Cars
Our American Crossroads
The weird part of this documentary is the puppet diorama and its turntables. A strange form of presentation.
Of course, this documentary also represents about the first two-thirds of the famous poster by Robert Crumb.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jun 10, 2016 -
Comments (3)
Category: Futurism, Comics, Documentaries, 1960s, Cars, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Brits ban 666 from license plates
In 1990, the British banned the devil from their roads. But over in Russia, where his Satanic influence continued to reign unchecked, a Dodge Viper with the license plate '666' mysteriously burst into flames in 2009.
Arizona Republic - May 3, 1991
Bangor Daily News - Feb 5, 1990
Posted By: Alex - Sat May 21, 2016 -
Comments (6)
Category: 1990s, Cars
Follies of the Madmen #282
Chimps improve every product.
Posted By: Paul - Mon May 16, 2016 -
Comments (4)
Category: Animals, Anthropomorphism, Business, Advertising, Products, 1950s, Cars
Simca Fulgur—Dream Car of the Future
In 1959, the French automaker Simca showed a prototype of the Simca Fulgur (aka "Dream Car of the Future") at various auto shows. It was a concept car designed to demonstrate "the advanced thinking of Simca engineers."The final car was supposed to incorporate the following not-yet-invented technologies (according to this Dec 1959 article):
- controlled by an electronic brain fed travel instructions by the driver
- Power supplied on main highways through magnetic induction from road-imbedded cables
- On secondary roads, Fulgur derives power from six batteries in the rear which gives it a range of up to 3000 miles.
- The front wheels which steer the Fulgur at low speeds are retracted at above 90 miles per hour and the car will plane along on its rear wheels.
There was also talk of making the Simca Fulgur atomic-powered. And it seems possible that it may have inspired the design of the Jetsons' car, though I can't find any confirmation of that.
More info: banovsky.com, OldConceptCars.com
Posted By: Alex - Mon May 02, 2016 -
Comments (8)
Category: 1950s, Cars
Miniature Grand Prix
This is what we did before video games.
Posted By: Paul - Mon May 02, 2016 -
Comments (3)
Category: Games, Toys, 1960s, Cars
Aussie Cars: the Holden
I can't say I had ever heard of the Holden line of cars prior to my recent research.Some great 1960s motifs and attitudes in the second video: "Toranas are really groovy!"
Posted By: Paul - Thu Apr 21, 2016 -
Comments (7)
Category: Business, Advertising, 1960s, Australia, Cars
Lap Driving Banned
A 1950's effort to stop distracted driving.But what was going on in Cheboygan that they felt a need for an ordinance against this form of distracted driving specifically?
The Pittsburgh Press - Dec 28, 1952
Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 05, 2016 -
Comments (10)
Category: Regulations, 1950s, Cars
Follies of the Madmen #278
Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 26, 2016 -
Comments (4)
Category: Animals, Business, Advertising, Products, Religion, 1960s, Cars
Opel Rocket Vehicles
Original pic here.
Opel-RAK were a series of rocket vehicles produced by Fritz von Opel, of the Opel car company, in association with others, including Max Valier and Friedrich Wilhelm Sander largely as publicity stunts.
The Lippisch Ente a rocket-powered glider was produced on June 11, 1928, piloted by Fritz Stamer, but is not usually considered part of the series.
Opel RAK.1 - a rocket car that achieved 75 km/h (47 mph) on March 15, 1928[2]
Opel RAK.2 - rocket car May 23, 1928 reached a speed of 230 km/h (143 mph) driven by 24 solid-fuel rockets[2]
Opel RAK.3 rocket train (quoted speed is variously 254 or 290 km/h. See: [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]) On the second run the train jumps the track and is destroyed.
Opel Rak IV rocket train, destroyed when a solid rocket explodes on the track, exploding all the other rockets. Railway authorities prohibit further runs.[3]
Opel RAK.1 rocket glider September 30, 1929
Some stock footage of some of the rocket vehicles was incorporated into this early SF film.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Jan 25, 2016 -
Comments (4)
Category: Flight, Movies, Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy, Technology, Science Fiction, 1920s, Europe, Cars
Baked Beans in Boots
One of life's unanswerable mysteries — Why did the man have baked beans in his boots?
London Times - June 30, 1998
A motorist who was stopped for a routine police check in Colchester, Essex, was found to be wearing wellington boots filled with baked beans in tomato sauce.
Officers warned him to choose more suitable footwear. A spokesman said: "We have no idea why he was doing it, but it is an offence not to be in proper control of a car. Wearing boots could cause the driver to be distracted and have an accident."
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jan 23, 2016 -
Comments (20)
Category: 1990s, Cars
| Who We Are |
|---|
| 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 |