Aboriginal Toyota Art Car Basket made from Grass

This Australian Aborginal Toyota Art Car Basket was created using Tjanpi Grass by the Tjanpi Weavers Group headed by Artis Kantjupayi Benson using a lesser-known Aboriginal weaving art practice.

The Grass Toyota art car ended up being 16ft long by 13 feet wide and 5m long, and 8.2 ft high and was was commissioned by the World Expo in Hanover Germany.

While Kantjupayi sat on a chair leaning on her long walking stick, she oversaw the younger women drawing the shape of the vehicle with chalk on the concrete floor of the Blackstone hall. Minyerri grass, a wiry grass found in the sandy country approximately 20kms from Blackstone, was used in the construction. The grass was fashioned into coils and attached with jute twine and wire to welded steel framed panels covered with chicken mesh. The steel frames were made by Perth sculptor Claire Bailey, adhering to the women’s designs. All in all there were twenty artists involved over a month long period to realise the work and there was much celebration, hilarity and joy on its completion.
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Diddie Wah Diddie Art Car

Chevy truck, mostly 1963, purchased in 1975 in Poteau, OK. Primary transportation until 1985 (known then as the Turkey Truck due to stickers on doors). Dead by the side of the road until 2007. Concept & all paint by Dixie Rhyne, resurrection by Billy Banks. Located in NW Arkansas, daily driver. Still in process.

Melting Ice Cream Truck - Summer is almost over, D'oh!

With the end of summer looming and the beginning of school just around the corner, what better symbol than a melted Ice Cream Truck sculpture. Created by Canadian-born sculptor Orest Keywan in Australia who won the artist $30,000 Sculpture by the Sea prize in 2006. Sorry, I guess August is almost over and I am not happy with it:(

Elmer Ford Art Car by Allen Christian

Elmer Ford is the second artcar created by artist Allen Christian. Unlike his first vehicle which had a bolt on/glue on surface, Allen wanted to create a moving sculptural form. After acquiring a 1966 Ford F250 pickup, closed cell foam was applied over the topper and cab, sculpted, painted and fiberglassed. Allen considers Elmer a themeless artcar and more as an extension of his sculpture studio, the House of Balls. Elmer and Allen both extend an invitation to stop by if you're ever in Minneapolis. Oh yeah, Elmer isn't done yet. Bet you've heard that before.

Snow Art Car from Russia

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I know its totally random, but that's what you get surfing the Internet late at night, snow art car from Russia.

15 of the Worlds Sexiest Garbage Art Trucks

The world of "waste management disposal" has been for a very long time lacking in "aesthetics", but things are turning around. I was fortunate enough to find 15 of the worlds sexiest Garbage Art Trucks mostly here in the states but a few rising stars in foreign lands. Are we headed to the worlds first Garbage Art Truck Pageant? I am not sure yet, but we are headed in the right direction. So it is my honor to present this years 15 of the Worlds Sexiest Garbage Art Trucks Contestants.

1) Miss Graffiti Garbage Art Truck

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2) Miss Santa's Garbage Truck

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3) Miss Pink Garbage Art Truck

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4) Miss Kyoto Garbage Art Truck

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5) Miss Lotus Flower Garbage Art Truck - Balese

by AnnieGreenSprings

6) Miss Patchwork Garbage Art Truck -Africa



7) Miss Tribal Garbage Art Truck - Philadelphia

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8) Miss Peacock Garbage Art Truck - Philadelphia

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9) Miss Kindergarden Garbage Art Truck

by Jesus H. Shatner

10) Miss City of Metal Garbage Art Truck - New York

by Joseph D’Alessandro

11) Miss Broken Egg Shell Garbage Art Truck - New York

by Chuck Davidson

12) Miss Public Works Garbage Art Truck - New York

by Nicoletta Barolin

13) Miss Clean Water Garbage Art Truck - New York

by Joy Taylor

14) Miss Environmental Awareness Garbage Art Truck - New York

by Patricia Villate

15) Miss Yonkers Chomper Garbage Art Truck - New York

by Tom Duncan

I just found Miss Flowery Iraqi Garbage Art Truck moments ago.

