That’s probably a VW Golf spliced onto a modified Russian GAZ 69 Goat.
[Found here.]
Tag: vehicle
Paratripper
“Don’t worry Ma’am, I’m from the Internet.”
It’s brilliant. I’m guessing it’s a methane collector connected to a burner to provide lift to the parachute. I’d name the single-user gas-fired flying machine “Jack The Ripper.”
[Image w/caption found here.]
Elie Aghnedes’ Contribution To The World: The 1954 Rhino
Greek-American inventor Elie Aghnides amassed a fortune coming up with clever inventions.
One of his more unusual creations was the “Rhino,” an amphibious four-wheeled vehicle designed to patrol and defend the vast roadless wastes of Alaska and Canada.
Weighing in at five tons, the four-wheel-drive machine could hit speeds of 45 miles per hour on the highway.
Defining features were its massive front wheels, which had six-foot diameters and weighed 1,500 pounds each. Their hollow, hemispherical shape gave the Rhino its unique all-terrain capability. As the vehicle sank into mud, sand, or other soft surfaces, the bearing surface of the ribbed wheels increased, giving it greater traction.
The Rhino’s massive wheels and low center of gravity also meant it could tip 75 degrees to either side without toppling over.
In the water, the hollow wheels provided flotation, while a rear water jet provided propulsion at speeds of about four miles per hour.
The Marmon-Herrington Company of Indianapolis built one prototype of the Rhino for demonstration. The United States military declined to purchase any, reportedly out of concern that the wheels could be punctured by gunfire, sinking the vehicle [via].
Not only could it float, it had such a low center of gravity that it was nearly impossible to overturn. Here it is in action:
Elie Aghnides didn’t stop there. He created another prototype amphibious vehicle named “The Cyclops,” but for some reason the prototype construction failed. Aghnides won a $120.5K settlement with The Marmon Group in 1972.
I want one, if only to crash Burning Man without paying.
[Images from here, here and here. Found here.]
1952 Ariel Square Four Wood Racer
More than one person actually built one of those vehicles, and one of the cars is in a museum in St. Louis, Missouri (oh, and check out that 1956 prediction of a Smart Phone).
We bet that most people are only faintly aware that the Ariel motorcycle brand existed at all. There was a time, though, when the British company was a pioneer in new and exciting technologies, innovating where others were content to soldier forward with tried-and-true methods. In fact, its eventual failure was due in part to its futuristic designs. For instance, Ariel introduced the world to its Square Four motorcycle in 1931. Named for its oddly-shaped engine architecture that placed four cylinders in a box pattern, the Square Four was completely unlike anything else offered at the time and used two sets of pistons mated at the flywheel inside a single engine block that was capped by a single head casting. Different to say the least, but ultimately pretty successful for Ariel, which went on to sell over 15,000 of the bikes before production ceased in 1959.
An interesting home-built hotrod has just shown up on eBay that mates this classic engine to a custom wooden body designed by – get this – a boat builder. The vehicle itself was inspired by a Modern Mechanix Magazine article from the ’50s and features a French connection by way of suspension components from a Citroen. Cadillac bullet-shaped tail lights may look a little out of place, but are nothing if not period correct.
[Found here, via here. Related post here.] Oh, and did you spot that “Phone of Tomorrow? The prediction wasn’t far off. Link at the link.
Babe Magnet Grafts
THIS should be entirely awesome once the grafts heal. Jack it up, flare the fenders, give it some oversize wheels with custom baby moons and paint it flat black; then tint the windows, toss in some neon and a sound system that plays nothing but R&B and funk instrumentals, and the pavement will rock.
[Found here.]
[UPDATE! Here’s another view!]
Red Bonemobile
After yesterday’s abhorrent fiscal atrocity that saddled our children and grandchildren with an unwarranted debt that they are going to be paying for for the rest of their lives, I can’t think of a better post than this to take my mind off of it for a day.
Here’s the car they’ll be able to afford. It runs on crap, 5 lbs. per mile. The majority of the U.S. Congress is already a public crap mine, so the fuel should be plentiful for decades to come.
[Found here.]
The 1932 Helicron: Steampunk Hoax?
These images were sent to Tacky Raccoons HQ by a genuine decent sort via email. The colors and the concept caused my antennae to quiver “FRAUD!” But I’m not so sure. Snopes has nothing on it, yet, and there are too many google links to the 1932 Helicron.
Either it’s a VERY elaborate hoax, or it’s the real deal. We think it’s the latter.
At least there is video proof that it works in concept, but it gives the term “roadkill” a more gruesome visage…
Anyone recobanize what airplane the cowling came from?
[Tip ‘o the tarboosh to Dan S. who sent the images via email.]
I WANT THIS.
In daylight it just screams “Outta My Way, Butthead!”
But at night, it whispers, “Vaporizer Ignition Sequence Activated.
T minus ten and counting…”
“Check it out at night. This baby can be driven from a seated or standing position, fully envelops five in an interior that’s cozily lit and decoratively carpeted, has a premium sound system, and a centrifugal clutch. Then there’s the external rust patina—better call Maaco right now, because next year this color’s going to be impossible to obtain. Oh, right…not licensed for use on public roads, and the whopping price tag does not include shipping and handling. It’s going to take a lot of handling to get this to your place. On the other hand, it could become your place with just a few minor alterations.”
Before I order it, I need to verify if the water cannon is included or if it’s an after market add-on. I still want it for neighborhood protection. Couldn’t verify the size of the cooler either, but I understand that the hologram projector is a standard option.
[Images and italicized description from here. Buy it for me, here.]
Heavy Weather Station
Although this was found on a Russian website, it came with this attached description:
The Tornado Intercept Vehicle just east of Kearney, NE, on I-80, May 29, 2008. The TIV is a vehicle specifically designed for storm chaser Sean Casey and follows Josh Wurman’s Project Rotate radar crew, currently being filmed for a documentary by the Discovery Channel.
Tacky Raccoons 