The artwork, which has a tad of a cool-factor, is done by a variety of somewhat famous artists. We're sure that most of you are disappointed that Infectious is currently only in a private beta phase with an official launch coming sometime this summer. [Infectious; Techcrunch]

The company behind this model, Robot-Models.com, also has a smaller version of Optimus Prime currently available as well as Bumbelee. A descriptive paragraph also suggests that Jazz, Ironhide, Megatron, Barricade, Starscream, Blackout and Frenzy will also be available for purchase soon. [Robot-Models via Giz]

Hemmings Motor News

Last year, both Jen and I wrote about artist Jonathan Schipper, a self-proclaimed artist who baffled us by one of his creations, a gear-driven machine that slowly pushed two 1/18th-scale muscle cars together in a twisted slow-motion Ballardian statement of some sort. I earned a degree from college in something I can actually make money at, not in art, so I guess I don’t have the capability or pretentiousness to understand that statement.

What really made me cringe last year was the vague threat that Schipper promised to recreate the creation on a full-size scale with two actual muscle cars. And it appears he did just that recently in Belgium, though he used two cars that fall outside the bounds of the traditional definition of muscle: a 1988 Monte Carlo and a 1992 Camaro RS. Not to say that I don’t appreciate late rear-wheel-drive Montes or third-gen Camaros, but at least he didn’t use a second-gen Trans Am and a Hemi Charger, as he did in his first piece.

Still, I don’t get it. He did all of this so he could take an elaborate time-lapse video and speed it up? And if he’s going to make a statement such as he did in the title of the piece, then he should back it up with, ohidunno, an actual argument. Maybe this is actually some sort of stunt in which he shows how easy it is to get gallery space and, possibly, public art funding.

The artist, John Rooney, goes through the painstaking process of precisely denting, damaging and melting model cars to look authentically wrapped around a tree. The catalog of models includes the likes of Porsches, Fords, a Barracuda, Chevelle, ML 320, TT Roadster and more with prices beginning at $75 and going upwards of $150. We're hoping he'll have a personalization service soon — merely so we can order everyone's favorite Mazda RX-7 chasing a cat up a tree and landing on it's ass. [Crash Bonsai via DVICE]

The installation sits outside the OSRAM headquarter in Munich at the Mittlerer Ring, a busy roadway. When a car passes by the installation, a single line flashes across the top of the tower and is added to the light wave at the bottom. As more cars pass the bigger the wave will be.

While the lighting towers look nice from an artistic standpoint, they are just asking to be a victim of road rage. [Neatorama]

"We started talking about what people dream about when they scratch the coin against the ticket, and almost always the first thing they dream about doing is buying a car," Was told the Providence Journal. "This is a ghost of all those dreams."

"We wanted the piece to contain the value of a Hummer," Eckstrom told the paper. "And $35,000 is also the price of the piece."

I applaud your memory if you're saying "Hey...." in response to this design because Guo-Qiang has done something similar before, but with Ford Tauruses. Another art dude who digs cars! Or at least does stuff with them. The mounting process seems pretty simple—a lot of cables, period. The exhibition will be on display until May 28. Check out the following link for a video that shows the installation process and more. [Guggenheim via MAKE]

You can check out the Frozen Car Blog for more photos and information on how this project came to be. (Photos used with the permission of the artists).

Conte created this masterpiece for Les Barany and his book, Carnivora: The Dark Art of Automobiles. It's essentially a 1:18 scale AM chopped in half and with steel and aluminum components used to stitch the car back together. [Aston Martin Turbine via BornRich]

Often cobbled together from bits and pieces of other machines, these things are obviously workhorses, even if they aren't pretty. Some even contain bits from scrapped war machines. We though the Soviet era Belarus pops picked up a while back was crude, but this kind of raises (lowers?) backwoods ingenuity to a whole new level. Bravo, oppressed Soviet Bloc agrarians! [via We Make Money Not Art

The artist behind all this is selling the creations and prices begin at $300 and go to upwards of $1,000, depending on the complexity of the piece and, we figure, the quality of hubcap (Wal-Mart versus BMW). My favorite is the Ford butterfly fish. He's so cute, yet so devilish. [Hubcap Creatures via Uncrate]

We spoke with the artists via telephone as they warmed up from a day out in the bitter cold prepping the base for the placement of the Nova. When we first saw the project we feared that perhaps it would be merely a simple visual meant to criticize the car culture we hold so near and dear. We were therefore quite pleased to find out that both artists are car fans and are taking a thoughtful approach to examining the same conflicts we explore often on this site (the Nova belonged to one of the artists).

