<![CDATA[Jalopnik: limo]]> http://tags.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: limo]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/limo http://jalopnik.com/tag/limo <![CDATA[Six-Door Prius Limo Totes Kids, Lots Of Junk]]> Let's say you have a sick love of the Toyota Prius, but you also need the kid-toting and junk-hauling capabilities of a limousine. Solution? Weld a whole new section in the middle and make yourself a six-door Prius hybrid-limo.

Although we've seen a shot of the Prius limo before, we've never seen it in so much detail. These shots come to us from the fancy Jalopnik Facebook page (which is like the wild west of commenting. Have fun with it kiddies!) With six fully functioning doors, it was apparently created to tote around a whole herd of kids and their junk. It's got and somehow manages to return similar fuel economy as the regular Prius. It's center section might be a little bumpier, but you can't argue with the sleek limo proportions. Somehow this car is way, way cooler than a normal Prius, but we have no idea why. (Hat tip toGabe!)








]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5344758&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Ten "You Might Be A Redneck" Limos]]> Wedding season's quickly approaching and if you're riding in one of these ten limos to recite your vows, start a life of baby-manufacturing and welfare-collecting, well, you might be doing Jeff Foxworthy proud.

[via photobucket, museumofhoaxes, flickr 1, flickr 2, flickr 3]

10.) Ma and Pa wanted a lakefront wedding reception so cousin Jed hooked them up.

9.) There's enough room to fit all twenty-six and a half hound dogs in this Suburban beast.

8.) This particular example brings Luigi Colani to mind. The handiwork is impeccable.

7.) This motorcycle limo is perfect for your brother/second-cousin/uncle looking to have his Kodiac chaw and not worry about having to spit into his favorite Nascar commemorative collectible cup. Dale would approve.

6.) Thanks to this lifted show of brute force, we're actually starting to wish we were rednecks.

5.) The perfect limo for when both Bo and Luke need to simultaneously marry that ultra hot cousin of theirs.

4.) Ever take that Astro-limo off any sweet jumps?

3.) Not only can you use this Dodge Ram limo to get to your reception; you can also use it for its dual-use honeymoon hotel right there in the truck bed.

2.) Monte Carlo, Nascar-liveried stretch limo... Need we say more?

1.) The ingenuity involved in building this stretched abomination truly impresses us. Is that a U-Haul truck front end?

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5279008&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Maserati Quatroporte Limo Is Quite A Stretch]]> The Maserati Quattroporte can carry a group of four in style, but what if you need more room for your junk? A Quattroporte Wagon would suffice. Or, what about this VIP Lounge-style Quattroporte stretch limo?

This Maser packs enough punch to pick-up and joyride ten of your closest gold chain-wearing friends down to the Crazy Horse Two with all the class and romance that an Italian super sedan can muster. Florida-based, Padilla Car Collection built this Maserati Quattroporte stretch limo and it's claimed to be the only one in the world like it; We'll be thanking God every day, until that is, they build another one. [carscoop via padilla car collection]

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5245624&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Some Cars Take A Beating Down On The Alameda Street]]> Welcome to Down On The Street, where we admire old vehicles found parked on the streets of the Island That Rust Forgot: Alameda, California. Today we're going to return to a couple of old friends.

Both the 1986 Toyota Corolla GT-S and 1979 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine live in my neighborhood, so I've been forced to watch their respective downward spirals in recent months.


The Corolla parks on Alameda's main downtown thoroughfare, in a neighborhood packed with apartment buildings and businesses. Parking is San Francisco-grade maddening, especially when the street-sweeping parking tickets get dealt out, and tensions often run high. That means that the guy who owns this street-parked project AE86 is forced to play a game of automotive musical chairs with the car as he works on obtaining parts and fixing stuff… and the large quantity of cop-issued "move this car within 72 hours of git towed away" red-tag residue indicates that some of the locals are reporting the car as abandoned on a regular basis. It gets worse, though; after two years on the same block, it appears that enraged parking-space vigilantes have turned to vandalism to get their point across. It wouldn't bother me so much if we were dealing with just another Excel or Sable, but the GT-S is a genuine classic.

The story of this '79 Fleetwood limo is a little different. It's been anchored at the same spot for nearly a year now, and (since it's across the street from a mall and not in front of anyone's house) nobody seems to care. Could it have a trunk full of decomposing mob victims? Bales of banknotes? No doubt the reality is less romantic, but at least it's interesting to see a huge abandoned vehicle find a tow-truck-proof spot on Red Tag Island.




