<![CDATA[Jalopnik: Bubble Tops]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: Bubble Tops]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/bubble tops http://jalopnik.com/tag/bubble tops <![CDATA[ Return of the Bubble Tops: Vampyre ]]>
We don't have much info on this crazy purple bubble top called Vampyre. The owner wasn't around and the placard didn't offer much in the way of details, but it's probably one of the more sleek cars of the genre we can recall. It seems to steal a little style from the extreme low riders with the exposed upper tire and the engine dragging on the ground. It's that low body work and exposed tire style that lead us to believe this car is the work of Jerry and Eldon Titus, who busted out a similar design in the "Voodoo Spyder" back in 2005.

In any case, the Vampyre is rife with snazzy design details. The low profile gives it a speedy feel, sculpted head rests visible under the canopy, thin line white walls on Torque Thrust 2's, the tiller is the bottom third of a steering wheel, welded onto rods, dipped in white rubber and bolted to the yoke. Cool. Bet this car gets some looks while cruising around in Kansas.

]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EDT Ben Wojdyla http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=366439&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[ Return Of The Bubble Tops: Atomic Punk ]]> It's been a long, long time since bubble tops were popular in the hot rodding circles, but it seems as though they're beginning to make a comeback of sorts. With cars like Dave Shuten's "Astrosled" and Gary "Chopit" Fioto's "Beatnik", the genre is steadily gaining steam again, and the incredible creativity of the style is a welcomed respite from the sameness of the last decade. This car was built and is owned by Aaron Grote, who has dubbed it "Atomic Punk" and dragged it into the Detroit Autorama. The all new, all steel hot rod is based very loosely on 1959 Plymouth bits and really is a treat to see.

The grille alone is a piece of art, not to mention the delightful hand crafted exhaust manifolds, all the custom body work, the spectacular chrome capped fins and the immaculate flawless white interior. The classic white walled MT's mounted on old school 5 spoke Cragars really finishes this masterpiece off. We'd like to know why this car wasn't up for the Ridler Award.

]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EDT Ben Wojdyla http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=366377&view=rss&microfeed=true