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Crazy Czechs Build Tatra V8-Powered Trabant Drift Car, Will Sell It To You!

Murilee Martin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

Since I've been helping BobAsh obtain American cars to ship to the Czech Republic, he's helping me find a nice Hell Project I can bring over here. Here's a car I seriously considered buying- it's priced at the equivalent of $1,500- but then I realized that the California DMV would most likely have me clapped in irons the moment I attempted to register a Trabant with a backyard-built chassis, Tatra V8, and what appears to be five foot pedals. Still, imagine having this thing as your track car! Make the jump for all the photos and more Tatrabant madness.

Now, to really understand this fine automobile, you have to watch a bit of Rodeocross racing. Rodeocross appears to be what Czech rednecks do when they mix beer, a dirt road course, beer, Warsaw Pact cars, beer, and beer. The Tatrabant was originally built for Rodeocross, but the organizers wouldn't let it race… because it was "too dangerous." Yesssss!

[Sportovnivozy.cz]

Longer, Higher, Wider, Lower: Swede Driven Mad By Sunless Winter, Builds 6-Wheeled Volvo Masterpiece!

Murilee Martin — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Some Swedes cope with the sunless Scandinavian winters in the sanest way possible: pounding caffeine and/or alcohol by the hogshead. Others, however, crunch through the snow out to the shed and fire up the cutting torch, which is then used to create works of genius such as this 1980 Volvo wagon, equipped with what appears to be a Rover V8, dual rear axles, and custom-van-esque interior. Inveterate tipster JanTheMan translates thus: "Another V8 Volvo, Old price winner on the biggest custom car event in Sweden back in the eighties. It is a Volvo 245 1976. It is longer,wider, higher, lower. No glassfibre!"

[Blocket]

Audi, Lancia, or Ford: Which Hoonworthy Vintage Race Machine Would You Buy?

Murilee Martin — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:45:00 EDT

SoNaive was shopping for a project Ford RS200- yeah, might as well aim high- and found these three 80s race cars, any one of which is capable of sending the entire Jalopnik staff into paroxysms of longing that threaten to shut down all operations for the rest of the week. So, it's Monday, you're hunkering down for a long week of The Man's cruel lash on your much-scarred back, and that means you have the right to blow the whole morning trying to make the impossible choice: which of these cars would you have for your own? Jump away for the links, the galleries, and the poll!

First we have this '83 Lancia 037 rally, priced at 450 grand. It's got a 280-horse blown 2.0-liter engine, weighs just over a ton, and was built for one purpose only: to get a World Rally Championship trophy to display in Lancia HQ. It worked, too, with the '83 WRC Constructor's title going to the Lancia.

Does 0-60 in 2.1 seconds sound good to you? For a bargain $350,000, this genuine Ford RS200 Evolution, featuring "600+" horsepower, could belong to you! After the horrific RS200 crash at the Rally of Portugal, the FIA axed Group B, removing the reason for the RS200's existence but allowing this example to stay in like-new condition.

But wait! How about a car that utterly dominated its class in the Trans Am series, with wins in 8 out of 13 races? You could own that very car... provided you've got $450,000, that is. There must be some way to make this thing street-legal, right?

OK, which one will it be? You tell us!

So Many Hell Projects, Your Head Will Explode: Bring A Trailer!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:20:00 EDT

We didn't think it was necessary to post on BringATrailer.com, since so many of our regular readers seem to be obsessive visitors to that site, but it has come to our attention that some of you may not know about the ultimate online resource for locating Hell Projects (and not-so-hellish ones as well). For you BAT noobs, kiss the rest of your day goodbye; on the front page alone, you'll find a '53 Fiat 1100 prototype (see photo, above), a 5-for-1 Ford Woodie deal, and- most ominously tempting of all- a 14-for-1 E30 BMW M3 package! [BringATrailer.com]

Imagine The Possibilities: Dragon-Equipped Nissan Presidentamino!

Murilee Martin — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EDT

The Japanese tradition of installing a big temple-like structure on a Caminoized sedan to make a hearse makes total sense to us, but wouldn't it be great to have an '89 Nissan Presidentamino with the rare and coveted Dragon Hearse option to use as your daily driver? Look at this thing! It is to regular hearses as a dekotora is to 70s custom vans... and it could be yours for a mere £8,800. We'd suggest losing the somber black paint and going with a gold-leaf job on the Nissan's body, plus some 18K spinner wheels. Thanks to Al_Beaton for the tip! [ClassicCarsForSale.co.uk]

Another Perfect Jalopnik Staff Car Located

Murilee Martin — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT

We pleaded and begged and threatened, but nothing we could do would induce the Gawker Overlords to buy us the Carrera Panamericana '54 Lincoln for use as the Official Jalopnik Staff Car. We were brokenhearted, but all will be forgiven if the Overlords buy us this 1938 Peugeot 402, enabling us to roll up to events in the style we must have in order to make the proper impression. East Bay-based Fantasy Junction wants just $295,000 for this achingly beautiful machine, and that money might help them build a new LeMons car to replace their crushed Mazda 626, so it's a win for everyone! [Hemmings Motor News]

Looking For a 1947 U.S. Army Beetle?

Murilee Martin — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST

Murph sent this in as a possible PCH car, but we think it deserves its own post. You think your '52 split-window Volkswagen Beetle is rare? Ha! How about this super-original 1947 Beetle in Allied Occupation Forces colors, which we first saw when the Loverman photographed it at a swap meet last summer? Yes, nineteen-freakin' forty-seven, when shivering Wolfburgers were still hammering together Beetles in RAF-customized roofless factories. Cable brakes, 25 horsepower, the works. It doesn't run, but what do you want for $28,900? [TheSamba.com]

Broncomet!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST

Charles Bukowski drove a Mercury Comet, so the Mercury-branded Falcon gets additional coolness points right there. The problem with the Comet, though, was that it wasn't so good off-road... until now! Now this gentleman in the California high desert city of Victorville has solved that problem for us, by transplanting a '64 Comet body onto a '67 Bronco chassis. You get a 289 and 3-speed manual, and all for just $3,000 asking! Thanks to prolific tipster and Saab racer LTDScott for yet another Jalopcentric tip! [Race-Dezert.com]

Yours For Only 55 Grand: 1957 Fletcher Aviator

Murilee Martin — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:45:00 EST

When reader Thunder sent in the tip about this car, we all went "Damn!" But then we noticed the asking price and there was just this... silence. It's a reproduction of a 50s/60s Bonneville F-100 wink tank racer, with blown small-block and even license plates. Is it worth the price? Make the jump, take the poll, and let us know! [CarsOnline-Ads.com]