First 400 DOTS VehiclesDOTS FAQ

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5227195&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Obama's New Cadillac Limo Officially Unveiled]]> President-Elect Barack Obama's getting a new Cadillac Limousine in time for his inauguration on January 20th. Here are the first official photos. The new limo’s a rolling symbol of the President’s power and GM’s marketing.


While the new Cadillac One may look like a stretched Cadillac DTS, it’s in fact based on the gigantic GMC Topkick truck platform. Security tech likely includes five-inch thick bulletproof glass, ultra high strength ceramic armor and cellphone jammers, but the Secret Service is putting the kibosh on official details for security reasons. One tech item they are talking about are the LED spotlights that’ll illuminate the fender-mounted flags at night.

The press release follows:

An American Tradition Continues: New Presidential Era Begins With a New Cadillac Presidential Limousine

WASHINGTON – As Americans celebrate the inauguration of a new president of the United States next week, another new Cadillac will grace Pennsylvania Avenue to lead the proceedings. President Barack Obama will ride in an all-new Cadillac Presidential Limousine, continuing a long tradition of Cadillac limousines that have served many U.S. presidents.

“Cadillac is honored to again provide a new Presidential Limousine,” said Mark McNabb, North America vice president, Cadillac/Premium Channel. “This is a great American tradition that we’re delighted to renew with an all-new car featuring the best of Cadillac’s dramatic design and technology.”

The image of an American president greeting crowds from a Cadillac limousine dates to President Woodrow Wilson and the early days of the automobile, and continues into a historic new era. The latest Cadillac Presidential Limousine is a completely new design, succeeding the DTS Presidential Limousine that debuted in 2004. The new car incorporates many of the dramatic design and technology features of new and highly acclaimed Cadillac vehicles in a purpose-built format tailored to specific and exacting specifications befitting presidential transport.

Inside and out, the Cadillac Presidential Limousine includes many of the brand’s signature design elements. Assertive, modern and elegant, the front of the car includes the intricate, dual-textured grille made famous by Cadillac’s most popular current models, the CTS sport sedan and Escalade. Vertical design elements, such as the car’s front and rear lighting, mirror those used on production models.

For largely functional reasons, such as optimal outward visibility, the car is slightly more upright than its predecessor. However, this new Cadillac Presidential Limousine occupies roughly the same overall footprint on the road as the previous model, with a similar size and proportion.

The side and rear profiles of the new Presidential Limousine are classic, elegant forms, evocative of Cadillac’s STS and DTS luxury sedans. Inside the cabin, the car includes the finest examples of Cadillac’s recent renaissance in design, technology and craftsmanship. The cabin blends modern design and technology with old-world craftsmanship. Major aspects of the cabin are cut and sewn by hand, the same process used in popular Cadillac models such as the CTS sport sedan.

Naturally, many purpose-built aspects of the car are specially designed and prepared for presidential use. The rear passenger area includes an extensive executive compartment with ample seating space, outward visibility and useful mobile office features.

The car was designed, developed and tested by specialists who adhered to an extensive set of specifications. It was subjected to an extreme testing regimen to ensure performance that achieves precise functional requirements. In doing so, security provisions were undertaken at all times during development to ensure the car’s functional capabilities are preserved and confidential.

An embroidered presidential seal is positioned in the center of the rear seat back panel, as well as on each rear door trim panel. Presidential seals are also affixed to the exterior rear doors. The U.S. flag is placed on the right front fender, and the presidential standard is located on the left front fender when the president travels in the vehicle. High-tech LED spotlights illuminate the flags at night.

History – Cadillac and the U.S. Presidency
Cadillac has built limousines and special vehicles for U.S. presidents, diplomats, ambassadors and foreign dignitaries since the early 20th century, an iconic aspect of the brand that continues today.

Cadillac’s central role began during World War I, when many Cadillac engines and cars were transferred to military and government service because of their superior durability and power. One of the first chief executives to use a Cadillac was President Wilson, who rode through the streets of Boston during a World War I victory parade in 1919. A lavish 1928 Cadillac town car was used in the Calvin Coolidge administration.

