13
Jul 2012
Zombies, Hitler and coffee makers - it's Folly Friday!
After a lengthy hiatus, we're pleased to revive Folly Friday, MotorTorque's weekly irreverent look on the auto industry!
Hitler's car discovered in New Jersey?! That can't be Reich...
Zenop Tuncer, a New Jersey-based autodealer, called Mercedes at the start of the week to request parts for the vintage car he was repairing. After giving Mercedes the car's serial number, the voice on the other end casually replied: "That's Hitler's car."
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The 1942 Mercedes 320 Cabriolet D was part of Hitler's fleet, likely driven by some of his most fearsome generals. But how did a Fuhrermobile end up in Edgewater, New Jersey?
Zenop found the car on eBay while searching on behalf of one of his customers, property developer Fred Daibes, who purchased it for approximately $180,000.
It's only one of eight made especially for Nazi officials and still carries marks of its dark history - a patch on the fender shows where somebody once tried to wrestle a Nazi flag from the car.
Hitler himself apparently drove a Mercedes 770 and a Renault Twizy.
Hyundai Elantra Coupe - Zombie edition
Our resident comic book lover found this on his way into the office this morning for a fiver, the Hyundai Elantra Coupe zombie smasher edition of The Walking Dead. Designed by Robert Kirkman in celebration of the comic's centenary issue, a real version of the car was unveiled at industry event Comic Con in San Diego, yesterday.
The car features a front-end custom zombie plow with spikes, armoured window coverings, a roof hatch to allow passengers to fend off attacking walkers, a trunk full of electric and pneumatic weaponry, front and back end floodlights, spiked all-terrain/rally type tires, a CB radio system and other things to slay the undead.
We like it more than the car in 'Zombieland'. What do you think, what's it missing? Maybe it needs something like...
The Fiat 500L espresso coffee maker
If you love crushing your own beans while driving then the Fiat 500L, due for release in 2013, has an optional built-in Espresso maker included.
Developed alongside Lavazza, the in-car coffee maker uses capsules to give people their morning cup of Joe when they're ploughing down the outside line of the M1 in heavy traffic.
We love it. It has a speedometer-style temperature gauge, and if you're to invest in the car's 'coffee experience' kit then you get a spoon holder, pod holder and sugar holder included.
£20m Ferrari 250 GTO in world's most expensive car crash
US Businessman Christopher Cox was recently involved in the world's most expensive car crash, as he smashed his Ferrari 250 GTO into another car in France. The bill? Upwards of £20million... ouch!
The Ferrari 250 GTO is highly-regarded in the auto world, and Mr. Cox's was only one of 39 ever built when it rolled off Ferrari's production line in 1962. Double ouch!
It was being driven as part of a 21-strong convoy of Ferrari fans on its way to Le Mans, taking part in the vehicle's 50th anniversary tour. The convoy included Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and JCB boss Sir Anthony Bamford.
Oh yeah, and Christopher Cox's wife broke her leg, too. Triple ouch!!
50s flying car available for £800,000
Can't wait for the Terrafugia to be released? Get in touch with aircraft collector Greg Herrick, who's looking to sell his 1954 Taylor Aerocar N-101D flying car for around £800k.
Talking to the Smithsonian, Greg says his interests have changed and that he's more concerned with "the golden age of aviation between the wars - in particular the aircraft that were almost lost to history."
Only one of five aerocars produced by Moulton Taylor in 1949, it can reach 60mph and flies like a dream. "No more trouble than changing a tire and a lot more fun!" quips Mr. Herrick as he looks through travel brochures, mulling over which island to buy.
Man finds stolen car on eBay 42 years later
42 years ago, Bob Russell cried his eyes out (probably) as his $3,000 1967 Austin Healey 3000 was nabbed by thieves from a car park (parking lot) in Philadelphia.
Refusing to let the criminals win, 66-year-old bob spent the next four decades searching for his car, the last 20 or so years on the internet like an online Batman.
"The fact that the car [could still exist was] improbable," he told Associated Press. "It could have been junked or wrecked."
His persistence paid off. Bob found his car on eBay, and immediately contacted the seller in an entirely humourless manner to tell them they were selling a stolen car. He had all the documentation to prove ownership, but lacked a copy of the stolen car report he filed with police back in 1970.
A stalemate occurred between the eBay seller (as no buyer had met the reserve price for the car) and Bob. Eventually, Bob turned his attention to the Philadelphia police department, where he 'persistently' phoned them up all the time until they found the report and he got his car back.
Hate to see what he's like when he loses one of his socks...
(Images courtesy of Associated Press, Smithsonian, Metro, PR Newswire, Fiat and Jake)
Have we missed anything out? Let us know in the comments below, and if there's anything you'd like to see appear in the future!