The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Everything Else => Topic started by: billf on October 20, 2008, 09:34:17 pm
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This guy, Ken, hand built a replica of a Lamborghini Countach in his basement. Yes, you heard me right, in his basement. I met this guy once through a friend of a friend back in 1991 at a wedding. At the time he was well into the planning stages and had answers for every question thrown his way about how he was going to do it. The guy has done an incredible and meticulous job on it. He built the body and frame by hand. This friend of the friend kept me sort of in the loop all these years, by occasionally emailing pictures he got as the guy took them. It still amazing to me to see these pictures and now know its done and out of the basement.
This link is to Ken's website (http://www.kiengineering.com/) with pictures and some details about the build.
This link is to a forum that actually has more photos than are on Ken's website (http://jalopnik.com/5065896/hand+made-lamborghini-built-in-basement-finally-sees-light-of-day)
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That's pretty sick! But did he not have a garage or something where it would have been easier to get it out?
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Nope. If my recollection is correct (remember I met the guy 17 years ago!) he wanted it "close" by as an incentive to keep working on it. He figured if it was out in the garage he wouldn't go out there and work on it during the winter - too cold. By having it in the basement, he could literally open the door to basement and see the car sitting there giving him an incentive.
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So...how does he get it out to drive it? or does he?
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So...how does he get it out to drive it? or does he?
Did you not see the pictures where the car is now out of the basement? He had a contractor come in, take out a section of the basement wall, build an earthen ramp and dragged the car up to ground level.
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Now if I had seen those pictures would I ask that question? :D My bad.
At least he was able to get it out. My luck would have it that I would spend my life building then find out I couldn't get the damn thing out. I guess you don't take up a project like that without thinking of such things though. I'm already not sure If I can get my games out of the basement now that the walls are 6 inches thicker at the base of the stairs now that the drywall is done...
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A few weeks ago I also found a guy who made himself an Murcielago.
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Built from scratch? Linky to pics?
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He should start a BYOL forum
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I used to have a video of a guy that build a small Ferrari (like 1/8 scale) but everything worked on it. It took him 10 years to build. I'm off to work now, but I'll see if I can find the link.
Something you can actually drive is a lot more rewarding though. Thanks for the link. Thats the coolest thing I've seen in months.
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Poor bastard. Someone should have told him that he could have bought a kit that bolts right onto a Chevy frame. There is a local guy here who has a Kit Lamborghini that looks just like the Miami Vice one.
And also, the money he invested in building and excavating that could have bought him a mint condition used Lambo probably.
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Poor bastard. Someone should have told him that he could have bought a kit that bolts right onto a Chevy frame. There is a local guy here who has a Kit Lamborghini that looks just like the Miami Vice one.
And also, the money he invested in building and excavating that could have bought him a mint condition used Lambo probably.
Isn't that kinda like saying, "Someone should've told those poor ---daisies--- over at BYOAC that they can purchase a kit to build an arcade." And "geez, with the money and time he put into building his own, he could've owned a nice, near mint Pac-Man."
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Poor bastard. Someone should have told him that he could have bought a kit that bolts right onto a Chevy frame. There is a local guy here who has a Kit Lamborghini that looks just like the Miami Vice one.
And also, the money he invested in building and excavating that could have bought him a mint condition used Lambo probably.
Isn't that kinda like saying, "Someone should've told those poor ---daisies--- over at BYOAC that they can purchase a kit to build an arcade." And "geez, with the money and time he put into building his own, he could've owned a nice, near mint Pac-Man."
Those poor ---daisies--- that invest hundreds of dollars in custom cabinets - there are thousands of lonely, molested, abused, empty cabinets out there needing a home. They could have got one of those cheap/free for their MAME cab.
And geez, with the money and time saved by not building, he could have gotten TWO or more of those cabinets.
;D ;D
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Poor bastard. Someone should have told him that he could have bought a kit that bolts right onto a Chevy frame. There is a local guy here who has a Kit Lamborghini that looks just like the Miami Vice one.
And also, the money he invested in building and excavating that could have bought him a mint condition used Lambo probably.
Isn't that kinda like saying, "Someone should've told those poor ---daisies--- over at BYOAC that they can purchase a kit to build an arcade." And "geez, with the money and time he put into building his own, he could've owned a nice, near mint Pac-Man."
Those poor ---daisies--- that invest hundreds of dollars in custom cabinets - there are thousands of lonely, molested, abused, empty cabinets out there needing a home. They could have got one of those cheap/free for their MAME cab.
And geez, with the money and time saved by not building, he could have gotten TWO or more of those cabinets.