In 1938, two Cadillac convertibles, dubbed the "Queen Mary" and "Queen Elizabeth," were delivered to the U.S. government. Named after the great ocean liners of the time, the vehicles were 21.5 feet long, weighed 7,660 pounds and were equipped with a full ammunition arsenal, two-way radios and heavy-duty generators. Durable and reliable, the two "Queens" served Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

President Eisenhower, known as a car buff, rode in one of the first Cadillac Eldorado models ever produced during his 1953 inaugural parade. The Eldorado represented a high point in automobile design history, as it had the first wraparound windshield, a feature quickly adopted on other new production models.

In 1956, the Queen Mary II and Queen Elizabeth II convertibles replaced the original series. The vehicles were slightly smaller, but like their predecessors, were fully armored and featured state-of-the art communications. Moreover, the vehicles were fitted with narrow rims inside the tire in case the tires were shot out. The Queen Mary II and Queen Elizabeth II served not only President Eisenhower, but also Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Both vehicles were retired in 1968.

The Ronald W. Reagan administration was delivered a 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood limousine and a Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham – Presidential Series was delivered to the William J. Clinton administration in 1993. Unlike previous models that typically were Cadillac cars adapted and modified by independent limousine companies, the 1993 Presidential Brougham was designed, developed and manufactured totally within General Motors and Cadillac. This included an extensive set of security measures to maintain confidentiality, a process that continues today.

Currently, the 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood limousine resides at the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, Calif., while the 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham is at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Ark.

Cadillac has produced two presidential limousines this decade that remain in service. The first was a Deville Presidential model delivered to President George W. Bush in 2001. In 2004, President Bush debuted a new DTS Presidential model. It was the first application of a new design that launched later that year for the production DTS full-size sedan.

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5131380&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[PCH, Joad Family Redux Edition: 1957 Cadillac Camper or 6-Door Rabbit Limo?]]> Welcome to Project Car Hell, where you choose your eternity by selecting the project that's the coolest... and the most hellish! Hard times is a-comin', and it's time to prepare for life on the move!

The global economic meltdown doesn't mean you have to take a break from Hell Projects. In fact, it's more important than ever that you break out your Hell Project skills in order to give you and your'n an edge when it comes time to hit the road in search of work, handouts, escape from rampaging urban mobs, etc… and that means building a vehicle that can haul you, your loved ones, and a large percentage of your personal possessions around the land. We're talking pots and pans, crates of squawking chickens, and mattresses strapped to the outside of the vehicle here, with maybe Grandma lashing down the spare engine with bungee cords as you horse-trade some crafty yokel for a sack of cornmeal to feed your white liquor still. Sure, you could just buy a diesel Econoline and be done with it, but it's not just enough to survive, like rats or roaches. You need to roam the land in style!

The 1957 Cadillac is one fine-looking car, no doubt about it, and Cadillac built bulletproof forged-crank engines back in those days, but even a Fleetwood wouldn't be voluminous enough for your Joad-style peregrinations. Time to go Winnebago shopping? Hell no, not when you could have this 1957 Cadillac camper, which is now sitting on eBay with a price tag just barely into four figures, no reserve, and an auction end time just hours away. It doesn't run at the moment, but as the seller says: "IT MIGHT FIRE UP WITH A FRESH BATTERY AND SOME FRESH GAS." Even if it doesn't, the junkyards are full of Cadillac 472s, and even a smogified 425 will get the job done. Check out that luxurious interior- plenty of room for everyone! Thanks to Ian for the tip.

That Cadillac camper is great, but you and your fellow Joads would be forced to panhandle twice as hard to keep it fueled up (or, even worse, you'd be forced to use your whiskey still to make 200-proof to burn in the engine). What you need is a vehicle with space for family members, pets, livestock, weapons, etc., yet doesn't go through gas the way the Federal Reserve is currently going through banknote-printing ink. You could get one of those Toyota truck-based campers, but living in one of those isn't really living. Instead, this 1985 VW Rabbit six-door limo will do the job. It's got plenty of space, an economical four-cylinder engine, and will show all those other losers at the hobo jungle that you've got class! The engine isn't in the car- something about an attempted VR6 swap- but the seller will include it in the deal. You might even consider grafting the bed from a VW pickup onto the back, for more carrying capacity. You might need a running start to get up hills, but that's no big hardship! Thanks to Nitroracer for the tip.



Project Car Hell's Greatest Hits

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5120907&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Ukrainian Limousine Sets All Time Ugly Record]]> There have been many entrants for the title of worlds ugliest car, many of which hail from the former Soviet Union republics, but this Ukrainian limousine makes us think the competition might be over.


