We got a heads-up on the new model, currently undergoing development at ICON and we gotta say, it looks like a pretty appealing concept. Take all the simplicity and capability of classic Jeeps and Toyotas and combine them with modern engineering and parts into a rugged, simple, knockdown kit you can build with hand tools alone. It will launch set up for power from GM's excellent Ecotec four cylinder and the ICON guys are working on an all-electric version with in-wheel motors for ultra-green wheeling. Ambitious, yes, but at the same time, very cool.

Although its official name is the ICON CJ3B, Icon affectionately calls it "The Dog." Here's what ICON had to say in a quick e-mail to us along with these shots:

So we did not make it to Frankfurt (joke), but we are hard at work on a new ICON model we will release in the fall. We affectionately call it "The Dog" yet it's official name is the ICON CJ3B. As our production ICON FJ's are inspired by the original Toyota Land Cruiser, the new model is inspired by the old Willys flat fendered CJ3B. We designed this one in Solid Works form scratch, with a dedicated coil suspension chassis, production Rubicon axle assemblies, Jeep application AX15 five speed and New Process 231 transfer case. Target weight of 2400 lbs, 260 HP. We will build a dozen or so as full turn key vehicles, thus refining the process to allow for clients to purchase it in "kit form", ala the old Popular Mechanics back page ads of the 1960's. A modern take on the classic, CAD designed, simple fun father and son project, using simple hand tools (no welding). We intend to launch with an Ecotec 4, yet are developing a pure EV variant with four in wheel hub motors and a driver controlled variable crawl ratio for off road versatility.

The kit retains the stock Can Am Spyder suspension, but clearly uses a bespoke frame which locates the driver low down and between the front wheels. The engine is relocated behind the cockpit with a huge and functionless tail fin (Goblin claims it may help other road users see you) bolted to the top.

Like the Can Am, the WolfSpyder doesn't lean and presumably retains the incredibly restrictive stability control system, which is the only thing standing between the Spyder and lawsuits fun.

The WolfSpyder bodykit adds $19,995 to the Spyder's $15,449 base price and is registerale as a motorcycle. [Goblin via Autoblog.nl]

Limited to just 1000 units, the SV Motor Company SV 9 Competizione appears to be one of the more mature Italian-emulating Corvette 'kit' cars in the CG renders below, but appearances can be somewhat deceiving. While there's no questioning what lust object inspired the SV 9's designer, upon closer inspection we notice the design is lacking a tad in its execution.

The headlamps look as if they've been grabbed under the cloak of darkness from Alfa's parts bin and though the front fascia design is simplistic in its execution, we can't help but feel that there's a cancerous mass hanging off the front. Images of Jim Henson muppets immediately come to mind. Other oddities include a haphazardly sliced hood cutline on the front wing and the strange 'vent' that it awkwardly avoids as well as the faux quarter glass that appears to be painted in a similar fashion to the recently debuted Jaguar XJ's C-pillar. Thankfully, things start to get better once you turn her around. The rear design, while lacking in supple curves and a bit on the generic side of the design spectrum, is actually the nicest element of the car. The removal of the inner-most lamp from the base Corvette tail and the outboard exhaust helps to visually widen the rear as well as give it a distinctive 8C-derived look.

Powering the nearly $100k SV 9, is the base Corvette's LS3 V8, though power has been increased from 436 to 450 horsepower thanks to a revised intake and ANSA-tuned exhaust. With a 3085 lb carbon fibered body, the SV 9 is estimated to accelerate to 60 mph in 4 seconds and run the 1320 in 12 seconds flat.

SV Motors offers a full customization program with 25 unique exterior hues and various interior trim options to guarantee you won't see another car quite like yours, but with only 1000 being produced we're sure the chances of a run-in are about as likely as catching a cab during NYC rush hour. The first production SV 9 is expected to be revealed this weekend, with a public debut to occur on August 14 at the Concorso Italiano in Monterey.

