StreetSafari Rally Art Cars from the UK Now a Regular Feature!!!

StreetSafari, organizer of the world's best banger rallies, has teamed with Art Car Central to showcase some of the countless creations of our teams over the years.

For those unfamiliar with banger rallies, here is a quick introduction: buy a car on a budget (£250 or $500), repair it, make it legal for the road, take it on a journey across Europe or the States with other like minded people. Whether the car will end up in a foreign scrap yard or be taken back home is up to the team and is usually anybody's guess.

As one might imagine, part of the challenge is simply getting the car to the finish line. For most teams, the challenge starts much earlier. What seems to happen between buying the car and getting it ready for the start line is subject to paint, imagination and -- probably -- alcohol.

We get to see everything. You name it, we've seen it. If there was ever a famous car on television or cinema, we've seen at least five examples of it on our events. General Lee, Starsky & Hutch, the A Team, Ghostbusters, all done to death. We see rally themes from Audi, Skoda, Martini, Pink Pig, and just about any other you can think of. The quality of the theme seems to vary with the quantity of what the team has drunk, as much as with their creative ability.

Sometimes a team will just paint or decorate the car to a theme they made up. That's where we get the stand out cars.

Today's fabulous art car is a 1992 Volvo 480, with possibly the most intricate design we have ever seen in all the years and events that we've done. Its nickname on the event was simply "the Rorschach car" and everyone knew which that meant. When we first saw this car we made enquiries that it was being brought back to the UK after event, as it would be a crying shame to send this car to the crusher before it had enough time to be appreciated for the masterpiece that it was.

The story behind this art car is that two friends had bought it but had no idea what to do for a theme until they bumped into a rather talented artist friend. He then proceeded to draw all over the car and took about three weeks to do it. We believe the car was then sealed in a lacquer to give it a lasting finish, and we think the car is now in Glasgow somewhere.

From a distance, the drawing appears as one giant doodle. The closer you look, however, the more diverse and detailed the images become. A real piece of car art if ever we saw one.

By Justin Clements of StreetSafari
 

The Vochol VW Art Car Covered in 2000 Beads

The Volkswagen Beetle with its long association with Mexico, has been used in a unique project initiated by the Museo de Arte Popular (MAP), and turned into a colorful art car represented with the art of the indigenous Huichol. “Vochol” (from the slang word for the car – Vocho – and the word “Huichol”) was created by two indigenous families over a period of seven months.

This VW art car is covered with over 2 million beads on the body, dashboard, and steering wheel and is intended to highlight the art of the region. The designs on the vw art car were created by master craftsman Francisco Bautista, that depict traditional imagery. Serpents resting on clouds on the front of the art car, sun and four eagles on the roof, and a shaman in a boat on the trunk.

The Vochol will be on display at the MAP in Mexico City and will go on tour in Europe and America, and finally, it will be put up for auction that will hopefully go for about half a million pesos. The proceeds will go to the Association of Friends of the Museo de Arte Popular (AAMAP).

Rogaine for Cars Commercial - Hairy Art Cars are all the rage

This weird commercial of a hairy car driven by a bald man was sent in by Martin just now. Not sure what the commercial is all about but it is pretty funny seeing a car completely covered in human hair blowing in the wind. It could be a hair club for men commercial who knows, anyone? Rogaine for cars maybe?

McDonald's Toy Art Car

This is exactly what you do with all those McDonald's toys that are now banned in San Fransisco. You glue them all over your Mazda art car and then you go for a joy ride through San Fransisco, for spite. No happy meal for you, I guess they are call them sad meals in SF.

Octapus Saab Art Car Reaching Out in Rhode Island

This Octapus 1987 Saab 900turbo art car has been seen reaching out in Rhode Island recently created by Aly of Killer Car Kustoms.

Magic Art Car From Osijek Croatia

Magic Art Car from Croatia
The Magic Art car project was submitted by Dinko Bukvic from Osijek Croatia as part of a kids event called "land without borders". They had 17 kids from 4 to 14 years of age participate in painting this art car that took 5 days to complete. It was an educational project meant to engage the kids imagination and creativity by designing, and painting it from start to finish. The parents did a great job and got involved as well and were very helpful in getting everyone cleaned up after. I think this is my first art car from that part of the world and I look forward to seeing more art cars submitted from Croatia, great job.
Kids working on Magic Art Car	Finished Magic Art Car

Check out "That Car" I and II - Doll Head Extravaganza on wheels by Greg Phelps

That Car #1 By Greg Phelps

Greg Phelps of Columbus, Ohio, is the creator of "That Car" I and II both daily drivers with the same vanity plate THAT CAR because he says everyone shouts, "Check out THAT CAR" when they see it.

