Thursday, August 24, 2006

Crazy Cars in L.A.

Maybe it's because we're a movie town or maybe because it's "just L.A." to do such a thing, but there are an awful lot of distinctive cars that are seen in L.A.

Just last week, I saw the keyboard car:


Yes, it's a car covered by keys from computer keyboards.


This is the Second One (or first ,depending on which you see first) according to Metro Blogging LA.


It made me remember the trophy-covered van that I knew from my childhood. I then was forced to think of LA car's like Angelyne's pink Corvette in Hollywood, that rocket car I saw at Carney's on Ventura Boulevard, and Woodruff's "whatever" car around town. (Interestingly enough, LAvoice's Mack Reed had the same thought process and captures all three here.)

I wonder what other distinctive LA cars are out there that I missed? Know of any local to L.A.?

There's this one: Crazy Art Jeep.

Besides these indie custom cars, there are those professional cars that you may only see in L.A., especially around Toluca Lake's Barris Kustom. It's not uncommon to see a certain time-traveling DeLorean around the neighborhood or parked at the local gas station.

After a little Googling, I found that it may not be an "L.A. thing," which is sort of sad. I wonder, could we have an Art Car parade like Houston or Baton Rouge? Why not? I bet George Barris would participate! There's a huge tourist attraction in this one... NoHo, Lincoln Heights, San Pedro, Gallery Row? Can you dig it?

9 comments:

Miles said...

What about the cars circling the westside with giant Menorahs? Believe they ramp up around Hannukhah.

There's also that actor --Dennis something -- who has attached everything and the kitchen sink to his collection of cars/trailers that he parks and lives in in Hollywood.

beam aims north said...

The chicken car:

http://mbmason.blogspot.com/2006/04/
easter-parade-this-famous-chicken-car.html

I heard a rumor that this car was involved in an accident with another car whose driver claimed he "just didn't see it."

Maria said...

Ooh, I know where this person lives! He lived in our old hood when we were still on Franklin Avenue.

Anonymous said...

have you seen the r2d2 car?

http://flickr.com/photos/hustlerofculture/102457019/in/photostream/

Anonymous said...

You will always see a lot of "art cars" around this time of year because the Burning Man Festival takes place over Labor Day Weekend; Many of these decorated cars are about to drive out to the high desert for the Festival. You will also notice many more of them just after Labor Day, when the "art cars" return to Los Angeles and San Francisco. :)

Louis (Video Louis) Elovitz said...

Just seconds out of NOHO on Verdugo
which is the Burbank extension of Camarillo Ave is the Shoe Repair Car in front of it's store. There's a goog Pet Store around to the left.
Acroos the street is the Chicago mHot Dog place ummmmmmmmmm.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28933684@N00/?saved=1

Scott said...

How about the guy with the Clown Mercedes? It's a large Mercedes sedan, probably early to mid-1980's, and each body panel is painted a different screaming color (hood blue, left rear quarter panel pink, trunk green...those aren't the exact colors but you get the idea).
I used to see this car parked along Franklin Avenue in East Hollywood all the time starting around 1989 (that's 17 years ago, kids), and a couple months ago, I saw it again! Driving down the Hollywood Freeway! Still going!

Peter McFerrin said...

The Louis Vuitton Oldsmobile is a classic, and frequently seen around Los Angeles. Losanjealous had a post about it with it pictured in front of the Vons at 3rd and Vermont in Koreatown.

Or how about the Lincoln Boulevard Cock Car--technically in Santa Monica, but a Westside fixture nonetheless.

Anonymous said...

This used to be seen near McFadden & Selma. http://otto.3rd-coast.com/~channone/IMG_2820-c.jpg