Thunderbird 2 Rally Art Car Takes to the Streets For Kids with Cancer Fund

Today's StreetSafari special is team Lucky Day and their venerable Thunderbird 2 theme.

We always liked this theme because of its simplicity, simple designs are often the best.

To make your own Thunderbird 2, simply buy a car with the vague shape of Thunderbird 2, or a Mercedes if you can't think of anything. Slam three bits of wood together to make a great big tail wing (remember, this will aid you fuel consumption), then paint the whole thing green, find a free font off the internet and get a friend to cut up some white vinyl letters.

Final job, and most important, is attaching 2 red buckets to the rear bumper. Job done.

You can of course go the extra mile and buy some eBay sourced Thunderbird costumes. Remember that the different members of Thunderbirds had different colored sashes, so don't buy a blue sash and call yourself Virgil - cause you'll look an idiot. Everyone knows blue was Scott Tracey and Virgil was had a yellow sash.

Thunderbird 2 completed 3 events in the end before being retired at the end of 2010.

By Justin Clements Street Safari

The Fantastic Life of Mercedes Art Cars

As the title sponsor of Berlin’s Fashion Week, Mercedes-Benz placed some of its own designs into striking art installations meant to represent the eras in which the cars were built.
As part of the “Recollection Quartett,” staged by Mercedes-Benz and MoMu Fashion Museum, Antwerp, Belgian artist and photographer Frederik Heyman placed four cars amidst updated stereotypes of the years between 1967 and 1991.
For instance, though the SL roadster shown above was built in Germany, the artist said it came into its own on Sunset Boulevard during the freewheeling 1970s. Though we seem to recall gas lines, Watergate and skyrocketing interest rates, Heyman and fashion designer Bernhard Willhelm pay tribute to those who spent the entire Carter administration on a mattress at Plato’s Retreat.
Interestingly, the 1980s-era W123 wagon best known in the United States for shuttling wealthy suburbanites between tennis lessons and the pool at the club was popular among West German lumberjacks, tradesmen and outdoors enthusiasts. Mannequins in shoulder pads surrounding an S-Class coupe underneath fragments of a globe made from a chess board represent wealth and power in the late ’80s, while the models’ long shadows show they’re also pawns in that game.
About the only installation we can instantly relate to is the one surrounding the rock-solid W115. Faceless businesspeople in gray flannel suits look like they’ve stepped straight out of a Magritte painting, while a secretary in the front seat types out an advertisement in Arabic that reads “Taxi for sale,” a nod to the livery service the venerable “Stroke 8″ models have offered around the world.
While the settings are certainly high-concept, they’re also proof that cars are as much a product of their respective eras as they are representative of those times.
Photos: Mercedes-Benz

The W115 was popular among business types and cab drivers in far-flung locales

Bobby Brown drove a 560 SEC, and so did world power players in the late '80s.

By Keith Barry January 21, 2011

Steelers Fan Paints his Mercedes in time for Super Bowl

Martin Reese's 1983 Mercedes-Benz is decorated with a Pittsburgh Steelers logo and portraits of several players. Reese, of Daytona Beach, transformed his car into a Steelers memorial for the upcoming Super Bowl.

Martin Reese wanted to show his love for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But instead of buying a T-shirt, Reese, 27, of Daytona Beach spent 90 hours transforming his 1983 Mercedes-Benz into a Steelers memorial. He hand-painted it black and gold, splashed the Steelers logo across the hood and added safety Troy Polamalu's long, flowing hair on the trunk.

"I've been a die-hard Steelers fan since I was in elementary school," Reese said.

And now, as the team prepares for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers, Reese is on the road, headed to the game and spreading Steelers spirit along the way.

Wednesday afternoon, Reese took off for Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the site of the game, in the car he dubbed, "The Immaculate Mercedes," a reference to the Steelers' 1972 Immaculate Reception, one of the most famous plays in football history.
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Reese doesn't have a ticket to the Super Bowl, but he expects "Steeler nation to accept me with open arms."

An art teacher at Pine Ridge High School in Deltona, Reese began transforming his car into a moving piece of art three weeks ago. At that point, the Steelers were still in the playoffs.

"I had faith they would beat the Jets and go on to the Super Bowl," Reese said. He finished earlier this week.

Since then, he has been driving the car to work, much to the enjoyment of his fellow Steelers fans.

He also got some grief from Packers fans, who reminded him that their team is favored to win.

"They appreciated the artwork," Reese said.

Article By Jon Busdeker, Orlando Sentinel

Remarkable 22ft Mercedes Finn Jet Art Car Limo- Video

I was just go another remarkable "Finnjet" art car video that really gives you a much better idea of the magnitide of this car. The Finn Jet, created by Antti Rahko, is a 22-foot-long, 7,500-pound compilation of chrome made from 40 different cars, based on two Mercedes-Benz station wagons welded together. There are also parts from a 1962 Chrysler Imperial thrown in the mix, plus 86 lights and 36 mirrors added over six years. It also has three axles, two of which are steerable, a stove, microwave, freezer, TV, two air conditioning and even a sauna (Finns are very serious about their saunas).