[SV Motor Company via Corvette Blogger]

And before that, an army of freshmen and synchronized wristwatches. This particular example is from the Wrocław University of Technology and shows a KITT light show and rudimentary race cars.

For way more surreal KITT action, direct your attention to a very old episode of Totalcar, the hilarious motoring show co-presented by Nino Karotta (previously on Jalopnik as a driver of an F1 car and a gangster Benz). Watch him go to Austria to road test a KITT replica and get arrested by highway police while wearing a Hoff wig and fake chest hair.

No subtitles this time. To lessen the cruelty, here’s a bite of Hungarian: when he says elmekórtani intézet at 20 seconds in, that means psychiatric institute. It all makes sense now, doesn’t it?

And if you prefer your KITT new school, we’ve got plenty of that too.

In his last article published by The Atlantic—How to Get a Nuclear Bomb, which later became the first chapter of the book The Atomic Bazaar—William Langewiesche recalls a conversation with an operator in Russia’s nuclear bureaucracy. Their discussion is about the ease with which nuclear weapons can be acquired by any state willing to build them:

“Once a country has made the decision to become a nuclear-weapons power, it will become one regardless of any guarantees. You needn’t be rich. You needn’t be technically developed. You can be Pakistan, Libya, North Korea, Iran. You can be …” He searched for a country even more absurd in his estimation. He said, “You can be Hungary.”

Stinging though it may be for my fellow Hungarians, the Russian’s quick analysis is certainly spot on. While starving North Korea has detonated a Hiroshima-size nuke this Monday, the last glory days of Hungarian military might were way back in the 15th century, when the Black Army of King Matthias Corvinus romped about Central Europe under one hell of a military flag, wreaking havoc every which way. It’s been all downhill from there.

So it is certainly an occasion when a Lamborghini Countach is spotted on the streets of this sad, lonely outpost on the very edge of Western civilization. But then you have to remember that in outposts, appearances can deceive. Which entails that when you start counting a Countach’s cylinders, you come to a sudden halt after six:

And realize that it’s probably not a Countach after all, but a Pontiac Fiero with a body kit.

The only solace for a rueful Hungarian nationalist would be the fact that we would have neither nukes nor the car that put America on wheels without Hungarians (1, 2, 3, 4).

Photo Credit: Balazs Keki

Jim Kellison was an aircraft engineer and former fighter pilot, who dreamed of building sports cars that would compete with the likes of Ferrari on street and track. He spent two years designing and testing his car before he made it available for sale to the public in 1957. The low-slung, draped-over-the-tires body stood out against the Chevys and Fords that 'trolled the motorways to roswell of the day. The J4 was offered in either build-at-home kits, or as a roller, needing only the drivetrain dropped in to get you out on the track. In order to back up the sporting pretentions of his kit car, Kellison took to the track himself and notched 27 wins on his belt in a J4-R, competing against the factory-backed Birdcages and Testarossas.

We've seen the Kellison before on Jalopnik, but haven't yet contemplated the historical significance or value of the marque. Now we have the opportunity to do both.

This 1,950lb J4-R is powered by a Chevrolet 327c.i.d. V8 backed up by a 3-speed Saginaw manual. The seller doesn't state horsepower, torque, or performance statistics, and that is part of what makes the car an enigma. In line with that, it comes without documented history- either of it's owner lineage, or of any track exploits. This is unfortunate, but does keep the price down, and who knows- maybe someday its past will be revealed to be noteworthy. The car is clean and appears all-original down to the California yellow-plate license tag. The body is reminiscent of the later Cheetah, but is lower, longer, and better proportioned than that ungainly beast.

Originally, the J4-R cost $640 from the Kellison factory. This car's $42,500 price tag isn't stratospheric for a rare racer with a family history, and keep in mind that, in 2008, a '65 Kellison J5 sold in Las Vegas for $35,000.

So what's your take on this J4-R? Does $42,500 seem like a Nice Price for a righteous vintage racer? Or do you invoke the Crack Pipe and call out Kellison, oh Kellison, where J4-R thou value?

You decide!

Fantasy Junction or go here if the ad disappears.

