This guy narrowly misses colliding with a jackknifed truck, and it’s all caught on video!

Every so often, we like to post video of insane car and truck crashes. This one might just take the cake:

Source: WCF

We all grew up in a town known for at least one story. Americar is such a tale. In my small, working class New Jersey borough we had a shark attack in 1916, which took the life of a young boy named Stillwell, and inspired Peter Benchley’s Jaws. We also gave birth to a former NFL star who killed his girlfriend, but I guess that’s not very original these days.

In an area just outside of Houston, Texas (where the stars at night are big and bright) Tracey Bautista had a vision, to make her very own bit of local news. As a designer and advertiser, Tracey knew how to attract attention – and in the Southern United States all one really needs to do is paint an American flag on something.

Take one part Chevrolet Cavalier, mix in some flashing stars and glowing stripes, and what have you got? The Americar! Yes, The Americar. Tracey has entered her vehicle in art competitions, parades, and even let celebrities take it for a test drive (well, if you consider Larry The Cable Guy a celeb). It has inspired locals from all over The Lone Star State – and now, we introduce to you all – Americar.

Source: traceybautista.com

If you’re looking for a good used truck near Orlando Fla, Nations Trucks has the ride for you. What else can they offer? How about Hundreds off a pre-owned Dodge Ram or Ford F-250, affordable financing on all models… oh and a free AK-47 with your purchase. Wait, what?

It’s that time of year again, when dealers are looking to clear their lots of quality merchandise to make room for more vehicles in 2011. Around this time every year, several dealerships nationwide offer some interesting giveaways – including assault riffles and hunting riffles. You have to get clearance through the dealer, and sit tight during the standard waiting period – but as long as you don’t have an intense criminal record, and you buy a truck, a brand new AK should be available shortly thereafter.

And yes, Nations Trucks also sells Monster Trucks.

When the Critters are comin’ to git ya, you gotta git em back. Yes, believe it or not that is American English, at least in certain parts of the Ozarks. And when you’re a resident of such a gorgeous, remote area of the country, what better way to preserve it by taking a 30 foot long, 11 foot wide mobile bachelor pad out to shoot endangered species. At least that’s the concept behind Critter Gitter (we’re assuming they mean “Getter” – which, last we checked, is also not a word).

The 5 speed automatic transmission Gitter is powered by a Chevy Ram Jet 502 crate engine. This five ton vehicle rests on Rockwell axles that were originally used on a tank hauler. The Shop Off Road in League City, TX created this monstrosity and charges a mere $340,000. So far, 12 are in existence.

Some of the fun custom options range from barb wire fencing, a wet bar to even custom alligator skin seating. Yes, there’s a video too – and it’s hilarious:

Thank you so very much for bringing this to our attention, Jalopnik.

There are many reasons that Philadelphia, Automopedia’s adopted home, makes us swoon with happiness but also cringe with horror. Sure, every major city has its problems, but when you have choking sports teams, crumbling roads, pathetic public transit and a Parking Authority that should be lined up for executed – its hard to find reasons to stay happy. But one of those positive thoughts was knowing The Buttercream Cupcake Lady way coming around. She’d park her van in various locations throughout Center City (the “Midtown” of Philly) and and dispense her creamy goodness.

Oh wait, the City of Philadelphia wanted to stop that too. Bastards. Kate Carrara runs the “Buttercream Cupcake Lady” service out of a truck every day, announcing her location via Twitter. That’s how police knew where she’d be when they surrounded her converted postal van with a blockade.

“Three enforcement guys came out with badges blazing,” Carrara told the Philadelphia Daily News. “Scared the crap out of me. The three cops with them were looking at me like, ‘We can’t believe we’re doing this.’ – “And I’m like, there’s crack deals a block away and three cops are surrounding the Cupcake Lady? I mean, really?”

The officers impounded the van and drove away with dozens of uneaten desserts, “indifferent to the city’s never-ceasing demand for cream cheese.”

“I’m licensed as a roamer, like an ice-cream truck that plays a song, sells some stuff and moves on. I have a permit to park at LOVE Park on Wednesdays but most of Center City and University City are off-limits,” Carrara said.

The former lawyer said the officers were business-compliance officials from the city’s Department of Licenses & Inspections. But L&I Commissioner Fran Burns claimed, “It wasn’t us. We don’t confiscate trucks.” The mayor’s office agreed, directing questions to the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

Luckily, Carrara was not held for long. She wrote a $200 check and then returned to the mean, red streets of Philly, where she vowed to fight for amending the vending law. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness through red-velvet cupcakes demand no less.

