What Am I? Found on the 405
Welcome to another edition of DT’s cure for the Monday morning blues — What Am I? We
take a random picture of a car and you get to guess what it is. Today’s feature is something I spotted on the freeway this weekend and had the wife snap a few cell phone pics.
I really wish I could have gotten a better picture of the rear, because from behind this thing looked like space ship cruising north on the 405 in Orange County. I’ve seen a few custom cars in my day, but this thing is really something else — but the question remains — what?
Apologies for the thumb in the picture, but the front windshield extends all the way down to the bumper. What am I?
Was it making noises like a VW, Corvair, Porsche, Hyabusa or V8? No rolled down window video of you yelling "what is it?"! Very interesting difference in front/rear wheel offsets.
Despite the crazy looks it was making very little noise. Even with windows rolled down couldn't hear much from the engine.
Yes. I too would like to know what this is.
Looks like the love child of a Pagani Zonda and a Chevrolet SSR.
Those side vents are speaking to me…
I'll tell you exactly what it is…awesome. I wouldn't want to be in a front-end collision of any sort in it and it looks like it would be difficult to get in and out of, nor do I know exactly what it is (hopefully, we will at some point) but it's got to be one of the best customs I've seen in a long time.
Could there be a sequel to "The Wraith" in the works?
[img] i.imgur.com/HDtwlZa.jpg?1[/img]
LOL…that was my first thought too, but I figured we had met our Wraith comment quota for the decade.
Ha! Either that or we should be listed as producers…or better yet, just make it ourselves! A real gearhead movie for gearheads by gearheads. Yeah…!
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[img] i.imgur.com/qWSPemr.jpg?1[/img]
It looks like a combination of Mosler, Giugiaro, Bertone and Mercedes and the back end of an SSR.
Are those… leaf spring shackles in the back? Though the body looks new-ish, those wheels scream 70's – 80's concept car. 6 dots on them… 6 lugs maybe? Quite confused by this one.
peugeot concept
I immediately thought Peugeot as well.
Looks like it should have all kinds of traction.
I recognise this as a concept car in the magazines from sometime in the early 90s. I feel like I can picture the magazine article. They spoke of its Barry Manilow-esque nose, and the tail like an aircraft carrier landing platform. That tail is distinctive, and I remember the wheels. I remember it being red with a black roof and pillars. It was taken for a test drive.
But I Just can't place a name. Not one of the major manufacturers.
The above reads like I'm a medium at a seance. Which is about how useful it is, too.
It does bear more than a passing resemblance to the Peugeot 307 CC:
[img] img2.netcarshow.com/Peugeot-307_CC_2003_800x600_wallpaper_0c.jpg[/img]
Could be its aborted / should-have-never-been-born progenitor?
Whatever it is, it would make a great modern europa.
A friend of mine who is a car designer said this about it:
"I think it was called Apex. It was designed in the late 80's early 90's, (before internet) by an ex Art Center transportation instructor. It was originally red. I think his last name was Powers."
I can't find out anything about it still.
It really has many of the themes of the Peugeot concept cars when you google the images, especially the wheels and forward cockpit and windshield in general. I just didn't see this one!
It must be a friend of Justin Bieber's driving his car on the 405 after he got pulled over.
Electric? Perhaps a remnant from the age of lead-acid batteries where you needed a pickup truck bed to carry all of them?
~ IDR Arex from 1991.
h/t, Steve Eastwood via facebook.
google image search; google.com/search?q=IDR+Arex+from+1991.&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=xy1bVaehD5DuoATQwYHgCw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1093&bih=514
Fantastic! Good job. Former child actor design, meant as a "calling card".
WANT WANT WANT…. Super fun and cool…. just don't let some one on their cell phone in an SUV drive up the front and into your LAP.. (which was 3 feet from happening to me recently)…
Nice work. Google image search even has the same magazine photos I remember.
Scot — nice work!! It even makes sense for the location (only a few minutes away from Toyota's Calty design center). -Vince
My guess is that's actually Stollery behind the wheel of his creation. In case anybody missed it, the top comes off, too (the car, not him). Here's a link to his company site with more info on the car.
Oops. Forgot to include this SEMA video.
youtube.com/watch?v=5Vb5vVgpk40
~ I can't really take credit for the ID. All I had to do was share DT's facebook post with Coachbuilding and Concepts fb page. Within a short time Steve Eastwood chimed in with the correct answer ! Networking.
Some more pics, including chassis, and specs:
carstyling.ru/en/entry/IDR_Arex_1991/
facebook.com/pages/1991-IDR-Arex-Roadster/149116081847151
facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.149116435180449.33292.149116081847151&type=1
Video (note the Nevada plates…)
youtube.com/watch?v=3XwKf2-Bveo
Barry
Pretty awesome that it is from 1991!
Another insane Art Center car created I believe in 2000 by designer Nick Pugh.
[img] thegnomonworkshop.com/store/img/products/dvds/NPU01/artistGallery/npu_06.jpg[/img]
I think I've seen this one. If it's the same I'm thinking of isn't it propane or NG powered?
Yes a 502 on propane I believe
Stollery has worked for American Sunfoor!