"Aqua Mobile" by Don Ehlen - Art Car Fest

photo by Bagel!

The AQUA MOBILE is the creation of Don Ehlen, a Seattle-based entomologist and educator. The car is a great example of a simple concept art car, basically just a great paint job, although 3-D features have begun to creep in: a fully inflated plastic blowfish atop the radio antenna, a crab creeping out over the rear license plate, and a red plastic lobster at the front. Also at this years Art Car Fest.via

Apocolypticop Cruiser FOR SALE - Fashion Police Artcar to Intercept the Ordinary!

Apocolypticop Art Car and Creator

Apocolypticop Art Car Front

Apocolypticop Art Car Rear Window

Apocolypticop Art Car Inside Dash

Apocolypticop Art Car Roof Mounted Arsenal

Yet another Art Car for sale and this time its an ex police interceptor purchased back in 2000 with a 5.7 v8 engine with only k200 on the clock. This one is called Apocolypticop Art Car and is for sale right now on ebay for only $2,249. The sale ends in 9 days so you better get over there and put your bid in for this fashion police beauty. It comes complete with an unparalleled roof mounted rocket arsenal, radar, small garbage can, alien techno thingies and lots of red and blue lights. It also has a separate electric system for all the art car extras, such a deafening hoof mounted horn, fog lights, public address speaker and various other odds and ends. It also has a ton of glued objects and an assortment stickers attached all over the the car. Best of all, the car smells fine.

Artistic Licence - The Art and Adventures of Steve Porter

Artistic Licence Art Car By Steve Porter

Art History By Steve Porter

I found this Volvo Art Car this morning called Artistic Licence by Steve Porter. He created it to promote his new music album and also created a video featuring his car. During the summer of 2007, Steve went on tour around Europe in his ArtCar. In total he travelled 3461 miles and visited eight different countries. I like what he wrote on his web site:

"Once upon a time there was a boy who loved making up art and music.He had lots of different ideas and spent many years creating them. Some ideas worked well, some not so well.But he kept on and on, with new songs, pictures and inventions.

When he was more grown up, the boy realised that making things up was the best way for him to feel real and alive. So he tried his very best to make his living through his ideas and creations.

The story continues..."

He also created these really cool custom demo CD packages to send his music out in the mail. He calls it "the greatest demo tape ever". The CD case for his music looks like and old school tape and then stuffed into a custom bubble wrap envelope. I agree this is really a great idea!!!

Thanks Steve, I love your work and I wish you the best in all your endeavors:)

Snake Art Cars - Kevins GI-Joe Cobra Rattler Art Car

GI-Joe Cobra Rattler Art Car - Rear View


GI-Joe Cobra Rattler Art Car - Side View


Inspiration for the GI-Joe Cobra Rattler Art Car


I finally got around to the most sought after car in the world, the snake art car because last week was like snake central. I go a second email from Kevin owner of the Hundai Cobra Art Car shown above explaining to me why he though his cobra car was a good candidate for art car central. Then I kept finding snake pens around the house and one in the car when my phone went missing. Then I went to the county faire and my kids wanted to see the snake exhibit. Snakes every where, so I finally gave in and decided to get this over with and post Kevin's cobra art car. I showed Kevin the real snake car and asked him if he though his car was up to par for consideration to ACC, here is what he said:

"I'm sure you will see that the whole car is in theme of a G.I.Joe/Cobra Vehicle and a lot of effort and design went into it. While I enjoyed the cobra car link you sent me I feel as though my car has a lot more artistic design complexity over a simple repeating snake scale pattern wrap on a car.

I'm also including a pic of the cobra rattler toy that my car's theme is based on, please view it to compare my car and the the theme I'm trying to achieve.

Thanks again, your blog is fun to look at!"

Kevin H.

Kevin thanks for your submission and I apologize for the long wait into ACC. I am sure it was well worth the wait. I also added other snake Art Cars so as not to excluded any o the other Snake Art Cars.

Snake Car - Covered in Vinal Wrap and "Real" snakes.

(snake car that Kevin mentioned in his email to me)

Snake Art Car - Truck actually "hand" painted.

Photo by Eli the Bearded

Snake Van - Printed Vinal Wrap

Photo by Akbar Simonse

Flivver Art Car By Joy Johnston - Joy Hats For Sale

Joy Johnston and her art car, Flivver

Flivver Parked

Flivver's passenger door closeup

Flivver's wheel

Flivver the Art Car is a 1987 Toyota Tercel that Joy Johnston got for free back in 2004. This is her third art car and is out of commission. After October Flivver will rest at East Jesus, Slab City, near Niland, CA where she will be converted to a permanent camper sculpture at Charlie's compound. In addtion to her art car, Joy also loves to create custom crocheted hats of pure joy. During one Art Car Fest event she, along with the bay area art car girls made fleece hats for every one and I still wear mine every day, mmmmm so warm.

The Joy Hat Club


Here is a group shot of some of the members of the Joy Hat Club, wearing their hats of Joy. If you love her hats, they will be available for sale at all Bay Area art car events.

Boatmobile by Bob Sokol - Video

via

96 VW Golf Harlequin Art Car - And the Harlequin Wannabe Registry

The Original 1996 VW Golf Harlequin Art Car

photo via

A 1996 Volkswagen magazine ad said, “Can’t decide on a color? Try a Harlequin Golf.” The 1996 Golf Harlequin is one of the most limited production cars VW has ever produced and presumably only 264 of these car are know to exists. Currently there is a VW Golf Harlequin registry at rossvw.com and so far only 91 of these car have been accounted for. If you own one of these Harlequin VW cars laying around the garage let Ross know and will add you to his registry.

