Saturday, February 28, 2009
Check out this for a cool car mod...glow in the dark paint job...Nice!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Here is where art meets science, meet goofing off at a low bridge as a driver runs into it with a double decker bus.
This custom-built 1974 Cadillac which adorns 5,000 pieces of silverware is the creation of Uri Geller, one of the world's most famous spoonbenders. And 1000 of these spoons and forks were given by the children from around the world, and some of the treasured pieces were owned, or used by famous personalities. Some of the pieces on this custom-built 1974 Cadillac were arched by Uri Geller using his "brainpower", while the remaining were artfully shaped by his friend Avi Pines, a famous Israeli sculptor. I cant vouch for the "mind bending" part but the car sure looks really cool.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Pimp my cardboard Ride
These guys have it all, the cars, the rims, the crazy mad looks and of course the car babe off to the left. The only thing they don't have is a drivers license, but when they get them, watch out!!!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A Taiwanese pensioner covers every inch of his four vehicles with virtuous words from Buddhist texts.
Li Zongxiong, 71, a workshop owner, started to 'tattoo' his car, two trucks and a motorbike nine years ago.
His words virtually cover the vehicles, including the mirrors, windscreens, bodywork, doors, wheels - and even the number plates.
Li admitted his hobby had caused him trouble: "Passers-by thought I was doodling on the cars of others, and police found it hard to believe that someone would cover his own vehicle in writing," he explained.
Li, who has only an elementary school education, said most of the words were taken from Buddhist texts.
"I felt public morality was deteriorating, so I started to write some words of virtue on my vehicles," he told China News Network.
"Each day I write something down. If I spot a place where the writing has worn away, I write it again."
Li?s son, Li Jiasheng, said the family now forbids his father to buy new vehicles, since they know he will write all over them - no matter how much they cost.
But his grandson has promised that when he grows up and makes some money he will buy him a big bus to write on and indulge his hobby.
via ananova
Where have you been all my life Atomic Dog Art Car!!!!
An art car extension to the Mothership Connection, "The Atomic Dog, One Nation Under Groove" pays tribute to musician George Clinton and his funkadelic band, Parliament. Band members and dogs made of mosaic mirror shards mingle with beaded flying saucers, guitars, drums, and lots of chrome pipes while one big mirrored dog guards the roof.
Led by veteran art car artist and teacher, Rebecca Bass, the 2006 Art Class at Waltrip High School created this award winning art car in four short months. Students worked after hours, on weekends, and over spring break to craft this stunning masterpiece.
Stories about this amazing vehicle spread across the country and eventually reached George Clinton. In June of 2006, funkadelics star George Clinton came to Houston to autograph the car. George and his entourage were very impressed with The Atomic Dog and its creators. They all became instant art car fans!
via
Mansory, car tuner from Germany, has revealed its second appearance kit for the Mercedes-McLaren SLR Renovatio with a two-tone, black and white, color scheme.
The Black and White Mansory Mercedes-McLaren SLR Renovatio is equipped with lighter components such as the ultra-light forged wheels and lighter carbon fiber body parts to reduce the weight.
The front apron was designed to channel air to the intercoolers while the rear apron with an integrated diffuser provides additional downforce. The car is also equipped with new side skirts and rear wheel arch extensions.
Inside, the car receives leather and carbon fiber trim and new aluminum pedals and illuminated door tread plates. The Black and White Mansory Mercedes-McLaren SLR Renovatio is powered by a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 engine that produces 700 hp (522 kW) and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque. The power increase is made possible with the installation of Mansory custom supercharger, high flow exhaust system and a reprogrammed ECU.
With the power increase, the Renovatio is two tenths faster than the stock model from 0 to 100 km/h with the top speed of 340 km/h.
There is more to motoring than just driving to and from work and renewing your car insurance. England has a proud motoring heritage and therefore boasts one of the most comprehensive ranges of interesting motor experiences that are great for days out with friends and family. Here are my top five:
5. Military Tank Driving
Ask yourself the following: is your Renault Clio still exciting you? Aren’t you sick of the lack of turning circle that your Volvo estate can manage?
Well then, why not try a day out driving an actual 15 tonne tank?! Also included in this thrilling day out in Surrey are such activities as quad biking, 4x4ing, and even a bacon sandwich when you arrive in the morning.
Visit Action Days Out for Tank Driving
4. Beaulieu
Beaulieu is situated in the heart of the New Forest in Southern England.
Alongside the abbey and the James Bond museum, it is also home to the National Motor Museum which features a replica 1930s garage, an exhibition of Ducati motorbikes, and a ride that takes you on a journey from the birth of the wheel, and on into the future of motoring.