Mary and Sue, who met at the Rhode Island School of Design, have worked together for a while and therefore have a habit of finishing the other person's thoughts and sentences. Because of this we've formatted the interview as both were talking at the same time instead of separately.

Why freeze a Nova in a block of ice?

In the past we've done some projects involving blowing up cars and working with fire. What started as a comment has turned into an inquisitive investigation and we started thinking about it more seriously and started thinking about what metaphor the car could describe.

We love cars and for a long time our work has referenced mobility. We were also very fascinated with the metaphor and the car in American culture; that it's power and that it's freedom and now we're questioning those things. We tend to question our behavior at the same time we enjoy our behavior. That's just part of our inquisitive nature. We're critiquing the culture at the same time we're enjoying it.

(SUE) For me, this is kind of personal. When I was a baby I guess I had colic really bad and the only thing that would quiet me down is that my parents would have to drive me around at night. Cars have always been a pacifier in a way, a really elemental thing. I love to travel and mary does, too.

You're taking out the motor and a lot of the interior elements, is that an aesthetic or symbolic choice?

Technically, I think it will help us position the car because it will be much lighter... environmentally it's also a little more sound that the fluids aren't going to leak. On top of that it won't cloud the ice. Any dirt that gets in will affect the clarity. I think we also like the idea of the car being a shell as a metaphor.

(The artists also pointed out that getting someone to do all the mechanical work for free is tough and the people in the Michigan Tech engineering department were more than happy to barter the work for the engine.)

How did you end up choosing Michigan Tech?

Last year we worked with the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and they designed a refrigeration system and as much as we loved the work... we realized it would be very costly and we didn't want to have a fabricated solution to our problem. [Also] U of M did a study and realized that Detroit didn't get cold enough to get the ice that we needed. We wanted to do this by natural means and that meant we had to come further north.

[Mary] met an alum from Michigan Tech and he said it's really cold up there and you might want to contact the engineering department. They invited us to come up and with no skepticism said it's cold enough to do anything up there.

What's your ultimate dream for the project if you weren't hindered by supplies and funding?

What we'd really like to do is put it on a train while it's a frozen block and bring it to Detroit and watch it thaw. We think having a frozen Nova on a block of ice on the railroad car would look awesome. It would be suspended time in motion and it would be in the heart of the American auto industry. It would be ideal.

Photos provided by the Artists

Receiving the coveted I Got Screwed trophy is that dice-throwing bunch from Las Vegas...


Team Sin City Lemons! The 302 in this LeMons-veteran LTD Crown Victoria threw a rod, like, 17 seconds into the race; team members then made a deal with a not-so-nearby auto-parts store for a rebuilt long block of complicated heritage and thrashed like crazy for hour after grueling hour... only to find that the unobtainable-on-Sunday harmonic balancer was cracked. They'll be back, though, and we'll give you a jackpot of photos of their efforts very soon.


There's not much suspense surrounding the Heroic Fix trophy- we all knew it would be placed in the bleeding paws of...


Team Dirty Drifters, whose Corolla's engine got all rod-knocky during practice the night before the race. Not letting this little setback stop them, they drove 350 miles round-trip to pick up a junkyard 3TC, then spun wrenches all night in rainy 37-degree weather. Race-day morning, the engine was in and running, and the team went on to finish in the #20 spot.


The No Prayer of Finishing trophy went to those rotary-powered guys from Michigan...


...Team PBRD/Car and Driver! Even though they were in the No Prayer of Finishing class, Team PBRD came in 6th overall! While the RX-7s did much better at Thunderhill than they did at Altamont, it's no picnic getting one to hold together for a race this grueling.


If your car looks like it has a shot at contending, it gets put in the Prayer of Winning class. This time around, that prize goes to the team that ended up winning it all:


Team Red Meat and Poontang, who piloted their damn-near-stock '99 Protege to victory. And that's all for now- keep checking in and you'll see more of these fine automobiles and the hoons steely-eyed racers who run them!

"I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened."

