Cars
The Ford Skyliner
A hardtop convertible. Just what millions were clamoring for--not!The Wikipedia page.
Jump to the 6:30 mark in the video to see the roof in action.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Dec 15, 2019 -
Comments (4)
Category: Inventions, Chindogu, 1950s, Cars
Joe Wardle’s Emergency Landing
This photo illustrates the more likely intersection of plane and car. But in 1952 a certain Joe Wardle got lucky.
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Dec 09, 2019 -
Comments (5)
Category: Accidents, Air Travel and Airlines, 1950s, Cars
Laser Windshield Cleaner
Tesla recently applied for a patent to use laser beams to clean a car's windshield. They justify the lasers by explaining that they're needed to make sure the driver-assistance system maintains a clear field of view.It's a long, technical application, which I didn't bother to read completely. So I assume they must have considered how it might be a bad idea to have lasers suddenly blasting away at a windshield while someone is driving the car... or even just sitting in the front seat.
More info: Car and Driver
Posted By: Alex - Sun Dec 08, 2019 -
Comments (3)
Category: Inventions, Patents, Cars
The Pedestrian Horn
We've posted before about Los Angeles auto dealer Hilton Tupman who, back in 1948, invented a "pedestrian horn" that he used to honk at motorists.
Great ideas like that tend to get recycled. So, recently artist Yosef Lerner unveiled a pedestrian horn for the 21st century. His intent was satirical. He wanted to make the point that honking at people can be obnoxious, whether you're on foot or in a car. But for a while he was actually offering his pedestrian horn for sale on his website, at $699 each. He decided to stop selling them because (as he told Gizmodo) he didn't want "to contribute to any more noise in this city!”
For the record, Tupman didn't invent the idea of a pedestrian horn. Actress Eleanor Whitney had rigged one up in 1932.
Chambersburg Public Opinion - Apr 9, 1932
And as early as 1927, there's a report in the NY Times about an unnamed man from Southampton, England who had attached a "miniature but noisy motorhorn" to his walking stick and then "sounded warning blasts to the more fortunate ones in automobiles when he was about to cross."
New York Times - Oct 7, 1927
Posted By: Alex - Tue Nov 19, 2019 -
Comments (1)
Category: Motor Vehicles, Cars, Cacophony, Dissonance, White Noise and Other Sonic Assaults
Miss Anti-Freeze
It's Anti-Freeze Week! Or, at least, it could have been if DuPont was still promoting this car-maintenance holiday. It usually fell sometime in mid to late October.Here's a few of the young women on whom the title of "Miss Anti-Freeze" was bestowed.
Grenola Gazette - Oct 16, 1952
Pike County Dispatch - Oct 8, 1953
Taylor Daily Press - Oct 20, 1953
Wausau Daily Herald - Oct 12, 1953
Alabama Citizen - Oct 30, 1954
Salem News - Oct 17, 1955
Posted By: Alex - Mon Oct 21, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, 1950s, Cars
Follies of the Madmen #445
Yes, it's perfectly safe to drive your one-ton car on the same surface as the 150-lb iceboat.
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Sep 22, 2019 -
Comments (6)
Category: Business, Advertising, Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Death, Sports, 1960s, Cars
“Breakfast” by Cyriak
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 19, 2019 -
Comments (3)
Category: Annoying Things, Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Death, Destruction, Food, Highways, Roads, Streets and Traffic, Surrealism, Foreign Customs, Fictional Monsters, Cars
Water Bottle Warning
A water bottle left on a car seat may potentially be a fire hazard. How? Because the water can act as a magnifying glass, concentrating the sun's rays and setting the upholstery on fire.This was news to me. During past road trips, I've left water bottles on the car seat many times.
Via Book of Joe
Posted By: Alex - Fri May 24, 2019 -
Comments (3)
Category: Stupid and/or Dangerous Products, Cars
Cow Dung AC
Photos posted on Facebook by Rupesh Gauranga Das who writes:It’s in Amdavad
To counter 45 degrees heat temperatures and protect car from getting hot
Mrs. Sejal shah has plastered her car with cow dung
The Indian Express offers some further explanation:
I have to say, Mrs. Sejal Shah did a very professional-looking job of applying the cow dung to her car.
Posted By: Alex - Wed May 22, 2019 -
Comments (5)
Category: Cows, Cars
The Jetway 707
Built by American Quality Coach. Introduced in 1968. Its design was based on the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. Some more info from coachbuilt.com:A complete line of AQC hearses, ambulances, combination cars and limousines were planned, but unfortunately all of their working capital was tied up in the tooling for their first run of airport limos, and when they failed to sell, the firm was forced to abandon the other coaches. A current owner believes that only 52 Jetways were built between 1968-1970, although professional car historian Bernie DeWinter believes that the number is closer to 150.
Posted By: Alex - Mon May 20, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: Motor Vehicles, Cars, 1960s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |