Jalopnik: streamliner

Ever Wondered What A Bugatti 2+2 Would Look Like? Neither Have We

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:45:00 EDT

Though we understand why people are so anxious to tinker with the Bugatti Veyron, a 2+2 GT version isn't something that we'd considered until we saw these drawings from the young Maltese designer Reuben Zammit. For a concept sketch that no one asked for, Zammit does a good job of maintaining the Bugatti aesthetic while still creating a somewhat original profile. The rear is a bit too much like every other supercar dream, but we like the shooting brake look of the Bugatti Type 12-2 Streamliner concept.

Though the car isn't likely to be produced by Bugatti, which takes years to develop one model, the designer claims it was designed around fitting the twin-turbo W12 engine under the hood (that's right, it's front-engined). Dare to dream Zammit, dare to dream. [ReubenZammit via CarScoop

Bentley R-Type Continental Racer One-Off

Mark Arnold — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:40:00 EST

One may think that Bentleys were only used for chauffeur duty during the 70-some years between the 'Bentley Boys' of the 1920s and the 2001 EXP Speed 8 LeMans prototype racer. But this 1954 Continental R proves that simply wasn't the case. It's a one-off racer with a very distinct long-tail body. It seems unusual that someone would worry about aerodynamics on a car with such an upright front like this Bentley, but you can't deny that whoever campaigned this machine certainly had distinct taste. If your pockets are deep enough (or your organs are valuable enough), the car can be all yours. Though it's probably more practical to just bolt a turbo to a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.

[The San Diego Collection]

1950 Pontiac Streamliner Deluxe Convertible

Murilee Martin — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 09:00:00 EDT

Today's Down on the Street car gets the official Jalopnik Best Hood Ornament Ever Award. I mean, it's a jet plane with a glowing Indian head grafted on! What could the designers have been thinking when they came up with this thing? Best of all, the front view looks like a tiki head! And, of course, there's a lot of vintage Pontiac goodness behind the Glowing Indian Head Airplane as well...

This '50 Pontiac is a little bit banged up, but there's no rust and all the parts seem present and accounted for.

Check out the stars! The proud proclamation of the number of cylinders! And this is no boring ol' V8, mind you- this car has a straight-8 flathead. It goes without saying: Cherry Bombs needed.

Let's take another look at that hood ornament. Check the gallery below for yet more of them. I couldn't tear the camera away from the thing, must admit.

The convertible top, well, it needs some work. The climate here is easy on steel, but tough on cloth.

Actually, this car may be a Chieftan, not a Streamliner (some sources indicate there were no Streamliner convertibles, but others indicate the Silver Streak was a Streamliner-only emblem), but I just can't be sure. Pontiac experts, please weigh in with your opinons on this burning issue.

Parked in the yard, we see a Corvair van...

...and in the driveway, a Pacer! Yes, this Pontiac's owner has quite the collection of classic machinery!