Jalopnik: vannin

The Miller High Life Cruiser

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:45:00 EDT

As man cannot survive by racing alone, we found ourselves setting out to discover other aspects of Milwaukee. To our eyes, this mid-sized city is sort of a mash-up of Detroit and Chicago with most of the crime and blight and uppity-ness strained out. You can't help but enjoy a stroll down by the lake or along the river, the shockingly huge number of bars (including the Safehouse — if you know the password) and the constant rotation of downtown festivals. But that would leave out one very key ingredient in the character of Milwaukee — brewing. And the oldest and biggest brewer in town is Miller. That's right, as part of our race coverage, we were forced to go tour the Miller factory, and this little gem was there waiting for us.

Dubbed the Miller High Life Cruiser, this monument to beer and streamlining was put into duty in 1953 as a touring celebration of the 50th anniversary of the brew. Designed by Brooks Stevens, the bus rolled around the country extolling the virtues of one of America's oldest large breweries. Complete with the Lady in the Moon on the back, acres of chrome and aluminum, and a swank interior (which was impossible to photograph), the High Life cruiser is now retired outside of the Miller visitor Center. Oh, and the tour? Recommended.

Now This Is How Race Fans Do Vanning

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:20:00 EDT

Traveling all the way from Alabama to Wisconsin for the 2008 ABC Supply AJ Foyt 225 at the Milwaukee Mile can only be explained by rabid fandom. This race fan showed his true colors by covering his Chevy van from rockers to roof with enough race stickers to make a stock car look like an exercise in Swedish minimalism. Color us impressed, not only with the amount of time it took to create this masterpiece, but that he had any money left over to pay for infield parking when it was complete.

Douglas DC-3 Converted to Phone-Toting Road Warrior

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EDT

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]

Homy Wagon V6 Super Long!

Mike Bumbeck — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:00:00 EDT

Turn no further than the Nissan Homy Super Long when it comes time to carry ten people at length. The Homy is not to be confused with the much less luxurious Datsun Homer, or Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear Super Exceed. Beta translation tells us that the commodity example exhibition day on this Homy seems to have already happened well south of town. [Homy via Utilitas.jp]

Van Man Slams Strip Club, Totals LAPD Squad Car

Mike Bumbeck — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 13:45:00 EDT

Distraught or upset over something as yet unknown, a man drove his van into the wall of the Valley Ball Cabaret strip club in Van Nuys, California. Police then gave chase while the man ran dozens of red lights, rammed cars, and drove the wrong way on the Ronald Reagan Freeway. Once cornered by police he then decided to play demolition derby, totaling one squad car and injuring two officers before being tackled by arresting officers when the van finally came to a stop in a cul-de-sac. No strippers appear to have been injured. [Strip Club Van Mayhem via Myfoxla.com]

SUPER CUSTOM! Toyota Hi-Ace on eBay

Mike Bumbeck — Thu, 10 May 2007 13:30:00 EDT

Falling directly in the center of the odd intersection between nineties Japanese Space Wagons and seventies American Custom Vans is this Toyota Hi-Ace Super Custom. Packing a total of four captain's chairs and at least five Plymouth Caravelles worth of burgundy velour - this Hi-Ace is loaded, Johnny. Cool and hot box with ice maker and digital dash control give this space wagon supreme potential. – Mike Bumbeck

Toyota Hi-Ace 4WD Super Custom Limited on eBay [eBay.com]

Related:
Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear SUPER EXCEED! [Internal]

Reserve Not Met: Go Kart Voyager Vannin on eBay

Mike Bumbeck — Tue, 01 May 2007 16:00:00 EDT

Plymouth produced some of the most legendary American cars of all time. The Roadrunner and Superbird are but a few that come to mind. Plymouth was also no stranger to the Vannin craze. Before Plymouth Voyager became associated with boxy eighties minivans, the nameplate was used on the Plymouth equivalent of the Dodge Sportsman. The auction for what looks to be the 70's promotional Voyager shell for use atop a go kart chassis has come and gone, but the reserve was not met. Airbrush on a Star Wars mural, pop in an opera window, and stuff a transverse-mounted 392 Hemi with some centrifugal clutch chain-drive on each end of the crankshaft. You could be the Mayor - of Go Kart City. – Mike Bumbeck

1971 Plymouth Voyager Go Kart Body [eBay.com]

Related:
Concentrated Essence of 70s: The 1976 Truck-In [Internal]