Via Jalopnik

They come from a land down-unda’! The only things more famous than Paul Hogan, Steve Irwin (RIP) and the Subaru Outback to have Australia related back to them is the mighty and adorable Koala Bear. These cuddly little creatures are mostly slow to act, hanging out in trees, sucking down eucalyptus leaves. Nature’s teddy bears are pretty much the most laid back creatures in the South Eastern Hemisphere. That’s not always a good thing – when an automobile is barreling down on you at 80 kph (or, I guess, around 50 mph?) having a fast reaction would probably save your life.

Well, this poor Koala had no such reaction to the vehicle slamming down on him. Luckily, instead of becoming a stain on the wrong side of the road (they do that whole UK driving on the other side bit) this fella landed safely, if not a little painfully, inside the grille.

Local veterinarian Lisia Sturm was astounded to find the animal had survived.

“It looked quite surprised — if koalas can look surprised,” Dr Sturm said. “It had its bum wedged right in there meaning it couldn’t get out. But he was a big boy and looked really healthy. He didn’t have any injuries at all — not even a graze.”

The koala was cut from the grill with bolt cutters and kept under observations for the rest of that day before getting released to its original habitat.

Source: NineMSN

One resort in Stuttgart, Germany has a pretty good idea of what to do with those turned-in clunkers. Use them as part of their design. Want to christen that marriage in the back seat of a 1971 Cadillac Coupe DeVille? Keep it classy with a stay in the V8 Hotel. Car nuts and gearheads alike will enjoy the new inspired guesthouse features several theme rooms based off a love for autos. From car beds to luxury automotive surroundings and a trip down Roue 66 – it all can be yours at the V8 Hotel. Just keep in mind… you can check out any time you like, but you may never leave.

Many of the hotel rooms include a bed built from the chassis of classic cars. These include “Americana” images like the Indian Motorcycles and Rebel Without A Cause prints. Others impersonate a drive-in movie theater or the childhood bedroom of a car fanatic.

Not all of the rooms are strictly car themed. Other accommodations include a V8 Camper room, complete with “love swing hammock” – we recommend cleaning that off before you sit on it. Single visitors will be stuck with a less-than-exciting “classic Bauhaus” design.

Other rooms, including the Zeppelin Suite, are three stories tall, complete with balcony, and contain tens of thousands of dollars worth of Chachkies.

Source: WCF

A car full of zombies crashed off a highway in Protland, OR over the weekend, confusing onlookers, and forcing police and fire officials to break out machine guns and a 5-ton armored semi-truck.
According to io9: Last night, a car full of zombies flipped over on I-84 near Portland, Oregon. The zombies (who were just flesh-and-blood folks going to a party) were unharmed, but authorities initially mistook their undead costumes for real wounds.

At 9:30 PM on July 9, the zombies’ car swerved and rolled onto its top on the eastbound side of I-84. Five crash victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries and went to local hospitals. Here are some more details from KGW:

Police said that in their investigation they learned that the people inside the car were dressed as zombie costumes and they were headed to a party at the time of the crash.
Sgt. Greg Stewart said people who witnessed the crash initially thought the victims’ injuries were much more serious, because of the zombie costumes.
“We’re glad that everyone is alive, despite being ‘undead’,” Sgt. Stewart said, referring to the costumes.

I think generally people view Utah as a boring place…. Yes, it is Big Sky Country, beautiful and sprawling. But there are some…interesting events that happen every so often in the land of Mormons and SLC Punks. Case in point: Sylvina Beagley. Slyvina is a unemployed former community theater employee, PTA adviser, wife and mother. She also suffers from bipolar disorder (allegedly). That apparently led her to steal not one, but two cars and carry on a chase with police. She was also naked the entire time.

Slyivna Beagley’s nude adventure around West Valley, Utah started when she stole a car from a guy placing road signs up at 5 am. He gave chase in her car, which she jumped from to take his, sweaty and nude the entire time. Beagley crashed this guy’s car and ran onto some property (all sweaty and now bloody from the crash) of Alliant Technologies. Police were called, came by and found her hiding in some bushes. She darted past police and stole one of their cruisers. She eventually crashed that car as well, and was apprehended. I guess it’s hard to drive a car while nude, bloody and sweaty.

Beagley’s facebook tells us when she’ll be able to go plead her case in court. Looks like some jail time for the crazed nude bloody car thief. For now we have to wonder what set her off in the first place. Maybe living in Utah…maybe she didn’t get that walk on part in HBO’s Big Love.

story | pics: jalopnik

Every so often, we like to throw out a little bit of air transport love. When the Air Force boys get behind the throttle of a super fast attach jet, without much of a war to face, they get bored. When they get bored, and when someone has a video camera, you get some low pass fly-by’s that would make Maverick jealous.