;D ;D
;D ;D
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Can't see the site... did he fabricate his own parts other than the frame or use OEM parts?
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He hand-built, from scratch the body and frame. He purchased some items that helped with the dimensions (ie. windshield, fiberglass front bumper and wheel arches). The body was formed on a wooden buck - basically wooden cross-sections of the car.
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Funky. Serious fabrication skills. Makes me wonder why he would build a replica of an existing car instead of building a badass custom of his own design. What about the drive train and electronics?
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A quote from his website:
A scratch built all aluminum body Countach with a Boss 351 V8 mated to a ZF-5 speed transaxle
Electronics? Not sure.
Who knows, another 17 years and maybe he will have his own custom design built! ;D
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Body of aluminum... yow. I have always wondered how aluminum would stand up in a real crash. Seems awfully soft when faced with something like a telephone pole.
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True, but I assume the real strength comes from the frame. Of course, any metal will seem soft when a telephone pole and speed are combined! ;D
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Did a bit of a google... saw an article that says aluminum cars can be safer. Not because of the material strength but because it can be designed larger at the same weight and thus have more crumple area, it crumples more predictably, and a lighter car handles better and thus will be in less accidents.
Not sure how they can say a lighter car handles better when all of the other design advantages are based on making it bigger and weighing the same.
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Poor bastard. Someone should have told him that he could have bought a kit that bolts right onto a Chevy frame. There is a local guy here who has a Kit Lamborghini that looks just like the Miami Vice one.
And also, the money he invested in building and excavating that could have bought him a mint condition used Lambo probably.
Miami Vice cars were a Ferrari Spyder and then a white Ferrari Testarossa (unless you're just referring to something else you saw on the show). The real Countach is aluminum body over a space frame, so this is in a completely different league than a fiberglass kit.
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Well white Ferarri then. :P
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Well white Ferarri then. :P
May Enzo's ghost spare you this halloween. ;)
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Don't want to jack the thread, but here is the scale Ferrari I referred to. Anyone who appreciates the hand built Lambo will also probably like this.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeUMDY01uUA[/youtube]
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Don't want to jack the thread, but here is the scale Ferrari I referred to. Anyone who appreciates the hand built Lambo will also probably like this.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeUMDY01uUA[/youtube]
I thought you were referring to the other Ferrari. That model ---smurfing--- rocks. The 1:3 scale 312PB (http://www.fineartmodels.com/pages/product.asp?content_area=6&sub_area=139&product_area=139). According to another article, nearly everything except the gearbox* is fabbed with his own hands. The guy even studied rubber er... science(?) and fabricated his own tires.
*The 1:3 scale gearbox was manufactured by Ferrari because the guy didn't have the facilities to machine the metal required for the high stresses.
I used to build scale models, but nothing I have ever built even comes remotely close to what any of these guys have done. It makes my stuff looks like home made wood blocks made with an off kilter table saw.
edit: struck out garbage. added italics. Per my stupidity at relying on crappy work PC's.
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This isn't a 'hand made' Lamborghini. It's a bunch of hand made panels and frame bolted to an already made engine and power train. More like a 'hand made' kit car, if you ask me.
::)
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That 1/3 scale 100% replica is BAD ASS!!!
I can't help but think the Lambo custom is nothing compared to it.
I'm in the same boat as Jim (just not on the same belligerent aft section of said boat), and my cost/time Vs. finished product ratio evaluation makes it not as impressive as it could be.
You know, its alot like PixelHugger's Mission Control cab. Even when its done, it won't be near as impressive as it could have been.
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The main thing that bugs me about the car is the ghetto interior. I would assume that if someone were to spend 10 years of their life working on this, that they would not have a pop riveted interior and ricer seats.
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Wow, some of you guys are tough critics. My guess (and really its only a guess) is that the interior is that way because he plans to bring it out to a track and "race" it. Not against other cars, but against the clock. The friend I mention in my original post, has a Corvette Z06 that is customized for racing at that track. He even has a video camera mount in the 'vette to video laps at that track.
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A Lamborghini with a US engine ? HAH !
Seriously, I can appreciate all the work he put into it but it will NEVER be the same thing without an original engine in there.
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Yeah, basically he spent 10 years forming a few custom body panels.
I would fully expect my wife to divorce ---my bottom--- if I had that bad of a mid-life crisis.
"Honey, I'm gonna build a Lamborghini in the basement - of which there is no means to remove said vehicle".
"okay, but how will you get it out?"
"I will pay $10k to have a contractor remove a wall, excavate to the basement, then rebuild it all."
Yeah, I bet that would go over real well.
