It is a fact that our friends form Japan have the weirdest, most out-of-this-world ideas around from Anime to perversive porn. No, it is not all about that. The people from Translogic decided to film a series of docus led by Bradley Hasemayer. Like a team of Nat Geo journalsts, Hasemayer and his team talk to a group of people who love souping up their scooters. Soe of the 250cc scooters are geared up with everything from neon lights to full air suspensions setups.

From one mod to another, Translogic also peeped through the Kaido Racer scene. Its inspiration came from the old school FIA Group 5 racing league. Among the legendary cars include the Porsche 917, Ferrari 512 and the Ford GT40 Mk 1.

Hasemayer also dug up the van modding culture. As the video reveals, you can’t help but be shocked in awe as no words could experess the uniqueness of their creation which borders between disturbingly creative and inventiveness. See the video for yourself to get my drift.

Robocop was a big hit during the 80’s. Ask any one born during that time what they thought of this police officer-turned-cyborg and they’ll tell you that he’s one of the baddest (put your choice adjective here) on the planet. Now while it’ll be hard for anyone to put himself or herself in Robocop’s shoes, they might find it easier to drive around in his police car. Yup, you heard that right. The authentic Robocop police car is currently being auctioned by the Volvo Auto Museum located outside of Chicago. The car, which is actually a 1986 Ford Taurus, will have a price tag of $19,000. It’s that cheap. Of course, even if you do have the car, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get the same impact just like Robo did every time you step out of the driver seat. But the pleasure of seeing other people ogle at you and your ride will still be probably worth it.

Source: Jalopnik

The person who did this must have had one hell of an acid trip. But we like the results of his artwork. In case you’re wondering who had the creativity (and the guts) to pull this off, it’s industrial designer Evan Gary. Taking a cue from what was hip back in the 80’s and 90’s, this ’84 BMW 733i was given a mix of bright colors and various graphic prints you’d normally see in those old Trapper Keepers (you know, the ones you used to bring to school. Yep, those were the days). Aside from having a cool paintjob, the sedan also comes with a leather interior, electric windows, and a sunroof. So if you’re interested in getting this one-of-a-kind ride, make sure you have $8,884 with you. Sure, the price may be steep, but imagine the look you’ll get every time you drive this baby. That alone is worth paying for.

Sources: Jalopnik, Cache.gawker

Porsche is known for the production of sleek and superfast two-door sports cars and coupes. However, what people fail to remember is that this automotive biggie was also responsible for producing quality four-door sedans. Here are just some of the sample cars the company made.

The first of these sedans was created by Troutman-barnes, a popular California coachbuilder. The sedan took its design cues from a 1967 Porsche 911 and sported suicide doors. Unfortunately, this vehicle didn’t last long and disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

The second sedan produced was the 1986 Porsche 928 S4. Produced for Heinz Prechter, CEO of American Sunroof Corporation, this sedan was also equipped with suicide doors similar to its predecessor. It’s considered a sought after item, especially in the light of someone paying $44,000 in a recent auction just to get a hold of it.

The last Porsche sedan was the Porsche 989. It was commissioned by the company in the late 80’s, under the watchful eye of its CEO, Dr. Ulrich Benz. The car was given a V-8 engine that was capable of producing 300 horsepower. However, it wasn’t enough to help boost the sales of the sedan, prompting Porsche to stop producing the car and this vehicle type altogether.

So if you happen to spot a four-door Porsche sedan, don’t look too surprised to see one. Although they’re quite rare, they do exist. Just like Big Foot and the Loch Ness monster.

Source: 0-60 Mag

The last thing you’d expect in this life is for a luxury sedan to be converted into a race car. But it seems nowadays that the things you’d least expect to happen, well, tend to happen. So seeing this vintage Mercedes 300EL 6.3 converted to a race car should not come as a surprise to you.

Okay, being shocked to your core could be unavoidable. Let’s face it, not everyone is crazy enough to do something like this. Of course, that’s before the peeps from Bring-a-Trailer came in. Thanks to their bold desire to unleash something new, they decided to convert this luxury Mercedes 300EL 6.3 sedan into a race car.

So what can we expect from the revamped car? Well, it’s equipped with a M100 V8 engine that has the potential of reaching 300 horsepower. If that’s the case, then it’s estimated that the car could hit the 60 mph mark in just 6.5 seconds. Aside from having a powerful engine, it’s been fitted with unique racing seats covered in red upholstery and a racing steering wheel.