In the long and storied history of ugly cars, it's hard to find a creation so brazenly ugly, so unabashedly hideous and so thoroughly repulsive it immediately induces thoughts of porcelain worship. Outside it's a quasi bulging off-road SUV-cum-sedan, stretched out with six independent doors and topped with stylish roof racks. In the front we're greeted with a classy Snidely Whiplash mustache with an equally appealing grille guard to protect it. We're not positive, but those look like first generation Ford Focus headlights. Rather than style the rear of the car they just covered up a third of the real estate with tail lights.

Inside things get spectacular. The driver is treated to a wood-grained steering wheel and a vinyl cover over what looks like a late 90's Audi dash. In the night club owners compartment, we see heavily embossed vinyl seats with a handmade television kiosk. Curtains provide ultimate privacy which will be enhanced by the television-topping candelabra.

Truly, this is a magnificent piece work. We commend the creators and recommend they build more of these things in a similar fashion. The world needs to be reminded how lucky they are to have professionals designing the high volume stuff. [EnglishRussia]

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5108062&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[PCH, Get Rich In The Limo Business Edition: Nun-Stretched Dart Wagon or Monster Cadillac?]]> Welcome to Project Car Hell, where you choose your eternity by selecting the project that's the coolest... and the most hellish! You want an insane project limo, right? Sure you do!

Last time, we had a momentous upset in the Choose Your Eternity poll, with a Detroit car somehow managing to beat two French cars! Granted, no Citroëns were involved, but we're sure there's some weeping and gnashing of teeth in Paris right now. Not like France loses its PCH SuperAwesomeMegaPower rank, of course, but for now that turbocharged Falcon has brought a bit of the pride back to the reeling Motor City (and we're going to have a Detroit-on-Detroit matchup in honor of that accomplishment). Today we're returning to a level of the underworld we haven't visited since the Octo-Door '57 Chrysler took on the Stretch Ferrari 400: Hell Limousines!

Chrysler never built a Hexa-Door Dodge Dart station wagon- which we think was a terrible miscalculation- but when the Vatican demands such a machine for nunly transportation, American free enterprise leaps into action! Such is the story behind this 1962 Dodge Dart stretch wagon, and maybe it's even true! The seller states right off that it's "in poor shape," and that's definitely the truth, but who cares? In addition to his distressing honesty, he seller also violates all the eBay traditions concerning grammar, spelling, and capitalization, but we'll overlook that because this thing is a Hexa-Door Dart Wagon Alleged Nunmobile! How could you pass it up? There's rust. It's been sitting since 1979, most of that time outdoors in rural Kentucky. The engine is a poly 318, which is sort of like the LA block 318, only way heavier. The good news is that you'll be able to find every possible mechanical component without half trying, for cheap, and along the way you'll discover that you might as well upgrade to a 500-horsepower 360. You might not want to invest too much time and money into the running gear, however, until you've vanquished the Rust Monster, and that might take decades some time, plus a few million Hail Marys. Thanks to ArmyOfChuckness for the tip!

A Pope-approved 6-door Dart wagon limo from Butcher Holler would be quite a daily driver, sure, but what if you must kick up the mud whilst blasting beer cans out the window with a shotgun? For that, you want a genuine, built-by-crazy-Minnesotans 4x4 Monster Cadillac Limo. Now, at this point you might be saying to yourself (in your best Upper Midwest accent) "OK, but where could I find such a car, then?" Hey, this is Project Car Hell, where eternal torment is conveniently located, and we've managed to find this 1981 Cadillac stretch limo mud truck (go here if the ad disappears), built on a Suburban chassis. You get your 36" swampers, you betcha, and your hoon-proof 350 engine, and it even runs and drives! The seller admits that it "Needs TLC," which you're free to interpret as you choose (we choose to believe it means you'll be ready to take on the gnarliest swamps of the Amazon Delta with little more than a tuneup). The seller wants $3,000, but if there ever was a price that screamed "negotiable," this is it!

