
V6 diesel engines. The turbocharger is mounted in the V of the engine which is
set at an unusual 65 degree angle to the benefit of balance, reliability as well
as packaging efficiency.

The new diesel model is available in four guises, all paired by equivalent
FX37 petrol models in a simplified line-up designed to reflect a Europe-wide
customer preference for top-end FXs. In practice the change means more features,
fewer extra-cost options and a new top grade, Premium.

FX buyers can go in two specification directions: luxury GT or sporting S.
The 2010 GT, in either FX30d diesel or FX37 petrol forms, comes fully equipped
as standard with paddle-shift 7-speed automatic transmission, intelligent
all-wheel drive, leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, bi-Xenon
cornering headlights (AFS), rear view camera and parking sensors, powered front
seat adjustment (with driver’s seat memory), electric reach and rake adjustment
for steering wheel, glass sunroof, 20-inch light alloy wheels, I-Key with smart
access, cruise control, Scratch Shield self-healing paint and a 7-speaker audio
system including 6-CD changer, MP3 decoder, Aux-In and Bluetooth for mobile
connectivity.

The S derivatives ramp up the sporting appeal with powered front sports
seats, Continuous Damping Control (CDC) shock absorbers, 21-inch alloy wheels
and, on the diesel S and 5.0-litre V8 petrol only, Rear Active Steering (RAS),
which enhances both stability and agility. To distinguish the S, the model comes
with smoked-glass headlamps and dark chrome exterior air vent and sill strip.

The new Premium grade enhances both GT and S models with features which are
often unavailable in rivals. Safety is a particular focus, reinforcing the FX’s
highest-possible five-star ranking in the EuroNCAP crash tests. Both GT Premium
and S Premium versions of FX30d and FX37 are equipped with key elements of
Infiniti’s innovative Safety Shield technology such as Intelligent Cruise
Control (ICC) with full speed range, Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA), and Forward
Collision Warning (FCW).

ICC ensures a safe distance to the car in front while the cruise control is
operating. When cruise control is off – the majority of the time for most
drivers – a combination of IBA and FCW remains constantly on alert, not just
warning the driver of insufficient distance to the vehicle in front but
pre-loading the powerful all-disc braking system in readiness for an emergency
stop, should that become necessary.

Another safety bonus, for the diesel only, is the inclusion in Premium models
of Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), available in Europe for the first time.
Unlike rival systems which merely warn the driver when the car strays out of a
designated traffic lane, Infiniti’s LDP gives a warning but crucially will then
take action if that warning is not heeded. Gentle brake pressure on one side of
the car guides the vehicle back into the correct lane. LDP functions only above
70 km/h and is automatically over-ridden by use of the indicators. The system
can also be turned off by the driver if desired.

FX Premium versions are also equipped with innovations like Around View
Monitor and a 30GB hard disk drive satellite navigation system, key ingredient
of Infiniti’s headline Connectiviti+ information and entertainment platform.
Notable for its wide ranging functionality and intuitive controls, the satnav is
not just four times faster than the previous DVD-based system but includes a
wide range of features and facilities, from Michelin Guide recommendations to 3D
graphics, to take the stress out of journeys – and add some extra enjoyment,
too.

On the music front, Premium models are equipped with a 10 GB Music Box which
can store the equivalent of 300 CDs – and, as standard, a Bose^®
Premium Sound System on which to enjoy them.

As before the V8-powered FX50 remains the flagship. There are no changes to
its specification for 2010 – virtually everything was already standard – but the
model is now badged FX50 S Premium to reflect the new order.

Prices for the full range of 2010 FX models are as follows:

FX37 GT	£44,950
FX30d GT	£45,150
FX37 GT Premium	£49,040
FX30d GT Premium	£49,680
FX37 S	£47,000
FX30d S	£47,200
FX37 S Premium	£51,090
FX30d S Premium	£51,730
FX50 S Premium	£56,400

The full range of both petrol and diesel-powered FX models is now available
to order from an Infiniti Centre.