We really like small and cheap cars and they don’t get much cheaper than India’s new small car the Tata Nano. Its been around a year since the Nano was unveiled with the shock price tag of around $2000 in US Coin, and many experts thought the production model may be a bit cheap and half arsed, well according to the review above its not too bad for the price. Check it out, it may look a bit spartan by western standards but it still would be better than some of the old boxes I see travelling the streets. Pity the car is only going to the indian market at that price for the moment as I wouldn’t mind one at that price. (more…)
While the car you see above looks like it belongs on the scrap heap, it has just been rescued to soon become the pride of the National Atomic Museum. The car,a stretched 1941 Packard Clipper was used as part of the Mmanhattan Project to ferry the scientist that developed the A-Bomb from the testing range around New Mexico. The Museum is looking for donations to restore this car and a 1942 Plymouth back to life, if you can help follow a link to their site below or check out the gallery over on autoblog. (more…)
We love a good story about a barn find, these are the rare cars that are often found in someones barn (or in this case a Tyneside garage) that have not seen the light of days for many years. In this case a rare Bugatti 57s Atalante, one of just 17 built has shown up in the garage at a reclusive doctor that recently passed away. His family found the 1937 car in the shed the doctor left to them along with an Aston Martin and a Jaguar E-type. The Bugatti is the most interesting not only due to its rarity but also due to the fact it has only 26,284 on the clock thanks to being parked in the shed since 1960. The Bugatti is about to go to auction and despite needing a bit of restoration is expected to fetch anywhere up to 3 million pounds, but once restored it should look similar to the one in the pic above. For the full story hit up the BBC News link below. (more…)
The Weinermobile is a hot dog shaped car that has been around in the US since the late 1930’s. Developed as a promotional gimick for the Oscar Mayer sausage company. While there have been several variations of the weinermobile over the years, one thing always looks the same and that is the sausage on top of the car. The one pictured above from the 1950’s resides at the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit and looks not much different to the fleet of 7 Weinermobiles doing the rounds of the US today. Every year the company recruits a new set of drivers known as “hotdoggers” to take the cars around the country to parades and events that helps promote the company. (more…)
Possibly realising their public transport system is a bit crappy California has recently spent a bit of money getting their transport system up to date with the rest of the world and now the focus is on a high speed rail system just like in Japan and Europe. The plan is to link San Francisco and Sacramento with San Diego via LA, Estimated route times and prices are over on their website with a cool gallery of videos that are worth a look (see link below). (more…)
Either you love them or hate them but personalised Licence plates are big business for the states who have them available, so it comes as no surprise to us to see that Hello Kitty has sold herself out in Queensland, Australia to the local transport department. The Simpsons who have been known to enjoy the corporate dollar by marketing their image on as many things as their own Crusty the Clown does, have also come to the party for those of us who don’t want to drive around with a pink number plate with a rainbow and flowers on it. So what do you think? horrible idea or just excellent. hit up our comment form below. (more…)
GM have released another teaser of their much hyped Volt electric car, this time on youtube. Check it out above, we think its kinda cool but perhaps the white ipod inspired dash is a little over done of late. What do you think of it? Drop us your thoughts below.
Another funny video this week where someone took the phrase “The only way it would go faster is if it went backwards” literally. The guys in this footage seem to be having a bit of fun in their modified Fiat 126. It looks like they have somehow grafted a front wheel drive engine steering and suspension into the fiat in place of the standard Fiat rear engine. It sounds like a hell of a lot of work to pull off this effort but does make for some funny driving especially when the passenger is also steering the Fiat’s original front end (now back end). The film looks to be taken in Poland, so the Fiat 126 in question may actually be the Polski Fiat 126p built under licence by Poland’s FSM (Fabryka Samochodów Ma?olitra?owych). If you know any more about this car or know of any other cars with crazy mods drop us a line below. (more…)
Skoda has made a big comeback in recent years so there adverts have been hitting TV screens in a lot more places then they would have at the time when they were churning out outdated cars mainly to communist eastern block countries. Since 1991 Skoda have been owned by the VW Group and they now produce modern styled cars with decent quality like their VW cousins, unlike some of the Skodas of the 70s and 80s. A popular Skoda ad to hit the screens in Australia since their launch has been the Skoda built out of sand, we found this clever earlier version that involves building a car out of cake and our love of cake makes us want to share it here. Take note of what gets used for engine oil too. (more…)
Toyota Have unveiled what they think we will all be getting around on in the not too distant future and it looks very much like a Segway. Toyota’s version known as the Winglet features a smaller body that houses an electric motor, two wheels and internal sensors that constantly monitor the user’s position and make adjustments in power to ensure stability. Meanwhile, a unique parallel link mechanism allows the rider to go forward, backward and turn simply by shifting body weight, making the vehicle safe and useful even in tight spaces or crowded environments. Toyota have shown 3 versions of their winglet, one with Segway style handlebars and two others controlled by your knees or shins. For the full low down on the Winglet check out their press release after the jump or watch the video above. (more…)
