Skinny VW Bug always finds great parking

With this Skinny VW Bug you never have to worry about parking, because you can always find some space that will work. I am sure you could even park in a motorcycle parking spot if you wanted.

Scraptastic Art Cars Made in Junkyard - Very Cool Video

Here is a great video of a post I did some time ago about Mel and his Atomic Ride who turns scrap cars into what I call >Scaptastic" Works of Art. A video just came out that is a must see, produced by Channel 3 in Arizona, link.

Atomic Ride Art Car

Aero Car - Flying BMW by Dave Major

by Delta Niner
The AeroCar 600 is a 1959 BMW 600 turned airplane! Created by Dave Major, this little vehicle is as much airplane as it is car. It has a handmade propeller turned by a 12 volt electric motor, a tail from a real airplane and tires from a Beech Jet 400A. It even has a custom dash with a working altimeter, airspeed indicator and aircraft compass!The car is street legal and has a 600cc 2 cylinder air cooled BMW engine in the rear. The front of the car opens up to allow "the pilot" to enter the aircraft. Dave displays the car at a variety of car shows where it is quite popular. The Aerocar 600 also appears in many art car parades around the country.

Wrought Iron VW - Heavy Metal Bugs Hit the Road

via kodac
Joe Gomez of San Antonio, Texas, relates that "One day when I was in bed, I dreamt that I was building a wrought iron car. I woke up, ran to the kitchen and got some paper, and started sketching. My wife thought I was crazy.Everything on this car is handmade, nothing is factory. It took me a little bit better than nine months. The reason I chose the Volkswagen is because the motor's in back -otherwise I'd have all the fumes in front." The car brought more customers to Gomez's wrought-iron company than he could handle, and he soon retired. He later found out that two other people have made wrought-iron Volkswagen's! And here are some more of them


Photo and links below by iamthemaintrain

1. Metal Beetle, 2. ROT IRON, 3. vw iron work, 4. wedding car, 5. RotIron1, 6. Joe Gomez - wrought iron VW bug, 7. Air Conditioned Bug, 8. CIMG0027, 9. Rod Iron VW, 10. IMG_3719, 11. ROT IRON, 12. Wrot Iron VW Bug, 13. IMG_3717, 14. www.flickr.com/photos/udpride/2294504563/, 15. Day 203: No blind spots on this car...., 16. IMG_3764

Hamburger Harley - I want fries with that.

via

Harry Sperl has created one of his long time dreams.

The dream ... a hamburger motorcycle. That's right!! A Harley-Davidson trike fashioned to look like an exact replica of a hamburger; And this burger's got all the trimmings.

With cheese, pickles, onions, lettuce, and tomato, not to mention a side of fries and a shake, this bike is gonna make your mouth water when it goes by. You'll be able to see the steam coming off the medium rare beef patty, of course its rigged that way.

Airbrush artist Chris Cruz is responsible for the detailed paint work on the entire burger trike, from the melting cheese front tender, to the ketchup bottle shock covers.

Involved in every step of the production of the trike, Harry says, "This is just the beginning'. Harry intends to construct a hamburger golf cart and a hamburger drag car. But the next project,now that the trike is done, will be the Hamburger Museum, according to Harry.

The Hamburger Museum building will, of course, look like a double bacon cheeseburger, and will be the resting place for Harry's elaborate hamburger collection.

Harry owns over 500 burger replicas of all sizes and all kinds of materials from plastic to glass, and owns over 1000 burger related items like posters, pictures, and memorabilia from all restaurants. It would take Harry too long to build the museum by himself financially, so he is looking for a sponsor to help with his dream to display his collection.

And why has Harry been collecting burgers for over 7 years, he loves to eat them. To Harry hamburgers are an important part of his life. Originally from Germany Harry feels the hamburger is Americana. He loves burgers because they are an icon of the United States.

Harry still goes burger hunting at flea markets or anywhere there may be burgers. Harry currently displays his burgers in his home in Daytona Beach, and holds an open house once a year to show off his collection.

