Autoblog

Following the sale of Spyker F1 (again), the new owners have announced the team's new name: Force India. Indian investor Vijay Mallya got together with former Spyker Cars CEO Michiel Mol to buy the team from the financially-troubled niche sportscar manufacturer, which it now seems had no business in F1 to begin with. Spyker itself had acquired the team from Midland, who in turn had purchased it from Jordan, changing the name and image with each new owner.

Mallya aims to use his new team to raise India's image abroad in an apparent confusion between Formula One and the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, which is made up of national teams. The team's logo is anticipated to include the Indian flag, and will probably look like the one on Mallya's hat (at right).

[Source: Formula One]

The Force is with you. Click image for more.

"This is not the Ford you're looking for."

Then again, if your level of Star Wars geekdom has reached its apex, maybe it is. Weather-beaten from exposure to too many Tatooine sandstorms, perhaps, this Econoline's custom finish is still plainly visible to all. You might not think it looks like much, but they said that about the Millenium Falcon, too.

This boxy freighter's port side is decorated with likenesses (well, they're more like approximations, really) of the aged Obi-Wan, Luke Skywalker, Threepio, and Artoo. Back towards the rear bumper, we see two members of the Mos Eisley Cantina's house band, Figrin Dan and the Modal Nodes. Unfortunately, they look more like Roswell aliens than anything else. Over to starboard, Vader looms ominously (sort of) over a battle scene showing a pair of X-Wings and a TIE Fighter with (incorrect) square solar panels. The rear hatch is decorated with Han and Chewie off to the right, the rest of the cantina band to the left, and really bad renderings of one of the other cantina creatures and what appears to be Luke with darker hair. The "Force" windows are a nice touch, as is the Rebel Alliance symbol displayed in back.

It's parked outside a Home Depot (Tosche Station must have been closed), where the owner was undoubtedly shopping for a new set of hydrospanners with which to repair the perpetually-broken hyperdrive. Maybe if he'd stop taking the thing to Lando's Garage for repairs, he'd have better luck.

Thanks to Scott for the tip and photos!

UPDATE: A commenter states that the owner of the van is -- drumroll -- a girl! And that the ride's a '78. The mural dates back to '79.

Gallery: Star Wars van

Down here in Australia, Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) are pushing their new range with a catchy advertising campaign including billboard style posters at airports like the one I snapped above on my camera phone. The new FPV range is billed as being "Performance, Inc." and features from left to right, the F6 Typhoon, GT, Force and the Super Pursuit Ute. If you're a Ford fan stuck in North America and you'd like to feel a bit closer to all this muscle, check out the FPV's cool videos.

Related posts:

• VIDEO: More Ford Australia Fun
• Ford FPV brings more power, handling to the Aussies

[Source: Ford Performance Vehicles]