Muffler Mobiles and the Muffler Shops that Made Them

Meineke Muffler Mobile Art Car

I run into this muffler art car on Jalopnik last night and where there is one muffler car there is another.

This "Muffler mobile" was created by Joe, Scott, and Steve Minghelli, family owners of two Meineke muffler shops in Southern New Jersey. They started out by creating art from used mufflers laying around like muffler men, muffler dogs, muffler waffle irons and then one day got serious and made the Muffler mobile. They started out with a Datsun truck and stripped it down to its frame. Then they rebuilt the frame from exhaust tubing welded to the Datsun and then covered it with sixteen gauge steel panels to create the distinctive muffler shape. I guess if a muffler shop is serious enough about their muffler business to build a muffler art car, then they might be a good shop get your muffler replaced.

So here is the complete set of muffler shops around the country you might want to check out next time your car needs a new muffler. I wonder if these cars need to get smogged every hear?

Kelly's Pimp My Muffler Art Car via

Muffler Hut Pink Muffler Mobile via

Steve's Muffler Mobile via

Keith's Muffler Shop Art Car via

Seeburg Muffler Art Car via

Muffler Art Car via

5 Star Mosaic Muffler Art Car via

Milking it at Burning Man on Milktropolis Mutant Vehicle

The Milktropolis mutant vehicle was built by Jon Zensius, Bob Dow, Natalie Zensius and Stephanie Rose for this years burning man event. This project took 9 months of hard work and was a test of their skills, friendships and marriages. It's wood and fiberglass and a wee bit of steel in the corners on a Ford Explorer body. The Cereal Bowl seats 8 and the carton accommodates 4. There are 100 hand sewn cereal shaped pillows in the bowl for comfort. It's driven from up in the carton area and the drive train is done with bike chains from steering wheel to a home brew rotor and back to steering wheel. Gas and brakes are controlled via one of the former power window motors. It also has over 5000 LED lights for night time driving, that runs on a 1000w portable generator. Passengers have the pleasure of entering Milktropolis via a "spoon" ladder and exit via a pool slide. It was a huge hit and we will returning in 2011 with a few modifications in case you missed it but my only question is 1% or 2%???

Dumpster Driving - Keep your trash and drive it too.

Here is what happens when a dumpster diver takes his trash collections to the next level by making a "Dumpster Driver". A car for people who stock pile trash in the back seat, so they can keep the trash and drive it too. via

Hot Turbo VW Radio Flyer Art Car Built by Toby Hall

Hot Turbo VW Radio Flyer Art Car Built by Toby Hall
Toby Hall is one of those people who will forever remain a kid at heart, just by looking at his latest creation. He recently built a full size Radio Flyer on a VW bug chassis, with a 1641cc flat-four and a Renault 5 turbo that will turn heads and burn rubber. Toby got the idea by watching Tool Time on TV during an episode when Tim the Toolman brought home a motorized Radio Flyer as a Christmas gift. He knew instantly that he had to build one and then went out and got busy. Toby spent a lot of time building his new toy with a tubed frame, bomber style seats, exposed engine and a great paint job. One the coolest features is the tow that can be pulled both by car and by hand when the handle is tilted down. Toby's Radio Flyer was just featured in this months volksworld magazine out of the UK and its my prediction that his art car will go viral. So glad we could have another hot Radio Flyer along with the one Bob Castaneda built in the US back in 1996.

Bamboo Taxis Hit the Streets of the Phillipines

Rustico Balderian, mayor of Tabontabon in the Philippines rolled out two amazing taxis crafted from bamboo as a result of looking for a low-cost, fuel-efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly alternative to motorcycles. These are made from 90% bamboo that are powered by coconut biodiesel.

The vehicles are called the Eco 1 and Eco 2. The Eco 1 seats 20 people and can run on one gallon of biodiesel for about 80 hours. Eco 2 works just as well, but seats around 8. Both vehicles are made by Tabontabon’s out-of-school youth, 90% of each vehicle is made out of bamboo, and they are covered in traditional Filipino woven mats called banig.via

Igloonator 2000 - "Cool" Igloo Mobile Art Car

One New Yorker found a way to keep cool this summer by converting their Toyota car into an igloo. What better way to stay cool in traffic on the way to work than to be sitting in the "Igloonator 2000" art car conversion kit. A natural way to keep cool for hours on end and never having to waste gas with the AC turned on. The Igloomobile was for sale on craigslist a while back .via

Penguin Martini Shaker Car For Sale

This 1985 Mercury Grand Marqui penguin car is for sale for only 1000 bucks, only if you really really really want it now on craigslist. Its claim to fame, a single penguin martini shaker as a hood ornament, and a stuffed one in the back window. I think its time to cut back on the martinis for a while, I don't know, I am just saying.

World's Smallest Car - Postman Pat by Perry Watkins

Perry Watkins took the frame of the "Postman Pat" children's ride in the UK and mounted it on a quad mini-bike, using its 150cc engine. The car has a windshield wiper, lights and signals, mirrors, fire paint job, fake racing exhaust pipes and engine blower. It can hit a top speed of 40 MPH, it is now legal to drive on the road and has received confirmation that his creation - only 39in high and 26in wide - is the smallest car ever built. Also world's most expensive chiropractor bill.

