Marilyn, Jane, and Bridgette at Sebring

All from http://www.sportscardigest.com/the-stars-come-out-at-sebring/

- by Be For

Read More

Kiddie Corvette Pedal Car Ballot Box

1956 1957 Eska Corvette Pedal Car - Ballot Box

to win the "King of the Sidewalk Kiddie Corvette" Pedal Car you had to fill out a ballot and drop it in one of these official ballot boxes. This was found in the attic of a Chevrolet Dealership in Norfolk, Virginia.

some history of the pedal Eska Corvette Pedal Cars:

In 1956, General Motors Corporation awarded The Eska Company of Dubuque, Iowa a contract to produce 1/3 size pedal car replicas of their recently redesigned Chevrolet Corvette. Like the full-size car, the smaller, "Kiddie" version featured a molded, almost dent proof, plastic body as well as a real chrome trimmed two-speed transmission and an authentic Corvette colors of white with red interior. With help from GM's Styling department, Eska scaled down the real car's dimensions and the "mini Vette" was said by some at the time to be "dead on" for its dimensions relative to the real thing. These cars were made primarily for dealerships and promotions and were not available to the general public so there is no exact count on how many were produced, could have been as low as 200 or as many as 2000.

Some of the events reportedly using these pedi-powered racers were the 1956 Chevrolet Featurama and the NASCAR Speed Week Performance Trials in Daytona Beach, Florida where children could participate in races for a chance to win a "Kiddie Corvette" of their own and, on a National note, the cars were featured on "The Dinah Shore Show" as part of the "See the USA in Your Chevrolet" contest.

Thanks to John, photos and info from http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-1957-Eska-Corvette-Pedal-Car-Ballot-Box-Extremely-RARE-Never-used-/141617603467 

- by Be For

Read More

The 6 Best and Worst Looking Classic Cars with TONS of Pictures!

Photo by Author Isaiah Cox - No Rights Reserved

 

What are the six best and worst looking classic cars in the world?  Is there a question that could possibly be more based on personal taste and nation of upbringing?  Well, I hope my opinions spark some comments; I'm always jealous of the bloggers that write about controversial current events and receive a passionate comment section.  I imagine this is the most controversial concept in cars and I hope you voice your opinion in response!

 

Those of you that follow my blogs know that I've been trying to abide by photo copyright laws even though this is simply a hobby and I'm not making any money writing these.  Well this week I've discovered 3 news sources of photos available for non-commercial bloggers and you'll see I fully explored their potential; kudos to Getty Images for opening 25 million of their photos to bloggers for use!

 

#6 Best Looking Car in the World - Mercedes 500

 

Photo by Author Isaiah Cox - No Rights Reserved

 

 A beautiful stately car. Images of German castles seem to pop into mind just by looking at the car.  The flowing body lines put the car into perpetually graceful motion.  And for those of us that are a little simpler, there's a lot of shiny chrome.  "Oooo.... shiny!"

 

Photo by Author Isaiah Cox - No Rights Reserved

 

Photo Taken from Wikimedia - Open for Free Use

 

Photo by Author Isaiah Cox - No Rights Reserved

 

Photo Taken from Wikimedia - Open for Free Use

 

 

#6 Worst Looking Car in the World - Mercedes 500

 

Why yes, that is Adolf Hitler checking his directions next to his car of choice, the ominous black Mercedes.  I'm throwing a kicker at you but based on this car's historical relevance I'd say it's equally as ugly as it is beautiful.  One could argue it's a perfect time piece for it's generation.  Nations banded together in a fight for good and evil to a scale possibly never seen before and in that you'll find some of the greatest stories of mankind as well as some of the worst.  The Mercedes too shows how grand man's creation can be, but it also speaks volumes to the depths of evil man will fall in their pursuit of grandeur.

 

And as a side note, there is nothing uglier than an 80's Excalibur replica of the classic Mercedes; it's a pitiful attempt at recreating a world class car.  Much like an awkward youth trying to wear the clothes of a famous star in an effort to recreate their "look", it's just not the same.