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5108155&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Project Car Hell, King Of LeMons Edition: Bristol 408 or Beetle Limo?]]> Welcome to Project Car Hell, where you choose your eternity by selecting the project that's the coolest... and the most hellish! Yesterday, the "get out of jail free" supercharged Beretta edged out the "must stand 100 feet back to take the photo" Mazda Millenia in the Choose Your Eternity poll, in a 54:46 split vote. For today, we're going with a couple of cars suggested by 24 Hours Of LeMons-loving readers who were inspired by the Corvair and Peugeot 505 Turbo racers to look for even better LeMons entries…


When you think about a Chrysler-engined British car, the Jensen Interceptor is probably the first thing that comes to mind. While the Interceptor makes a fine Project Car Hell candidate, its perceived value to Jensen masochists aficionados is such that you'll never find one for anywhere close to the 500-buck 24 Hours Of LeMons limit. Hold on, though- what about the Bristol 408? Powered by the good ol' reliable Chrysler 313, the Bristol combined British style with Mopar drivetrain reliability… but is it possible to find one with a LeMons-legal price tag? Better hitch up the trailer and head for Wisconsin, because this 1966 Bristol 408 Coupe (go here if the ad disappears) has an asking price of just $500! The engine is bad, but there must be sufficient eBay-worthy pieces you can sell off this thing to score a running Chrysler small-block and Torqueflite transmission. Then just knock the suspension and brakes into quasi-functional shape and you'll be raceworthy. You can make it happen! Thanks to Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkey Bret for the tip!

That Bristol would make you an instant LeMons legend, all right, but where's the absurdity? Sure, you'd have to be insane to run such a car, but you want members of other teams to stagger back in a mixture of awe and horror when they lay eyes on your racin' machine. A limousine would accomplish that, but there's the troublesome 4,000-pound weight limit to contend with. Unless… unless, of course, you were to get this 1974 Super Beetle limo (go here if the ad disappears), which has a bait-n-switch price of $8 but will likely go to the first buyer who waves a $100 bill under the seller's nose. There's no engine and transmission, but Pick Your Part is always chock-full of Beetles and Transporters, and any lawnmower mechanic armed with $9.98 worth of Brazilian replacement parts can get a Type 1 engine working just fine. Handling on the race track might be a little odd, since the pendulum with the big rear weight is now longer, but you won't be perturbed by the spinouts once you've got that Index Of Effluency and/or Organizer's Choice trophy in your shaky hands! Thanks to LeMons Supreme Court Justice Loverman for the tip!

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5070057&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Mitsuoka Galue S50 Limo Is Executive Enchantment On Wheels]]> Mitsuoka is an automaker we've known to build some of the most breathtaking automobiles ever conceived, whether it be the Camry-powered Mitsuoka Orochi, or the renowned Mitsuoka Galue-II we spotted on the streets of Tokyo. Now we can add another name to that list of exceptionally styled cars which exemplify the virtues of proportion, restraint, and cohesiveness — the Mitsuoka Galue S50 limousine. This magnificent beast is the latest to wear the storied Galue nameplate and boasts executive-class leg room, an overhead DVD player, an iDrive-like rear-seat controller, mid-90's Cadillac tail lights and all the discretion a Yakuza boss could ask for.
[Mitsuoka, Autoblog]

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5070008&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Rocket Ship Car Definitely Better Than Ferrari Limo]]> You have to wonder why rolling up to your pending nuptials in the Ferrari F360 limo is even on the table when things like the Rocket Ship Car exist. This retired amusement park ride from the Euclid Beach Park in Ohio was transformed into a custom people-pleaser with some serious hardware in the till. According to the proprietors of RocketShipCar.com, owners of this chrometastic creation, this sucker is blessed with a stroked 512 cubic-inch Chevy big block making 525 HP. With seating for twelve and acres of exterior neon lights, this thing has more retro style than an Elvis convention. (Thanks wcaspian)

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=395291&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Drifting A Limo Ain't Easy]]> What's cooler than driving sideways? Driving sideways in a limousine! Thing is, as these guys found out, it's not as easy as you might think. Even on a water-soaked skid-pad, that stretched wheelbase is hard to balance with opposite lock. Points for effort, though we would've like to have seen a "Just Married" sign and some tin cans being dragged along off the back.
[sportbilen.se, h/t to Bo!]

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=388538&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[1980 VW Rabbit Limo For Sale, No, We Aren't Kidding]]> If ever there was a project hellish enough to merit actual purchase consideration based solely on the novelty of the car in question, this Volkswagen Rabbit Limo is right up there. Just reading the description you can almost feel the flames of hell licking at this guy as he tries to convince someone to purchase a stretched Rabbit with rusty floors and a rotten interior that hasn't run since 2002. This one is definitely for the pure of heart, but hey, only $750! Description and more pics below.

