Auto Sources

Filed under: Trends, Etc.

Click on the above image for a pic gallery

Whether or not the foam-skinned vehicle based on a Mercedes-Benz got your motor going yesterday, you have to give the artist credit for painstakingly completing not one, but two of these polyurethane-plated projects. Thanks to a reader’s tip, we found this BMW 6 Series-based interpretation wearing the same brilliant red paint, flashy 30-inch dubs, and dual triangulated exhaust tips.

While the sculptor has kept much of the Bangle-butt intact, the overall aesthetics on this execution are much more pleasing to the eye. A glance inside indicates this attempt isn’t as thorough as the other (the interior appears merely painted, not sculpted). However, as witnessed by the junk in the door-mounted map pocket, this one is getting some use on the streets too. Thanks for the tip Tarakonaz!

[Source: Omnitel.autos]

Filed under: Sports/GTs, Lamborghini

Click the Islero for a high-res gallery

For a vehicle fan it’s always cool to be wandering around somewhere and stumble across an extremely rare automobile. That’s especially when it’s out on the road in a most unlikely of locales. My wife and I took a tiny road trip this weekend in the new Saab Turbo X (you’ll be hearing more about that soon!) to Yellow Springs, Ohio. For those unfamiliar with Yellow Springs, it’s a small town northeast of Dayton that’s home to Antioch College and Dave Chappelle. As we were walking to get some dinner, I noticed a very red coupe with an extraordinarily long hood. It looked vaguely familiar, but I knew I had never seen one in the metal before. I grabbed my camera and started shooting away. It turns out the automobile was a GT known as the Lamborghini Islero. Isleros were built in 1968 and 69 following the end of the 400GT run and preceding the Jarama. Unfortunately for Lamborghini, the rather sedately-styled Islero did not have the flash of the gorgeous Miura that debuted in 1969 and it never sold in big numbers. According to Lamborghini, only 225 were built including 70 “S” models in 1969 with slight body changes and a more luxurious interior. The Islero was propelled by Lamborghini’s 4.0L 350hp V12. If the owner of this automobile sees this post please get in touch and share the story of your car.

Filed under: Time Warp, Coupes, Auction Action, Ford, Motorcycles

Click above for more images of the 1923 V-Twin powered Model T

Ford’s ubiquitous Model T has seen its fair share of modifications over the years. Often powered by an engine other than what was originally designed for the huge engine bay, countless variations of the hot rod theme have made Henry Ford’s original mass-market vehicle a highly desirable machine to customize. This day, we have stumbled across an entirely new way to power the T, and it’s just too cool not to share. Behind the custom spiderweb grille of this 1923 Ford Model T is a 1200cc V-Twin engine taken from the frame rails of a Harley-Davidson Sportster. Considering how tiny this vehicle is apt to weigh, the air-cooled twin cylinder mill with Screaming Eagle mods is probably plenty powerful to get the automobile out of its own way. The owner used quite a few HD cues in the overall design and as many original parts from the donor bike as was possible. Note the dual rear shocks suspending the rear axle — those are from the Sportster, as well as the foot pegs which now see duty as the gas and brake pedals. Nice work.

[Source: eBay Motors via The Kneslider]

Filed under: Economy, Minivans/MPVs, Japan, Hatchbacks, Honda, Lifestyle

Click the pic above for fur friendly Honda images.

Many folks consult their best friend before making a large buy. Since the dog is known as man’s ideal friend, owners tend to cater towards their pets when buying a new automobile. In the United Says, that means dog lovers often end up with trucks, SUVs or crossovers. However, in Japan, efficient use of space is a bit more of a priority. That’s why Honda Japan developed the Honda Dog website. It all started with the Honda Vamos Dog Edition, but has since expanded to include other offerings. While the site features Honda’s pet friendly accessories such as strap-in carriers and mats, it also shows how easily your Corgi will fit into your Fit.

Honda Dog touches upon all dog owner concerns. There are pictures showing how you can arrange pet crates in a variety of Honda cars. It even provides dimensions on the best entryway for your small to full-size tongue-wagger. Worried about all that pet hair or soggy dog odor? Honda Dog contains analysis on the ease of pet hair cleanup from car interiors. It also indicates how Honda’s advanced deodorization filter can reduce allergens and undesired smells. For some reason, the site even finds it necessary to point out how toys and water bottles fit nicely into the interior compartments such as the glove box, in case you could not figure it out for yourself. View the gallery to see a sampling of what Honda Dog has to offer.

[Source: Honda Dog]

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Supercars, Audi

In the world of substitute power, not all fuels are created equal. This fact is true with ethanol, where the alcohol can be made using fairly inefficient processes, some of which involve corn, or using more advanced cellulosic methods which don’t use a foodstock. Diesel too can come from either petroleum or from non-dino sources. You’re probably aware that Audi has been assaulting various race tracks using its advanced diesel powered race automobiles, specifically its two-time Le Mans-winning R10 TDI, which has so far been running on what’s known as gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel fuel. With the 24 Hours of Le Mans just around the corner, Audi and Shell, the fuel provider for Audi’s race team, have announced that the team will be blending a small amount of biomass-to-liquid (BTL) fuel into its secret mixture. Shell’s BTL fuel is made from materials such as wood chips and will make its on-track debut on Sunday, June 1, as Audi’s R10 TDI begins its official Le Mans testing.

[Source: Audi]

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