Tag Archives: ETC

Automobiles

ETC: Artist imagines eerie world where cars have no wheels

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By John Neff

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The wheel ranks right up there with the telescope and four-slice toaster in the pantheon of inventions that have moved humankind forward. But what if a circle in three dimensions had never occurred to anyone, and we all had just moved on without it? Perhaps we’d be driving around in Lucas Motors Landspeeders with anti-gravity engines. Or maybe we’d have the same cars we do today, just without wheels.

That’s the thought experiment that seems to have led French photographer Renaud Marion to create his six-image series called Air Drive. The shots depict cars throughout many eras of motoring that look normal except for one thing: they have no wheels. The models used include a Jaguar XK120, Cadillac DeVille (shown above), Chevrolet El Camino and Camaro, and Mercedes-Benz SL and 300 roadsters.

Perhaps one day when our future becomes our past, you’ll be able to walk the street and see with your own eyes the rust and patina of age on our nation’s fleet of floating cars. Until then, Monsieur Marion‘s photographs will have to do.

Artist imagines eerie world where cars have no wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

ETC: Russians create Toyota Land Cruiser ice sculpture with full interior

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By Chris Tutor

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The Toyota Land Cruiser is a pretty hot model around the world. But it took the Russians to make it cool. We have few hard, cold facts and only small slivers of information about these photos, but it seems the icy Toyota was part of the International Snow & Ice Festival in Perm, Russia.

Artists took a huge chunk of ice and shaved it down to the temporary art installation you see here. The sub-zero SUV comes complete with a full interior accessed by the (permanently frozen open) driver’s side door. The steering wheel and seats look to be upholstered in, well, dirt. With the back seats removed, the frigid four-door is a pretty slick ride in which to chill out.

Just a thought, but wouldn’t a Toyota Tundra have been more appropriate? See the gallery for more photos.

Russians create Toyota Land Cruiser ice sculpture with full interior originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

ETC: Euro classics buff book <i>GranTurismo</i> kicks off on Kickstarter [w/video]

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By Seyth Miersma

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GranTurismo pilot magazine issue

While the launch of a new, car-based website is rarely newsworthy – of the hundreds we’re tipped about each year, most are cesspools of spam or vanish in short order. However, the debut of an enthusiast-facing print magazine has actually become a pretty rare occurrence. So when we first caught wind of GranTurismo, we were intrigued enough to take a deeper look.

GranTurismo, as the name hints, will cover European makes and models, both old and new, with the depth afforded by a staff that has spent much of their careers to this point doing just that. The mix will also include motorcycle content in the same Euro genre, as well as motorsports reporting and a “Kit” section that will offer up various watches and driving shoes that we can’t afford (advertisers love that stuff). And, while the tradition for this kind of sporting and heritage book is well established in British titles like Classic Cars and Motor Sport (to name but two), GranTurismo will be written and published right here in the US. The small team of editors is based in Chicago and led by Bryan Joslin – a name some of you might recognize from Motive, Kilometer and VW Vortex.

We’ve seen the pilot issue of the print mag, and it looks and feels genuinely lovely. A non-traditional horizontal layout gives the photography room to breath, with plenty of space to display cars in the way we see them in real life. What’s more, if print-and-ink publishing just isn’t your thing, GranTurismo also plans to offer digital versions for both your iPad and Android tablet.

Check out the GranTurismo Kickstarter page and watch the promo video below for more information, too.

Continue reading Euro classics buff book GranTurismo kicks off on Kickstarter [w/video]

Euro classics buff book GranTurismo kicks off on Kickstarter [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

ETC: Woodworker needs help making business out of car-inspired carvings [w/video]

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By Zach Bowman

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Brandenburg Wooden V8

If there’s anything more manly than a V8 coffee table, it’s a V8 coffee table carved from hardwood. That’s exactly what Steve Brandenburg of Lexington, Kentucky spends his spare time crafting.

What started as a melding of passions has garnered Brandenburg recognition at local car and trade shows, in national magazines and even on PowerBlock TV. Now the artist wants to take his efforts to the next level, and he’s asking for your help. A Kickstarter campaign is currently underway to help Brandenburg Wood Works get off the ground.

Brandenburg carves all of his creations by hand, without the aid of a CNC machine, and the incredibly-detailed pieces are unlike anything we’ve seen before. In addition to full-scale small block V8 engines, the artist also whips up recreations of vintage oil cans, wooden spark plugs and wooden license plates (check them out here and in the video below).

Depending on pledge level, contributors to the campaign can expect to receive those goodies as thanks for their support. You can check out the full details on the Kickstarter page. While Brandenburg’s immediate goal is to raise enough money to enter the St. James Court Art Show, he also needs more materials, a lathe and a cargo van to transport his pieces.

Continue reading Woodworker needs help making business out of car-inspired carvings [w/video]

Woodworker needs help making business out of car-inspired carvings [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

ETC: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado tows in new configurator, microsite

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By Chris Paukert

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup configurator - website screencap

Judging by your continued enthusiastic response to configurator notices, dear reader, you enjoy speccing out new cars as much as we do. Better still, there tends to be even more ways to personalize, configure and bloat theoretical MSRPs on full-size trucks as there are with more ordinary passenger cars. In addition to trim level, engine and transmission choices, truck buyers usually have to specify items like cab configuration, bed length, number of driven axles, tow packages, gear ratios and all sorts of bits and bobs.

That’s why we’re pleased to see the DIY specification utility for the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado come alive so soon after this week’s Detroit Auto Show debut. While the configurator lacks pricing (General Motors hasn’t announced numbers yet) and full options, you can still spec out your half-ton rig, and even print it out or email it to your friends. Beyond the configurator, the new model-specific site is pretty cool, too, with various videos and closer looks at the truck’s new features.

The new Chevrolet pickup range won’t be on dealer lots until sometime this summer, so whether you’re a building contractor, an avid sportsman or just a guy or gal that loves full-size trucks, you might want to check out the link below to keep your appetite whetted. If you’re more of a Sierra fan, well, it looks like you’re going to have to wait a while – GMC hasn’t updated its site yet.

2014 Chevrolet Silverado tows in new configurator, microsite originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobiles

ETC: Cast your vote to save the Monopoly racecar

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By Seyth Miersma

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One of the reasons for Monopoly’s nearly 80-year reign, and its hundreds of millions of copies sold, especially in the last few decades, has been game maker’s willingness to heavy-up on the special editions. And, the occasional inclusion of a Prius token notwithstanding, the iconic racecar playing piece has been all that we motoring enthusiasts have had to get us fired up about the game. You know, other than naked capitalism and low-level fraud. (What? Like you never slid a few extra hundred under your side of the board…)

Now, in another attempt to spice up the old girl, the makers of Monopoly are threatening to lock up one of the classic tokens… forever. That means that either the Scottie dog, top hat, thimble, battleship, wheelbarrow, iron, shoe or the ever-loveable racecar is going to be stripped from the gaming icon. Replacing the lost token will be one of the following hollow imposters: a diamond ring, a guitar, a toy robot, a cat or a helicopter.

Monopoly is putting the choice of both banished and replacement tokens up to its fans, and allowing for votes to be cast on the game’s Facebook page. Obviously, it’s our duty as car nuts, one and all, to vote for to support for ol’ Racy himself. Follow your heart.

Continue reading Cast your vote to save the Monopoly racecar

Cast your vote to save the Monopoly racecar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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