By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

This three-axled Mercedes limo is much more than just a meth-addict’s junkpile–nope, this is the work of a truly crazy person, on par with great art cars like Carthedral. It’s also an otherworldly grab-bag of trim and accessories from countless postwar classics. Get this rig just for the rare bits and pieces it comes with–if you don’t, the scrappers will! Check out the eBay auction here, via Hooniverse.

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

I’m totally jealous of CarDomain member LN7_NUT, who pretty much has my dream junk collection, including an ambulance, an old Fairlane stock car, a vintage bus, a sweet tow rig, and even, yes, a 1st-gen Escort variant–but this incredible ’59 Apache limo built by Stageway Coaches stands out as the jewel in this particular rusty crown. He saved “The Hugeness” from the crusher in Montana back in ’08, and has finally completed the red-tape ordeal of importing it to Canada. Now that it’s home, I’m hoping to see some great progress on this deserving rig, but he’s clearly got his work cut out for him–stop by his ride page and offer some encouragement!

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

Not much info on this one other than the cryptic sign on the roof, but I doubt it survived long. Via ThatWillBuffOut.

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

This ride has been all over the collectors’ market in the last year or so–most recently last June, it set many tweed caps spinning when it sold at the Leake Auction in Tulsa for a record-setting $1.08 million (read a nasty and indignant editorial scoffing over the Lincoln’s sale here). Aviator Howard Hughes originally purchased this Lincoln K Model V-12 open-top limo in 1936, then fitted it with its weird riveted-aluminum half-fuselage for obscure Howard Hughes reasons: the bulbous silver body has been variously described as (most obviously) an aerodynamic aid, a pod for stashing expensive camera equipment, and a test bed for experimental aircraft components (the rambling eBay seller’s description even links the car’s design to Hughes’s germophobia. Wha..?). In any case, it’s now up for auction at the bargain-basement starting price of $850,000–not bad for this economy, though it’s pretty likely the seller is going to be taking a loss on it. Check out the auction!

By Brian Lohnes

BangShift.com

Over the last year or so, we’ve not only been introduced to the coolness that is an airport limo, we’ve also begun to really dig them. We got tipped off to this totally neato 1973 Checker model and we want to justify the purchase to our significant other. Anyone got any good reasoning in their back pocket?

This particular one needs brake work, but that should be no sweat. Checkers were known for lots of stuff but the high points were a lack of styling changes (we think they look awesome, who wouldn’t want to buy a 1950s look car in the 1970s?) and their near indestructible nature.

The reason that these cars became famous for being taxi cabs was not for their comfy interiors, it was because they would run for ages with minimal maintenance and upkeep. The company ran its own motors for a while but we’re close to 100% certain this car, being made in 1973, would be powered by a small block chevy.

You and 12 of your friends could roll in style with this car. We call shotgun! Thanks to BangShift.com member IRONHEAD for the tip! Check out the 1973 Checker Aerobus 8-door Limo on eBay!

By Jen Dunnaway

Editor

I spotted this burly 6-door Travelall in a parking lot near work yesterday. While the guys at my shop were pretty convinced that this is a home-built custom, there’s some evidence that International contracted with conversion companies to make limited-issue longer-wheelbase vehicles like this one for use as airport shuttles and so on (check out the long International in the background in this still from Harold and Maude). The truck looked to be running some mild suspension mods, with double shocks front and rear, and had a BioDiesel sticker in the rear window. Cool!

Continue reading "Sweet Stretched International" »

GM is putting the finishing touches on this new presidential limo, thought to be based on GM’s 2500 line of trucks (details on this ultra-armored car are classified). It will replace the Caddy limo that Bush has used since 2005. Full writeup over at the New York Times.

You might remember Dan Crawley, the builder who earned notoriety by transforming a Ferrari 360 into a stretch limo using a carbon-fiber center section. Now, his creation, the Guiness World Record holder for fastest limousine, has shown up on eBay with a buy it now price of $250,000. So I wonder if Ferrari ever got around to suing him.

Via CarScoop.

I spent the weekend down in Daytona Beach covering the Spring Break Nationals Car Audio Competition. Were you there? Man… Tons of hot cars, cool products, a bright warm sun, girls in bikinis…. This job is really rough sometimes. I don’t know how we do it. You know what keeps me going? Cool stuff like this:

• The guys at EyeCandy in Orlando Florida brought an absolutely INSANE Hummer limo to SBN. Stretched, third axle, six 30" chrome wheels, full Pioneer A/V DJ system, marble floors, suede and leather interior, and… a throne. Seriously. Check it.
• Scosche has a new dash kit available for all you 2007+ Mitsu Eclipse owners. You can finally dump the factory radio and upgrade. For real.
• The guys at Al & Ed’s Autosound checked out the new Pioneer AVIC-D3x in a smart FourTwo. We’ve got the video, and it’s dope.
• Orca design just developed a new marine audio grille that’ll keep Focal speakers dry in your boat. It uses a mesh backing like that used on an Injen cold air intake. The stuff is called "hydro-phobic polyester". No you can make your owns waves in audiophile style.
• Infinity just released the deets on the new Kappa speakers, and we’ve got all the specs and lots of pics! THey look like a million bucks, but come in under $250!
• If you’re an audiophile who likes to spend ridiculous amounts of cash on your car (like me), then these new Morel Elate Limited speakers are right up your alley! Carbon fiber cones, bad-ass crossovers, and they ship in a big metal suitcase. Morel calls it a "gift box", but it looks like a case the Transporter would carry.

It’s not really surprising that Ferrari would frown quite deeply upon the idea of aftermarket mods to their vehicles—I’m sure they love reminding anyone who’ll listen that you can’t improve upon perfection, blah-blah-blah. But what’s really got them hopping mad is that Dan Cawley, the Guinness World Record holder for fastest limousine, which he built from a Ferrari 360 Modena, won’t quit calling his ride a "Ferrari." You’d think they’d appreciate the free publicity and the Guiness honors, but instead, the company is throwing a hissyfit, demanding that the owner strip off the Prancing Horse emblems and other brand paraphernalia, and that he cease to refer to the vehicle as a "Ferrari" in written or spoken communication. Cawley will face legal action for copyright infringement if he fails to heed their demands, the company rumbles, and furthermore, he is forbidden from ever modifying a Ferrari again. I’m almost expecting them, next, to demand that he go to his room and think about what he’s done. Are they just lashing out at Cawley because they’re sore about the recent fake-Ferrari fracas in Italy?  And what do you think he’s supposed to call this awesome limo, if the F-word is off the table?