Visit the Beaulieu website
3. Coventry Transport Museum
Similarly, Coventry Transport Museum boasts a huge collection including over 200 cars, commercial vehicles and buses. Exhibitions change frequently with the focus currently being on custom bikes, including those owned by Charley Boorman.
In March, the museum will be hosting a Doctor Who exhibition.
Visit the Coventry Transport Museum website
2. Superdriver Experience
This experience gives the wannabe 4x4 driver the opportunity to let rip in a variety of vehicles over a huge terrain that has been purpose-built. You need your wits about you as you navigate through mud splashes, down vertical drops, and into huge craters.
There is also an award ceremony at the end of the day and the skills you learn are said to stay with you for the rest of your life.
1. Supercar Driving Experience
A day out driving supercars is a truly special experience. Try out such beautiful machines as the Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Aston Martin at high speed round the lap. Later, take the passenger seat with a professional who will really push the vehicle to its limit!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Across 46 years, 22 films and six leading actors, the James Bond film legacy has featured some of the world’s most luxurious and iconic sportscars. From the signature Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger to the Lotus Esprit Turbo in For Your Eyes Only, 007 has spared no expense in choosing his wheels. To celebrate the release of the Quantum of Solace, here’s a list of the 007 hottest cars from the James Bond Legacy…
001: the BMW Z8
In the 1999 film The World Is Not Enough, James Bond piloted this bad little Beemer before it was officially produced by BMW. Apparently, those are the kind of perks that accompany a license to kill. During filming, the crew actually used a series of working mock-ups of the Z8 that vary a bit from the official production car. After the first model rolled out of the factory, all 5,703 of the original BMW Z8’s sold out, going for a starting price of $128,000.
002: the Alfa Romeo 159
The Alfa Romeo 159 is among the latest James Bond sportscars, as featured in the 2008 Bond film Quantum of Solace. This one, however, isn’t driven by 007– but a chase scene rival pitted against Bond’s Aston Martin. During the production of the film, the set was closed down due to a third and terrible accident where a stuntman driving the 159 crashed into a wall. The stuntman was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he lay in a coma for days– the same hospital in which he was treated for injuries in shooting the same scene days prior. If you perform your own stunts and want a piece of the Bond villainy action, you can get your hands on an Alfa Romeo 159 for around $33k before import costs…
003: the 1971 Mustang Mach-1
In 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever, 007 took to the streets of Las Vegas in a Ford Mustang Mach-1– in hot pursuit of the Las Vegas Police. Diamonds was Sean Connery’s last film, but also the first film in history to feature the now-famous “two-wheeled stunt”, where a car is lifted off the ground, balancing on two wheels on one side of the car. The ‘71 Mach-1 featured plenty of muscle in its 429hp V8 option, which will fetch you around $25,000 well-restored on today’s market.
004: the Aston Martin DBS
Bond’s Aston Martin finally got itself a facelift. Like the BMW Z8, the Aston Martin DBS was featured in a Bond film before it hit the public. This $265,000 Aston Martin features a 6.0L V12 pushing 510 horses to hit 62mph in 4.3 seconds. The DBS was pitted against that Alpha Romeo 159 above, and this one didn’t escape without bruises either. During filming, a stuntdriver reportedly lost control of the Aston Martin– which wound up in Lake Garda in Italy…
005: the Toyota 2000GT
Produced between 1967 and 1970, the Toyota 2000GT was built in very limited numbers, designed to show that Japanese autos could compete with the sportscars of Europe. Apparently James Bond took notice, as the 2000GT was famously featured in 1967’s You Only Live Twice. However, Bond’s 2000GT had a slight problem– Sean Connery was too tall to fit in the Toyota, so a convertible version was made to compensate. While the original 2000GT sold in the U.S. for $6,800, it can be found at auction today for as high as $200,000.
006: the Lotus Esprit
In 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me featuring Roger Moore, the Lotus Esprit became one of Q’s most impressive sportscar mods. In a long chase scene between 007 and the infamous Bond-villain Jaws, Bond’s Lotus Esprit makes a cunning escape by transforming into a fully-diveable submarine. While a submersible version featuring that bikini blonde above are not available today, a similar Lotus Esprit could be originally purchased for around $16,800 at the dealer in 1977.
007: the Aston Martin DB5
Last but certainly not least– the original Bond-mobile, the 1963 Aston Martin DB5. In the 1964 film Goldfinger, 007 was provided with a weaponized DB5 by Q Branch himself. Aston Martin, however, wasn’t so keen on the deal. After much negotiating, Aston Martin finally agreed to a product placement deal that made automotive history for the brand. The DB5 was the latest-and-greatest sportscar to be produced in the UK, initially selling for $13,000. Its inline six engine produced 282hp to hit 62mph in 8.1 seconds. Bond’s version, however, was outfitted with an array of gadgets from smokescreens to heavy machine guns. Its not the weaponry that makes the Aston Martin DB5 a legend– it is its design which symbolizes the class and cool that has made James Bond the legend he is today. If there is one car that fully explains what StyleCrave is about, you’re looking at it, front and center.
