Could you turn your car into a motorcyle if your life depended on it?
It was 1993 and a Frenchman by the name of Emile Leray was driving across northwestern Africa in his little Citroën 2CV. He met a roadblock and where he was told that no one could go any farther because of a military conflict in the area. Emile decided he would go off-road to get around the roadblock and continue on his way. While attempting his workaround, the 2CV’s frame was damaged. Emile was stranded, but lucky for him, he had his tools and some provisions. After twelve days in the desert and some very hard work, Emile had broken down his old Citroën and used the parts to make the motorcycle you see above.
Assuming you speak French, you can read more here.
Source: hackaday via Autoblog
See a Citroën 2CV after the jump.
Revel in the delightful absurdity of Project Sea Lion
The amphibious car has always meant mediocrity on land and at sea. In the same way that a multi-tool will always have tradeoffs when compared to a single-purpose tool, amphibious cars will never really be able to keep up with cars made exclusively for the road or actual speed boats. Still, it’s hard to top “my car is also a boat”. Granted this concept has been done to death, but this one seems special to me. I love the handmade look of it. It’s almost as though the Q Lab was testing the next Bond car, and it’s someone else’s job to make the modifications look discrete.
I doubt you can register it, but it is for sale. Assuming you don’t need it as a daily driver and have $259,500, it could be yours!
RIP Carroll Shelby
January 11, 1923 – May 10, 2012
American automotive icon Carroll Shelby has passed away at 89 years of age. The legacy he leaves behind is legendary, and he will be missed.
Buick to revive the Riv?
People my age and younger remember the Buick Rivera as one of Old GM’s many who-gives-a-shit mobiles, if they remember it at all, but for a long time, the Buick Riviera was a great car to have. The Buick Rivera was the embodiment of the personal luxury car segment that boomed in the US from the postwar era until the early 1970s. For the uninitiated that means two doors, four seats, a luxuriously appointed interior and a big, powerful V8 that almost always powered the rear wheels. In many ways they were the muscle car’s luxurious cousin. Other cars from that segment include the Ford Thunderbird, Studebaker Avanti and Rambler Marlin. These days, there’s not really anything like that in America that the middle class can afford, but for comparison’s sake, you’ll get the general idea if you imagine a Mercedes CL with a Ford Taurus price tag. Technically, the personal luxury segment lived on past the early 70s, but by that point, performance has been abandoned and luxury─or at least giving people the impression of luxury─ emphasized.
Anyhow, GM has just trademarked the Riviera name again. Last time GM used the name, it was for a 2007 concept car. This trademark may or may not point to the creation of a new model that would resurrect the storied Riviera nameplate. However, given GM’s renewed focus on Buick and the brand’s success in China, I wouldn’t bet against GM pulling a Lazarus on the Riv.
From GM Inside News via Autoblog
F#@%ing why?!?
Some things simply shouldn’t be, but that rarely matters when someone sees an opportunity to make money. In that vein, Lamborghini is teasing a crossover utility vehicle that will debut this Monday at the Beijing Auto Show. Some are predicting it will be called the Urus because off of an earlier report. They’re probably right, but based on their use of Spanish names and the “Revolutionary Presence” tagline, I’m going to go out on a limb and predict it will be called the Revolución. I’m probably wrong, but it’s just a feeling.
I don’t want to live on this planet anymore.
The first all-electric pace car in NASCAR
Later this month at the Richmond 400 NASCAR will make history by having their first all-electric pace car. The pace car will be a Ford Focus in its electric configuration. Interesting that a sport so resistant to change is now being used to sell EVs in places where EVs take a lot of heat as political bulls eyes.
Ford Focus will be first all-electric pace car in NASCAR – Autoblog
Gas? Where we’re going, we don’t need gas!
Late last year, the DeLorean Motor Company of Texas showed the world an all electric DeLorean and announced plans to work with Epic EV to put electrified DMC 12s in to production by 2013. While the car they demoed was impressive, a production version seemed farfetched enough to go in to my “I’ll believe it when I see it” column.
Well, I’ve seen it now. The electric DMC 12 is at the New York Auto Show, and Autoblog has all the details. Spoiler alert: it’s awesome.
Delorean Electric surprises in New York, will cost $95,000 in 2013 – Autoblog
NYC, meet your Taxi of Tomorrow
The Ford Crown Victoria had been the car of choice for taxi drivers for decades, but when production of the old Panther-platform ended, cab companies everywhere were left looking for an alternative. After a five year search and finalists from Ford and Turkey’s Karsan, the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission has chosen the Nissan NV200 as its Taxi of Tomorrow. Amenities in this Taxi of Tomorrow include more room for people and luggage, better lighting, a panoramic roof, front and rear airbags, climate control for back-seat passengers, antimicrobial upholstery, charging ports for electronics, and an active carbon headliner to absorb some of that notorious taxi funk.
Here in California, though, the old Crown Vics have already started being replaced. Given that Nissan’s NV200 just revealed its production form yesterday and won’t be on the road until late 2013 as a 2014 model, it hasn’t been an option up to this point. Instead, taxi services have been going with the Ford Transit Connect. Even in New York, the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission has approved the Ford Transit Connect for use as a taxi, and it’s starting to show up on the streets. I can’t help but wonder if late 2013 will already be too late for the NV200 to take hold of the taxi industry, but then again, that’s not an industry I know that much about.
What kind of taxis do you see when you travel? Tell me in the comment section.
Nissan to Revive Datsun Brand
In 1986 Datsun became Nissan here in the States, but now the Datsun brand is set to make a return to the land of the living. According to a statement made to the press by the firm’s chief executive on Tuesday, Nissan Motor Co’s revived Datsun brand is aimed at emerging markets like Russia, India and Indonesia. You can expect to see Datsuns on roads in a variety of global markets beginning in 2014. A brief Datsun history lesson and news articles detailing Datsun’s resurrection can be found after the break.
DeLorean Time Machine to be Restored to Museum Quality
A team of dedicated Back to the Future fans with a little help from Bob Gale co-creator co-writer and co-producer of the Back to the Future trilogy.
Read more about what’s happening at BTTF.com.
Flickr Photos
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