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DC-3
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gadgets
novelties
Douglas DC-3 Converted to Phone-Toting Road Warrior
There are nooks and crannies of enthusiasm which make this perversion we have with cars seem quaint. One example among many is the collection of vintage phones, which up until recently we didn't know existed, much less that there were vintage telephone display and trade shows. Regardless, here exists a link which neatly stitches together that world and this one, a Douglas DC-3 which has been sliced and diced and dropped onto an unknown truck chassis, and then outfitted to carry old phone hardware around. Bizarre, yes, but also the bitchinest way to go vannin' ever. (h/t to Brett)[Telephonetalk.com]
gadgets
Fuzzy Car Dice Gets A Lame, 21st Century Upgrade
The days and age of fuzzy dice hanging from the rear-view mirror is pretty much done and we can all agree that it was lame to begin with in anything but a rusting Jersey Cadillac. Luckily, with the plenty of 12V DC outlets available in vehicles nowadays we have a new type of dice accessory: illuminated plastic dice! More »
news
D.C. Street Sweepers Giving Out Parking Tickets
Think it's embarrassing getting a parking ticket from the sweet old meter maid? Soon you'll have a new foe. Street sweepers in the Washington, D.C. area will be equipped with the means to scan and photograph cars parked in street sweeping zones. The bill to equip the street sweepers was passed unanimously in the D.C. city council. A final vote will happen next month that will make the tattle-telling street sweepers a reality. More »
gadgets
Incase Two-in-One iPod Charger Works in Car, Home
Wow. It's only taken a couple decades for someone to make a dual-purpose charger—yes, a charger capable of 12V DC and AC charging. This 2-in-1 from Incase is designed for the iPod or iPhone and can easily plug into a 12V DC outlet for charging your gadgets on the road, but it can also be taken in and used in a standard AC outlet. Holy convenience, Batman! More »
news
DC Cabs To Get Meters Like The Rest Of The Country
Years ago I made the rookie, post-collegiate mistake of taking a cab in Prague. Burning a hole in my pocket were 700 or so Czech crowns, the then equivalent of five bucks. I only had a mile or so to go, but the cabbie started driving all over the place, eventually taking me far up into the hills. As the meter clicked past 670 crowns, I showed him I only had 700. He stopped the cab, got out and chucked my backpack ten feet down the slope. As luck would have it, I had $50 US on me. Suddenly he started speaking English, "No problem, no problem," and even retrieved my grimy, mud-caked backpack. When we got to where I was going (he made a beeline), he plucked $40 American dollars and a 100 crown note from my hand. He even smiled. And if you've ever taken a cab in DC, you know that not only will they bilk you for more, but you will never, no matter what get a smile. Until now. More »
concept cars
Energy Policy: Ford Reveals HySeries Hybrid Edge Concept
Ford's showing off its HySeries fuel-cell hybrid in the nation's capital today, hoping to carve out a new direction in the ongoing battle of the research hybrids. As we mentioned yesterday, the Edge HySeries uses a hydrogen fuel-cell to top off the EV-car's batteries, which can also be charged via plug-in. Ford says the powertrain delivers a combined city/highway gasoline equivalent fuel economy rating of 41 mpg if the full range is used, and 85 mpg at a range of 50 miles per day (the first 25 are drawn from fully charged batteries). The generator can also be paired with an internal-combustion engine, like gasoline or diesel, in place of the fuel cell. Your tax dollars at work. More »
concept cars
Spy Photos: Ford Edge HySeries Hybrid
One frequently overlooked tech story from the Detroit show — other than the Jeep waterfall — was Ford's HySeries fuel-cell hybrid system, which powered the company's Airstream van concept. Rather than calling on the cell to power the all-EV car's electric motor directly, like most hydrogen vehicles, this system uses it only to top off the lithium-ion batteries that provide juice. Ford's already ported the hybrid drive, which includes a plug-in function, to an Edge crossover, which showed up on the streets of DC ahead of the city's auto show this week. As these shots indicate, local pols likely got to see where went the Department of Energy grant, with which Ford developed it. More »
custom cars/hot rods: tuners
Rocka' Roller: DC Design's Rolls-Royce Coupe
If you thought India's DC Design only reconfigured Porsche Cayennes, you'd be entirely mistaken. Those Motoring Authoritarians who hipped us to the two-door coachbuilt Porsche delved into DC's back catalog and came up with one of its previous jobs, a reskinned Rolls-Royce coupe. It's so ugly it would make a Lamborghini Jalpa reconsider its position. You'd be better served grinding up a few hundred grand, then using the paste to build a Pontiac Sunbird replica in papier m ch . More »