Although the Bring-a-Trailer had this unique ride auctioned on eBay, it apparently has been purchased based on our recent visit. Although we’re just guessing since the site is in German. At any rate, this car is too unique not to mention. So if you happen to be the new owner of this innovative ride, let us know how whether you’ve been able to outrace a Bentley.

Source: Ride Lust

Most drivers nowadays take customization to a whole new level. And Murray Pfaff is no exception. Owner of the Pfaff Designs, Murray is widely known for producing the best (and coolest) vehicle designs around. And one of his greatest works by far is the customization of a 1956 Cadillac Sedan Deville, a car which he’s owned for 15 years.

Dubbed the “Firemaker”, this vehicle has already made people turn heads when it appeared at SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the 2008 DUB Show Tour in Detroit, the GM Heritage Parade. The car sports a two-stage fuel injection engine that’s capable of shooting flames about 20 feet at the rear. This feat is what gave it the name “Firemaker.” On top of appearing on auto shows, this ’56 Cadillac De Ville was also filmed by General Motors for its online campaign. This video has been posted on YouTube.

So if you’re interested to learn more about this ride, along with other customized works done by Pfaff, be sure to check out his web site Pfaff Designs.

Source: Car Domain

The Century was one of Buick’s full-sized car that enjoyed a series of production runs from 1936 to 2005. The first was from 1936 to 1942, the second was from 1954 to 1958, and the third was from 1973 to 2005. For now, we’ll start focusing our attention on the generation that started it all, the first generation Buick Century.

Produced from 1936 to 1942, the first generation Bucik Century was part of the company’s revamp of old vehicles. By taking over the old Buick Series 60, this vehicle showed Buick’s engineering improvements and design advancements over its previous models.

One of the new things that Buick added to the Century vehicle class was the use of its inline 320.2 inches engine. This engine allowed the car to produce 120 horsepower and made it hit the speeds of 95 mph. Thanks to its powerful engine, the Buick Century was able to earn the distinction of being the fastest Buick of that era. Not only that, it also allowed the car to get the moniker of being “the banker’s hot rod” as it was a favored car by bankers. Aside from using a powerful engine, Buick also equipped its Century sedan with a shorter wheelbase.

But even though the first generation Buick Century was considered the fastest Buick sedan, it wasn’t a good enough pitch to keep the vehicle class from folding. By 1942, the last Buick Century for that time was released, marking the end of Buick’s fastest car in the West.

However, it wasn’t the last time we’d be hearing of this vehicle line. After the end of the Second World War, Buick reintroduced the Century to a whole new audience. For more info about how the second generation Buick Century fared, be sure to check back with us for our next entry.

Sources: Wikipedia, Pre-War Buick

When Japan tried to inch its way into the automotive industry in the United States, one of the cars that helped establish them is the Honda Accord. This vehicle held the record of being the best selling Japanese car from 1982 to 1997, spanning nearly two decades. As a result, Honda was able to sell a total of ten million vehicles. Aside from its looks, what made the Honda Accord such a hit was its reliability. So as our way of paying tribute to this popular vehicle, we’ll be taking a look at the first generation of the Honda Accord.

Although the first generation Honda Accord wasn’t the responsible for giving Japan the distinction of having a best-selling car, it sure paved the way. Produced from 1976 to 1981, the first generation Accord was first released as a hatchback. It was larger than its cousin, the Civic, sporting a wheelbase of 93.7 inches and a total weight of 2,000 lbs. Combined with its engine that let it produce 68 horsepower, its size, and fuel economy, the 1976 Honda Accord was able to sell pretty well. Aside from having power, size, and fuel economy, the Accord was the first Japanese car to have cloth seats, a tachometer, intermittent wipers, and an AM/FM radio as part of its standard equipment.

After its initial launch, the succeeding year saw the Accord release different variations. 1978 saw the release of its LX version. The Honda Accord LX had the same specifications but with some components added. This includes air conditioning, digital clock, and power steering. 1979 saw the release of the four-door sedan version of the Honda Accord. This version carried a more powerful 1,599 cc EL1 engine that allowed the car to produce 72 horsepower. Other areas had the Accord come in a bigger 1,751 cc EK-1 engine.

During the 1980s, the Honda Accord was equipped with a three-speed automatic transmission, putting an end to the use of a two-speed transmission. Along with this upgrade, the car was given a redesigned bumper trim, a set of new grilles and tail lamps, as well as remote mirrors. 1981 saw the debut of the Accord’s SE model on top of its base model. The SE model stood out because it was equipped with novio-leather seats and power windows. However, despite not having these luxuries, the base model was given a smaller black mirror made of plastic that was similar to the ones used in the 4-door and LX version of the Honda Accord.

