Prestigious Car: May 2009

NX-1337 Flame Thrower Art Car - SS Alpha Fox

NX-1337 Flame Thrower Art Car

NX-1337 Flame Thrower Art Car in action

by jurvetson
Don't know much about the NX-1337 Flame Thrower Art Car but It seems to be at every event. Its also the vehicle featured on the Maker Faire Button every hear so cudos to you NX-1337 Flame Thrower Art Car owner. Hopefully I will see you in about 9 hours and find out more about you.It sorta looks like a meter maid car out of a star treck movie or something. When you park your star ship illegally in dock 54 you get flamed.

Rock the Bike a Pedal Powered Music Stage by Fossil Fool

Paul the Fossil Fool's Bike

by xtracycleinc

Paul the Fossil Fool is the only MC who can rock a mic while he rides his bike. He is the inventor and producer of the Soul Cycle, an on-board audio system for bikes and the Down Low Glow, a neon lighting system that he designed and built. I met Paul two years ago at my first Maker Faire, where I saw his incredible bike for the first time. Last year he organized Rock The Bike a human powered music stage and this year will feature 10 local bands. Hey paul do you think I have enough links up for you? See you this weekend

Video from Last Years Rock The Bike

Scraper Bike - By Tyrone Stevenson Jr

Photos by Jacob Fenston

The scraper bike was birthed in Oakland by Tyrone Stevenson Jr., a 20 year old. AKA Baybe-Champ Da Scraper Bike King/Creator/Inventor. The idea came from cars that ride in Oakland called scrapers — basically an old model car, such as a Buick, that's painted a custom color to match the bright rims that are so big that they scrape the inside of the wheel well. Stevenson and his friends took those aesthetics and applied them to bicycles, fitting large wheels on small frames.The movement went viral when a video about scraper bikes when up and went global with 3 million views. Tyrone is right now working on getting his own store front and working in is his community to help keep the youth out of trouble and in a positive frame of mind.

"The Scraper Bike Movement seeks to capture the creativity of youth living within dangerous communities. It gives them a positive outlet that is fun, educational, and promotes healthy lifestyles. The Scraper Bike Movement offers youth a sustainable group of peers that is positive and motivating. They want to expand and enlighten young people's perspective on life through fixing and painting bicycles. Our goal is to support youth entrepreneurship and cultural innovation. The Scraper Bike Movement has been around for about 5-6 years and is now starting to get exposure worldwide."

-Tyrone Stevenson Jr

The Scraper Bikes will also be at this years Maker Faire

Mercedes Pens Art Car at Maker Faire 2009

Costas Schuler aka The Pen Guy is a graphic designer, artist, motivational speaker comedian, husband and proud father of three beautiful girls. Life has always been interesting but never quite the same ever since he started working on his Mercedes Pens Art Car now covered in 10,000 pens that was inspired from reading a book called "Art Cars" by author Harrod Blank. Now that the car is pretty much done he has set his sights higher and want to collect a million pens in the next five years to make more pen art.

Lunapillar Mutant Vehicle - Human Transport at Maker Faire

Lunapillar Mutant Vehicle

The Lunapillar is a mobile kinetic sculpture created by Jeff and Lisa Hannan insired by the whimsy of recycled and found materials. This mutant vehicle will transport groups of people around the Maker Faire this weekend in comfort and bliss, I can't to get my ride in style.

Hennepin Crawler by Krank-Boom-Clank

Hennepin Crawler at Burning Man

Hennepin Crawler at Handcar Regatta 2008

This four wheeled pedal powered monster is called the Hennepin Crawler and created by a group called Krank-Boom-Crank . They are a kinetic industrial arts collective located in Santa Rosa, CA, who made this giant mutant vehicle from about 90% recycled material, such as:

Discarded lawn furniture
VW Bug & antique Cadillac parts
Old wooden furniture
Industrial culvert pipe & aviation wire
Plenty of old bike bits
Other minor found parts

Maker Faire 2008 - Vehicles , Art Cars and More

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.