Copy from Hamburger Harley

1960 Cadillac Fin Attaché Case - Reusing 50's Cars

This photo of a 1960 Cadillac Fin Attaché Case was sent in by Kelly and was made by Steve Heller's Fabulous Furniture. On this amazing site you will find a ton more art cars made from classic 50's car parts, wood furniture and other sculpture made from assorted motorcycle parts.

1960 Cadillac Fin Attaché Case


Here is what he has to say about his art car work:

"I love wood and metal, but in my heart I'm a car freak.

The Cadillacs of the 1950's are the cars I love the most. I've collected dozens of them over the years, and have incorporated them into furniture and sculpture, hoping to keep them from going to the crusher (perhaps the most evil piece of machinery ever invented). I have made cedar chests, entertainment units, beds, lights, and other pieces of usable furniture out of these once rusting piles of metal. I am, after all, my fathers son."

- Steve Heller

1957 Buick Two-Tiered Bar

Mind Bending Spoon Cadillac by Uri Geller

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.

Art Car Transformed by talented high schoolers - Jeffrey "Hippie" Morris

Carolyn Marcantel sent me this write up about some very talented High Schoolers and their Art Car Project called Jeffrey "Hippie" Morris that they are getting ready for the Houston Art Car Parade May of 2009. The car is not complete but they have done a lot of work so far. It's neat to watch an art car in the process and I am looking forward to seeing the video and the completed pictures of the car. All the best to you all and great job.

The Automotive Collision & Repair students in the Hurst Euless Bedford Independent School District , a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas, are in the midst of transforming a 1983 Toyota pick-up into a "boat-extraordinaire" complete with a trailing shark. With an anticipated completion date of sometime in late April, the HEB ISD Art Car will make its debut this May in Houston's Annual Art Car Parade. The truck was donated to the students by the family of the late Jeffrey H. Morris, a local gifted musician and artist whoprematurely lost his life due to cancer on Halloween night, 2008.

The family wanted to do something meaningful with the pick-up that had originally belonged toJeffrey's grandfather. It was full of sentimental value, but otherwise, what do you do with a rusty,worn-thru pickup with over 300,000 miles it? Make it into an Art Car, of course! 

Carolyn Marcantel, a family friend of the Morris family and webmaster for HEB ISD, took the idea to auto collision teacher, Eric Stevens, and from there the dots have not stopped connecting as students, teachers, volunteers, and the business community have rallied around to make this special memorial project a reality. Because there is no budget for "art cars" in district funds, the project has been entirely dependent on donations in the form of metal, paint, vinyl and other supplies. It is also the goal of the newly established HEB ISD Art Car Committee to raise the necessary funds to ensure each student involved in the project be able to make the trip to Houston to participate in the parade. 

The entire four-month process is currently being documented on an HEB ISD district blog, complete with weekly updates and a plethora of photos to follow along as the project takes form. Video footage is also being logged for a documentary that will be produced after the parade. The ultimate theme of the boat will pay tribute to the lifestyle of Jeffrey "Hippie" Morris, to include fishing, guitars, peace signs and lots of psychedelic color.

Short Lived Art Car Lives for a Day - Poor Racer

Via Scoop

This Poor-Racer Art Car sculpture will exist for just 24 hours, - from midnight Saturday 14 March to midnight Sunday 15 March. Thats a longer life span than most flies.

The dramatically customised car is typical of Hirschhorn’s low budget transformations, and Poor-Racer has been developed specifically for Christchurch as part of the New Zealand-wide One Day Sculpture series. Hirschhorn says it references the global enthusiasm for car customisation evident in the lowered, louder, brighter and bolder DIY modifications seen parading city streets.