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer KayVee

 

#5 Worst Looking Car in the World - US Spec Rubber Bumper MGB

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer hz536n/George Thomas 

 

This one hits close to home because I used to own the one pictured below.  But that's also why I hate the late MGBs.  US safety rules had required that the front springs be extended to increase the front bumper height drastically affecting the stance.  The chrome bumpers were removed for "safer" rubber bumpers that looked hideous.  Giant marker lights were added to the side of the body breaking up the clean lines.  The leather and metal interior in the early 60's MGBs was replaced with plastic and vinyl.  A 3rd windshield wiper was added to the windshield to meet US spec wiper coverage laws.

 

In 20 years MG had made a progressively worse car, which was mirrored across British Leyland.  Not only is this car ugly but it represents an national sports car industry crumbling!

 

Photo by Author Isaiah Cox - No Rights Reserved 

 

#5 Best Looking Car in the World - Auburn Boattail Speedster

  

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Jim's Photos

 

What can be said?  Just look at it!  It's magnificent.  From every angle it's just a little prettier, smoother and cleaner than the Mercedes. The choice of the rich and famous!  And it wasn't just pretty, the supercharger made it fast!  And seeing all four pipes out the sides... it's like it's saying, "I'm pretty but I'm also strong and will beat on you a little if you try and mess with me". 

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Andre Ritzinger

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Glen Bowman

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Glen Bowman

 

#4 Worst Looking Car in the World - VW Beetle/Porsche 911

 

 

They're just not pretty.  That wasn't their point.  They were to be the cars for the masses designed by a despot.  They eventually were called the beetle/bug and a more appropriate name couldn't be found.  They look like a stink bug puckering up it's rear end getting ready for an expulsion of stink. And ironically, thanks to loose tolerances and low compression, often they did send stink out the tailpipe.  And as they aged they only became fatter and less utilitarian.

 

But I'd take an early one.  It's ugliness works for it.  I love the oval window and flip up traffic signals that come out of the door to signal for turns.

But then again I might not drive one even if it was given to me.  I also count the fact that you're supposed to embrace some culture of peace and free love against the bug. Ironic that Hitler was heavily involved with the development of the little stinker.

 

 

And then there's the Porsche 911... it's the same car with things just stretched out a little!  And although there's a purity in design for some of the early ones, what in the world happened in the 80s?  Why would anyone want a fast stretched out VW bug, with a whale tail on the back, rubber bumpers, and a targa top?!  Oh, and throw in some classy 80's colors like violet!

 

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Alexandre Prevot

 

#4 Best Looking Car in the World - 1957 Chevy Bel Air

   

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Roadside Pictures

 

It's as American as a cheeseburger or Ronald Reagan.  It's iconic and represents a generation that came before the cultural revolution of the 60's and 70's.  There's never been a better looking piece of chrome than it's side panel.  It could be made into a hot rod with relative ease, and pictures of youth surrounding it at drive-ins came to represent an entire decade.  And it looks good stock or as a custom.  It is the pen-ultimate 1950's design.  I may buy a reproduction of the chrome just to hang on my garage wall.  The 57 Chevy is American car culture at it's best.

 

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Ruud Onos

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer PreciousBytes

 

 

I felt like I couldn't even talk about the Bel Air without putting a picture of a drive-in in the blog.

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Kenjiys

  

 

#3 Worst Looking Car in the World - 1969-72 Mustang

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Lasard

Like the MGB and the Bug, the Mustang got a few years under it's belt and gained weight.  Hey, quite a few of us have been there so it's hard to hold just that against it but it didn't gain weight gracefully.  It didn't gain weight proportionally.  Look at the photos.  The motor area is the same size as the original motor but the cabin and rear end are huge!  Basically, it's rear end got awkwardly large.

And on top of that, Ford and/or the owners began embellishing them with all sorts of cheap plasticky bits.  Why would anyone want louvres on their rear window, cowl induction that faces the wrong way, or spoilers that provide little to no downward force.

And as the years went by it only got worse.  It barely even resembled a mustang by the mid-70s.  Too much plastic surgery can be disastrous if done without regard to taste.