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"Then you'd damn sure better paint that thing hot pink and let me drive it."
That's my wife's answer.
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Well, he is married and has three kids I believe. It's his hobby and I'm pretty sure she was on board right up front - she'd pretty much have to be. And I know he had a plan to get it out from the start or he wouldn't have done it this way.
Or maybe his wife loves him more than your wives love you. :D ;D
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Or maybe she knows the marriage is better off with him in the basement most nights than it is with him out of the house. I know a few guys like that.
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The main thing that bugs me about the car is the ghetto interior. I would assume that if someone were to spend 10 years of their life working on this, that they would not have a pop riveted interior and ricer seats.
How can you call the interior ghetto. Do you think the Ferrari F40 has a ghetto interior as well? Besides, you live in West Virginia, what could you possibly know about the ghetto? ;D
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That only works when the story is something like "dude, I just met a guy who is my friend's second cousin who felt up Olivia Munn in the tenth grade."
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Well, he is married and has three kids I believe. It's his hobby and I'm pretty sure she was on board right up front - she'd pretty much have to be. And I know he had a plan to get it out from the start or he wouldn't have done it this way.
Or maybe his wife loves him more than your wives love you. :D ;D
Sorry you didn't get the hero-worship-friend-of-a-friend-of-an-awesome-friend-street-cred you obviously expected.
:cheers:
Oh yeah PBJ that's exactly why I posted this. ::)
Go spout your inane drivel elsewhere.
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How can you call the interior ghetto. Do you think the Ferrari F40 has a ghetto interior as well? Besides, you live in West Virginia, what could you possibly know about the ghetto? ;D
Dude, I've seen redneck ghetto. That interior is definitely redneck ghetto.
Compton has "the hood", we have "the holler".
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Or maybe she knows the marriage is better off with him in the basement most nights than it is with him out of the house. I know a few guys like that.
Hey Chad, leaf me out of this !
;) Damn, I don't have a basement :D
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That only works when the story is something like "dude, I just met a guy who is my friend's second cousin who felt up Olivia Munn in the tenth grade."
If this guy could build me an exact and working replica of Olivia Munn, then I'd be a lot more interested.
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That interior is actually a replica of the original Countach interior. Although it might still need to be covered with carpet or leather.
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That only works when the story is something like "dude, I just met a guy who is my friend's second cousin who felt up Olivia Munn in the tenth grade."
If this guy could build me an exact and working replica of Olivia Munn, then I'd be a lot more interested.
Not working, but maybe they can do a custom for you: http://www.realdoll.com/cgi-bin/snav.rd?action=viewpage§ion=dollgallery
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Dude, put a frikkin warning on that crap.
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Hey, it's not real...
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Is that force feedback?
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Is that force feedback?
:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:
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How can you call the interior ghetto. Do you think the Ferrari F40 has a ghetto interior as well? Besides, you live in West Virginia, what could you possibly know about the ghetto? ;D
Dude, I've seen redneck ghetto. That interior is definitely redneck ghetto.
You're so right. He obviously cut corners (and sharp ones at that) on the interior. It's still impressive as hell though. Compare:
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g168/bishmasterb/Posting/countach.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g168/bishmasterb/Posting/replica.jpg)
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Don't want to jack the thread, but here is the scale Ferrari I referred to. Anyone who appreciates the hand built Lambo will also probably like this.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeUMDY01uUA[/youtube]
I thought you were referring to the other Ferrari. A 1:3 scale 312PB (http://www.fineartmodels.com/pages/product.asp?content_area=6&sub_area=139&product_area=139). According to another article, nearly everything except the gearbox* is fabbed with his own hands. The guy even studied rubber er... science(?) and fabricated his own tires.
*The 1:3 scale gearbox was manufactured by Ferrari because the guy didn't have the facilities to machine the metal required for the high stresses.
I used to build scale models, but nothing I have ever built even comes remotely close to what any of these guys have done. It makes my stuff looks like home made wood blocks made with an off kilter table saw.
That link appears to be to the same vid and model I posted?
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How can you call the interior ghetto. Do you think the Ferrari F40 has a ghetto interior as well? Besides, you live in West Virginia, what could you possibly know about the ghetto? ;D
Dude, I've seen redneck ghetto. That interior is definitely redneck ghetto.
You're so right. He obviously cut corners (and sharp ones at that) on the interior. It's still impressive as hell though. Compare:
It lookes perfectly similar. Apart from the carpet/leather on the bottom part. Seeing how he went for the racing seats, maybe he actually likes the clean race style interior.
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That link appears to be to the same vid and model I posted?