That Car #2 By Greg Phelps

That Car I is a 1990 Mazda Miata, covered in toys, plastic, glass, bone and a lot of doll heads all glued on with silicone. He drove it between 1999 and 2006 and is now a part of the permanent collection of the Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft as a functional piece of art.
That Car II, a 1999 Chevrolet Cavaliergot got started in the spring of 2006 and is also covered with plenty of reconstructed dolls, toys, skulls, shells and reflectors that he is always double-checking to make sure nothing goes flying off the car onto the highway. Nice work.

VersaTile Art Car by Big Al

photo by Krazy Horse

"VersaTile" is 1971 Buick Centurion (455cu V-8) covered with over 600 pounds of ceramic tile and china plates and 100 caulk tubes of Silicone. Created by Al "Big Al" Bartell, this 5,200 pound behemoth is a mosaic masterpiece. Big Al spent six months carefully crafting "Versatile." The car defines opposites: sun/moon, day/night, heaven/hell, male/female, coyote/road runner...The sleek lines of this Buick make an excellent surface for the broken shards of tile and plates that Big Al collected from garage sales and from his family then meticulously glued them each into place. "VersaTile" is Big Al's first art car, but you'd never know it by looking at it. via

Random Fuzzy VW Half Pint Art Car

I was surfing the net when I run into this half pint sfuzzy vw art car, and I had to have it here on ACC. via

Little Bit of Nonsense Art Car by Randy Blair

Little Bit of Nonsense art car was just sent in by Randy Blair shown here with his wife Wendy Wanda at this years Houston Art Car Parade. Its a tiny 2007 Toyota Yaris, that's completely covered with Dichroic glass, magnets, bumper stickers, toys and a ton of other things that he has made. This would be under the "Holy Moley" category I am about to create. Photo by Paul McRae

Life Size Lego Car

Now this is what I am talking about, not just a Mini car covered in Legos, but a Mini car that has become a life size Lego wonder. I am predicting this Lego art car will become an Internet sensation in about a week. Will the owner of this Lego art car step forward and be congratulated for a job well done:) This car was seen at Dapitan St., Sampaloc Manila.
via and Makezine

Ugly Corvettes or Art Cars in Disguise?

Ugly Corvettes or Art Cars in Disguise that is the question I have for you today. Over at Jalopnik
this Dragon Corvette is considered ugly but here its an art car in "process". Even though it was voted "single worst custom Corvette in history" it will find save haven here with the rest of us who took perfectly good cars and added "personal" touches. While I was out an about I found a few more corvettes that needed to come out of the rain.

Dragon Corvette - Budget Mod Art Car


Painted Corvette Art Car by Buckeye-Front


Painted Corvette by Buckeye Art Car-Side


Rocket Corvette - Super Mod


Red Bull Corvette-Super Mod


Ribbon Corvette - Super Mod


Penny Corvette Art Car

Car Henge Made from Cars

Stonehendge? No no, it’s Carhendge! This cool Stonehendge replica is located in Nebraska (U.S.) and it’s made with cars. Someone had way too much time on their hands, but amazingly, the final result turned out pretty cool.

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

4 Beautiful Mini Art Cars Need Your Vote

Four local Artist in Houston Texas took part in this weeks Mini Art Car Project painted four 2010 Mini Cooper models, transforming them into four very amazing and beautiful Art Cars. You can vote on your favorite one right now and the winning entry will be featured in front of Stella Sola at 1001 Studewood Houston, TX.

Animated Robots Mini Art Car by Robynn Sanders

This mini art car is an exploration of the idea of robots as toys, and is its painted with robots zipping along an assembly line working and goofing off.

Peter Max Mini Art Car by Rebecca Bass

This convertible mini art car is a homage to groovy psychedelic pop hippie hero, artist Peter Max.

Oil Spill Mini Art Car by Michelle Reyna

This mini art car got hit with many oil spill monsters on the prowl for their next victim, created Michelle Reyna and various community artists

Ivory Leaves Mini Art Car by Kim Granneman

Ivory Leaves grace the exterior of this mini art car in a classy and whimsical style with a few blind spots.

Photos By Katy Andesron

VW Lightmobile by Eric Staller

LightMobile from sietske tjallingii on Vimeo.

The VW Lightmobile was the first in the urban UFOs series created by Eric Staller in 1985 that was covered with 1659 lamps and computerized to produce 20 different patterns of light flowing over the car. I should have had this amazing art car on Art Car Central from day one, but better late than never.

Nissan Z Art Car Invades The Streets - By Ted Mikulski

This hand drawn Nissan Z was created by artist Ted Mikulski using paint pens that took 160 hours or 11 days to bring to life. This art car was a reflection of an idea he had that art should not only be designated for areas like galleries and studios, but taken to the streets. The artwork has several themes including Pac-Man, Where's Waldo, Space Invaders (my all time favorite video game growing up), Tetris, Mario and others, all weaved together in a comprehensive abstraction. The car was then clear coated to permanently seal in the art work and was unveiled at the New Britain Museum of American Art in July of 2010. It is no longer a car, its an art car, nice work Ted.