Chrome Spectacle - Most tow trucks are built to work, not to attract attention. Lil Redd Wreckerbroke that rule completely. Created in the early 1970s for comedian and Sanford & Son star Redd Foxx, this custom wrecker turned an ordinary utility vehicle into one of the most unusual show trucks of its era.
Redd Fox Lil Red Wrecker built by the famous builder George Barris in the early 1970s. (Picture from: TowForce.net)
The project is closely associated with legendary customizer George Barris, whose name is linked to many famous Hollywood vehicles. For Lil Redd Wrecker, Barristransformed the truck into a rolling spectacle with a hand-built steel body, tube-frame construction, Corvette rear suspension, and a dramatic tilt-front cab topped by a tinted sky window. An oval grille, quad rectangular headlights, and extensive chrome work gave it a futuristic appearance that looked nothing like a conventional wrecker.
The cabin of the Redd Fox Lil Red Wrecker covered dominantly with red-velvet while the blue on its seater side. (Picture from: TowForcenet)
Its mechanical layout was just as unconventional. A chrome-plated, supercharged 392-cubic-inch Chrysler engine sat in the middle of the vehicle, while the cockpit featured a rare center-steering arrangement. Power braking and hydraulic controls added to the truck’s highly customized character.
The gorgeous Redd Fox Lil Red Wrecker is powered by an all chrome plated supercharged 392 cubic inches Chrysler's mid-mounted engine. (Picture from: TapaTalk)
Inside, Joe Perez created a striking cabin trimmed with crushed blue velvet, foam-pattern upholstery, and antique-look vinyl. The rear recovery unit was fully chrome plated and operated by electric push buttons. Dual MOON fuel tanks, deep-dish chrome wheels, custom pinstriping, gold-leaf graphics, and thirty coats of Kandy Redd paint completed the truck’s unforgettable look.
Although it was originally built as a show vehicle rather than a working tow truck, Lil Redd Wrecker remains an important piece of custom-car history. Restored to running condition decades later, it continues to reflect the creativity and excess that defined 1970s American show-car culture. Even today, its design feels bold enough to stand out in any automotive event. *** [EKA [30082020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BARIS.COM | TOWFORCE.NET | MOTORIOUS.COM]
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Visionary Machine - Seeing the Mars A20 antique motorcycle today feels like stepping into a different rhythm of engineering history, where machines were not just built for function but also carried a bold sense of experimentation. Among the many early European two-wheelers that shaped the foundation of modern motorcycling, the Mars A20 antique motorcycle stands out as a rare glimpse into how far design thinking had already evolved in the early 20th century. Its presence reflects a period when innovation was still raw, yet surprisingly ambitious, especially in Germany’s rapidly growing industrial landscape.
1921 Mars A20 White Mars.(Picture from: Yesterdays.nl)
The story behind the Mars A20 begins long before motorcycles became the company’s focus. In 1873, Paul Reissmann established Mars in Nuremberg, Germany, initially as a manufacturer of iron stoves and furnaces. Over time, the company expanded its expertise into producing mechanical sirens, grinding machines, and even bicycles, gradually building a strong foundation in mechanical engineering. This steady transformation from household heating products to precision machinery set the stage for Mars to eventually step into the automotive world.
1921 Mars A20 White Mars already has a protective wing to avoid the rider's feet and from water splashes.(Picture from: Yesterdays.nl)
By 1903, Mars had already started experimenting with motorcycles and small car construction, marking a significant turning point in its industrial journey. Among its most remarkable creations emerged the Mars A20, also known as the Weiße Mars or “White Mars,” designed in 1920 by engineer Claus Franzenburger. While the white version became the most iconic, the motorcycle was also available in red and green variations, each reflecting a slightly different visual personality but sharing the same engineering spirit that defined Mars’ approach to design during that era.
1921 Mars A20 White Mars uses a Maybach's boxer twin engine that has a capacity of 955 cc.(Picture from: Yesterdays.nl)
Technically, the Mars A20 antique motorcycle was powered by a Maybach boxer twin engine with a displacement of 955 cc, an impressive specification for its time. Despite its relatively modest output—estimated at around 7 horsepower at the wheel and approximately 12 horsepower at the crankshaft—the machine was built with intention and balance rather than brute force. Its pressed steel frame gave it a futuristic silhouette, setting it apart from many contemporaries that still relied on more traditional construction methods, and reinforcing its reputation as a forward-thinking machine.
However, like many ambitious engineering ventures of the early automotive age, Marsfaced challenges beyond design and innovation. The economic instability brought by the inflation crisis around 1923 to 1924 placed significant pressure on the company, gradually weakening its financial foundation. Although Mars continued operating for decades afterward, it eventually ceased production in 1958. Today, the Mars A20 antique motorcycle remains a fascinating reminder of an era when engineering companies were still defining what mobility could become, and its legacy continues to resonate with collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate the roots of motorcycle evolution.
Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. God will forgive Your sins.... *** [EKA [30122019] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | YESTERDAYS.NL ]
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Racing Legend - As we all know that the Plymouth Superbird was one of legendary NASCAR racing cars along with its similar brother Dodge Charger Daytona. Both are distinguished than other cars by their elongated "nose cone" and huge decklid-mounted wing.
1970 Plymouth Road Runner HEMI Superbird has a typical appearance such the elongated "nose cone" and huge decklid-mounted wing. (Picture from: MoparInsiders)
Recently, in the classic car auction in Las Vegas held by Barret-Jackson auction house in June 30 to July 2, 2022 had been stirred at momment caused by there was 1970 Plymouth Road Runner HEMI Superbird sold at the figure of $ 1.65 millions (approx Rp. 24.7 billions). Wow!😲
1970 Plymouth Road Runner HEMI Superbird's interior looks very authentic garnished with the (TX9) interior paint matching its high-grade trimmed black vinyl seating with silver accents. (Picture from: MoparInsiders)
As quoted of AutoEvolution, those selling numbers directly broke the previous record held by another HEMI car sometime ago perched at $990 thousand (approx to Rp. 14.87 billion). So what's made those cars so special that can be sold at such fantastic price numbers?
1970 Plymouth Road Runner HEMI Superbird is powered by a 426 HEMI engine coupled with a 727 Torque Flite gearbox and 8.75-inch Chrysler differential. (Picture from: MoparInsiders)
The specialty of this car is not only in its prime condition with real authentic and original equipments. As quoted of the AutoEvolution, this Superbirds was specially ordered in red and once homologated for NASCAR racing in 1969 as one of 135 Plymouth Superbird beasts powered by a 426 HEMI engine coupled with a 727 Torque Flite gearbox and Chrysler 8.75-inch with a 3.55 ratio sure grip axle differential.
1970 Plymouth Road Runner HEMI Superbird is one of 135 unit cars were specially ordered in red and homologated for NASCAR racing in 1969. (Picture from: MoparInsiders)
While in the Superbird's interior looks very authentic and also in perfect condition. Inside its interior garnished with the (TX9) interior paint matching its high-grade trimmed black vinyl seating with silver accents. The dash features the factory tachometer, correct pushbutton AM radio, heater/defroster, and three-spoke steering wheel with the Road Runner center cap.
The exterior features a set of hood pins (J45), Superbird graphics package, and its original aero nose and rear wing, fender-mounted air scoops, and front spoiler. As the result, could be said that all the authentic accessories both in the car's interior and exterior are originally maintained.
Being a HEMI car, it features power steering, power brakes with front discs, a max cooling package with a 7-blade fan, HEMI suspension with firm ride shocks as well as dual exhaust with chrome exhaust tips. Meanwhile for the legs still using the original Plymouth Superbird Rallye 15-inch alloy wheels, and wrapped in Goodyear Polyglas tires are fitted to the era when the car was made. *** [EKA [29072022] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOEVOLUTION | MOPARINSIDERS ]
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Heritage Reforged - Custom motorcycles often push the limits of creativity, but few creations have attracted as much attention as The Killer, one of the most remarkable custom motorcycles in 2019. Built by Australian-born motorcycle builder Craig Rodsmith of Rodsmith Motorcycles in the United States, this machine stood out thanks to its unusual shape and highly unconventional engineering.
Rodsmith Motorcycle 'The Killer' by Craig Rodsmith for Haas Moto Museum and Sculpture Gallery at The Handbuilt Motorcycle Show 2019. (Picture from: UltimateMotorcycling)
The project began when Bobby Haas, founder of the Dallas-based Haas Moto Museum, discovered old photographs of a rare Art Deco motorcycle developed by German engineers in Munich during the 1930s. Fascinated by the design, he contacted Rodsmith to explore the possibility of bringing a modern version of the concept to life.
The Killer features the integrated amber headlight, bars, and the thin seat are all similarly crafted from aluminum. (Picture from: BikeExif)
The main inspiration was the 1935 Killinger und Freund Motorrad, a motorcycle remembered for its futuristic styling and front-wheel-drive layout. Rather than copying the original exactly, Rodsmith created a functional tribute that preserved its distinctive character while showcasing modern craftsmanship.
Front view of Rodsmith Motorcycle 'The Killer.' (Picture from: BikeExif)
Its most striking feature was the engine arrangement. Instead of sending power to the rear wheel, The Killerused three hand-built 60cc two-stroke engines mounted in a radial configuration inside the 19-inch front wheel, making it one of the most unusual motorcycles ever constructed.
