And I thought I’d seen it all, especially when it comes to wheels. ggh06 has just posted a series of shots, titled “My Wheels Are Bigger Than Yours”, at the Cohort. Most are pretty familiar, and I’ll share some below. But this one, taken just a few days ago in Houston, takes the cake. Not to get political here, but I guess if you can walk around with a gun, why not this? “Keep your distance, dude!”
Those Feather Dusters are so light, they just want to lift right off.
Just the rig for commuting to work. Where’s the air-stair?
Batman would approve!
Buicks (and Monte Carlos) are popular victims.
I would rather see reverse offset wheels, two foot wide bias ply tires and air shocks make a comeback than look at another dubmobile.
Pauvre, pauvre Duster.
I shot the lead photo for the benefit of a British colleague who had seen something like this a few months ago on a visit to Houston, and simply could not believe that it was road-legal.
What equally cracked me up was the dual fake Conny kits.
BTW, it took some research, but these extended-spinner abominations apparently are actually made here in Houston, hence maybe being uncommon outside the region.
How do you balance those wheels? …or are the extended spinner things removable?
Can that possibly be legal?
Whether they’re legal or not, they seem like a REALLY good excuse for a cop to pull someone over. And judging by the areas where I usually see abominations such as this, there are probably plenty of cops around.
Illinois law is weird on this one. The law only mentions that the tire needs to be within the fender lip.
These may fall under an Officer’s interpretation of the law and how much of a jerk the driver is.
Imagine what they could do to a pedestrian’s legs.
Someone would have to go through the ordinances or state vehicle code. But it wouldn’t shock me that it would be legal, as long as the vehicle didn’t exceed the maximum width allowed (8.5′, usually). Special trailering mirrors stick out pretty far too. It would have to be quite specific.
Can someone explain to city folk like myself what, if any, purpose that lifted Chevy truck serves? Or is it more of a toy? I ask because it seems to be parked in some sort of industrial area. Delivering oxy cylinders to mudded-in welders?
My guess he either works there, or he’s just picking up another tank of CO2 for his MIG welder. That guy definitely likes using his MIG welder. 🙂
That shot was taken in Broussard, LA, in an industrial park mainly dedicated to oil field service companies. I’ve worked with some of these guys, and they typically are the sort that have screensavers on their computers of themselves on a quad, blasting through a five-foot-deep mud hole .
I doubt that Chevy sees much if any street use. The Ag tires aren’t street legal and the headlights are more than 54″ from the ground.
Regarding the first photo: Just the thing to deter car jackers… Stomp on the gas, shatter shins…
Regarding first photo. OMFG! They would have looked better on a Cadillac Cimmaron
If this is the Ben Hur Edition Buick, would these be the owner’s raspy last words?
“What do you think you see? The repainted body of a mere Park Avenue? There’s enough attitude here for you to hate. Let me help you.”
I don’t think that the Chevy is ACTUALLY a Z71.
And on the Duster, I don’t think that the factory torsion bars adjust up quite that high.
Let’s ask the owner, he’s right here.
Where did you find a pic of my neighbor?!
I’ll give him some credit, two spares are a great idea since they would likely be broken in pairs. Sure the trunk looks silly, but form follows function, right?
And are those portholes on the rear pillars? I tell you what, this guy knows what a Buick is. Classy.
I’m more interested in the early ’70s Hilux behind the Batty Carlo.
Living in Houston, I can tell you there are quite alot of those cartoonish wire wheels around town. I believe they are called “swaggas”. As in, “he has a swagger to his walk.” You probably don’t encounter it much in Oregon, but it’s a cultural thing down here. Yes, they are mostly seen just in certain parts of town.
Driving around those parts of town, you might also see cars with 8-12 inch tall chrome letters across the doors calling out what kind of car it is, like “Navigator” or “Impala” or my personal favorite “Taurus”.
Please get pics of the “Chrome” call outs. Just thinking about it makes me laugh.
That’s like the oddity of neck Tats on some special people in Chicagoland of a significant others name and sometimes their own name.
I’ve been looking for an opportunity to get a good picture. I’ll post it when I get one.
Spotted a set of “Swangers: on a new E-Class down here in H-Town:
Cultural context:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-aoBlEcB2g
Thanks for those video links; really does put it into context. And I’m rather impressed. Love how car culture keeps changing bit by bit over time. Some fine looking cars there.
Awesome videos, that’s what I’m taking about!
I stand corrected, it’s “swangas”. Not sure what word that’s based on.
Hey Ben Hur didn’t use those wheels. Call them Messala wheels!
But the classiest (and coolest) user of these:
re the Truck-If I cock my head just right and listen hard, I can hear the mellifluous tones of banjos.
The Duster too, for that matter.
I got passed by the blue Buick west bound on I-10 at the West Loop last week. It is even more homely than the picture shows.
In my day the vatos went nuts with welded chain steering wheels and mucho dingle balls lining the front and rear windows.
And here I thought you couldn’t make the last generation Park Ave any uglier…
For some strange sick reason the Blue Buick appeals to me. I’d actually pay a couple hundred bucks for it. This weird attraction is STRICTLY limited to that one vehicle…I mean it.