Perry in his Postman Pat

Perry on the road again with his Postman Pat

The inner workings of Postman Pat

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

WhaleMobile For Sale - Going Slow

Ever thought of driving your very own WhaleMobile? Well now is your chance and for the very low low price of $150 this blubbering beauty can be yours today. The WhaleMobile is listed on Craigslist located in Cape Girardeau and the contact number is 573-334-4363.

It was built on the frame of a 1986 Yugo Cabrio with 38k Miles by the owners grandfather after it the body was badly damaged in a freak hailstorm. Grandpa got this crazy idea in his head to turn this thing into a whale car. How weird, you wake up one day and decide to make an art car, you start building, people think you are strange and your whole life makes a turn for the interesting.

Anyways, the WhaleMobile has new tires, working headlights, a lever inside the cockpit controls the whale tail and a working blow hole that shoots water. Perfect for parades and kids parties, not street legal yet but I am sure its sea worthy.

Lady of Trasportation at The Houston Art Car Parade 2010

Lady of Transportation is an art car created by Amber Eagle built on a semi truck and covered with multiple VW car hoods, trunks and varios other parts salvaged from many many VW's. She was seen again at this years Houston Art Car Parade last weekend.

Sentrasaurus Art Car for Sale - Mythical Beast Going Cheap on Ebay

more photos here

Oh goody, the Sentrasaurus Art Car is now up for sale on eBay for those of you looking for a "Dinosauraus Mosaicus" built on a Nissan Sentra. Richard is trying to unload this mythical beast on the cheap so he can raise money for his next art car project. here is the more on the art car.

Vehicle Description: The Sentra now know as "Sentrasaurus" for it's abstract dinosaur resemblance began it's transformation into an art car in late 2008 for the Houston Art Car Parade which it has since appeared in 2009 and 2010. The exterior consists of a skin made of mosaic stained glass and mirror structures (spikes) creating a spine down the center. The entire vehicle is covered with mosaic glass which is glued on with silicone adhesive and was later grouted to fill in the cracks. The mirror spikes are soldered together and are screwed into the body of the vehicle. The added weight from the extra glass, silicone, grout, and mirrors is unknown although we would probably estimate around 150-200lbs.

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.

inCARnation - Apocalypse Mobile/Time Machine

inCARnation - Apocalypse Mobile/Time Machine

inCARnation, the Apocalypse Mobile/Time Machine was sent in by Meg (Hint, the one with the pink hair). It was built over the course of a few years at her apartment in Minneapolis and is under constant construction. The frame is an early 1990s Honda Accord that belonged to Adam. Adam Lutterman (Atom), Andy Rennert (MN Phatts) and Meg (Dee Zaster) all contributed to its creation. They take it to Burning Man every year and it made its debut this year at the Houston Art Car Parade and promise to be back, I guess that's the time machine aspect of the inCARnation. They also participate in Art Car events in the Twin Cities on a regular basis. They are beginning work on radically altering the appearance, but the plans are under wraps. It will be bigger and badder the next time around, so keep a look out!

Bikes with Shoes

Bikes with shoes instead of tires is definitely a better alternative to using bike tires which need air and tend to go flat. All you need is a bunch of shoes and you are good to go, oh and a helmet would be good as well.

Todd Kundla rides his Shoe Bike via


Walking Bike by Max Knight via



Travis Pastrana Shoe Motorbike


Be sure to check it this cool video with Travis Pastrana doing flips with his shoe motorcycle.

The Fruit Mobile by Jackie Harris

The Fruit Mobile, originally uploaded by Boptimist.

The Fruit Mobile a 1967 Ford station wagon has been around for many years and was created by artist Jackie Harris. The Fruit Mobile is also available for gigs through the Art Car Agency. Full Story

Worlds Fastest Couch Video - So Awesome!!!

This has got to be the fastest couch I have ever seen at 90mph down the race track on a rainy day.

Electric Surfer Camper Pod and more by Jay Nelson

Artist Jay Nelson is the creator of this small electric camper pod encased in a fiberglass shell, complete with a water tank, stove, cabinets, fold-down table and convertible bed. His love for surfing goes further with this modified Honda Spree that serves as a tiny expedition vehicle. Outfitted with surfboard rack, roll-out canopy, and plenty of storage, Jay imagines filling it with gourmet provisions and heading to a remote beach for some exploration and relaxation.



Triple Base Gallery images

Bike Fro Art Car

This is what I call a Bike Fro art car, complete set of hair made entirely out of bicycles mounted to the outside of this ford van.

Coffee a Go Go Art Bike - Smitty's percolating coffee psycho

Smitty's percolating coffee psycho is bike ride that's all about the coffee. There is plenty of space for the coffee pot, the mugs and off course the coffee grinds. You never have to go looking for a coffee shop, because the bike is brewing all the time, now I want coffee, only 12 hours until my next cup.