The Lizard King Art Car

The Lizard King Car is a gift to Steamboat Springs from Rebecca Bass, Waltrip High School, Texas". Evidently this woman has her students making art cars every year for the Houston Art Car Parade

Sculpture Made Entirely from Plastic Hubcaps

An artist collected thousands of lost hub caps from roadsides across Britain and turned them into spectacular animal sculptures - worth up to £3,000. Ptolemy Elrington, 43, works full-time in his studio crafting shiny dolphins, dogs and dragons from all grades of hub cap - from BMW and Mercedes to Ford and Volvo.Via Daily Mail

Nasty Cars Made from Raw Meat - And How to make a Meat Pirate Ship

I was again minding my own business surfing the internet when I run into an article on how to make yourself a pirate Ship entirely from MEAT on Geekologie. Then decided to Google, you guessed it, a Meat CAR and here is what I found: Two more meat cars, a meat shoe and my favorite the meat coffee cup. I am really sorry about this, but it's the most disgusting entry I have ever made on Art Car Cenral. Don't get me wrong I love "cooked" meat but this is really , really bad. I hope you come back to ACC when all this blows over.

Meat Car Plain


Meat Car with Garnish


Pirate Meat Ship


Meat Shoe Art


Meat Coffee Cup Art

Zen and the art of goofing off at work - Office Supply Art Car

If you ever need more ideas on how to spend your valuable time at work not actually working yet looking real busy with those TPS reports, this is the blog entry for you. It should be called "zen and the art of goofing off at work" and for good reason because its so easy to do with so many office supplies at your disposal. I am sure studies have shown that finding inner calmness is good for health and mental stability. When you get caught making say one of these office supply art cars, you just tell your boss you have high blood pressure from all the stress and that by doing so you lessen your risk of having to take sick time off thus strengthening the companies bottom line. Or you can just say its part of the creative process of the project you got roped into working on for your bosses big proposal next week. Regardless of what you say these little office supply art cars are simply adorable and deserve their place here on Art Car Central.

Office Supply Car


for more office supply ideas see MAKE article

Japanese Decotora Truck - Art Trucks in Disguise

I did an entry about this long time ago but didn't know much about these art rucks from Japan called Dekotora Trucks . These trucks are highly customized and are found in Japan often made to look like they’re straight out of the movie Transformers. These trucks are made for fun to be used as art trucks at special events.

Japanese Decotora Trucks



great post via off beat planet

Burly Pink Pedal Powered Tank that shoots Hotdogs

Burly Pink Pedal Powered Tank

More photos on flickr

This Burly Pink Pedal Powered Tank was built to freak people out at the 2ND annual Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby. It is a human-powered pink camouflage art tank vehicle that and can soak onlookers in water or vaporized hot dogs. This Pink Tank is the brainchild of a 30-year-old Philadelphia gearhead Vin Marshall who managed to persuade nine of his friends to build the 2,000-pound replica, complete with a functioning pneumatic cannon. The idea was to make this beast human powered so a computer model showed that it could fit hardware for six pedalers and yield about 1.5 horsepower. Using tires instead of tank treads they gave it bicycle-like gearing to get more power from less exertion. They used a salvaged rear differential (which allows wheels to spin independently) from an old truck axle made turning more efficient. It took them 11 days and $3,000 along with suspension and steering from an old Geo Metro and a Ford 150 pickup. The frame and axles were built from scratch, to ensure the tank would not buckle under the tank’s enormous weight. Six old 10-speeds provided the pedals, cranks and bottom brackets. The group replaced the bicycles' regular chain wheels with industrial-grade chains and sprockets to handle the increased load on the transmission.Official Web Site is Tango Echo


Here is also a video and the funny thing is that the there is a clip of the deathmobile from animal house
Episode 5 of the TE Labs Show: Team Pzkpfw

Discordia Art Car - Beautiful flamming car at night

Discordia Art Car in the Night

Discordia Art Car in the Day

Darrick Servis aka "D-Rock" is the creator of the Discordia Art Car seen here with lit propane powered mantles. During the day time the car looks a like a mass of tangle of wire mess, and thus the name Discordia. But at at night when its lit up, this art car is totally transformed into something else. Its no longer confusing to look at, but the glow of the light makes it peaceful and beautiful to look at. I have seen Darrick's art car at all the Art Car Fest here in the SF Bay Area and at night when he lights her up, becomes the best place to hand out.

Darrick is a man of many talents ranging from audio recording and programming, to open source programming, automobile mechanics, and music. A self-described tinker, he is well-versed in computer use, programming, HTML and database use as well. He has been involved with local radio station Davis KDVS since 1990.

