Filed under: RR of the Day
RR of the Day: Telstar Logistics fleet vehicle
Nobody likes paying parking tickets or having their car vandalized by a gang of vagrant teens. Only some of us, however, would go as far as this guy to prevent those things from happening. Known only in Flickr by the name Telstar Logistics, this man has dressed up his 1999 Jeep Cherokee to look like a work vehicle for his ficticious company of the same name. In order to look as official as possible, the vehicle is equipped with fake Telstar Logistics logos, fleet vehicle numbering, rear safety striping, amber-colored rear warning flashers, a spotlight mounted on the A-pillar, and the icing on the cake – a rubberized front push bumper for "parallel parking defense and rendering motorist assistance".
For more about the history of this diabolical scheme click here, and for a history of the Telstar name click here.
If you'd like to see your own ride featured here, simply upload photos into our Flickr group. We select one image to highlight each week day, and crown a Rig of the Week on Sundays. Detailed instructions can be found after the jump.
More pictures can be found here.
Instructions for submitting to Autoblog's RR of the Day:
Create a Flickr account if you don't already have one. Search for and join the group called 'Autoblog RR of the Day'. Upload up to three photos of your ride to your own account at a size no larger than 450 pixels wide if possible and include as much information about it and yourself as possible. Click on each photo and just above the picture it will say "Send to group". Click that and select the Autoblog group. You're done, that's it!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JC Whitless 10:22AM (9/07/2006)
Pure Genius....
I could help acquire these parts and make whole kits for customers!
Amber lights, reflective tape, brush guards, clipboard mount
Reply
scooter 10:29AM (9/07/2006)
This is brilliant! There is nothing more annoying than spending 15 minutes looking for a place to park your vehicle for a 2 minute jog into the dry cleaner or convenience store. Now, I think it would be selfish to leave this thing parked in front of a bus stop overnight...
Reply
Anthony94114 10:38AM (9/07/2006)
Right out of high school, in the late 80's, I had a 1983 Tercel, silver, 2 door hatchback. Mega dull, so I turned it into a Chanel logo-mobile. Simple stick-on letters, black handlebar tape and it looked vaguely realistic. I'd park everwhere illegal in San Francisco, and NEVER got a ticket... but the clincher was that people frequently asked me, "what chanNel do you work for?" I just thought I was making an art car. Telstar has the right idea. Nice.
Reply
rwdmtparkingonly 11:11AM (9/07/2006)
This guy is brilliant for carrying on this experiment; I try to avoid cliché paranoia, but it's a bit scary how much unquestioned access someone can get by assuming the identity of an amorphous telecom company.
Reply
Howard Kerr 11:12AM (9/07/2006)
This might work in some places, but don't count on it working in every major city. Here in Memphis, a local alternative paper's reporter has been ticketed when attending public functions even tho his car has had "PRESS" placards displayed. He even got a ticket outside the 'papers offices. It should be noted that car theft, and crime in general, is on the rise in Memphis...at least for now. BUT parking? look out, they always get their man, er... car/truck.
Reply
Dustin 11:22AM (9/07/2006)
"VanDeLay Industries"
Reply
kansei 12:24PM (9/07/2006)
Wow I remember reading about that jeep a couple years ago. It's hilarious/amazing and I'm glad he's still carrying on with it. good job! social engineering ftw!
Reply
Tim UF 12:24PM (9/07/2006)
I remember seeing in a movie or tv show a guy who would get parking spots by having a mock-up boot (big yellow thing they put on car wheels in lieu of towing) and some small yellow envelopes tucked into his wipers... seems like this jeep is right in line with that concept. great job!
Reply
Rob Sayers 1:13PM (9/07/2006)
There's an article in a recent Make Magazine about this jeep. Pretty cool idea.
Reply
jeff 3:48PM (9/07/2006)
Glad to see another Make: reader on Autoblog.
Reply
fumbducker 4:31PM (9/07/2006)
im sure he would like to extend his thanks for blowing his cover.
Reply
Shadyman 10:10PM (9/07/2006)
You should also get a yellow lightbar on top... Don't have to use it, just have it there. That'd be fun.
Reply
Katterine 1:34PM (8/15/2008)
I wonder if that system would work on a State Beach parking on So Cal : 10 people got ticketed in one afternoon! http://annoyingparkingticket.blogspot.com
Reply