Press Release:

ART GTR 374

Mercedes Benz CLS-class models are indeed one of the most interesting vehicle successes. This rather elegant glider can be turned into a sportier street burner. A.R.T. makes this possible through an exceedingly successful aerodynamic kit combined with DTM sport resemblance. With help of a compressor kit, A.R.T. transforms the CLS 350 to GTR 374 with distinctively more power. Inside, occupants wallow in luxury and through the power enhancement, allow themselves to be swept away.
Under pressure

A technical highlight is found under the hood. The 3,5 litre V6 from the CLS350 receives forced air breath from A.R.T. with aide of a AK35 supercharger system. It displays a charge-air cooling system including heat exchanger and is equipped with a special ribbed poly V-belt. Naturally, A.R.T. pays particular attention to engine electronics and increases the Vmax limitations. With its 374 HP, the GTR374 can race significantly quicker than the standard version. The increase of torque to 510 Nm makes vehicle passing just a finger exercise. The power enhancement is accentuated with a rumbling sound creating goose-bumps caused by four double-walled tailpipes (100mm) from the A.R.T. anti-corrosion stainless steel sport exhaust system along with metal catalysts.
Sporty look with DTM racing touch

The CLS 350 is converted by A.R.T. to a significantly sportier GTR374 vehicle without altering any of it's characteristic elegance. The Nuremberg-based specialists with pure accomplish this with an aerodynamic kit containing pure racing genes. It comprised of a series of widening measures providing the GRT374 and even sturdier look and a light DTM racing touch. It contains special customized, broadened fenders inclusive warm air outlet vents front, widened side skirts, widened car doors plus broadened rear side panels with integrated air inlets located in front the rear wheels. Through A.R.T. lift-reducing front spoiler bumper with distinctive double-lip edge and accessory double-headlight-set (incl. bend lighting), plus new slated Lamella grille without MB-star, the GTR374 leaves a striking impression of a bully appearance. A.R.T. matches the rear with this look by the addition of a rear bumper skirt with diffuser reminiscent of motor sports vehicle with suited molded recess for an A.R.T. 4-pipe sports exhaust system. Likewise know-how from sports racing is represented with the rear lip spoiler jutting off the trunk.
Optimal agility and individual wheels

Since the CLS is not exactly a lightweight, to provide more optimal agility A.R.T. widens the tracks in front to 70 mm and even more in back to 80 mm. Additionally, A.R.T. scheduled a vehicle customization and built in a sport suspension lowering the center of gravity to 40 mm.

A.R.T. completed the external tuning with ARTstar2 - light alloy rims. A.R.T. built-in these three-part wheels front in size 9Jx20", and size 10Jx20" in back. The six star forming spokes provide sufficient intake air flow to the brakes system. A.R.T. succeeds with the finish "NANO black satin matt", in providing a striking contrast to the bolts; a further visual highlight. With the wide tires, 255/30R20 front and 305/25R20 rear, the large torque of the V6 motor can be brought to asphalt problem-free.
A.R.T. highlights

An even more individualized look is achieved by A.R.T. with headlights "Bi-XENON-NERO" with active bend lighting. Above and beyond this A.R.T. replaced all vehicle lettering and emblems through their own stroke of hand leaving only the vehicle's basic form still recognisable. As final step A.R.T. offers a special finishing with racing sport stripes design.

An absolute show stopper, yet very practical effect is scored by A.R.T. with STEPLIGHTS that mark opened vehicle doors outlining sideskirt contours on their top sides allowing getting into the vehicle easier under poor visability conditions. The STEPLIGHTS are made of light blue electroluminescent light stripes in highly polished stainless steel. In the vehicle entry area are additional light blue illuminated entry ledges with A.R.T.-logo of highly polished and brushed stainless steel; an additional highlight.
Ambience of pure luxury

For the interior, A.R.T. combined ambience of pure luxury to motor sports ingredients. With the ergonomic shaped steering wheel made of suede, the GTR 374 driver has everything perfectly under control. Optionally, one may steer with the A.R.T. tipfunction / shift buttons steering wheel in carbon look, available for 7-speed automatic transmission versions: 7G-Tronic. The A.R.T. carbon fiber features (complete dashboard, ashtray mask, mask above ashtray, gear selection lever, floor shift, louver blinds for rear storage space), keep drivers in the spirit of motor sports racing. The A.R.T. leather /alcantara ultra-seude furnishings with contrast stitching for middle console, head rests, rear central console, gear shift knob with shift cover, and arm rests, and the alcantara ultra-suede furnishings of the roof liner and door liner, generate an A.R.T. comfortable atmosphere. With a variety of accessories such as stainless steel entry ledges for the front doors with illuminated A.R.T.-logo (see above), or speedometer in white underlay with a scale up to 360 km/h, A.R.T. continues to set high noble standards.