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer P1R

 

#3 Best Looking Car in the World - Shelby Daytona

 

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer PMillera4

 

This car was built with a purpose - it had to be aerodynamic enough to beat the Ferraris.  Yet as often happens when something is built with aesthetic abandonment while working towards a strictly functional goal of epic proportion, the end result is gorgeous.  There isn't a car in the world, to this day, that looks better screaming around a track.  And beat the Ferrari team it did.  It's easy to love a winner, and when it's the Daytona Coupe it becomes one of the best looking cars in the world.

 

Photo Taken from Wikimedia - Open for Free Use

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer elstro_88

 

 

#2 Worst Looking Car in the World - The (Two Word) Sting Ray Corvette

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Clicheshots

Yes, the Corvette was always plastic (made out of fiberglass and resin) but it's as though Chevy decided to highlight it.  In 1970 they came out with a Corvette that looked so plastic that cheap is the only word that can be used to described it.  None of the curves work for it.  The rear end looked terrible.  The snout looked too long.  And it's sort of a targa?!  Couple appalling looks with one of the heaviest most underpowered American motors ever produced and you have one of the ugliest cars ever made.

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Georg Sander

 

#2 Best Looking Car in the World - Any Bentley from 1925-31

 

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Automotive Rhythms

How many of you read the Wind in the Willows as a child?  In the story there's a rich toad who lives in Toad Manor, who has few socially redeeming qualities and is madly in love with the automobile to the extent he disregards all his friends in pursuit of his hobby.  And the car that's parked in front of Toad Manor, as imagined by almost every young boy, is an iconic Bentley produced in the late 1920's.

These Bentley's are the ultimate British sports car.  Everything else in the period was simply trying to be a Bentley.  They are not swoopy or aerodynamic per se, but what they lack in grace they make up in brute strength.  Combine that British Resolve with British Racing Green paint and you have one of the most iconic and best looking cars ever made.

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Adamnsinger

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer BoyBentley

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Charliepr1

 

Photo by Author Isaiah Cox - No Rights Reserved

Photo by Author Isaiah Cox - No Rights Reserved

Photo by Author Isaiah Cox - No Rights Reserved

 

#1 Worst Looking Car in the World - Citroen DS

 

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Viteez

 

It's so bizarre it's cool.  Only the French could come up with it.  It bears no resemblance to anything, and in no way hints at any strength.  It is an amorphous blog that moves down the road floating on air.  It would look perfect parked in front of a French bakery picking up pastries.  It is a pastry of a car.  Round, soft, bulging.

 

Open the door and you'll see that the car is also somewhat bulimic.  It appears to be throwing up it's steering wheel.

 

I can't think of any uglier car, but it's so ugly and awkward it's cool.

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Georg Sander

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Pilot_Micha

 

Photo by Author Isaiah Cox - No Rights Reserved

  

 

#1 Best Looking Car in the World - Ferrari 250 California

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Speed Hunter XxX

 

Yes, as record sale prices reach tens of million dollars, I end with a safe choice.  But even if they were as cheap as an early MGB, I'd still love the Ferrari.  It screams 1950s/60s racer but with an extremely dignified split personality.  This car looks as good tearing up a track as it does sitting on the golf course at the Pebble Beach Concourse d'Elegance.

 

And why the California? It's as simple as this - I love the added swish to the body line behind the door.  It breaks the car up and makes it look better than the standard GT250.

 

And it looks amazing in Rosso Corsa (Ferrari's red of choice).

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Speed Hunter XxX

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons -  Photographer Alex Fearn

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Dry Heat Panzer

 

Photo License Flickr Creative Commons - Photographer Delta HF

 

 

What do you think?  Leave some feedback!  Thanks for reading!

- by Be For

Read More

Is The Car Art? A Discussion Of Automobiles as Artwork

 

Is the Car Art?

 

Can the automobile be considered art?  The art community claims foul because a car has practical application, therefor barring it from any true claims of being "art".  Apparently true art can have no practical application... which seems to be a life approach often adopted by artists as well.  Yet throughout the summer car shows draw large crowds of uneducated masses and when the local art museum hosted an exhibition entitled "the art of car" they saw some of the largest crowds they've ever seen.  So can the car be considered art? If art is simply design created to illicit emotional response, then the answer is undoubtedly yes.  But if art truly isn't functional, can a car still qualify?

 

As a whole, in the vast majority of instances, barring some prototypes and concept cars, most cars do serve the function of people mover.