Rabbit-limo-2.JPG

Time to sell this huge project! Not for the faint of heart! Very rusty. Here's the details....Professionally stretched when new..I have a promo pic of it from the company that built it. Low miles about 50K...1.6 Gas powered automatic. Dealer installed air. This car ran and drove when I got it in 2002. The metal was rotted under the vinyl top. The floors were falling through. The rocker were rusty. I had a roof panel welded in with a sunroof. I had floors made by a metal shop, then installed. Some rocker work done. The fuel tank was removed when welding. The tank is still out, so it does not run. It did run and drive great prior however. We put in brackets to install A4 GTI rear black leather seat which is included. I have extra rust free doors. This car could be a lot of fun after a lot of work. I just don't have the time for it. The last pic is from 02 when it was last driven (fun).
[Craigslist]
Thanks for the tip mtdrv]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=387566&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[PCH, Molten Sulfur Edition: V8 Peugeot 404 or Corvette Limo?]]> The Detroit (well, actually South Bend) machine put up a good fight against the Detroit-powered British Leyland product yesterday, but it's tough to beat a PCH Superpower and thus the voters gave the victory to the V8/IRS MGB-GT in yesterday's poll. But are we giving up on America as a credible PCH contender? Hell no! That's the thinking behind today's Detroit-versus-Paris matchup, and we'll see how things sort out.


Big American pushrod V8s are always cool when installed in a European car- just look at the Jensen Interceptor or Facel Vega to see what we mean. However, the nature of Project Car hell is such that you need to drop your crude-yet-potent cast-iron powerplant into a car whose designers never imagined such a combination in all their wildest opium dreams. You could just pick out the car and do the entire swap from scratch, but it's far more insane fun to start with someone else's half-finished project! Say, this 1967 Peugeot 404 (go here if the ad disappears), which has been equipped with a 280Z front subframe and is- in theory- set up for a small-block Chevy engine. Holy power-to-weight ratio, a 404 with a rip-snortin' 383 crate motor would sure be something, eh? Or you could forget about the Chevy and put a Chrysler 383 in there! Let your imagination run wild... and you'll have plenty of time to do that, what with all the fabricating and parts chasing you'll be doing with this project.

A psychotic V8 Peugeot would be a welcome edition to the garage, but sometimes you and your entourage need to make a good impression when you roll up to Nickel Nick's Hot Slots Casino in North Las Vegas, and we mean the kind of impression that only a one-of-a-kind custom limousine can deliver. Forget those stretch Hummers or even a stretch Ferrari, folks, because now you have the opportunity to buy this custom limo assembled from 1976 and 1982 Corvettes (go here if the ad disappears)! We'll admit it needs some work (and we don't just mean a couple of hours of quick Bondoization), and you might want to take a good hard look at the frame welds before taking it out on a public street... but look at this thing! Imagine it with a roof made of something sturdier than duct tape and trashbags and an interior fully decked out with a full bar, Sno-Cone machine, cocktail-table Missile Command arcade game, and Max Mosley Edition™ swagger-stick storage locker! You'll have class and plenty of it when you and your crew roll in this baby, no doubt about it! Of course, since it's already set up for a V8 engine, you won't have too much trouble putting a Maximum Torque Specialties Cadillac 500 under the hood. Got to be a Cadillac engine in a Corvette limo, right?

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=379782&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Smaaart ForTwo Stretched Into Moving Billboard]]> The impossible ridiculousness of this car is only matched by its utter brilliance. The nutjobs who brought us the stretched Ferrari limo have plied their craft on a decidedly less high performance automobile. They've dubbed their creation the Smaaart ForTwo (see what they did there?) and are pitching it towards soft drink makers as a moving billboard. Gee, wonder which soft drink they're aiming for. Why did they choose a Smart? Why not? [WorldCarFans]

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=378865&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Ukrainian Limo Rolls In Style]]> Ukrainians seem to have a fantastically wacky taste in automobiles. First, they created an asymmetrical roadster/coupe made of wood. Then, they made a custom sportscar with an exposed rear axle. Now, they've given us something a bit more practical.

