Sidewalk Surfer

If you visit the Olli Erkilla site, make sure you have a good look around as there are some real gems. I love things that are simple and functional and this fits the bill as well as being elegant - Called Solex -The sidewalk surfer, it was done for the Dreamachine Motorcycles of Slovenia.

Engine punk because: Its got a small engine but also has some soul and style about it (its much more than a "domestic appliance"), it takes an unusual approach to transport and if you saw it going down the street you would certainly look twice - or even three or four times.

First "Bob" nomination.

If we were going to make an annual award for commitment to creating the Engine Punk aesthetic (the Blackmans or “Bobs” for short) a strong contender for the first award would be Olli Erkkila.

At Engine Punk Litmus we have a bit of a thing for Citroens and Rat Rods can be quite cool too – so when the two get combined by someone with talent the result is what could be described as the “mutts nuts” of 2CVs. The first saw the image on the Belgian Allride blog but it originally seems to come from the artist himself - Olli Erkkila. Visit his site to see more fine work - this one is in his digital art section.

Trab-ants in your pants.

The previously much laughed at and now, apparently, much loved Trabant is the focus of much HotRodding attention - if you believe everything you read on the internet. Not all the results are good but this one is particularly pleasing on the eye. You can see the whole transformation via http://www.hotrodphotos.com/ - and find Wayne's Trabant.

As an alternative approach to modifying the Trabant (image via the BBC) the Horsepower Whisperer would have to revert back to simply being the Horse Whisperer ! "Walk on"..

Engine punk because: An unlikly and ugly base vehicle transformed into something of balance and beauty. So maybe too pretty to be Engine "punk" - maybe it should be Engine "new romantic". The MX5 is described as something "your sister would drive". This is possibly something Morrissy's sister would drive.

Austin America

To us in the UK (the yuk), America can seem like a glamorous alternative existence with different spelling and bigger cars. In some export markets such as North America, the humble Austin or Morris 1300 was known as the Austin America. Usually over shadowed by the Mini Cooper, which had the same engine but less car, the Pininfarina styled 1300 never made it as a competition car.

But here's one that has been "souped up". I like the wild flares and the way there's so much space around the engine. I also like the way a race car (we would say racing car here in Blighty) has been made out of an unlikely candidate.

It could only have happened in Austin, America. Or maybe Austin, Texas. Except that this car happened in Canada (another alternative existence we admire)



Engine punk : because in a parallel universe Austin 1300s would be race cars.

Pictures from www.race-cars.coms

V8 Citroen

Some say it's sacrilege, others appreciate the sheer cheek (or maybe chic) of this rear wheel drive low rider Citroen. I like it, even though I admire classic Citroens, because I appreciate the sense of humour behind this device. And I bet it's quicker than the original.

The attention to detail on the dash and in the engine bay makes this a fantastic piece of rolling sculpture.

Engine Punk because - it shocks and appalls at first and then (as one of my industrial design lecturers would say) you find yourself liking it.

Imagews sourced from CarDomain

Le Zombster 32

I found Nitro magazine on my trip to Le Mans and bought a copy even though my French is not too good. That's irrelevant when the pictures tell stories like this - I think this is great, a new take on hot rodding by a French guy, Marcel Sylvand.

Even if your French is worse than mine, buy the mag for the pictures.

For more info click on Nitro where this image was sourced.