Saturday, June 16, 2012

Northrup's flying wing bomber (the XB-35)


Northrop's Flying Wing Bomber known as the XB-35 in flight in 1946. The XB-35 was an experimental heavy bomber developed for the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. The project was terminated shortly after the war, due to its technical difficulties. (AP Photo)  via http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/10/world-war-ii-after-the-war/100180/  thanks Mike!


Found on http://customdetroit.tumblr.com/post/99646464445/midcenturymodernfreak-the-northrop-flying-wing

post WW2 photo of Tokyo citizens using war damaged buses for temporary living residences


Disabled buses that have littered the streets of Tokyo are used to help relieve the acute housing shortage in the Japanese capital on October 2, 1946. Homeless Japanese who hauled the buses into a vacant lot are converting them into homes for their families. (AP Photo/Charles Gorry) via http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/10/world-war-ii-after-the-war/100180/  thanks Mike!

Prada uses classic cars in this ad for it's clothes... it has a good variety... but should have chosen better looking women, I saw 5 today alone that would put these models out of business

thanks Aaron!

 It's not surprising that fashion clothing for women uses classic cars, hot rods, or dragsters for advertising, it goes back to at least the 1960's
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/06/im-impressed-and-amazed-by-obscurity-of.html http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/02/blog-post_24.html and a one page Dodge Dart ad http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/picture-is-worth-thousand-words-except.html

Friday, June 15, 2012

the tank bike, a 1943 NSU Kettenkrad that drove to the Lyon Air Musuem













Steve McQueen's 1921 Harley Davidson with sidecar








this tail light illustrates that the lighting for both head and tail lights was gas... not gasoline, the type that vehicles used, in this case it's carried in the shiny silver colored canister attached to the handlebars

that cool old vehicle in the 2nd Sherlock Holmes movie, Game of Shadows... is an scratch built new, to look like a 1893 Duryea


Samantha added in the comments, on Jan 23rd 2014, The car in the Sherlock film was actually made from scratch by the Special Effects Crew at Elstree studios UK. It has no heritage as it was made up of various parts that we could get our hands on; it has recently gone on a tour of the USA with Warner Brothers


This frail gasoline-engined buggy started it all when it was driven on the streets of Springfield, Mass., on September 21, 1893. The second Duryea built won the Chicago Times-Herald Motocycle Race, Nov. 28, 1895.

 The Duryea Motor Wagon Company constructed 13 identical automobiles in 1896, making them the first American company that moved from making one car to making multiple copies for sale. Although they did not build the first American automobile, the Duryeas—like a number of other early automobile pioneers—claimed they built the first American car.
http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/collection/object_1272.html

nicest compliment of the week

Subject line: Amazing

 Hi Jesse,
Congratulations on an awesome site.
After I read the other guy's compliment this morning I felt ashamed for not passing this compliment earlier.

 I have been a follower of yours for about two months now. When I was a young boy I could not get enough of foreign car magazines, I got addicted and hence I am now a fully committed and and incurable "Autphobian" and proud of it.

 In the morning I cannot wait to see what new and interesting stuff you placed. I admire and respesct you for your taste and maturity of pictures and articles.

Cars promote themselves not half-naked women, I can show people what I am looking at without being ashamed. Well done.

Since reading and looking at everything you cover, it sparked the inner-child with creativity. Am I the only guy that builds cars and rods and put plans together when others are sleeping? Nope, it is not sleeplessness; I call it "The Creative Mode".

I live in South Africa, Gauteng Province. I have been selling cars for the last 28-years and been a car guy for the last 57. When I see old cars rotting away it takes a chunk out of my heart.

The pictures you placed of the elephant flipping the car happened in November 2011 at the Pilansberg Game Reserve close to the famous Sun City Hotel and Casino. No one was injured, but what a story to tell the insurance...........on top of it all I think it was a rental.
Wishing you luck,
 Keep up the good work.
 Kind regards,

 Pieter Neveling

Thursday, June 14, 2012

this past Sunday was an event at the Lyon Air Museum, Bikers and Bombers, and 2 sidecar equipped bikes that were owned by Steve McQueen were there, one is a Von Dutch restored Panther, also, 2 tank tread bikes were there. Photo galleries soon, here's a preview


 the above Panther was made in 1937, the below Harley was made in 1921

both the above and below are 1943 NSU Kettenkrad HK 101s


Automobile Magazine has a great sense of humor, and put it to use when thinking of variants of the new VW "Up"


the US Post Office has a stamp now that revisits the Marmon Wasp that won the first Indy 500

Among the vintage bikes at the Lyon Air Museum bikers and bombers event, this great old Indian






one cool old Harley



 and it had this cool HD sticker

Capt. Joe "Crash" Paulicivic has one well airbrushed motorcycle!