Jalopnik: brooklyn

Bus Rams Through Parked Cars On Brooklyn Street

Wes Siler — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EDT

An out-of-control bus barreled into parked cars on a Brooklyn street, setting two ablaze, after allegedly swerving to avoid hitting a single erratic vehicle. The trouble is, this video tells a different story.

The bus driver claims that the car in front of him came to a rapid, unexpected halt, resulting in his own extreme maneuver to avoid it. This video contradicts that claim, appearing to show a line of cars slowly coming to a halt while the bus is traveling at too high a speed to do the same. Police are reviewing this video and other evidence to determine fault. Six passengers on the bus were injured in the incident. [via ABC]

Brooklyn Lost Tank Flier Actually Sex Line Scam

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:30:00 EDT

Reader Rudolphdude spotted this flier asking passers-by for information about a tank lost somewhere in Brooklyn. At first glance, the phone number makes it look like a very clever viral Army recruiting ad. The reality is much stranger.

We actually called "1-800-ARMY-OF1," which is the slogan which preceded the current Army mantra of "Army Strong," so we assumed it would be some kind of automated "Join the Army" system. Instead, we were greeted with a woman speaking on a recorded message saying "Call 1-800-874-TALK to get together with interesting local people, that's 1-800-874-T-A-L-K."

Now that we're this far down the rabbit hole, might as well go forward. In a much more sultry voice this time, we're greeted with "Hey there sexy guy, welcome to an exciting new way to go live, one on one with hot horny girls waiting right now to talk to you..." You get the picture. This service is operated by "Intimate Encounters" and eventually asks us to "stick it in," it being our Visa or Mastercard number which will be billed between $0.99 and $1.99 a minute, depending on carrier and just how "nasty" we want our conversation to be.

This is by far the strangest and most unconventional phone sex hot-line advertising we've ever encountered... not that we're familiar with phone sex lines or anything. Hey... that dog has a puffy tail! (Thanks for the tip Rudolphdude)

Look, Two Pontiacs Kissing!

Ray Wert — Thu, 14 May 2009 10:00:00 EDT

Jonathan Schipper's "Slow Motion Car Crash" is still a damn good metaphor for the Pontiac brand.

Supposedly Schipper's re-running his auto "art" in Brooklyn this weekend. We're still looking for details on it but if it's going on, trust us — we'll be there. If only to heckle. Or to bring cheetohs and watch, while providing some slow-motion monster-truck-style cheering. [via Flickr, Flickr]

Wildlife Control Ambulance, Fiat 500, And Chevy Vega Kammback Down On The Brooklyn Street

Murilee Martin — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:20:00 EDT

This is Down On The Street Bonus Edition, where we check out interesting street-parked cars located in places other than the Island That Rust Forgot. Today we've got an odd trio of cars spotted in the vicinity of Prospect Park in Brooklyn by Mr. Choppers. There's a very rusty '68 Cadillac ambulance with a cryptic "Wildlife Control" theme, a much-easier-to-park Fiat 500, and one of the last surviving Vega Kammbacks still on the street, anywhere. Make the jump to see the rest of the photos and read Mr. Choppers' description.

Brooklyn is also full of interesting metal, despite the scourge of respectless yellow cabs and tough emissions rules.

Here are a few finds I have made in areas south and west of Prospect Park. The Fiat 500 may not be all that interesting, but being pretty and streetparked she is fair prey. The Chevy Vega Kammback is obviously on its way to concours condition, evidence thereof being recent bodywork and "1972 KAM" plates. Could we have a feature on good/terrible vanity plates please?

The Cadillac ex-Ambulance turned Wildlife Control is worth a paragraph all its own. I don't know much about this one, except it's being always parked in the same neighbourhood southwest of Prospect Park. The owner obviously has a decent sense of humour (witness paw print stickers down the flanks) although the dead rat (see note in rear window) wasn't quite funny enough.

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Spy Photos: A Peugeot Parks in Brooklyn

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 15 May 2007 08:18:23 EDT

The idea of French cars in the US is a novel idea today, though it wasn't really that long ago that Peugeot, Renault et al were bit players in the American automotive sitcom. Though 15 years have passed since France's retreat, new models are sometimes spotted on US soil, usually in the form of manufacturer test cars. (Take this 107 spotted by Autoblog Sam.) Now, a Peugeot 407's been caught in the Brooklyn, New York neighborhood of Bay Ridge, wearing carmaker tags and a grin only les Gaulois could love. The cameraphone shooter says the driver assured that the 407 was not coming to the US. Perhaps if it attracts enough interest someone will create a 407 nose kit for the Chrysler Sebring. – Mike Spinelli

SPOTTED: Peugeot 407 in Bay Ridge [VW Vortex]

Brooklyn Grand Prix a Friggin' No-Go

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 17:44:33 EDT

Looks like Brooklyn, NY (old motto: "Don't make me crack your friggin' skull"; new motto: "Who's up for a ginger rub?") won't be hosting a Grand Prix any time soon. Our dahling sister site, Gawker, reports on how Paul Newman's effort to bring civilized racing to Mr. Kotter's stomping grounds has been thwarted by grass-protecting Federal hippies. Next stop, across the Verrazano Bridge to Staten Island (motto: "Don't ever come here") for possible Nascar action.

A Prix Grows Not in Brooklyn [Gawker]