The A.R.T. team certainly doesn't feel limited to being committed to just above described features program. For those preferring an individualized CLS appearance, the A.R.T. team implements requests with complete competence as well.

So we've all seen cheesy frat-boy watering holes with the front end of, say, a '58 Corvette turned into decor and hung on the wall like the head of a dead animal. Big yawn. But howzabout this here bar crafted from a '61 Ford Econoline van's snout? It's freakin' beautiful! And it goes without saying that the headlights function. – Murilee Martin

Van of the Week-Pt. 2: Rollie's Econobar [Cap'n Scurvy's Treasure Chest, via BoingBoing and Coop]

Related:
Downforce in the Den: Porsche 917 Couch [internal]

As an artist best-known for his photorealistic painting of a '74 Torino wagon parked in an Alameda driveway, Robert Bechtle definitely gets the coveted Jalopnik Approved Artist Certification. Bechtle didn't (and doesn't) limit himself to just the Torino when it comes to subject matter, however; check out SFMOMA's interactive gallery in the link below for paintings featuring Novas, Thunderbirds, even a Triumph. Some may say his work reflects the inherent contradictions in the American Dream, with overtones of postwar ennui, but we know it's really about the cars. – Murilee Martin

Robert Bechtle: A Retrospective [San Francisco Museum of Modern Art]

Related:
Paintblogging With Coop! [internal]

Any American who was a kid in the early-to-mid-70s can tell you all about Wacky Packages, those bubble-gum trading card/stickers that represented everything that was good and true in life, with their puerile-yet-insightful humor and Art Spiegelman illustrations. Each series had a single super-rare card; I recall an all-day negotiation between a couple of kids over whether the Rabid Shave card was worth trading straight-up for a Corgi James Bond Aston Martin with ejector seat (it wasn't). A fair number of the cards had car-related themes; follow the jump to see a sampling... – Murilee Martin

The Wacky Packages Website [wackypackages.org]

Related:
CARToons: Muscle Car Comic Madness [internal]

Playland Speedway 1974 at Modernica [Modernicaprops.net]

Related:
If Only NASCAR Was Still This Cool: '79 Daytona 500 Finale [Internal]

Turns out, lots. Driving home on the Arroyo Seco last night (the portion of the 110 between Pasadena and Highland Park) I began realizing just how much of my life I will soon be spending on the world's first freeway. Inside Line is HQ'd in the People's Republic of Santa Monica, meaning that starting Monday not only will I have to deal with the shitty 10, but also the staggering volume of traffic that goes through the 4-level Interchange (think the beginning of Falling Down when "D Fens" abandons his Chevette) and then up the Pasadena (aka the 110 North). Though it used to be worse. Jump, por favor.

In one of the most totally selfless acts in recorded human history, an artist named Richard Ankrom got mad as hell at the traffic and was not going to take it any more. Here's the whole wiki story;

In 2001, Richard Ankrom, a local artist, who got lost trying to get onto Interstate 5 North from the northbound 110 Freeway because there was no clear official signage labeling access to the 5 North, solved his frustration by covertly modifying one of the overhead signs on the freeway just before the tunnels. Using official government sign specifications, Ankrom fabricated two sign pieces, one being an Interstate marker shield with the number '5' on it, and one with the word "NORTH", and affixed them to the left side of the sign. He performed his modifications in broad daylight, disguised as a CalTrans worker. In that district Caltrans has 3 sign crews, each thinking one of the other two crews did the installation. After nine months, at Ankrom's request, the Los Angeles Downtown News broke the story.

Prior to Ankrom's work, the only signage directing motorists to the 5 North off-ramp came at a quarter-mile before the exit, thus forcing many to merge across multiple lanes in a very short distance. The unofficial modifications remain on the sign to this day, after having been inspected by CalTrans to ensure they would not fall off onto the road below

Some morons (i.e. local politicians) wanted to bring charges against Ankrom because he broke the law. However, if I had been mayor, this dude would have had the God damn key to the city. And a star on the walk of fame. And a lifetime gift certificate to Tommy's. And a go-to-the-front-of-the-line pass for Pink's. And a box-seat at the Bowl. And the right to kick West Hollywood meter maids in the nuts. Anyhow, he was never charged with anything and the signage still stands. And dumb people wonder why we need artists. – Jonny Lieberman

Artwork by Richard Ankrom [ankrom.org]

Related:
America's First Freeway: The 110 [Internal]