In Sacramento, he may be best known for his collection of art cars which include Discordia, Whipped Cream and Other Delights, The Refridgerator Car, and The HorseCow/Brickhouse/Hellouts Caddy. Sometimes he plays with The Hellouts.

text via SacWiki

Wooden Art Car Called Gunner By Incredible Sculptor Michael Cooper

Wooden Art Car Called Gunner By Michael Cooper


Gunner Top View

Gunner Wooden Wheel Close Up

Gunner Pipe Close Up


Gunner Rear Disk Brakes Close Up

all photos via Michael Cooper Sculptor

This wooden art car called "Gunner" was created by amazing sculptor Michael Cooper who resides in Sebastopol CA. It was created in 2007 and made up from 65 different types of hard wood. is 120"x60"x39" and is owned by a private collector in Napa CA.

Not only does he live just down the street from me but I took my first 3D art class in college with Michael Cooper who inspired me to take more classes for the next four years that lead me into Graphic Design. He also encouraged us to start keeping art journals and 19 years later I have completed 23 of them.

Any ways Michael Cooper is simply amazing in the way he is able to combine wood and metal to create art that is simply mind boggling. I look at his works and cant for the life of me wrap my wind around his ability to twist and bend wood and metal in such a way. His art defies the laws of nature and has somehow tapped into a parallel universe where wood and metal naturally look this way.

Gunner is just one of the many pieces he has created and has been doing this since 1968. His portfolio is a must see, but we warned, give yourself plenty of time to browse and then come back for a second and third look. I guarantee you will never get tired of looking at his art.

Thanks Michael, its an honor to have you here on Art Car Central:)

Lego Jeep Art Car - On the road again headed to Maker Faire 09

LEGO Jeep at Maker Faire almost done

by bonniegrrl

LEGO Jeep Art Car with climbers

by Paula Wirth

LEGO Jeep Hood Close Up Art


I cant believe I have not posted the famous Lego Jeep Art Car on ACC. Here in all its glory entertaining kids of every age, who are all over it having fun. Legos are for everyone and Kevin Mathieu creator of the Jeep Lego Car has apparently not left his inner child behind. How awesome it is to be able to just pull over any time and play with your legos. Those famous Bay Area traffic jams seem less insane now that the lego car is on the road headed to this years Maker Faire.

Whirlygig Emoto - Battery Powered Steam Punk Electric Scooter

More photos via flickr

Tom Sepe is the creator of Whirlygig Emoto Art Bike, a Battery Powered Steam Punk Electric Scooter. And if you think that's a mouthful, lets break it down for you one piece at a time. Yes this is a scooter that looks like its steam powered but in fact runs on a couple of batteries. Its also made to look like something made in the early 19th century around the Victorian era called "Steam Punk", look it up because its too long to go into it. Tom is also a multidisciplinary artist, performer, video editor and chef who also worked on Draka the Dragon, a 140-ft Flaming Metal Dragon, and The Runamock Fishvan. He also does custom fabrication work that can be seen in clubs, restaurants and private homes throughout the Bay Area. Check out Whirlygig Emoto in action.

Pig Food Art Truck - The MaximusMinimus

Maximus Minimus or The Pig Food Art Truck is the brainchild of Kurt Beecher Dammeier up in seattle who also is the person behind Beecher’s Cheese and other Seattle food endeavors. Kurt hired local designer Collin Reedy to make it all happen and ended up up with a superb Pig Art Truck that deserves a place here on art car central. They serve pulled pork sandwiches but also have veg sandwich with fennel, onions, and bulgur for vegetarians and vegans who might be "pork challenged". I love the fact that it looks so industrial and heavy duty as if it was in one of those end of the world apocalyptic movies. I can see it now, the last remaining source of food in a land filled with mutants all trying to get in for a bite to eat. The truck is racing through barriers of steel and flaming cars. I see the flame thrower coming out of the nostrils and deadly gas out of the back end. And don't forget the two.50 caliber mounted inside the ears. With this bullet proof beauty there is new hope for the remnants of the "Fast Food Chain Wars" that destroyed our planet in 2025. Wow what a rant.