Here are 9 of the coolest cars that graced movie screens over the years.
Aston Martin: A long association between 007 and the marque began on screen with the silver DB5 that appears in 1964’s GoldFinger. Although Bonds company car was replaced by a BMW for a bit, the Aston Martin made a strong return in Casino Royale and now the new DBS can be seen in the upcoming “Quantum of Solace.”
Station Wagon: Remember the days before SUV’s and Cross-Overs where in every driveway? Station wagons were coined with the term “Grocery Getter”, but what really put this car on the map was it’s amazing ability to fly 100 feet through the air while seating 7 comfortably in the 1983 classic “Vacation!”
Mini Cooper: Although the original Mini Cooper has a loyal fan base, the new Mini has really taken off in America with its appearance in the modern day iteration of the classic “The Italian Job”
Shelby Mustang: Ok, so Touchstone’s 2000 movie “Gone in 60 Seconds” made this car popular to the masses, not the 1974 Movie. Why? Because the 1974 movie did not sport a Shelby or Angelina Jolie. Unfortunately, Ford is spitting out Shelby Mustangs like horny rabbits and completely killing the elite-ness of what a Shelby Mustang truly is.
Dodge Challenger: Dodges Pony Car stormed on the scene in 1971 in the cult classic “Vanishing Point”. Delivery driver Kowalski had made a wager to deliver the car from Colorado to San Francisco in 15 hours which set the stage for one of the most intense car chases to hit the big screen.
Nissan Skyline: Although the Skyline made it’s big screen debut in the movie “2 Fast, 2 Furious”, Nissan’s flagship was made popular years earlier in Sony’s mega selling video game “Gran Tourismo” which is very much responsible for today’s “Now Sold in America” Nissan GT-R.
Dodge Charger: One of the most recognizable cars of all time finally made it’s big screen debut in the movie version of the popular television series “The Dukes Of Hazzard”. The Charger did make an appearance in the movie Bullitt, but was over shadowed by the next car on the list.
Mustang: Wow, Steve McQueen put Ford on the map when performance was all the rage in 1960’s America. The 1967 Mustang used in “Bullitt” was the first year ford used the “Big Block” in their pony car. Sporting 390 cubic inches, the Mustang was put to the test in one of the most memorable car chases in movie history. In 2001, Ford began production of the “Bullitt Mustang” for sale in the US in memory of the McQueen classic and even used movie clips to help promote the sales.
DeLorean: Made popular in the movie “Back To The Future”, this stainless steel, no paint needed car was not what it seemed. With it’s 170hp, getting the DeLorean to that 88mph mark needed to travel through time would definitely require a flux capacitor or at least a mile of real estate . Contrary to popular belief, the Gull Wing doors would not help the car fly.
The Alfa Romeo Competizione is a sports car produced by Italian automaker Alfa Romeo. It was first presented as a concept car at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show and later released for sale for the 2007 model year.
The car uses a modified Maserati platform and powertrain (Maserati 4200, GranTurismo) and features a Ferrari/Maserati derived 90 degree cross-plane dry-sump lubricated 4.7-litre V8 assembled by Ferrari.
The top engine performance figures may be summarized as a maximum power of 331 kilowatts (450 PS) at 7000 revolutions per minute, a peak torque of 480 newton metres (354 lbf·ft) at 4750 rpm (80% at 2500 rpm) with an engine redline of 7500 rpm and rev limiter of 7600 rpm.[7] The V8 engine has variable timing in intake valves and compression ratio of 11.3
The six–speed transaxle gearbox has computerized gear selection by means of levers behind the steering wheel and may be used in Manual-Normal; Manual-Sport; Automatic-Normal; Automatic-Sport and Ice modes. The gearbox can shift in 175 milliseconds when using Sport mode. The 8C also has a limited slip differential.
It is fitted with specially developed 20 inch tyres: 245/35 at the front and 285/35 at the rear, fitted on perforated rims in fluid moulded aluminium. The 8C brakes have been called "phenomenal" by Road & Track magazine, with a stopping distance of 32 metres (105.0 ft), when travelling at an initial speed of 97 kilometres per hour (60 mph).
The official top speed is announced to be 292 kilometres per hour (181 mph) but it might be higher, with estimations that it could be around 306 kilometres per hour (190 mph) according to the Road & Track magazine. An Alfa Romeo engineer also stated that it is faster than announced top speed.