 

But let's take a look at the elements of a car.  I think we'll find that not all are practical, and if the car as a whole can't be considered "true art", there are at least parts of the car that may qualify.

 

In developing this consideration I borrowed heavily from the web.  The pictures contained here-in are (mostly) not my property but were posted to the internet and freely available.  I'm not making anything on these blogs so hopefully no photographer takes offense at my use of their shots.  If you are offended, please leave a comment stating your dissatisfaction.  Your dissatisfaction will be noted.  If you complain hard enough I might even take your photo down.  I doubt the 10 family members that dutifully read my posts will miss them!

 

Plagiarism discussion over, back to cars as art.

 

First, let's consider the basic shape.  One of the key design elements is the shape.  If a shape wasn't placed over the mechanicals, we'd all drive cars that look like the racers at Tillamook Oregon's famous Pig 'n' Ford races. 

 

 Pig 'n' Ford Races - Tillamook Oregon

 

Now we're used to car shapes that are designed to for efficiency.  That wasn't always the case.  There was a time when cars were designed mainly for aesthetics, with air flow efficiency a distant second thought.  A famous example is the Shelby/AC Cobra.  The original AC, on which the Shelby Cobra body was based, was designed to the aesthetic preferences of 50's England.  The Shelby racing team found it was horrible aerodynamically and if they were to have any chance of beating the Ferrari's on the circuits with longer straights, such as the Le Mans circuit, they'd need a new body.

 

 



 

The Shelby Daytona was born, which incorporated the Cobra's underpinnings but was designed to beat the wind resistance and give Shelby's more speed on long straights.  Now if the original Cobra/AC wasn't designed to be aerodynamic, wouldn't that mean it's body was simply designed to be aesthetically pleasing, therefore making it a study in art?

 

Shelby Daytona 

 

Often designers add body style design that serves no functional purpose other than to add the designer's personal flair.  One might say, it's the designer's "artistic flair" coming through.  A famous example is the "double bubble" design associated with many Zagato designs. Specials from Fiats to Aston Martins wore the double humps.

 

 Zagato Bodied Fiat Abarth

 

Another great styling example that can only be considered art, is that Lamborghini incorporated their logo, the bull, into the shape of their Muira car.  When you open the doors, the head of a bull is clearly seen.

 

 Lamborghini Miura 

 

As previously mentioned, one might argue concept cars could fall into the same consideration as art because they are often designed to be looked at, with little to no drive-ability.  Their designed function is to be aesthetically pleasing at motor shows, not to be a people carrier. 



1959 Cadillac Concept Car

 

1954 Buick Concept Car

 

1970 Lancia Bertone Concept 

 

In addition to concept cars, hardcore customizers have been designing cars that were mainly for aesthetics since the turn of the century.  A great example is the Brooke Swan Car from India.  The only thing that disqualifies the swan on this car from being true art, is that the beak of the swan was designed to blow steam on dirty peasants that dared to block it's path.  The car caused such havoc it was barred from the road.  Don't we all occasionally want a steam gun mounted to the front of our car for those "peasants"?



 

 Swan Car

 

Almost as crazy were the creations of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth in the 60s.  Beyond his famous rat fink models he created real cars as well, almost equally as bizarre.

 

 

 

An interesting note, Ed Roth fell away from the car scene when he joined the Hell's Angels.  He hated his experience and quit.  The Hell's Angels sent thugs to beat on him a little not realizing he was a black belt.  The Angels were beat upon but they say Ed Roth lived in fear of the Angels from that time on and his art lacked it's fun, almost childish vibe, from that point forward.  The Hell's Angels have been and continue to be bad news.  Don't buy into their toy drives, that's not what they represent.  The last thing on earth you should do is desire to emulate them.  I'm so tired of yuppies buying Harley's and wearing leathers because they think they're being rebels; they're emulating life destroyers.  Not cool.

 

Anyway, again, back to cars.

 

Customizing like Ed Roth isn't dead though.  My wife and I were recently at Moon Speed Shop in L.A. where we got to check out Beatnik and talk with the designer.  What a cool car!