custom cars/hot rods: tuners
Rama Lama Ding Dong: DC Design's Two-Door Porsche Cayenne
Indian coachworks firm, DC Design have a new take on the Porsche Cayenne: Two doors. For around $375,000, the company will perform a serious reskinning of a stock Cayenne, creating a coupeish SUV with Ford Falcon-like character creases. On the inside, the company upgrades the upholstery and adds A/V and computing gear including an embedded Mac Mini and 15" display. It's a huge cash outlay for such an oddball vehicle, but we'd imagine they'll find a shiek or two (or some CSM billionaire) willing to take the leap. More »
news
It's Good To Be The Mayor! Automotive Rhythms Pimps DC Mayor William Anthony's 2006 Cadillac STS
Yeah, we know this happened at the beginning of this year, but we're only now hearing about dis here tightness. Apparently, just in time for the 2006 DC Auto Show back in January, the DC-area customizers at Automotive Rhythms "flipped" D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams' new whip, an '06 Caddy STS. Now, while most mayors we know go for bling rides, in this era of budgets being cut on the local level and high unemployment in our urban city centers, most are too afraid of hurting their street cred with the voters by letting it become the subject of a quick n' dirty MTV-style PMR episode. But not DC Mayor Anthony Williams, yo. He throws it down correct, right? More »
The Speed-Trappiest Towns in the USA
If one Sheriff R.P. Coltrane ever finally runs permanently afoul of a certain Jefferson Davis Hogg, it would behoove him to look for employment in one of the cities listed after the jump.
If one Sheriff R.P. Coltrane ever finally runs permanently afoul of a certain Jefferson Davis Hogg, it would behoove him to look for employment in one of the cities listed after the jump.
news
Parking in D.C. the Sercret Service Way
In what was surely reminiscent of the "Close the blast door! Open the blast door!" Stormtrooper goof-up in Star Wars, some law enforcement types in our nations capital forgot to take a close look before raising up the moveable barriers. To quote DCist, our source, "What happens if a car gets caught over those retractable barriers? The answer is priceless." Thanks to Colin for the tip! More »
news: weird
Flying Car Bursts into District Area Hechts, Flames
Our boy in DC, one CTE, tossed us a tip on a flying car in his woods of the neck as a hedge against further El Camino posts. He may have stemmed the tide, but that's all he's done — stem it momentarily. Meanwhile, the motorist, whose car made an amazing Robert E. Lee-style airborne charge escaped with minor injuries, despite the on-fireness of his vehicular projectile. In fact, he hopped out of the car and attempted to escape by catching a bus. Now that, friends, is moxie. Super Dave Osborne is totally jealous that he didn't think of this stunt first. More »
retro
Woodrow Wilson's Rolls First Over New Woodrow Wilson Bridge
The only Rolls-Royce ever to be equipped with fourteen points and Princeton Orange pinstripes, Woodrow Wilson's Roller will lead the procession opening the new Woodrow Wilson bridge in Washington, DC. Rick Parker of Rockville, MD will chauffeur Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta, Virginia Gov Tim Kaine, Maryland Gov Robert Ehrlich Jr. and DC Mayor Anthony Williams across the span today. Or actually, he did just about four hours ago. The '23 Silver Ghost was bought by a group of Wilson's friends for his 67th birthday, which he took one ride in before his death. More »
news
Georgetown Law Student Hits 126 MPH on GW Parkway; Will Not Pass Go Or Collect $200
Drew Hoffman, a 28-year-old Georgetown University law student was out doing what kids do — trying to impress the ladies. However he did what most kids aren't stupid enough to do — rev up his brand spankin' new Infiniti and zoom past the GHW Bush CIA Headquarters on the George Wash. Parkway at a lift-off speed of 126 mph. Prosecutors say this may be the fastest anyone's driven a car on the parkway — and maybe even on federal asphalt. The aspiring attorney pled guilty to one count of reckless endangerment which will give him 12 days in the federal pokey and a year's worth of probation — which as the Washington Post points out: More »
novelties
Hi-Noble, Fez Up! Shriners Rock the Parade
Back when we were wee, family friends used to have a great block party every 4th of July. Fireworks, lotsa food, egg and water-balloon tosses, and of course, mandatory hoonage in mini-mini-minicars by area Shriners. Later on, Tipper Gore appeared on the scene and brought a certain record called Frankenchrist to our attention, which featured a totally incongrous cover featuring a row of Shriners in miniature Cutlasses. Oh, God, the chick next door's throwing a shit-fit again. Oh well, at least we've got the Knitters on the stereo to keep us company and this article from the WaPo about Shriners and their cars. More »
news
