Tom Cobbs 1929 roadster, DeSoto grill, fantastic soldered copper tube fuel lines at the carbs

trivia I read and posted was that the first supercharged V8 was a factory experiment 285 cu in that went into this, or another, Tom Cobbs dry lakebeds race car

1913 Christie Front Drive steam pumper/ fire engine

The restoration is remarkable, but the concept used in this construction is astonishing and innovative. Brilliant really, Walter Christie was a gifted engineer, and made the first front wheel drive car, http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/03/first-front-wheel-drive-car-1904.html and raced it in 1905 in the Vanderbilt Cup.

But getting back to the steam pumper... Christie didn't get in over his head and make the existing tech obsolete, he made it better. You may have realized that Microsoft is the world's top software company because it makes it's Windows better, not obsolete, and this made Bill Gates the world's richest man... improvements, not obsolescence.

Like I was saying, Walter looked at what needed to be improved, and took the opportunity to make horse drawn fire steam pumpers self propelled once they were equipped with his front wheel drive units instead of horses. Horses were already 10 years into the age of the car, and the writing was on the wall.

Fire department equipment is really expensive, and Walter focused on the biggest fire departments on the East Coast to contract with to improve the existing equipment to speed up the delivery of equipment to fires. Notice in the below photo that the front and back have little in common

To easily compare this to the horse drawn model, just click on this link and see it from my gallery http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/03/san-diego-firehouse-museum_11.html last month of the steam pumper in the San Diego Fire House Museum: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctFD6FLYDh57H5h4QneJ3ID9c5s7-I49TWykTNj3T8UyxDBHUq8-BnVFJsy1-fNUcPJ8OjzSZEECFhFi6f5hSBJvKUPDiJqbK0ah0Al2krgc9Saq0JeLiLAS9q6vW2jez7Qp9hjr1XI7T/s1600/DSC_0055.JPG

This is just a short gallery, for a better one, and a full write up on the Christie company and it's founder: http://justacargal-s.blogspot.com/2011/03/1913-christie-fire-engine.html

Diplock's Pedrail. What a name! Somebody should call their band this name.

If it had caught on, we'd still know about it, but it is a interesting idea for rough terrain, maybe rocky terrain. Reminds me immediately of these other two unusual ideas in rim/wheel design http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/03/justacargal-found-most-unusual.html

Found on http://steampunkvehicles.tumblr.com

Just get it home... even when an axle breaks

Justacargal found a most unusual prototype rim and tire replacement made of springs

from http://justacargal-s.blogspot.com/

and reminded me of the next photo that I've never learned exactly what is was originally.. .but they look similar

Brilliant, immediate unstoppable traction in mud, also known as good horse sense, and farmer magic

Now this, in my opinion, is effing brilliant. It really no-shit works, and like nothing else possibly could to add traction that can't be stopped.

From http://thereifixedit.failblog.org

The website of "Stupid things people do to fix stuff" ThereiFixedit.failblog.com

Found in the first car of some young highschooler I bet... old cars didn't have cup holders I'm thinking... I never had anything made from 1973 to 1989, so I don't know. They aren't in my zone of interest.

I'm betting someone ends up in the emergency room

Sheesh these are lazy kids, is there anyone reading this that didn't put in years mowing lawns as a kid, before riding lawnmovers, self-propelled lawnmovers, and you think these kids could really use some time pushing a lawnmower?

real bad decisions caught on camera and shared with the rest of us to warn us of stupid ideas http://thereifixedit.failblog.org/

evolved from Von Dutch's 2 stroke pogo stick, the Hop Rod... dangerous powered pogo

This is the first time I've seen one in person. It looks unused because it probably is virtually unridden. These things have hurt people, and the only riders that I've seen (on youtube) successfully not get thrown have been skateboarders and stunt men

to see Von Dutch's design: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/12/two-stroke-pogo-stick-and-nitro-roller.html

the Pentrike (might be it's name) of Ed Roth

Found on http://zelastchancegaragedu78.blogspot.com/2010/06/ed-roths.html
I can't find anything else on the internet about it, but if you are interested in another unheard of Roth creation, the "Rubber Ducky" see a full page about it here:
http://www.ratfink.org/roths_rubber_ducky/index.html

great stuff found on ihatemotorcycles.tumblr.com

check out the coolest futuristic designer ( he did the new Tron vehicles ) http://www.danielsimon.net/artdata/mopped/mopped.html

In the case that you don't click on the above for he full size version to read what it says, it is Acme fix it service

all this and more at http://ihatemotorcycles.tumblr.com

making do, hot rodder style with using what you have to do what needs to be done.

that is how to get it done, on the cheap, but just as well as on a rotisserie

Have you seen a car made into a RV? someone really nailed it with this Rambler American in Argentina

This comes from Fosiles Mecanicos blogspot, and for a super easy way to read it (or any website) in your own language, use Google Chrome as a browser (it's a free download) and then you'll have no problem with translation.

I'm going to keep browsing through http://fosilesmecanicos.blogspot.com/ because Gabriel is finding cool stuff around his neighborhoods

Am I right about how well they made it look like a RV? It beats the hell out of the ShamRockAway for good looks http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/photos-of-unusual-from-days-gone-by.html

OilandSteel.tumblr.com

I've wondered why more fuel tanks weren't designed with tank level indicators, in the above case, a sightglass. Probably a held over prejudice from my submarine days

see more at http://oilandsteel.tumblr.com/

Segway is now obsolete, the Honda U3-X

The U3X is an electronic unicycle manufactured and distributed by Honda. Currently only available in Asia, the U3X would retail in North America at about $660. The U3X is said to be a technology breakthrough and the world's first driving system capable of 360 degree movement.
a compact experimental device to provide free movement in all directions just like human walking - forward, backward, side-to-side, and diagonally. Honda will continue research and development of the device including experiments in the real-world environment to verify the practicality of the device.

This new personal mobility device makes it possible to adjust speed, move, turn and stop in all directions when the rider leans their upper body to shift their body weight. This was achieved through application of advanced balance control technology, robotics research, and the world's first* omni-directional driving wheel system (Honda Omni Traction Drive System), which enables movement in all directions, not only forward and backward, but also directly to the right and left and diagonally. (think of the wheels on the "I Robot" vehicles)

In addition, the compact, one-wheel-drive personal mobility device was designed to be user friendly and unimposing to people around it. This is achieved by making it easy for the rider to reach the ground from the footrest and by seating the rider at roughly the same eye level as a person standing.



Tere posted a bit more about it, with images that make it easy to understand the multi-wheel that this rides on, it can go forward/backward or side/side: http://justacargal-s.blogspot.com/2011/02/honda-omni-personal-mobility.html

There is a similar wheeled thing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOOoFEKiK8A that doesn't have a seat, or a chance at succeeding when the Honda has a seat, the Segway has a hand hold, and this has a reliance on the balance of the operator. Never going to make it.

I'm impressed, this "Mini Ripsaw" looks like it can go over anything

if you aren't impressed, and aren't sure you want to play on this thing, see a bit of the video at
http://www.howeandhowetechnologies.com/video.php?Id=14