 

 

And while we're looking at the exterior of cars, let's discuss paint jobs.  Now paint does have the function of covering the metal to prevent rust, so let's consider base coats functional.  The embellishments laid over that base paint should be considered expressions in art because they no longer function as rust inhibitors.

 

A great example is the famous, and now 60 years later much overdone, flame job affectionately dubbed "crab claws".  But at the time the below picture was taken, they were a cool expression in art.

 

 

Another great example, originally popularized in the 50s, is pinstripping. Here's a shot of the famous Von Dutch applying his marks.  How the name Von Dutch moved from an association to pinstriping to an association with a brand rich kids wear is utterly beyond me.

 

 

Even Andy Warhol got into embellishing cars.  Here's the BMW M1 he painted.

 

Warhol M1

 

And just as art can be considered poor quality, the same can be said of the embellishments placed on cars.  Consider the bizarre paint job on my commuter car.  The only way those embellishment could be considered displayable art is if a thousand years passes and someone digs the side panel up and decides to display them on their wall as ancient artifacts.

 

 

Let's move past paint embellishments though and talk about chrome and emblems.  Chrome and emblems are art because they serve no purpose other than to increase the visual aesthetics of a car.

 

First let's consider one of the most iconic emblems of all time, the prancing horse of Ferrari.  A WW1 Italian ace's family crest that he painted on the side of his planes for luck.  He died and his family later asked Mr. Ferrari to place the symbol as good luck on his racing cars (interestingly at that time he was actually managing Alfa's racing team and the prancing horse can be found on some early Alfas).  Perhaps a bad omen of things to come, because for a period of time Ferrari was famous for losing racing drivers in accidents.  But regardless, the prancing horse has become one of the most iconic automotive industry emblems.

 

Prancing Horse Alfa Romeo

 

Ferrari

 

Or if you're more into American cars, how about the iconic chrome embellishments of the 50's Chevys?  These pieces of chrome instantly bring to mind golden visions of milk shakes, drive-ins, hot rods, rock and roll, etc.  If a single piece of embellishment can cause such emotive response, how can it not be considered art?









 1957 Chevy Bell Air

 

The 57 Chevy also incorporated another piece that was simply for aesthetics.  Note the hubcaps on the wheel.  They resemble a knock-off nut, but in truth the it's simply a cap for aesthetics.  The '57 Chevy's hubcaps serve no purpose.  To this day, hubcaps are still used as aesthetic embellishment's, sometimes with disastrously distasteful results.  If you can buy it at Auto Zone or WallMart, the chances are it's in poor taste.   Should you find yourself in front of a car shaped like a swan, be prepared for a steam bath.

 

The chrome from the 50's also reflected a culture that was just entering the space age with great anticipation.  Jet's and Rocket's were commonly incorporated into automotive design during the 50's.

 

 1956 Chevy Hood Emblem

 

 

 Rocket 88

 

Some of these chrome ornaments even chance into the art designation of statue.  Consider the famous Spirit of Ecstasy or The Archer.  Both magnificent statue miniatures that graced the hood of early 20th century cars.

 

Spirit of Ecstasy

 

The Archer

 

The luxury cars that these early hood emblems adorned often incorporated a lot of chrome, beautiful shape, and other artistic touches that make these cars magnificent to look upon.



Auburn Boattail Speedster

 

If you opened the door you'd see other examples of embellishment without function.  Take for example doors skinned with ostrich skin as found in the Bugatti Atlantic.

Even under the hood one can find examples of embellishment without function.  For example, valve covers often incorporate artistic touches.

 

So I make the case that although car may have the purpose of being functional, many of it's design elements can include truly artistic touches.  As those pieces are incorporated into what the car becomes as a sum of the whole, the car itself may become an element of art.  The chances are that if you read to this point, you already agreed with me, but if you really were researching this topic I urge you to consider the automobile as art if it incorporates some of the elements discussed above. 

 

After all, a lot of what I posted pictures of above is easily distinguishable as much more pleasing to the eye than the Ford Taurus mobile the Seattle Art Museum had in it's lobby the last time my wife and I walked through.  If a hanging Taurus can be art, so can a beautifully designed Ferrari.

 

Leave some feedback.  Let me  know what you think.  There's a section down below for comments!

 

- by Be For

Read More