Because of the features it incorporated into the first generation Accord during its years of existence, the company was able to determine what its customers wanted. This allowed them to come up with a second generation that gave them the country’s first best-selling car. So before you call the first generation Honda Accord a nobody, you might want to reconsider. Without it, Honda wouldn’t be able to perfect this vehicle and pave the way for an improved second generation.

Source: Wikipedia

Yesterday, we wrote about the Isuzu 117 Coupe, one of Japan’s most prominent cars (which in case you readers forgot or failed to read, holds the distinction of being the first Italian designed car in Japan). Due to its success, Isuzu created a number of vehicles that was inspired by this vehicle. One of its creations was the Isuzu Florian.

Produced from 1967 to 1983, the Isuzu Florian is an intermediate car that shares the same chassis used by the Isuzu 117 Coupe. It carried two types of body styles, the first being a four-door sedan and the second being a four-door station wagon. Upon its creation, the Isuzu Florian replaced the Bellel, another vehicle created by Isuzu.

During its run, the Isuzu Florian was equipped with a number of engine types. These included a1.6 liter PA20 I4 engine, a 1.8 liter PA30 I4, a 1.8 liter PAD20 diesel I4, and a
2.0 L C19 diesel I4 engine. Each one was paired up with a corresponding transmission that ranged from a 3-speed manual, a 4-speed manual, and a 3-speed automatic.

Upon its release, Isuzu marketed the vehicle only in limited markets worldwide. So if you have never seen one in your life, this car may not have reached the area where you’re living in. But despite its limited market, the Isuzu was able to produce a total of 145,836 Florian.

So now that you have an idea as to what makes the Isuzu Florian tick, here’s a little trivia about the car’s name. The name Florian was actually based on a Lippizan white horse that was owned by the Emperor of Austria, a character in the novel “Florian - the Emperor’s Stallion.” The book was also made into a movie in 1940. Even though it’s the name of a stallion, it’s not that actually. After all, Isuzu could’ve settled for using the name of another stallion, Black Beauty. Now that would’ve been more horrendous don’t you think?

Source: Wikipedia

Yes, there is a Prince Skyline. But no, he’s not part of any royal family. It’s not even a person. The Skyline is actually a luxury sedan that was launched by Prince Motor Company when it was still in existence. Although it would later be changed to the Nissan Skyline after Nissan merged with Prince in 1966, during its release, this sedan became one of the most popular cars in the Land of the Rising Sun. One of its version that made it big when it first came out was the second generation Prince Skyline.

The second generation Prince Skyline came in three types: the S50, the S54, and the S57. The S50 has earned the distinction of being one of the most desirable Skylines ever produced. It came in a sedan and wagon body styles. It’s powered by a G-1 engine that allowed it to produce 70 horsepower. The vehicle also sported another 1862 cc engine option that enabled the car to produce 91 horsepower at every outing. After its release, the S50 encountered various design changes. It was restyled and converted to the S21S series in 1962. It again underwent changes in 1963, this time sporting an A150 designation. Its last would be in 1966 when Nissan merged with Prince. This prompted the Skyline to sport Nissan’s badge.

The second version called the S54 paved the way for a racing version based on it to be released in 1964. Dubbed the GT Skyline, the car was equipped with a large six cylinder G-7 engine. Because it used a large engine, the car was given an 8” extension to help accommodate it. After its release, the car competed in the 2nd Japanese Grand prix and managed to win second behind a Porsche 904. Due to its success in the race track, the GT Skyline spawned two more generations. The first was the S54A which carried a 1988 cc G-7 single-carb I6 engine that allowed it to hit 105 horsepower. The second was the S54B which had a 1988 cc G-7 triple-carb I6 that enabled it to produce 125 horsepower. Unlike the S54A, the S54B sported a limited slip differential, power brakes, and a five-speed manual transmission.

The third version, which was christened the S57 was released in 1967. Under the Nissan brand, the sedan was equipped with a 1.5-liter G15 Nissan engine. This enabled the car to produce 88 horsepower. This engine is considered to be the most powerful engine under Japan’s 1500 cc engine class.

Thanks to the unique features that the S50 Prince Skyline and its predecessors had, Prince was able to sell a total of 114,238 units from 1963 to 1968. That helped cement its reputation of being one of the most popular cars built in Japan. So if you ever happen to spot one, let’s say, in an auction house or a used car sales shop, don’t think twice. Make sure you grab it at once. Not only will you be the talk-of-the-town in the West, you’ll also be really popular in the East as well.

Source: Wikipedia