Innovation in steering wheel design, that never went into production... the "Wrist Twist" from Mercury

At Mercury, engineer Bob Rumm produced this one-off 1965 Mercury Park Lane convertible with so-called "wrist-twist" steering controls. The standard steering wheel has been replaced by two 5-inch, wrist-operated dials, that the promo claims frees up knee room, improves visibility and makes parking easier.

Skip the first 45 seconds and the male chauvenist attitude, they are both useless

Found on http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-were-they-thinking-mercurys-wrist.html

Jim Lakey's Speed Shop, Piqua Ohio, 1963 Nash Metro B/Comp dragster. Lovin it.

Found on http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585

24 butterflies, 8 blowers, and makes 3400 hp worth of Nitrous powered grin... Mike Harrah's Detroit Diesel, does it make you feel a bit awed?

180 photo gallery of the intake and engine going together here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/learaviator/sets/72157623774941005


learned about it on http://www.autoblog.hu/videok/video_24_hengeres_dizelmotor.html

not much info on the www yet, but I did find that the guy is a millionaire real estate developer, and owns the biggest of the Blastolene cars (can't recall the name, it's the one with the PT boat Packard engine) and this titan engine is going into a Peterbuilt 359

Zaniest thing I've seen in a while, the Jade Warrior from 1985

Skip the first 30 seconds

Learned about it from http://zelastchancegaragedu78.blogspot.com/ information from http://www.dragzine.com/news/the-jade-warrior-a-truly-insane-and-one-of-a-kind-ride/

The creation of British motorcycle racer Angus MacPhail, who built it himself in his garage, it's called the “Jade Warrior,” did the quarter mile in under 8 seconds a quarter century ago without the use of nitromethane. That's riding on the tip of a bullet.

It was powered by an inline 4-cylinder that blended MacPhail’s own engineering with that of a Ford Cosworth and sported a Roots supercharger producing somewhere between 400 and 500 horsepower.

The frame was, obviously, a completely one-off piece that was built monocoque-style – with a main center section made of alloy and put together with Araldite adhesive and Monel rivets. A well-designed body with ground effects incorporated helped keep it stable and hooked up at close to 200 MPH. Angus claimed it was actually very easy to navigate down the track.

One big honking vehicle, the TC-497 Overland Train, Obsolete the day it was finished

Above image from Big Lorry Blog, where there are a couple more photos and the info that one is restored and at Ft Yuma Arizona http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/2010/10/more-le-tourneau-overland-trai.html#more

In the 1950s the LeTourneau company developed several overland trains, essentially oversized semi-trailer trucks that could travel over almost any terrain. Their intention was to be able to handle logistics needs without being dependent on local road or rail systems, allowing them to operate in back-country areas.

six-wheeled TC-497 Overland Train MkII used four Solar gas-turbine engines (at 1,170hp each, that’s 4,680hp total) to spin generators that delivered juice to 54 total motors – one for each of its wheels. Of its 12 trailers, two were dedicated just to carrying the turbines and generators. The Overland Train stretched 572 feet long, easily making it the world’s longest vehicle. Funny enough, it could only carry 150 tons of freight – as much as the Sno-Freighter – though it carried such developments as steerable trailer wheels that allowed the entire train more maneuverability.

Read about it here: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2009/11/19/54-wheel-drive-the-letourneau-electric-arctic-land-trains-that-put-australian-road-trains-to-shame/ because Dan at Hemmings wrote a cool long post about the land trains

For other crazy polar exploring vehicles: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/12/arctic-or-antarctic-explorers.html

Unique method of loading a forklift on a trailer

from Caradisiac http://www.forum-auto.com/automobiles-mythiques-exception/section5/sujet225087-3780.htm

you can read a post and see a 4 photo gallery here http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/2010/11/ancient-austins-and-unusual-pi.html#more

Innovative hot rodder made a fifth wheel trailer to haul his slingshot, mate up with his hot rod. That has to be unique! It's awesome!

The photo was labeled the 1960 Deetroit Trotters Ohio race team.

From http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=270

2 story tall bicycle, first time I've seen it's kind. Good thing I had my camera handy

Adele air car

found at http://retor.blogspot.com/2010/08/adele-air-car.html

A LOT of Americans made automobiles in 1900-1930, here are a some, a couple of them I've never heard of

1895 Electrobat II... and for the trivia buffs, it was the winner of the first car race in America

Geronimo's Cadillac is how it was presented, but I doubt that he owned it... it's probably a photo op planned picture

Teddy Roosevelt in a Fawick Flyer at the Sioux Falls Railroad Depot. Only 5 were ever built

A Moosejaw Standard

A Saxon

1915 Monroe

1916 Woods Mobilette

1917 Apperson Jack Rabbit

This is a 1917 Geronimo

1920 Barley Roamer roadster

1923 Arkansas Climber

1952 Maverick

A Powell, made in LA

All of these are only a fraction of the interesting defunct manufacturers on the Jalopy Journal thread that challenged car guys every where to post photos and information about car makers that went out of business long ago: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=397594

1950 Martin Stationette

James V. Martin was a prolific inventor who spent years designing cars that he hoped someone would be willing to produce. The Stationette was his last attempt. Produced by Commonwealth Research Corp. in New York, NY, this car is an all wooden monocoque construction. It features no axles, shock absorbers, or propeller shaft, which Mr. Martin claimed made it cheaper to build.

It was designed to fit the needs of the suburban commuter, as popular acceptance would greatly ease traffic congestion. The Stationette was shown at the 1954 World Motor Sports Show and offered as 'America' Economy Car of the Future.' Mr. Martin failed to convince anyone to produce this car.

information from lanemotormuseum.org ; via: http://www.conceptcarz.com/events/eventVehicle.aspx?carID=15184&eventID=200&catID=1551&whichPage=1

First American car transporter?

From http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=499900 via: http://chromjuwelen.tumblr.com

I didn't know the "Dark Knight" motorcycle was a real working cycle

photo via: http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2010/07/schizophrenic-episode-simulation.html

proof that man can design flying saucers that work

The Avro flying saucer

Above via: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=561

Above via: http://piccole.rispostesenzadomanda.com/

Well the top one has tires, and that gets it on the blog... but it needed company so the bottom image got to ride along

Both from the cool stuff found at http://megamoto.tumblr.com/

1909 Sultan Landaulet town car and taximeter, oddly, one has the driver covered but the other has the passengers covered. Undecided designers?

I suppose there was a market for each, but it's a very odd juxtapositon of the roof on the one manufacturer's cars

some amazing things turned up in classifieds, a Bugatti 57sc Atalante, and a wonderful 1930 Morgan 3 wheeler van/beetleback