DeSoto being prepped for the summer cruising

just seen around town yesterday

Cool custom design elements

http://ottonero.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-have-touched-you.html

1922 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost of Japan's former emperor, Hirohito

Discovered after many years in obscurity, even the experts did not know the whereabout of Emperor's Hirohito's first Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.Until now.The chance glimpse of the hand-written words 'Prince Regent' on one of 13 pages of original Rolls Royce build sheets, was the starting point in the remarkable discovery of this historically significant 'Lost Rolls'.

The flamboyant 'Maharajah-style' coachwork it sports today provided no clue to the real identity of this car, but accounts of the time and photographs found in the archive of the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club, put the identity beyond doubt. This was Hirohito's first Rolls Royce.Chassis Number 58 YG started life as a 1922 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, with a touring body by Hooper. The build sheets record the presence of a high ratio back axle for touring coachwork. It was believed to have been ordered by Emperor Hirohito, then the young Prince Regent, while on his first overseas state tour, which culminated with a stay in England with the Royal Family, in 1921. Delivered in the following year, a contemporary advert in Japanese for Rolls Royce Agent Sales & Frazer proudly announced that they had delivered a Silver Ghost Tourer to the Imperial Household for the (return) visit of the Prince of Wales in 1922.

The condition of the car is remarkable, suggesting little use, perhaps only for state occasions. It still retains its original exhaust, for example, with the 'straight- through' exhaust valve still working. After-market 19in Alpine Eagles Brakes have been fitted, but otherwise, mechanically, the car is as described in the build sheets.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C66109?pt=pf

1966 Jaguar XJ13

XJ13 was developed by Jaguar during the 1960's with the final prototype being finished in 1967, and carried Jaguar's first V12. The engine was remarkable in that it had twin overhead cams and mechanical fuel injection. Unfortunately, it was developed too late to be competitive and by late 1966 Jaguar was taken over by the British Motor Corporation (BMC).

According to http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z7339/Jaguar-XJ13.aspx the rules changed on the displacement of concept cars put the engine size down to 3 liters again.

The project was shelved and the XJ13 was put into storage. The next time the car was seen was in 1971 when it was taken to the MIRA circuit to make a promotional film for the official release of the V12 engine.

Unfortunately, a tyre blew on the steep banking of the MIRA track and on its first public appearance, the XJ13 was virtually destroyed.

Although the damage was extensive, Jaguar decided to have the car completely rebuilt. In the following years, the company's Heritage department showed the unique machine at various events both stationary and driving. At some point the healthier of the two engines was over-revved and destroyed. The second engine used a welded piston and could only be driven slowly. It was later rebuilt and is now on display in the Jaguar Museum in England.

Primarily developed to compete against the Ford GT 40's (which had won its first Le Mans in 1966 and went onto win the 1967 and 1969 races.) it had a top speed of 200 mph with more than 500 horsepower from a 5.0 liter V12, and high speed stability without wings.

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/222/Jaguar-XJ13.html

Congratulations to http://stipistop.com , They beat my ratings!

To celebrate, Mishi is selling the Piaggio Ape... and buying me a ticket to visit Budapest so I can applaud him in person. (just kidding !)

He is selling his freshly renovated, 1969 Piaggio Ape 175cc original delivery box version, so if you want to be happier, drive a more enjoyable vehicle...

If you know anybody, who might be interested in buying one of the best ever marketing or promo vehicles ever, I’d be very grateful, if you’d put me in contact with him. Or (to be politically fair: with HER)I’d take care of shipping, and stuff.
Here is the link: http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C72861

Thanks, and best regards from Budapest.

Lars-Erik Fisk, artist with a vision of what things would be like if they were round, one of my favorite posts revisited and upgraded

the barn ball

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2007/02/vw-bus-ball-lars-erik-fisk-sculptor.html

so far all mentions of this VW Bus Ball are just copying the photos from http://oblique.csail.mit.edu/Album/Shellenbarger/Shellenbarger_Summer_2001/Volkswagen2.jpg.html but without giving credit to the photographer, nice guy named Thouis, who told me I can use his photos, and only requested that I "Mark them as creative commons licensed, and please attribute Lars-Erik Fisk as the sculptor"

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2007/05/remember-vw-bus-ball-ny-times-has-2.html