What is it? That’s the question posed by Cohort contributor runningonfumes, when he spotted this very unusual jalopy on the Colman ferry dock. It seems aircraft-based to me, perhaps a pontoon from a float plane? All I know for sure is I like it!
Curbside Anomaly: What Is It?
– Posted on June 7, 2013
Looks like a racing Zamboni.
Probably the one that ran over Carla Tortelli’s second husband Eddie LeBec…
HAHA
+2
Nose looks to be from a 40’s International truck; the rest of the bodywork appears to be custom-made. It’s a bit reminiscent of one of Leeds/Grubbs Blastolene Specials, but I’m pretty sure it’s not by them.
I will 2nd the 40s-50s IH front grille.
This reminds me of something I think I read in Car and Driver a long time ago, although the nationality probably doesn’t apply. It was something to the effect of “Give an Englishman a piece of metal and he will do something silly with it”.
Does that mean it’s a Denbeigh experimental or show car?
Could be. We need to check with Bruce McCall. I also remember from about 1971 they had a satire on the J.C. Whitney catalog. An item I remember from it was a “Million mile headlight bulb; works on the hidden power in your car’s airstream”. Another was a “Pocket incinerator”. Just toss it into your old junk car to get rid of it. I think there was also 3D Styrofoam likeness of a Rolls Royce to put over your VW Beetle to fool your friends. I wish I still had my collection of Car and Driver magazines. I also wish I could remember more of this.
Cmon, you’re going to offend Gem.
My apologies. My own family heritage is at least half English.
No offence taken,I’m from a Scottish mother and English/Irish father
Looks like is was built by the guys of Close Enough Engineering. It is apparently a Custom-built 1948 Diamond T GPT ( Gran Prix Truck ).
I like the slogan on the door: “Probably OK” 🙂
(Click on the photo to see a larger version.)
There is a t-shirt at GMI/Kettering given to prospective engineering students:
I want that…bad.
That’s a good one. I want a shirt with the Close Enough Engineering logo on it, to wear to work.
In what era? One of the alumni from the FIRST team I mentor is going to Kettering and she should be back in town soon for her 3 months of working in industry so I’ll have to ask her if that is still the case.
That is the case now, I just got that t shirt in April when I visited the campus as part of an SAH event and did a little alumni reunion.
I knew one of you guys would nail it. Thanks Pixel!
Looks like you got it Pixel.
Is there a reason why this picture, obviously taken very recently judging by the age of the cars, looks old fashioned?
Because that is what all the “cool kids” are doing nowadays. See instagram or some of Laurence’s posts here.
Glad you asked! It’s my new Nissan 4-door truck. Want me to tell you a little about it?