Finnish-born Rahko, who is from Kurikka, a town of about 10,000 in western Finland, emigrated to the United States in 1984. He left his son in charge of the furniture business he'd built in Europe. He retired from the business and with lots of free time and his interest in old cars he bought and scoured from junkyards. He mainly built this car to amuse him self but due to health issues the Finnjet is now available for sale for only $950,000. He was discovered at a Florida art car parade and since then has been a giant hit and was even featured on the Discover Channel.

The name “Finn Jet” traces back to 1976, when the Finns launched the longest and largest car ferry in the world, and the only one powered by gas turbines. The original Finnjet is said to still be the fastest conventional ferry in service, with a recorded top speed of 33.5 knots.

Photo by Paul McRae



Photo by Kay and Kevin Rolfes

Mercedes Art Car or Illuminati Conspiracy

I am not sure what a half a Mercedes art car with the face of Karl Max and Jimi Hendrix means but here are some thoughts.

1) Goofy kid who thinks that Karl and Jimi were in a band together.

2) Artistic commentary: Karl Marx a German communist philosopher wrote against the capitalistic system in his Communist Manifesto is represented in this half Mercedes Art Car.

3) Its part of a secret government conspiracy and the government media complex funded by George Soros backed by the Bilderberg Group with roots in the Illuminati.  Their goal is to take over the world, and create a one world government in which the elite will rule the masses. They will do this by collapsing our current economic system and then setting up a new system making it mandatory for everyone to get implanted with a bio chip aka "the mark of the beast" in order to buy and sell products. They will start by cutting Mercedes cars in half, painting them with images of Karl Marx and then attaching them to federal buildings as a sign that the end is near.


4) Just a Mercedes Art Car.

What do you think this means???

How to sell an Art Car by Bizarro

Comic by Bizarro

Anyone who has ever had an Art Car for sale will tell you that convincing someone to look past all the paint and glued objects can be tough. This Bizarro comic depicting a father attempting to get the buyer to look past all the barbies glued on his daughters 2001 Mercedes S430 sedan says it all.

Convertible Mercedes Art Car in Under Two Hours

Do you have an art car event or parade this weekend and have nothing to drive? The experts over at Mercedes Source have boiled the entire art car making process down to a science in just under two hours. They managed to convert this 123 Mercedes into a convertible complete with flame job, custom rims, skull and cross bones and the all important message on the side. In his case it reads "Born 2 Drive" and all you need is a crew of about 5 people with skills in: Chopping, ripping, spray painting and a little design. So no more excuses, go out there and "git r done".

Garden Art Car Goes to Court

This garden art car is headed to The U.S. Supreme Court that will consider an appeal next month from the owner of Planet K stores over his long-running battle with the city of San Marcos about his right to display it. In 2007 Michael Kleinman paid two artists to transform this salvage special in front of his store into a painted cactus planter art car. City officials got themselves hot and bothered, claiming the Oldsmobile 88 was in violation of a city ordinance declaring such displays public nuisances. The car was removed and Kleinman is appealing a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in February that found the car-planter to be “ultimately a junked vehicle.”  Good luck with that!! via Its funny I was going to do a garden art car post a while back and forgotten about it until my dad sent me this article two days ago. As you can see these are just a few of the garden cars I found from around the world. Most are intentional, some natural and the last one is purely accidental. If you like these you might also like the Grass Art Cars also on Art Car Central.

ArtCar Fest 09 - Video from National Geographic

ArtCar Fest 09 was recently featured on National Geographic Television on a show called National Geographic Amazing. This episode had a bunch of shots of cars such as, Space Junk, Carthedral, and Ah My Gawd by Harrod Blank.  There were also a three art cars that were interviewed: Daisy Singer by Philo Northrup, The Mercedes Pens by Costas Schuler, and Vain Van by Emily Duffy.

Sleep Tight in the Mercedes Bed

For the Mercedes owner who has everything now you can own a bed made from a Mercedes 8 Coupe - the W115. This unique Art Car Bed comes with its very own under hood, headlights, turn signals, headlight wiper/wash system - they don’t work though - reading lamps, an upholstered headboard, and a nice little comfortable bed to sleep on.

This is the perfect way to get some rest knowing your night trip ahead will be a safe one. Check out this Chevy Bed and don't forget to buckle up and . via

Rocking Mercedes Art Car from Ikaria Greece

I found this Rocking Mercedes Art Car in a granite wall made on the Island of Ikaria in Greece on the facebook page about the island. Its a retaining wall made from granite and the Mercedes is built in the wall using various colored stone. This photo is especially fantastic to me, first because I spend my childhood summers there and second because the Mercedes Pens is my favorite art car ride. I can believe I found photo, I never imagined finding and art car in Ikaria but I am not surprised so see such artistry manifest in this way.

Painted Mercedes Getting Stumped in New Zealand

This Painted Mercedes got stumped in New Zealand and was captured by John Geek while driving from Rotorua to Auckland. Its also seen on Google street view here. It's one way to the keep the tree from growing back, stump control.

Mercedes Truck Painted with Russel Crow - Finland Truck Show 2010

These art trucks were seen at the Finald Truck show recently which sorta reminds of the Japanese Decotora Trucks I wrote about some time ago. I love this first one, a Mercedes tanker truck covered with the face of Russel Crow actor of my favorite movie Gladiator. These truck drivers go all out with leather seat, LED lights, lots of chrome and of course all out airbrushed works of art that completely cover their trucks.

Russel Crow Truck