The Killer completed without a central motor, chain, or driveshaft keeps it minimalist and utterly stunning to behold. (Picture from: BikeExif)
The motorcycle’s chassis was also built entirely by hand without the aid of CNC machines or 3D design software. Every detail was carefully crafted to reflect the flowing Art Deco style of the original inspiration, including an integrated amber headlight and a slim aluminum seat.
Rodsmith Motorcycle 'The Killer' was heavily inspired by this German's art-deco styled front-wheeled drive motorcycle called 'Friedenstaube' (Peace Dove) or Killinger und Freund Motorrad. (Picture from: Wind-Water.nl)
To make the front-wheel-drive system work, Rodsmith engineered a centrifugal clutch connected to a sprocket and axle assembly. The setup delivered power smoothly and created a riding experience unlike that of conventional motorcycles..
The Killer has three 60 cc 2-stroke identical engines, in a radial configuration, on its 19-inch front wheel. (Picture from: BikeExif)
Starting the bike required special engineering as well. Since three engines had to run together, Rodsmith developed a custom Bendix drive system that allowed the electric starter to disengage automatically once the engines were operating.
The Killer is a fully functional bike but the project was commissioned mostly as an artwork to be shown off at the museum. (Picture from: Enrg.io)
According to its creators, The Killer is surprisingly easy to ride despite its unusual design. Rodsmith described the sensation as feeling pulled forward by the engine rather than pushed from behind, giving the motorcycle a unique character on the road.
Although fully functional, The Killer was commissioned mainly as a work of art for display at the Haas Moto Museum. Years later, it remains a fascinating blend of history, engineering, and craftsmanship, proving that even a forgotten idea from the 1930s can inspire one of the most extraordinary custom motorcycles of the modern era.
Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of two-wheeled monster and stay alive with the true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops......
Between Myth and Reality - Concept cars often reveal the boldest ideas an automaker never had the chance to fully explore. During the golden age of American muscle cars, manufacturers regularly experimented with dramatic styling studies to glimpse what the future might look like. One of the most intriguing examples from that era was the Mercury Cougar El Gato, a striking concept that pushed the Cougar nameplate into unfamiliar and remarkably futuristic territory.
The 1970 Mercury Cougar El Gato Concept on display at the 1970 Detroit Auto Show. (Picture from: OldConceptCar)
The Cougar had already built a reputation as one of Mercury’s most recognizable performance-oriented models. Introduced under Mercury, the premium division created by Edsel Ford in 1938 to sit between Ford and Lincoln, the Cougar became especially popular in the late 1960s and 1970s as a sporty two-door machine with muscle-car appeal. Against that backdrop, Ford Motor Company developed the El Gato concept as a design exercise intended to explore a more radical direction for future Cougar models.
1970 Mercury Cougar El Gato Concept appeared as a typical classic American muscle car with a bold lime green paint job and built as a styling exercise for a futuristic-looking Cougar series.(Picture from: OldConceptCar)
Nicknamed “El Gato,” Spanish for “The Cat,”the vehicle immediately stood out thanks to its vivid lime-green finish and aggressive proportions. Its roofline was noticeably lowered, creating a sleeker silhouette, while the shaved door handles enhanced the clean, uninterrupted body shape. Riding on distinctive 16-inch three-spoke wheels wrapped in then-modern Goodyear Polyglass radial tires, the concept looked far more advanced than many production cars of its time.
1970 Mercury Cougar El Gato Concept used ultracool 16-inches three-spoke wheels wrapped with new-at-the-time Goodyear Polyglass radials. (Picture from: OldConceptCar)
The front section blended visual cues associated with boththe Cougar and Pontiac’s GTO-inspired performance styling, giving the car a sharp and intimidating presence. A subtle flat-black stripe treatment flowed into a molded hood scoop, while the rolled front and rear body pans replaced the bulky chrome bumpers that dominated American automotive design during that period. Most notably, El Gato became the first Cougar concept to adopt a fastback profile, a feature that would later become highly desirable among performance enthusiasts.
At the rear were fully covered with the LTD-style taillamps only broken at the left by the racing-style gas filler cap. (Picture from: OldConceptCar)
At the rear, the car continued its futuristic theme with taillamps inspired bythe Ford LTD, largely hidden beneath smooth bodywork. A racing-style fuel filler cap interrupted the design on one side, adding a motorsport touch. Beneath the tail sat unusual square center-exit exhaust outlets, a detail that further separated the concept from conventional muscle cars of the era and reinforced its experimental character.
