Autoblog

Click above for gallery of the Car Camel

You need something to carry a car, but you don't want just any old pickup truck or SUV because anybody could do that. And since you do have that vintage Dodge Caravan lying around... why not grab the chainsaw and make something really special?

Allow us to officially introduce the Car Camel. Apparently plying the highways of Ontario, Canada, it's a shortened minivan with a car hauler stuck to its backside. It ain't pretty, and it probably ain't too fast, but we have to admit that it is pretty neat... if you're into that kind of thing. Have a look at the gallery of images below, but if any of you get the idea to make a Car Koala... please, don't. Thanks for the tip, Zak!

UPDATE: Jackpot! Autoblog reader Paul H found the owner's personal blog on which he explains how, and more importantly why, he built the Car Camel. Also check out more pics of the Car Camel, including it actually carrying a car, in the gallery below.


[Source: Photobucket]

Click the image above for a gallery... if you dare.

Like driving skills, the unfortunate reality is that good taste doesn't always accompany wealth. There are just too many people out there looking to make the flashiest splash, and it is now confirmed that one more of those yahoos is living in Moscow, Russia. We don't know much about this frightening conversion of a Porsche Cayenne, and we're not sure we really want to. To paraphrase Fiddler on the Roof, we hope and pray the czar keeps this one far away from us.

Thanks (we think) to Graham for the unfortunate tip. If you're a real glutton for punishment, you can hit the gallery below to see the monstrosity from all angles. Just be careful if the driver's backing up while you're checking out the tail and standing in the enormous blind spot, which shouldn't be too big a hindrance on Moscow's busy streets.

[Source: CarsGuru.ru via English Russia]

click above image for more pics of the Armored Limo

When you're headed out for a night on the town in one of the world's hot spots -- and by "hot spot" we mean someplace like Kabul, Chechnya, or the Congo -- and you want to guarantee safe passage, you need one of these. It's billed as an H1, but it's actually an armored limo built on a 4x4 Ford F550 using the 6.0-liter Power Stroke V8. Part of a lot built for US diplomatic missions, they are street legal and armored to level A9, which will stop high-powered rifle and sits just below 'tank' on the protection scale. They've also got a 1/4-inch of ballistic steel explosion protection in the floor, seven exits, rear seats that can be folded flat and used as shooting platforms, and room for 22 civilians or 16 combat-equipped soldiers for when you want to roll with your friends from the 1st Marine. It's also got the kind of interior that makes you wonder what diplomats do in their free time, and what limo would be complete without a Ballisticom Outside Intercom System with Siren? They'll paint it a more appealing shade if you wish, but if you're rolling in a 20-foot Brinks truck, making a fashion statement probably isn't high on your list of priorities.

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: eBay]

click above image for more pics of the 1992 Marocco II Corvette Prototype Supercar

What you see above is the original 1992 Marocco II Corvette Prototype Supercar. What is that? We're not exactly sure. Even though the eBay seller has plenty of magazine articles pictured, information is thin on the ground for this car. It apparently went for $156,564 in 1992, which is about $123,000 above the purchase price of a Corvette at the time. What you got for your money (and still will) is an optioned up C4 with a Superblock 350 CI engine that puts out 500 hp and 500 ft-lbs. Not only does the seller claim the car does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, it does the quarter in 11.6 seconds, tops 200 mph, gets 29 mpg on the highway, and has near zero emissions. That's right, near zero -- at least, according to the hydrocarbon test it took in New Jersey in 1993. And then there's the bodywork, which, well, doesn't suit us, but it is original. And it is one of a kind. $250,000 gets you into the action.

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: eBay]

Some of the world's automotive conglomerates are more guilty of badge engineering than others. With very few exceptions, the acquisition of Chrysler by Daimler-Benz (call it a merger if you like, but we're not fooled) is not among the worst offenders. The Chrysler 300C may look to some like a Benz, and the Crossfire may be built on an old SLK platform, but Mercedes isn't selling rebadged Vipers overseas and Jeep hasn't slapped its own label on a G-wagon. (Yet.) The most notable exception comes from the commercial side of operations, where DCX brings the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van over to the North American market as a Dodge or Freightliner. There was no hiding it, either, as the American "version" kept all the same components, body panels, even the name. Just the badge was changed. But Montana-based OEM Sprinter Parts can switch it back for you if you'd like.