As you'd expect, the Ukrainian limo comes with every accessory a customer would demand. It has push-bars for moving wandering animals and drunken pedestrians, plenty of lights to guide you through unlit rural Ukraine roads, and antennas for the 14" color television/dvd-player combo. Those Maybach taxi cabs better watch out!
[English Russia]

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=377376&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Project Car Hell, Limo Edition: 1957 Chrysler or 1981 Ferrari?]]> Can an American car- even a 60-year-old American car made by a long-defunct manufacturer- compete with an entry PCH Superpower Italy? Not according to our most recent Choose Your Eternity poll, in which the '38 Studebaker Dictator lost out to the '68 OTAS 820. That might have something to do with the fact that most of the OTAS now resides in the belly of the Rust Monster, but it also points out just how tough it is to beat a PCH Superpower. However, Project Car Hell is all about beating your unstoppable head against an immobile brick wall, forever, so we're coming right back with another Italy-versus-America matchup. And not just your quotidian-type X-1/9-versus-Pacer deal, oh no- today we're plunging headfirst into the molten sulfur of Custom Stretch Limo Hell!


Ah, the custom stretch limo! Conjures up treasured memories of projectile-vomiting Bacardi 151 all over your prom date's Very Expensive Dress, don't it? Keep in mind, however, that renting a custom stretch is one thing... but owning one takes the whole Limo Experience to a new, even classier level. But stretched Town Cars or even Hummers are a dime-a-dozen; you need something as cool as the Toronado Limowagon if you want to haul your entourage in the style to which they're no doubt totally unaccustomed. Something with fins. Something like this 1957 Chrysler Windsor 8-door airport limo (go here if the ad disappears), which is priced at a get-your-eyes-checked $4,500! The seller figures there's no need to waste time listing everything wrong with this car; instead, he or she has posted a single hazy photograph and included the following two sentences of description: "Looks like Christine, the killer car. Needs complete restoration." There you have it! So many questions unanswered (and, by the way, wasn't Christine a '58? And a Plymouth?), but we're pretty sure you can count on any question involving synonyms for "iron oxide" being answered in the affirmative. But put on your triple-thickness rose-colored glasses and picture yourself behind the wheel of this car after a full bank account and sanity depleting restoration, trying to see around that enormous blower you'll have perched on top of a gasser-style 392 Hemi!

An 8-71-blown Hemi '57 Chrysler limo would be the bee's nuts indeed, but what if you rumble up to Wet T-Shirt Night at Rohypnol Ron's and, just as your betuxed homies pop open all those doors and get ready for a truly grand entrance, a dissenting voice from the awestruck crowd cries out "But that's an airport limo!" and then the spell is broken? What then? Well, you could play the trump card of a series of hemi-powered Limo Donuts in the parking lot... but what if you'd taken on a different stretch limo project? What if you'd purchased a custom stretch Ferrari? And not some Fiero-based "Ferrari" but the real deal? You'd think such a thing would be impossible to find, but just check out this 1981 Ferrari 400i stretch limo (go here if the ad disappears) and then try to tell us that the American Dream isn't alive and well! That's right, a stretch V12-powered Ferrari! It's a lot more expensive than the Chrysler, and the seller says it's "mechanically sound, clean but can use some minor cosmetic work." But come on, a 27-year-old Italian car that's been hacked up and then driven at 12MPH while the interior gets hosed down with every bodily fluid that Newport Beach promgoers and 4th-tier celebrities can emit? Hell!

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=374081&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[March Madness Narrowed To Sweet 16, Round 2 Of Voting Today]]> Well here we are, Round 2 of Jalopnik-style madness. After the first round of voting, we've eliminated half of the 32-car field. And there sure were some upsets; Parnelli Jones' Big Oly Bronco losing to some white Italian car being perhaps the most shocking. We even had a last minute buzzer-beater, with "Billy" beating out the Rolls Limo by only 2 votes! But, now it's time to vote our sweet 16 down to an elite 8. We'll be one step closer to figuring out which car you think is the coolest on-screen in the 1974 film Gone In 60 Seconds. Update: Polls have closed, voting for Round Three here.

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.









]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=373395&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[March Madness Begins, First Round Of Voting]]> Yesterday, we gave you the brackets. Today, the voting begins and Jalopnik-style March Madness ensues. If you haven't finalized your own bracket for the office pool just yet, hurry up! The field of 32 cars from the original 1974 film Gone In 60 Seconds is about to get narrowed down by your votes. At the end this round, we'll be down to 16 sweet rides. Ultimately, we want to find out what you think the coolest car in the movie is. Now some cars are cool all by themselves, but you also have to consider what role they played on screen. So who knows what the results will look like? Update: Polls for Round 1 are closed. Vote in Round 2 here.

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.
















