How weird can a custom car go?

Let us find out. Join me as I try to chronicle some concept cars we can clearly classify as something beyond the extraordinary. This will be an exciting trip, you guys, so fasten your seatbelts as we are going, going, going…

First stop, the Dymaxion.

As if its appearance is not reason enough (is that a premature eggplant or an elongated egg?).

This bulky brawler—a three-wheeler—was the brainchild of Richard Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller, an American architect, author, designer, futurist, inventor, and visionary. Bucky is also the one responsible for those so-called “Bucky Balls,” which are best remembered in soccer balls.

Running for over 30 mpg, the Dymaxion was designed to carry up to 11 people, which then makes it the earliest predecessor of the minivan. Its very look perhaps was too amazing for it to be mass produced during its time (freakin’ 1933!), hence, up to now, there is only one Dymaxion seen by mortal eyes, which is, there, captured in the photo above.

Well, actually, you can blame it on the freak accident that happened in 1934, in which two passengers were seriously hurt with the driver dying, that is why the project was abandoned by investors, who concluded that the Dymaxion has faulty steering.

This is one crazy collision.

A Japan-based custom shop toyed with the idea of mixing vehicles and came up with the Ferrari Hayabusa Trike, a three-wheeler mish-mash of a Suzuki GSX1300R and a Ferrari Formula 1.

Painted in the same shade of radiant red which has made Ferraris iconic and is using a converted frame, the trike was Trike Japan’s entry in the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon, which took place January 9 to January 11.

Trike Japan is a company known for designing and manufacturing trike conversions for some of the most popular motorcycles in Japan.

Despite aiming to be revolutionary, the concoctive effort has received unimpressive reviews. A motorcycle blogger tagged the item “bafflingly weird,” while Jalopnik.com, an auto website, addressed its makers with an amusing question: “What were these guys smoking?”

Similarly, a previous attempt months ago by an Israeli design student, Amir Glinik, to conceptualize a Ferrari motorcycle was not welcomed warmly. Reports also said that when a certain private owner tried to turn his limo into a Ferrari, the Italian sports car company “was not so pleased.”

Save for it retaining the stock Hayabusa 1300cc motor, little information is known about the Ferrari Hayabusa Trike. There were speculations, though, that it could feature HKS twinturbos that can power it up to 500PS.

“At least it has some go to back it up,” wrote Jalopnik’s The Auto Insider in his review of the Ferrari Hayabusa Trike, noting that the trike is but an “abomination.”

Remember me saying Chip Foose’s work may be heading to a direction wherein new styles for cars can be discovered? Here, refresh your memory. I admit, I wrote that semi-consciously; you know, thinking ahead in the luxury of whatever designs that may come in cars, underestimating the power of updated technology and the expanse of human imagination.

And so when I found out about this automotive innovation, I was befuddled, aghast, astonished, bedazzled, discombobulated, you supply the rest of the adjectives.

I mean, holy crap, they make enhancements like this?! For the moment, I thought I was looking straight at Megatron’s face, or perhaps an enemy ship from Star Wars. See for yourself:

And as if that was not enough. The features of this so-called A’KIMONO LS2.0 Concept, developed for Audi by Bulgarian genius Teodor Kyuchukov, are, well, otherworldly. It’s like having a stealth aircraft on the highways with matching gloomy (hidden) lighting and all that hair-raising now-you-see-my-car-now-you-don’t shiznit. OK, Ma, I can pee in my pants now. It’s obvious I’m overwhelmed, fine. Just go take it straight from the horse’s mouth.

And that is just the rear of it.

There are more things to get excited about in the SMS 570X Dodge Challenger, which, after being announced May last year, has been finally made public.

Patterned after its elder brother, the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, the SMS 570X Dodge Challenger features the same sleek contours but is further enhanced by unique features like the SMS Red Butterfly Induction hood, upgraded drivetrain, suspension, aerodynamics, tires, wheels, and interior.

This novel creation from SMS is energized by a 5.7L Hemi engine complemented with a 296 Supercharger, which allows it to surpass the 500-hp output of its alter-ego, the SMS 570, by more than 200 hp.

The production of the SMS 570X Dodge Challenger will be limited to just a number each year, so if you are interested—I know many a jaw dropped upon beholding the picture posted above—better prepare now as the production will commence next month.

According to a source, in its opening salvo, each SMS 570X Dodge Challenger offered will be signed by Steve Saleen, the man behind SMS, as part of the Signature Series and will feature unique badges and graphics.

The SMS 570X Dodge Challenger price starts at 70,000 USD, while the 570 model at 60,000 USD.

For more photos of the SMS 570X Dodge Challenger, click here: http://www.zercustoms.com/photos/SMS-570X-Dodge-Challenger-unveiled.html

Pimpin’ ain’t easy. Yes, it sure ain’t. That is, not unless you have a pimpmobile on your garage. Yeah, these babies truly stand out to their name. They’re extravagantly styled and uniquely colored to give that good old seventies flamboyant style. I, for one, am still awed whenever I see one of these. Truly. the pimpmobile’s style never grows old.

Oh well, I sure am glad about this automobile. But first, let’s try to delve on some history lessons.

Okay, a car is commonly classified as a pimpmobile if it’s a large luxury vehicle coming from the seventies to the early eighties. Cadillacs and Lincolns were of common types. Now, what sets these vehicles apart from normal straight-off-the-factory caddies is that these cars are souped up in style. Headlight covers, hood ornaments, booming stereo systems, unique paint finish, and sometimes even a hydraulic system were the normal set up for these pimpmobiles.

They were called that way since these vehicles were popular with–yup, you got it right–pimps. They became popular through the seventies blaxploitation films and tv shows. Pimps and drug lords used to ride these vehicles as a sign of their power–and sense of style. Yeah, so who says the seventies was lame?

In any case, a typical pimpmobile customization would usually come with these parts and accessories:

• Round headlight covers (”superfly” headlights)
• Grille caps
• A 1941-style hood ornament (”Goddess” type)
• Lake pipes
• Thick vinyl tops
• Wide whitewall tires (”Gangsta Walls”)
• Chrome hubcaps (with spokes)
• High-end stereo systems (or if you want, an infotainment system if you’re the modern pimp)
• A shag or velour interiork
• And a custom paint job

Yep, if you want to give your car that “pimpin” style, you gotta get some cash first. So, at this point in time, I really have to ask:

“Is pimpin’ your car easy?”