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.

Hand made bikes of a very unusual nature

Office Chair Bike

Wood Bike

Drift Wood Bike

Wood High Wheel

Compact Bike

Triangle Bike

Scooter Bike

photos via woodenbikes.com

Tom Kabat is a former serious cyclist who still loves bikes. An engineer, 30 year bike commuter and bike tourer (Trans America 1976), Tom was inspired to build bikes after seeing other great home built pedal machines at Kinetic Sculpture races and a wide variety of antique bikes on display in museums. I had the weird pleasure of riding on a few of these bike at the maker faire last year and trust me, they don't ride like a "regular" bikes. But the beauty of these strange contraptions is that you get to see your life flash before your eyes over and over again. Once you get the hand of it then you are free to ride around maker faire as much as you can take. I know I am going to try it again this year.

Neverwas Haul - Self-propelled 3-story Victorian House

Neverwas Haul at Burning Man

Its the week before Maker Faire and I want to dedicate this week to all the cool art vehicles that will be attending. The first is the Neverwas Haul a self-propelled 3-story Victorian House inspired by the works of Jules Verne. Its made from 75% recycled equipment and materials. It measures 24 feet long by 24 feet high and 12 feet wide and is built on the base of a 5th wheel travel trailer. It was created and designed by Shannon O'Hare, and will be appearing at this years Maker Faire in San Mateo California. Whats amazing about it is that it is mobile as you can see from the picture above. You can also go inside and be instantly transformed into another world.

Flower Art Car For Sale - Plenty of Grass, Plants and a Running Waterfall

Flower Art Car For Sale

Flower Art Car For Sale Waterfall Close Up

via

Wow, this Flower Art Car definitely takes best of flower show, a Ford Torus that was for sale last August in North Hollywood. It has a running waterfall, real live grass, plants, flowers, tiki torches, and a interior fish tank. Apparently its a great rental for the movie industry, business promotions, and parties and has received some media attention in the local news. When buying an art car its always good to have had media attention and have built a good reputation around town. The more famous the car the more you can expect to pay.

Wooden Art Car Called Gunner By Incredible Sculptor Michael Cooper

Wooden Art Car Called Gunner By Michael Cooper

Wooden Art Car Called Gunner By Sculptor Michael Cooper

Gunner Top View

Gunner Wooden Wheel Close Up

Gunner Michael Cooper wooden wheel closeup

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:)

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

Arvold Art Car - Budget mod back seat with a view

Arvold Art Car Side View

Arvold Art Car Outdoor Back Seat

via
This beauty is the creation of artist Isaac Arvold who painted this parked car in Uptown Minneapolis. In an urban environment this paint job is natures way of saying don't look at the body work to closely. I like the outdoor back sitting arrangement great for summer days but problematic in the winter time. If our buddy owns this you better call "shot gun" and hitch a ride inside rather than deal with the wind chill factor in the back seat. This car would be perfect for Southern California year around, maybe its time for that road trip.

Go on Long Road Trips with the Toilette Paper Van

Photo by Delta Niner

This fabulous TP covered van was seen and not heard at this years Houston Art Car Parade. I think this is the ultimate solution for those long road trips with a van load of kids on the way to Disney land or some camping trip. Its strictly a summer road trip vehicle or else it would just look really tacky if it got rained on. I am also glad that the TP is set up flap facing forward and that the van has an additional 4ply bumper cushion for ultimate safety and comfort.

The Vehicle of Enlightenment by Susan Jette

The Vehicle of Enlightenment art car in the day time

The Vehicle of Enlightenment art car at night by Susan Jette

Recently I got a post card placed on my Mercedes Pens Art Car and it was from Susan Jette and her amazing Vehicle of Enlightenment art car. There is a lot of stuff glued on the car and looks amazing in the day time. But at night with LED and L-Wire it is transformed into something entirely different seen here at Burning man. Susan told me in her email that the car is currently in limbo, in the shop needed some major engine work, so I guess this car is currently on hold until an art car "angel" comes to enlightened rescue. All the best.