Is it? It's a 312, but I'm not sure of the scale. It seems smaller in the video (No audio on this PC :( ).
I went back to the photo lineup I linked to to see if I can find one with the same guy or a person to get a sense of scale, but none of the photos are working. WTF?
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It lookes perfectly similar. Apart from the carpet/leather on the bottom part. Seeing how he went for the racing seats, maybe he actually likes the clean race style interior.
My bad, the picture I chose of the actual Countach interior admittedly isn't the best choice for displaying the differences.
But consider on the replica:
* those horrible, large, angular (plastic?) pieces on the floorboards/sides
* lots of visible rivets/screws
* center console on the floor is very different
* overall visibly lower quality materials
* the seats appear to be fabric instead of leather
* ugly Radio Shack level rocker switches and buttons
It's just more reminiscent of a racing interior (someone compared to an F40) than a Countach, which was perhaps minimalist, but stylish. (I won't make reference to rich Corinthian leather.)
Again, I don't mean to take away from his achievement...it's probably the BEST Countach ever built in a basement!
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Indeed he turned it into a racer version of the Countach (maybe it even looked like that in the movie that inspired him). Still the shape is pretty similar. If he glues some carpet on the floor and sides it would look pretty much the same. But that would kill the race interior.
Fact is, the original Countach has had a pretty crappy interior over the years too:
(http://www.countach.ch/History/LP400/LP400_9.jpg)
(http://image.automotive.com/f/features/collectible_classic/6711348/0701_s+1974_lamborghini_countach+interior.jpg)
(http://www.beershots.com/lambo/interior.jpg)
Actually I recently saw a Spyker supercar at an auto show. It had the same lame interior. Aluminum panels with rocker switches. Amazing that people buy a car with a pitiful dashboard like that. For a huge amount of money besides.
(http://www.audiworld.com/news/00/spyker/cockpit.jpg)
The exterior looks OK:
(http://www.audiworld.com/news/00/spyker/rearside.jpg)
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That link appears to be to the same vid and model I posted?
Indeed it is. At work the video you link to here appears fine, but not the one there. Didn't even realize there was a video there, just the photos and description. They worked when I looked earlier, but now they're non-functioning. Damn blocks.
You are correct. Appropriate changes made. :notworthy:
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Patrick: those rocker switches are meant to be retro like the rest of the interior so that's probably why they choose them. IMHO I like them more than all the el-cheapo plastic one's you see nowadays.
And hey, it's the only decent car being produced in our little country so give it a break ;) ;) ;).
Even though it doesn't handle very well (seen Top Gear ?) ;) ;)
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And hey, it's the only decent car being produced in our little country so give it a brake ;) ;) ;).
Yeah it's our new DAF built from aluminum 8)
The whole company is a scam. They don't really sell cars. They find investors to receive money and they don't pay their suppliers. It's more like a pyramid scheme than a car manufacturer.
I'm more proud of Donkervoort or even Nedcar (producing the most reliable cars)
Even though it doesn't handle very well (seen Top Gear ?) ;) ;)
lol, no I didn't see that. I really need to install my hard disk recorder again.
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Did a bit of a google... saw an article that says aluminum cars can be safer. Not because of the material strength but because it can be designed larger at the same weight and thus have more crumple area, it crumples more predictably, and a lighter car handles better and thus will be in less accidents.
Not sure how they can say a lighter car handles better when all of the other design advantages are based on making it bigger and weighing the same.
there have been a few aluminium bodied cars over the years. pretty safe, and less prone to corrosion. i think land rover still make their 4wds from aluminium. chassis is/was galvanised steel. other examples from the past that i can think of straight up were jensen and bentley. and lotus super 7s. hmm, they're all british...
edit: and jaguar...
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I'd guess that just about every supercar is made from aluminum these days. Modern supercars from Europe since 2000 something at least.
Actually parts of it are starting to be made from carbon fiber. That's the next step up from aluminum. In fact just about the whole McLaren Mercedes SLR body is built from carbon fibre.
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good call. i forgot about one of my all time favourites - the mercedes 300sl gullwing :)
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And hey, it's the only decent car being produced in our little country so give it a brake ;) ;) ;).
The whole company is a scam. They don't really sell cars. They find investors to receive money and they don't pay their suppliers. It's more like a pyramid scheme than a car manufacturer.
Yeah. The only thing selling well seem to be the Spyker shirts. Seems like a man around the 40's doesn't count anymore without a Spyker shirt overher...
(http://www.spykercollection.com/portals/1/products/SP923_medium.jpg)
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i think land rover still make their 4wds from aluminium.
edit: and jaguar...