Since creation of the Harlequin VW there have been others who have tried to make their own Harlequin version since the originals are so hard to get. That is why I started my own Harlequin Wannabe Registry here on art car central and if any you have one let me know and I will add you to my own registry.

VW Bug Harlequin Art Car Wannabe #1


Trabant Harlequin Art Car Wannabe #2


Ferrari Harlequin Art Car Wannabe #3


Motorcycle Harlequin Art Bike Wannabe #4


Home Made Harlequin Art Car Wannabe #5


VW Pickup Art Truck Harlequin Wannabe #6


Audi TT Harlequin Art Car Wannabe #7


Redneck Limo Art Car Harlequin Wannabe #8

Not there yet, but gets an "A" for effort

11th Annual Seattle Art Car- Blowout

This awesome pictures were taken by the who also took the time to write down the names of the cars and the wonderful artist who made them at this years 11th Annual Seattle Art Car- Blowout. If any you have more info on these cars please email me and I can post a detailed entry about your car. Some of the other cars that where there and have been featured on Art Car Central were The Vain Van, Eartha Karr, Aero Car, Leopard Bernstein and Rot N'Hell

SPACE JUNK Art Car by Rot N' Hell

Godspeed 818 Art Car by Phil Teller - Seattle, WA

The Mock 7 Art Car by Daniel Johnston - Bellingham, WA.

Bruce Art Car by Joanne Quinn Owens - Bay Area CA

The Octopod Art Car by Emily Hall - Portland, OR

Flutterbug Art Car by Konnie Mae - Ashland, OR

Flivver Art Car by Joy Johnston - Oregon

Drala the Dragon Art Car By Bruman of Berkeley, CA

Attila the Fun Art Car by Tish Smith - CANADA

All photos were taken by The KronoNaut

Squirly Whirly Art Car by Tré Taylor

Squirly Whirly Art Car by Tré Taylor


Squirly Whirly Art Car by Tré Taylor was first seen at last weeks Maker Faire in San Mateo CA. It was one of the many art cars that came, but it was the only one that had never been seen before. Tré told me that she and her friend had just put the finishing touches the night before and drove it Saturday morning to be at the Maker Faire. She drove Squirly Whirly the slow way up El Camino to San Mateo from Santa Clara since Squirly had not been road tested for highway speeds. Squirly Whirly is actually the car formerly known as the candle car and Tré is also the creator of the famous Fahrvernpüssy Lounge now in the shop for some repairs. Squirly is covered in fans and the giant Squirel holding a nut is named Larry. Check out the video, its much better live.

Mercedes Pens Art Car at Maker Faire 2009

Costas Schuler aka The Pen Guy is a graphic designer, artist, motivational speaker comedian, husband and proud father of three beautiful girls. Life has always been interesting but never quite the same ever since he started working on his Mercedes Pens Art Car now covered in 10,000 pens that was inspired from reading a book called "Art Cars" by author Harrod Blank. Now that the car is pretty much done he has set his sights higher and want to collect a million pens in the next five years to make more pen art.

Lego Jeep Art Car - On the road again headed to Maker Faire 09

LEGO Jeep at Maker Faire almost done

by bonniegrrl

LEGO Jeep Art Car with climbers

by Paula Wirth

LEGO Jeep Hood Close Up Art


I cant believe I have not posted the famous Lego Jeep Art Car on ACC. Here in all its glory entertaining kids of every age, who are all over it having fun. Legos are for everyone and Kevin Mathieu creator of the Jeep Lego Car has apparently not left his inner child behind. How awesome it is to be able to just pull over any time and play with your legos. Those famous Bay Area traffic jams seem less insane now that the lego car is on the road headed to this years Maker Faire.

Flower Art Car For Sale - Plenty of Grass, Plants and a Running Waterfall

Flower Art Car For Sale

Flower Art Car For Sale Waterfall Close Up

via

Wow, this Flower Art Car definitely takes best of flower show, a Ford Torus that was for sale last August in North Hollywood. It has a running waterfall, real live grass, plants, flowers, tiki torches, and a interior fish tank. Apparently its a great rental for the movie industry, business promotions, and parties and has received some media attention in the local news. When buying an art car its always good to have had media attention and have built a good reputation around town. The more famous the car the more you can expect to pay.

Wooden Art Car Called Gunner By Incredible Sculptor Michael Cooper

Wooden Art Car Called Gunner By Michael Cooper


Gunner Top View

Gunner Wooden Wheel Close Up

Gunner Pipe Close Up


Gunner Rear Disk Brakes Close Up

all photos via Michael Cooper Sculptor

This wooden art car called "Gunner" was created by amazing sculptor Michael Cooper who resides in Sebastopol CA. It was created in 2007 and made up from 65 different types of hard wood. is 120"x60"x39" and is owned by a private collector in Napa CA.

Not only does he live just down the street from me but I took my first 3D art class in college with Michael Cooper who inspired me to take more classes for the next four years that lead me into Graphic Design. He also encouraged us to start keeping art journals and 19 years later I have completed 23 of them.

Any ways Michael Cooper is simply amazing in the way he is able to combine wood and metal to create art that is simply mind boggling. I look at his works and cant for the life of me wrap my wind around his ability to twist and bend wood and metal in such a way. His art defies the laws of nature and has somehow tapped into a parallel universe where wood and metal naturally look this way.

Gunner is just one of the many pieces he has created and has been doing this since 1968. His portfolio is a must see, but we warned, give yourself plenty of time to browse and then come back for a second and third look. I guarantee you will never get tired of looking at his art.

Thanks Michael, its an honor to have you here on Art Car Central:)