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10 Most Amazing Budget Carpools Ever Seen

With the economy what it is, people all over are finding innovating ways to make budget upgrades to cars especially during the hot summer months. All you really need is pickup truck, some tarp, maybe some bungee cords if you can spare the money and a hose preferably with running water on the other end. The best part is that you can set up your carpool anytime, anyplace, you can go solo or invite your less fortunate friends. (Those who don't own a pick up truck). Most Carpools come in a variety of colors, Blue, Black, Silver, Brown or Clear and can be set up in minutes. There are a variety of different Carpools available on the market as seen below.

1) Spring Break Carpool

Pay close attention to the diver on the right side!!!

2) Junior Science Project Carpooling


3) Lady's Only Carpooling


4) Solo "Cool Hand Luke" Lady Carpooling


5) Floating Mustache Carpooling


6) Contemplative Carpool


7) Solo "Pirate" Dude Carpool


8) Duet Lawn Chairs Carpool


9) Dumpster Diving Carpool


10) Truckpool

Should have read the simple instructions during instillation.

Pink Toe Truck gets Pedicure every 5,000 miles

Pink Toe Truck

The Toe Truck, finally an art car that came along to put the nightmares to rest. When people say "toe truck" its hard for some of us NOT to think of a giant pink toe, on wheels doing repo jobs on the weekends. Question is, do the toe nails need to be trimmed? Are pedicures done every 5,000 miles or so? and does it ever get caught in a toe jam during rush hour traffic?

Ginormous Cork Truck Big Hit at Barcelona Wedding

Photo by Emily
This ginormous antique Cork Truck photo was taken by Emily during her Barcelona visit last October where she attended Felipe and Silva's Wedding. Probably too much information but I do wish the young couple my best. Anyways Emilys trip was well worth it here at ACC because she brought back with her a little bit of art car history. Thanks Emily.

LaundryCar by Smitty Regula- Mobile laundromat for a clean gateway

LaundryCar - Mobile laundromat for a clean gateway

Have you ever robbed a bank and needed to make a "clean" gateway, well the "laundromatic 2000" will allow you to do just that. This is the LaundryCar created by Smitty Regula over in Houston Texas. Its totally covered in washing detergent containers, clean laundry and a washing machine up on the roof. I do hope you don't need quarters for that, but what a great idea, a mobile laundromat. Drive over to someones house, do their laundry, put it up on the line, go around the block a few times to air dry and presto, clean clothes.

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

Pig Food Art Truck - The MaximusMinimus

Maximus Minimus or The Pig Food Art Truck is the brainchild of Kurt Beecher Dammeier up in seattle who also is the person behind Beecher’s Cheese and other Seattle food endeavors. Kurt hired local designer Collin Reedy to make it all happen and ended up up with a superb Pig Art Truck that deserves a place here on art car central. They serve pulled pork sandwiches but also have veg sandwich with fennel, onions, and bulgur for vegetarians and vegans who might be "pork challenged". I love the fact that it looks so industrial and heavy duty as if it was in one of those end of the world apocalyptic movies. I can see it now, the last remaining source of food in a land filled with mutants all trying to get in for a bite to eat. The truck is racing through barriers of steel and flaming cars. I see the flame thrower coming out of the nostrils and deadly gas out of the back end. And don't forget the two.50 caliber mounted inside the ears. With this bullet proof beauty there is new hope for the remnants of the "Fast Food Chain Wars" that destroyed our planet in 2025. Wow what a rant.

Arvold Art Car - Budget mod back seat with a view

Arvold Art Car Side View

Arvold Art Car Outdoor Back Seat

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This beauty is the creation of artist Isaac Arvold who painted this parked car in Uptown Minneapolis. In an urban environment this paint job is natures way of saying don't look at the body work to closely. I like the outdoor back sitting arrangement great for summer days but problematic in the winter time. If our buddy owns this you better call "shot gun" and hitch a ride inside rather than deal with the wind chill factor in the back seat. This car would be perfect for Southern California year around, maybe its time for that road trip.