Not the case here for either, I'm pretty sure. The Land Rovers here are monstrous steel things.
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The exterior looks OK:
(http://www.audiworld.com/news/00/spyker/rearside.jpg)
Is this car in production? Cuz that image is a 3D rendering.
btw, is that guy's Lambo certifiable for street driving? I would think not....?
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btw, is that guy's Lambo certifiable for street driving? I would think not....?
...if he would have done a kit like normal people it would be. ;D
I bet it would be fun to explain to a cop why your registration said "74 Chevy Nova" though.
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The exterior looks OK:
Is this car in production? Cuz that image is a 3D rendering.
Yes it is. Has been for several years. The image looks more like an edited studio shot to me. Spyker races at Le mans and they owned a Formula 1 team for a while.
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btw, is that guy's Lambo certifiable for street driving? I would think not....?
...if he would have done a kit like normal people it would be. ;D
I bet it would be fun to explain to a cop why your registration said "74 Chevy Nova" though.
I can't speak for all States, but here in Ohio he would just need to apply for a title and have it inspected.
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I've heard conflicting things here in WV concerning homeade trailers - which would be somewhat similar to cars. The DMV said no f'ing way, period. I have heard friends and family say you can get a State trooper to inspect a custom trailer to get it approved for a title. Maybe its not quite 'legal' with the trooper thing, but they claim it can be done.
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I've heard conflicting things here in WV concerning homeade trailers - which would be somewhat similar to cars. The DMV said no f'ing way, period. I have heard friends and family say you can get a State trooper to inspect a custom trailer to get it approved for a title. Maybe its not quite 'legal' with the trooper thing, but they claim it can be done.
There are a lot of homemade trailers here in CA. Most are over thirty years old, so they get grandfathered in I believe. In any case, AFAIK homemade trailers just need to meet certain criteria for safety. In today's society though, so very few people have any ability to build their own trailers so it's a wash anyways. :dunno
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I can't speak for all States, but here in Ohio he would just need to apply for a title and have it inspected.
I understand he can apply and get an inspection, but I meant more that I doubt it would pass given the home-made nature of it. He would have had to adhere to a gazillion safety and engineering regulations... (then again, maybe not?)
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Probably not... those regulations are on the sales of cars. They're not on the registration. There are so few home made vehicles that the system depends on the fact that the car originally came from a licensed dealer at some point.
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I can't speak for all States, but here in Ohio he would just need to apply for a title and have it inspected.
I understand he can apply and get an inspection, but I meant more that I doubt it would pass given the home-made nature of it. He would have had to adhere to a gazillion safety and engineering regulations... (then again, maybe not?)
Chadtower is correct. Most of the safety laws that are in place deal with mass produced cars. One-offs enjoy greater freedoms in design, safety and general construction. Come to think of it, I recall reading somewhere that the safety laws kick in when there are X or more cars produced. If someone produces X-1 cars, they come in under the radar.
Wasn't there a show a while back that showcased this exact sort of thing? Coffin cars, Toilet seats with wheels, La-Z-Boy motorcycles, etc? All of them street legal. I may be wrong, but I'm reasonably certain coffins and toilets don't receive crash testing.
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toilets don't receive crash testing.
I saw the guy driving that thing. It looked like it received impact testing on a regular basis before it ever had wheels.
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The laws vary by state. I've done reconstructed titles on motorcycles to make non-street legal bikes legal.
Never have done a car, but I think he'd first have to photograph it, have it inspected by a mechanic, then submit the paperwork to the DMV. This is very similar to a kit car, with the exception that its a homebuilt frame without an existing VIN. I think if I was going to try this, I'd buy a wrecked Fiero, weld a couple pieces of it to an insignificant part of the frame and use the VIN from it as the basis for the kit. ;)
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The exterior looks OK:
(http://www.audiworld.com/news/00/spyker/rearside.jpg)
Is this car in production? Cuz that image is a 3D rendering.
http://www.spykercars.com/?pag=8
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i think land rover still make their 4wds from aluminium.
edit: and jaguar...
Not the case here for either, I'm pretty sure. The Land Rovers here are monstrous steel things.
did you go up and scratch the paint off to see ;)
i was thinking of early jags. landrover (not those ghey rangerovers) are aluminium bodied
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did you go up and scratch the paint off to see ;)
Used to know a guy who sold them for a living... drove a couple that he had at home. Could have been a Range Rover, though, it was a while back now.
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Basement Lamboroghini in his own words (http://jalopnik.com/5069251/exclusive-i-am-the-guy-with-a-lamborghini-in-the-basement). Plus more pictures.