]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=372865&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[March Madness, Jalopnik Style]]> Interested in all the March madness tournament bracketry, but not really into college hoops? Maybe you're looking for a way to redeem yourself after penciling-in Duke to go all the way? Whatever the case, we've decided to throw our own Jalopnik-style bracket-madness party! Instead of basketball, we've got cars! And don't think this isn't some randomly-selected field of Consumer Reports top choices. What we have is a 32-car selection from one of the coolest car movies ever made: the original Gone In 60 Seconds from 1974. Through the rest of this week and part of next, your votes will be tallied to decide the winners of each face-off. Polls will open tomorrow, so that gives you today to print out your own bracket, fill in your predictions, tell your buddies, and make up your own office pool. It also gives you time to go watch the movie, but if you want just a quick refresher, we've provided that too.

This is the star of the show; the top seed. A seemingly indestructible 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 that runs from the law in a glorious 40-minute chase scene.
The local country radio reporter's ride, a Ford that might as well have "dorky" painted all over it.


A drop-top Ford with questionable structural rigidity that gets hit in the side so hard it splits neatly in half. Ridiculous, but funny.
The Belvedere rent-a-cop with a German Shepard. Attempts to chase down a tow-truck stealing a Challenger, and fails.


A burgundy Roller stolen in broad daylight from the airport drop-off curb; chauffeur left the key in it.
A Fleetwood serving as personal transportation for the ring-leader of the operation. An arranged assortment of sunglasses on the dash, and enough room for the whole crew to cruise around.


Stole a Challenger right off a dealership lot, then outran security even with the Challenger still attached. The star of the second best chase in the movie.
A poor little Type 3 that got flipped on its roof by Eleanor, starting a huge pileup. Cute car, humiliating role.


The Dodge carries the flag for all the cop cars in the movie. They're cool rides burdened by somewhat inept drivers.
One of the "girls" on the hit list, though it only appears on film for a moment. Not a hearse, but a custom station wagon.


License plate reads "OOO GAL." The Dodge was a stolen car wearing VIN tags from a wrecked donor; An identity thief before it was popular. Sadly, it had to go to the crusher once people started getting wise.
A new Plymouth out on a test drive gets smashed by a cop in pursuit of Eleanor.


Lyle Waggoner's Intermeccanica Italia swiped from spaced-out stoner cleaning it.
A stolen Corvette in a sizzling color. Not on film very long, but it leaves an impression.


The undercover cop that started the epic chase with Eleanor. It Went toe-to-toe with the Mustang, but couldn't quite keep up.
A nice bright green Dodge that suffered the fate of being crushed by a garbage truck rolling onto it.


An old sedan DeVille ridin' low. Occupants seemed to enjoy smokin' the herb so much that they drove the Caddy to self-destruction.
A Rolls limo big enough to carry a fully-assembled bicycle in the back seat with room to spare. Just wait for the chauffeur to leave the car unattended, insert the bike you rode up on, and drive away. Petty theft made high-class.


Don't get distracted by the girl, this DeTomaso is what you really want. She's just askin' for it, leaving the keys in the car like that.
This Jensen Interceptor is practically good enough for JFG, and it's apparently good enough to make the South American client's, list as well.


Fantastically obscure Manta Mirage stolen during a test drive. Salesman gets out to switch seats, thief slides behind the wheel and takes off.
The Maserati is another car on the list only appearing for a moment, but it's pure style.


A Cadillac filled with drugs, one of the few things to survive in the remake movie from 2000. How do you get rid of all that white powder? Burn it. Who cares if it's worth a million bucks on the street; these are responsible criminals.
The hopped-up Plymouth was on the screen for only a quick flash, but we're sure it's even quicker down the strip.


Parnelli Jones' Baja Bronco is the icon of off-road racing. But that didn't stop anyone from stealing it in the movie.
The Lamborghini is elegantly beautiful, but forgettable in this context.


Epic cool car and JFG resident, but it's too bad we can't see it's wacky suspension in action.
Who needs a high-tech anti-theft system? Just keep a tiger in your Cadillac.


Another limo left unattended and vulnerable. All the coolness factor of death with none of the emotional struggle.
Hard to say what exactly has been done to this Chevy Vega, but it sure ain't stock. Another one we'd like to see actually driving.


It looks plain on the outside because it's supposed to. There were two identical Fords used for scouting out all the cars on the to-be-stolen list before the day of the big hit. Equipped with walkie-talkies too!
Nothing says "Malaise Era" more than a Stutz. And this one was stolen right in front of a confused old lady. Classy.


[Screenshots are property of the movie's copyright holders; not Jalopnik]

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=372256&view=rss&microfeed=true