Despite its memorable appearance, the fate of the Mercury Cougar El Gato remains uncertain. Many unused show cars from that period were routinely dismantled once their purpose had been served, and automotive historians generally believe El Gato may have met the same end. If that assumption is correct, the industry lost a fascinating piece of design history. Even so, the concept continues to capture attention today, reminding enthusiasts how a single styling study can leave a lasting impression long after the car itself has disappeared😭. *** [EKA [07042020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | OLDCONCEPTCARS | FORDMERCURYCOUGARXR7 | AMCARGUIDE]
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Forgotten ONES - Of the many concept cars built on car chassis of Porsche, one of the famous German car brands, only a few are unique and interesting. And one of them could be this Porsche Tapiro which is a car made by Italian coachbuilder ItalDesign in the 1970s. Well, the car name originating from the pig-like herbivorous mammal called tapir.
The Porsche Tapiro Concept designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in 1970s, and built based on the Porsche 914/6 platform. (Picture from: Motor1)
Reportedly, the design of the 1970s dream car was intentionally built to be extreme both in form and mechanics, but the possibility of mass production was still considered. This Porsche Tapiro was designed during 1970s by Giorgetto Giugiaro, a famous Italian designer from ItalDesign. This uniquely shaped car was the Giugiaro made 4th prototype and has become one of his favorite works to date.
The Porsche Tapiro had a windshield profile that was almost the same height as the hood. (Picture from: Motor1)
As quoted from Wikipedia, Tapiro's design most likely took inspiration from the iconic DeTomaso Mangusta which was also the work of Giorgetto Giugiaro while he was working for Ghia. From its appearance, it can be seen that the Tapiro was built in a 'wedge' shape for the first time in that era, and would be used again in many other car models in the following years, thus becoming a design trend during the 1970s.
The Porsche Tapiro is equipped with a gullwing door type as access to the cabin, not only that, the such unique shape of the door is also applied to the engine compartment. (Picture from: Motor1)
The Porsche Tapiro had a windshield profile that was almost the same height as the hood, and was also equipped with very exotic doors and a hood which was considered such a luxury solution although some people considered it eccentric for the time. Did you know that the Tapiro is a source of inspiration from the legendary DMC DeLorean car?
The Porsche Tapiro featured all those great Giugiaro styling flourishes, such as geometric air-ducting a cheese wedge profile and a futuristic cabin surrounded by an acreage of glass. (Picture from: Motor1)
As seen as, this Porsche Tapiro is equipped with a gullwing design door to be used as access to the cabin, not only that, the such unique shape of the door is also applied to the engine room and luggage room. Even more unique, unlike most concept cars which are only made as models from clay plaster, the Porsche Tapiro is a fully functional vehicle, in other words, this car can be run like an ordinary production version car.
The Porsche Tapiro concept is powered by a mid-mounted inline 6-cylinder 2.4-liter Porsche engine. (Picture from: Motor1)
Well, the Porsche Tapiro, which is 4,060 mm long, 1,760 mm wide and 1,110 mm high, is built based on the Porsche 914/6 platform, and is powered by a mid-mounted inline 6-cylinder 2.4-liter Porsche engine. And the machine is capable of producing 220 bhp of power at 7,200 rpm. The concept was engineered with a five-speed manual gearbox and had an official top speed of 245 kph.
Giorgetto Giugiaro and his son Fabrizio look sadly at the Tapiro remains in the front of ItalDesign HQ in Turin. (Picture from: Motor1)
After completion, this Tapiro concept car was shown for the first time in public at the 1970 Turin Motor Show. As quoted of Motor1, the car subsequently made its US debut at the 5th Annual Los Angeles Imported Automobile and Sports Car Show in 1971. After two years of traveling at various major world's auto shows, the Italian coachbuilder then sold the Tapiro to Waldo de los Ríos, an Argentine composer in 1973, after it made an appearance at the Barcelona Motor Show.
Today the burnt shell of the Porsche Tapiro is on display at the Giugiaro Museum's lawn. (Picture from: Autoevolution)
Some rumors say that the Porsche Tapiro had served as Waldo de los Ríos daily rides until it ended miserably at one terrible incident in Madrid, where most of the car was destroyed after it caught fire. As quoted from Wikipedia, most sources say the cause of the fire was a group of labor activists protesting against the labor policies at the time, who planted a bomb under the Tapiro. The bomb exploded, burning the car but not destroying the chassis.
While other sources said the car was involved in an accident somewhere and caught fire at that time. The car remains were later re-purchased by ItalDesign but never rebuilt, and today the burnt shell of the Porsche Tapiro is on display at the Giugiaro Museum's lawn. *** [EKA [2501202] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | MOTOR1 | AUTOEVOLUTION | ADRIANFLUX ]
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