TGIF: What is it with guys and fire?
"The guys dig it, and the girls are afraid I'm going to burn myself up."
So says 41-year-old Jimmy Farrell of Middletown, N.J.
According to USA Today, flamethrowers are coming back in a big way. From Farrell's El Camino to the vehicles
unveiled at SEMA by aftermarket manufacturers like Rasckl Enterprises and race car driver Christian Rado, the trend is,
er, hot.
So what is it with guys and cars that spit fire, anyways? To those folks like me who still haven't been converted into
believers, flamethrowers are in the same league as monster truck rallies and Milwaukee's Best. Both are great things in
their own right, but really, aren't there better things to do (or in the case of MB, to drink)?
Now we get to the TGIF part. If you could outfit any vehicle with flamethrowers, what would it be? The more ludicrous
the better. A flamethrowing MINI with Mickey Mouse graphics? Or maybe an Aveo with a big ol' wing on the back?
Oh, and if you can properly explain to me the appeal of flamethrowers, I'd appreciate it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Doogs 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
What's the appeal? Flamethrowers set things on fire...and from a distance.
And...most ludicrous vehicle...Pontiac Aztek.
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Billfred 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I think the flamethrower thing is supposed to be indicative of power or speed or something like that. (le shrug)
If I could put a flamethrower on any car, I'd put it on a Geo Metro. The car gets no respect, so you might as well give those folks who hate on you a little surprise! (evil grin)
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eric 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
How about a red 1991 Saturn SC with flame graphics on the hood, a wing on the back, and of course, clear tail lights.
That would rock.
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Dennis Lambert 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Flamethrower is reminder of the power of cars gone by-------Like a '50 Merc Custom or a '55 Speedster, it the excitement and the fune how long of a flame you can shoot
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toddc 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
What car would be best for flamethrowers? A Toyota Prius, of course. Duh.
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Jim 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Oh, and if you can properly explain to me the appeal of flamethrowers, Id appreciate it.
Well, they shoot flames. What more explanation could you possibly need? As for what vehicle--I'd mount 'em on a pair of dual 5" stacks on a Dodge diesel pickup
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Eph 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I could definitely see myself behind the wheel of an early 80's cadillac fleetwood with a matte black paint job and flamethrowers
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JZeke 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Ferrari should add flamethrowers as an option to their Stradale-series cars. An F430 Challenge Stradale would look badass downshifting into a corner spitting flame. I mean its good theater for pedestrians and ooglers right?
Then again, that whole scene would be *THAT much cooler in a Buick Lucerne -- slammed, chopped and tubbed of course.
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Frank 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
The classic choice: Ford Pinto
Though I suppose a few police departments would argue the Crown Vic might qualify.
Oh... was that suppose to be *intentional* flames?
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glitched 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
flamethrowers belong on old cars, please dont ruin this sacred modification by modernizing it.
couple years ago we had our first female president of our antique auto club, she had flame throwers on her 50's dodge. It was awesome.
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Jared 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I would put the flamethrower on a 98 Nissan Syline GT-R, and I would place the flamethrower right next to the external hose of the NOS purge valve kit. Nothing better than blue flames!
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Non-Bizarro Adam 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I would put my flame thrower on that big-ass International Pickup truck. Its called the CXT or something. And it would be a big flamethrower. Something on the magnitude of a home propane tank in the bed, shooting flames 35, 40, maybe 50 feet. Paint the truck black with purple and red ghost flames, and some rat-fink graphics just for the hell of it. Now that would be cool.
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AutoFan 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I think Non-Bizzaro Adam wins.
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Hank 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I'm thinking Messerschmitt.
http://www.columbia.edu/~fdc/frankfurt/messerschmitt.html
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Dan from Delaware 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
On a Chevy SSR, but with trucker stacks instead of the exhaust out the back!
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Mike Homeniuk 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
#1, I like your choice but I'd point the flame throwers back at said Aztek and torch it!
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Den in IN 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I'm not sure I get the flame thing completely, but I think a T-bucket rat rod with in rusty flat black and skinny whitewalls would look great with flames shooting strait out both headers.
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fussball.S4 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
There was a company that did flame throwers as security mods for South Africa to prevent car jackers....
I BMW isetta that had flamethrowers that shot up around the sides of the door so the occupants could emerge from the flames would be hot.
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Brandon 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I'd put them on a 1998 Purple Metallic Trans Am with Ram Air hood. The flame come out the back... the smoke comes out the Ram Air nostrils... frikkin sweet.
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