Massive 1950 Dodge Power Wagon built by the "Rainbow Sheikh"

I was recently sent this video about the worlds largest 1950 Dodge Power Wagon built out in the middle of Arabian desert.It weighs about 50 tons, its 64 times the original size and was so big it had to be built in the desert from about 25 major parts made in Abu Dabi. It's big enough to live in and has a master bedroom in the main upstairs cab. The tail gait lowers with a motor to make a balcony with an incredible view of the desert.It has wheels from a large oil rig, windshield wipers from a ocean liner and headlights that cost $1,500 each. This behemoth was built by Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan aka The Rainbow Sheikh who is a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Art Truck Bed By Patrick Amiot- A Great Place to Crash

via Armstrong Creates: blog

I found this art truck bed yesterday photo taken by David Bacigalupi from Armstrong Associates and I had to post it on art car central. The funny thing is that hours later on my walk around Sebastopol California I decided to go visit my friend Patrick Amiot who creates the most amazing and whimsical sculptures made from junk. His work is all around town and many are located on Sebastopol's famous Florence street. He is also the creator of the Shark Art Car and has many more art cars on his web site. So I am chatting away with Patrick and Brigitte in the back studio when he offers to give a tour of the house. The first stop was the bedroom and what did I see??? This amazing Art Truck Bed right there just like in the picture. It was totally weird how only hours ago I had made a mental note to put it up on my blog. After I saw it I knew it had to put it up, and so here it is. I love how it has the gas tanks for bed posts and the old GMC grill. 

Incredible Japanese Decotora Trucks Video

Here is a great video about these Japanese Decotora Trucks I posted some time ago. The pictures are great but you really need to seem them live and this video does them justice. They explain the history of how all this got started and they interview some of the truckers and artists who help create these amazing works of art.

Japanese Decotora Truck - Art Trucks in Disguise

I did an entry about this long time ago but didn't know much about these art rucks from Japan called Dekotora Trucks . These trucks are highly customized and are found in Japan often made to look like they’re straight out of the movie Transformers. These trucks are made for fun to be used as art trucks at special events.

Japanese Decotora Trucks



great post via off beat planet

Art Car Transformed by talented high schoolers - Jeffrey "Hippie" Morris

Carolyn Marcantel sent me this write up about some very talented High Schoolers and their Art Car Project called Jeffrey "Hippie" Morris that they are getting ready for the Houston Art Car Parade May of 2009. The car is not complete but they have done a lot of work so far. It's neat to watch an art car in the process and I am looking forward to seeing the video and the completed pictures of the car. All the best to you all and great job.

The Automotive Collision & Repair students in the Hurst Euless Bedford Independent School District , a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas, are in the midst of transforming a 1983 Toyota pick-up into a "boat-extraordinaire" complete with a trailing shark. With an anticipated completion date of sometime in late April, the HEB ISD Art Car will make its debut this May in Houston's Annual Art Car Parade. The truck was donated to the students by the family of the late Jeffrey H. Morris, a local gifted musician and artist whoprematurely lost his life due to cancer on Halloween night, 2008.

The family wanted to do something meaningful with the pick-up that had originally belonged toJeffrey's grandfather. It was full of sentimental value, but otherwise, what do you do with a rusty,worn-thru pickup with over 300,000 miles it? Make it into an Art Car, of course! 

Carolyn Marcantel, a family friend of the Morris family and webmaster for HEB ISD, took the idea to auto collision teacher, Eric Stevens, and from there the dots have not stopped connecting as students, teachers, volunteers, and the business community have rallied around to make this special memorial project a reality. Because there is no budget for "art cars" in district funds, the project has been entirely dependent on donations in the form of metal, paint, vinyl and other supplies. It is also the goal of the newly established HEB ISD Art Car Committee to raise the necessary funds to ensure each student involved in the project be able to make the trip to Houston to participate in the parade. 

The entire four-month process is currently being documented on an HEB ISD district blog, complete with weekly updates and a plethora of photos to follow along as the project takes form. Video footage is also being logged for a documentary that will be produced after the parade. The ultimate theme of the boat will pay tribute to the lifestyle of Jeffrey "Hippie" Morris, to include fishing, guitars, peace signs and lots of psychedelic color.