Massive 1950 Dodge Power Wagon built by the "Rainbow Sheikh"

I was recently sent this video about the worlds largest 1950 Dodge Power Wagon built out in the middle of Arabian desert.It weighs about 50 tons, its 64 times the original size and was so big it had to be built in the desert from about 25 major parts made in Abu Dabi. It's big enough to live in and has a master bedroom in the main upstairs cab. The tail gait lowers with a motor to make a balcony with an incredible view of the desert.It has wheels from a large oil rig, windshield wipers from a ocean liner and headlights that cost $1,500 each. This behemoth was built by Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan aka The Rainbow Sheikh who is a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Leave with a Cuban Car Flotation Device

Photos via Floating Cubans

There is nothing that says "I [heart] Cuba" than a Cuban Car Flotation Device constructed for the sole purpose of exiting the country through shark infested waters. I don't understand why anyone would risk death to leave a country which such a great medical system. Or risk loosing an arm and a leg to get to America, a land full of mean people. Pictures are worth a thousand words and I have three thousand words that tell me, America is not such a bad place and Cuba is less than desireable.

Siamese Car Racing

What do you get when weld one car on top of the other? One guy on the bottom working the gas pedal and the guy on the second floor working the steering wheel? You get a British car racing sport called Siamese Car Racing. Warning! Extremely Funny.

Extinct Auto Industry - Or just a Dinosaur Mutant Vehicle

by dgjert

Why is it that I find the weirdest stuff late night? Does this Dinosaur Mutant Vehicle run on fossil fuel? Is this a picture of the American auto industry? Is this a prehistoric SUV that went extinct? All I know is that its a stark picture of things to come. Eat something your too skinny.

Jackson Polock Art Car using speed bumps

This painted car is an example of how not to go about making an art car. Letting your paint buckets explode on the way to your "art" studio is a recipe for disaster. Now if you were going the "Polock" look maybe, but in that case you would need a few more colors in the back of the car with the lids all loosey goosey. The final step would be to find a parking lot with speed bumps and then hit them at full speed. Who needs paint brush now?

Truck Painted with real flames - Ironic

You've seen them in your town, trucks or cars with painted flames on the front. But I bet you have never seen truck painted with real flames before. This truck is really hot now, how ironic.

Coconut Art Car - Gisele Holloway Photography

via Gisele Holloway Photography
Why not a coconut art car to pass the time? This baby won't go anywhere but sure does taste good when you crack it open. Picture taken by Gisele Holloway

One more pig car in pasadena

Candle Art Car - Tom Kennedy's Memorial Art Car Parade

Last Friday was Tom Kennedy's Memorial who tragically died in a surfing accident of the California coast in San Francisco. As I was looking through some of the pictures from that event I came across this wonderful candle art car by Tré Taylor who is seen here driving the car. The nice thing about this beauty is that it always has a fresh coat of wax and a squirrel hood ornament standing guard at all times.

Invisible Art Car - For the Shy Artists

via BBC

I recently found this invisible Art Car created by a design student with battered old Skoda painting it in such a way so it would merge with the surrounding parking lot outside her studio. Sara Watson, who is studying drawing at the University of Central Lancashire (Uclan), took three weeks to transform the car's appearance.

This invisible art car is perfect for those of you out there who want an art car without all the pesky attention you get when you transform a regular car into a work of art. The only problem is how do you find it in a crowed parking lot?

Swine Car Flu - Or just plain Pig Cars

VW Bus Pig Art Car

With all this swine flu going around I figured it was a matter of time before ACC got infected with the "Swine Car Flu". Before the flu these were just good-ol-fashion "pig art cars". The resent Swine Flue scare has probably made it hard for people to drive their Swine Cars around town without causing a panic. It's hard enough driving a regular art car without the added stigma of the Swine Flu over your head on your way to the grocery store. Hopefully when this blows over the world production of pig cars will resume again and we can can all enjoy bacon on wheels once again.

VW Bug Pig Art Car