The Love Machine
Created in the late 1960s by Hollywood auto customizer George Barris, who's best known as the designer of the original Batmobile.
The Love Machine featured velvet upholstery, a revolving circular bed, psychedelic lights, entertainment console, mirrored ceiling, and a crystal chandelier. It did the rounds at auto shows until the mid-1970s, where it was promoted as the "world's first x-rated car."
In the late '70s, the Love Machine was rebranded and it went on to have a career in Hollywood. From Hemmings Daily:
You can check out more of Barris's creations in the recent book King of the Kustomizers: The Art of George Barris.
The Love Machine featured velvet upholstery, a revolving circular bed, psychedelic lights, entertainment console, mirrored ceiling, and a crystal chandelier. It did the rounds at auto shows until the mid-1970s, where it was promoted as the "world's first x-rated car."
via lastgasp.com
Hillsdale Daily News - Mar 17, 1972
In the late '70s, the Love Machine was rebranded and it went on to have a career in Hollywood. From Hemmings Daily:
Barris, ever the opportunist, managed to get the Love Machine cast as the lead vehicle in the 1977 vansploitation flick SuperVan. To do so, he simply gave the Love Machine a repaint and redid the interior with even deeper plush carpeting. Though technically known as Vandora in the movie, the Super Van moniker stuck, thanks to Barris’s promotional efforts.
Nor would SuperVan be the van’s only screen appearance. It also showed up in the 1986 made-for-TV movie Condor, repainted gold and black; then in 1989’s Back to the Future II as a Hill Valley Transit bus, painted green; in the 1990 movie Solar Crisis, painted white; and then on an episode of the 1990s TV show SeaQuest DSV, still painted white. Then, in about 2003, the Guild of Automotive Restorers began a restoration on the van that brought it back to its Super Van configuration.
Nor would SuperVan be the van’s only screen appearance. It also showed up in the 1986 made-for-TV movie Condor, repainted gold and black; then in 1989’s Back to the Future II as a Hill Valley Transit bus, painted green; in the 1990 movie Solar Crisis, painted white; and then on an episode of the 1990s TV show SeaQuest DSV, still painted white. Then, in about 2003, the Guild of Automotive Restorers began a restoration on the van that brought it back to its Super Van configuration.
via vanning.com
You can check out more of Barris's creations in the recent book King of the Kustomizers: The Art of George Barris.
Comments
The symbology on the SuperVan is interesting. Reminded me that Ford, and perhaps other auto companies, were planning for nuclear-powered cars in the fifties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Nucleon
Posted by RobK on 09/26/17 at 01:15 PM
Everyone knew these as "Sin Bins." Check out that reel-to-reel tape recorder inside. Since this is definitely not a recording studio on wheels, what would be the purpose? Naughty minds want to know!
Posted by KDP on 09/26/17 at 01:19 PM
RobK, another nuclear-powered concept car was the Studebaker Packard Astral. Much weirder than the the Ford.
http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?7029-Studebaker-Astral-was-this-in-the-SNM
http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?7029-Studebaker-Astral-was-this-in-the-SNM
Posted by ges on 09/26/17 at 09:10 PM
In the 70s I had a friend whose parents had one of these "nookiemobiles," though not this tricked out. One thing it did have, was side lettering that said "Mom and Pop's Playpen". My friend was real proud of his parents...
Posted by Brian on 09/26/17 at 10:10 PM
I dare say you could wear the tyres out without actually going anywhere!
Posted by Dave P. on 09/27/17 at 02:37 PM
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Category: Motor Vehicles | Bus | 1970s