We've never quite seen a vehicle so complete in a homage to misplaced optimism, but the builder fully expected it to pass, despite the leaky brake fluid and the drive shaft grinding against the chassis. Also, the utterly laughable bodywork which would make any inspector worth his salt question every nut and bolt on the car. Too bad, as it's reportedly got a Cosworth under that bumpy hood and the running gear actually looks decent.

But, after laughing at the effort, the inspectors put a prohibition order on the car and told the builder it would only be able to leave the lot on a trailer. Ouch. (Thanks for the tip William [BarryBoys]

Bolwell is a tiny specialty carmaker based in Victoria. It got its start in the 1960s manufacturing kit cars, but moved on to its first production car, the original Nagari, in 1969. It first showed this new Nagari at the Melbourne Motor Show back in March, stating it wanted to sell the vehicle for $200,000 (AUD). The production model undercuts that by $2,000 (AUD), making it something of a bargain when you consider its carbon fiber tub, front and rear sub frames and a carbon composite body. Taillights come from the Acura RSX.

In addition to the standard model, Bolwell intends to offer an optional supercharger, a traditional manual gearbox and possibly even a Tesla Roadster-style electric powertrain at some point in the future. The first Nagari should be completed and delivered to its customer some time before Christmas. [Bolwell via GoAuto]

For that kind of money, you could get a nice, honest MR2 Spyder...that hasn't been in an accident. Or if you really just want a cheap mid-engined Porsche, you could buy a decent first-generation Boxster. However, if you're dressing up as Anthony Hamilton for Halloween, well then this might just be the ticket after all. [ebay]

Hi all, Here are some pics of my past works all done without garage, on my drive. I started on a bike licence back in 1980 so I built my tree wheeler ODYSSEY, a well known car around the custom scene, winning many trophies and most radical at Blackpool indoor show. It had a roof chop to the front roof gullwing doors and a 1600 type 3 VW variant engine and transaxle .

Next was my standard 8, it was a 4 door but i chopped the roof and made a 2 door coupe, it ran a 3.1 V6 with a Jag rear axle narrowed. I then built a one off V12 creation based on a hand built chassis and a bond bug body which sat in front of the steering wheels. All the running gear was out of a Jaguar.

After a long spell away from cars I got Calibra once again, so i built myself a body kit for this car. It featured in Max Power Top 100 at the NEC and got featured in Total Vauxhall. I then acquired the Nova, I intended to do a Ferrari Enzo lookalike but got somewhat side tracked. The car is still not finished, but I did enough bodywork to get the MOT to enable me to get to shows. I can't say when it will be finished as I am to reluctant to take it off the road since I am having too much fun driving it about. The car has just won Discovery Channel's Chop Shop London Garage, UK's Wildest Ride, they plan to do a write up on my work to coincide with a new series out soon.

Hope this is of some interest to you. Once again thanks for the attention, I understand people's mixed feeling about the car but it is what it is, my bit of fun, and surely that's all that counts.

Thanks, Steve

According to the seller, this car was featured in the obviously well known motion picture "13 million," a movie we all remember fondly (never mind that even IMDB has never heard of it). We just can't get over how spectacular this thing is put together. Is it possible for a car to be so bad it crosses the line into greatness? The answer is yes. (Thanks Henry) [eBay listing]

Under the muffin top is a homemade system to propel the cupcakes around. It's an electric rig that uses a couple of big batteries and a very rudimentary drive and braking system. Who cares about how mean of a machine it is! You're driving a cupcake, for goodness sake! [BoingBoing]

If you are determined to fulfill your steam fantasy, the car comes with plenty of documentation from the 20+ years of experimentation on the car. Truly, this would be an eternal project car hell. That being said, if anyone buys it, we'll amend the "How Jalopnik Is Your Car" scale to include a +10,000,000 point bonus for steam power. We're not sure what the fuel economy is like on this (yes the boiler is heated by gasoline), but maybe it's just what we need with rising gas prices.
[eBay via Winding Road]