Because DaimlerChrysler didn't change anything beside the badging, the "conversion kits" are relatively straightforward. You can get the Mercedes grille (complete with three-pointed star and optional 316CDI grille badge), wheel hubs, interior fittings...the works, right down to the signature sticker for the windshield. The whole kit costs less than $300 for most models. Now that's the cheapest upgrade from a Dodge to a Mercedes you'll find anywhere.

[Source: OEM Sprinter Parts via Winding Road]

We came across Newport Convertible Engineering at the SEMA show a couple of weeks ago, and the company's FJ Cruiser Convertible immediately caught our eye. Not only does this $10,000 conversion give FJ Cruiser owners a power-operated soft top in place of the standard steel roof, but it also eliminates the FJ's giant C-pillar that creates a huge blindspot for the driver and makes back seat passengers feel claustrophobic. Of course, the sight lines are still pretty bad with the top up on the FJ Cruiser Convertible, but we would hope after spending 10 large on such a conversion that you'd want the top down as often as possible. You're also forced to sacrifice some cargo space, as the soft top's roofline slopes down immediately after the roll cage's cross bar located just behind the rear seats. It almost looks like a four-door coupe.

Newport also has experience shaving the domes off of such cars as the Scion xB (!), Dodge Charger (!!), Cadillac CTS (!!!), Cadillac Escalade (!!!!), HUMMER H3 (!!!!!) and Ford Excursion (!!!!!!).

Follow the jump for plenty more pics of the FJ Cruiser Convertible with top up and down.

We've performed a few drivetrain swaps in our time, but nothing quite measures up to Honda-tech.com's "preluderacecar" and his 1993 Honda Prelude. Apparently not satisfied with the stock H22 or its orientation in the vehicle, it was yanked and replaced with the ubiquitous GM LS1 (quickly becoming the go-to choice for engine swaps due to its size, weight, and aftermarket support). It's backed by a T56 six-speed manual, which hides in a custom-fabricated tunnel. He also fabricated an independent rear suspension setup from RX7 components. Up front, the steering rack was relocated in front of the axle centerline and replaced with a Cavalier part, along with some 5th-gen Prelude components.

The sheer volume of fabrication required for this project is awesome, and is even more impressive considering that the guy is only 21 years old. Sure, there will be some folks who will be compelled to pile on the hate, but we're guessing none of them would ever have the guts to attempt a project of similar magnitude.

[Source: Honda-tech.com; a hat tip to Autoblog alumni Dave Ko]

Who can afford the actual price of an Aston Martin Vanquish S? Not us, and apparently not Australian fitness instructor Michael Lebedev, who has produced a kit that transforms a garden variety Mazda Miata MX-5 into something resembling a Vanquish left in the dryer too long. Inspired by the Vanquish driven by secret agent James Bond in the film Die Another Day, Lebedev produced what appears to be a front end kit out of fiberglass using headlamps from a SMART car. He has started a company called Custom Automotive Restyling to sell his kit, which retails for AUS $7,500, or about USD $5,650.

We wonder what other cars you could make out of the Miata...
a 427 Cobra?
Lego mania?
Use your imagination (and a little Photoshop)...

Thanks Noah for the tip!

[Source: Inside Line]

A while back we showed you how a Porsche 996 owner could fast forward time and transform his car's "fried egss" headlamps into the proper ovals found on the new 997 models. Auto-expert of Germany has now stepped up to show 996 owners how to rewind time back to an era when the pages of Dupont Registry were filled with Slant Nose Porsches. The Porsche 996 Flat Nose conversion was debuted at the 5th International Porsche Treffen show in Germany amongst 1,642 Porsche owners and their cars. Auto-expert announced these Porsche 996 Flat Nose body parts would be available before the end of the year, though no prices were announced.

[Source: WorldCarFans]