It's not everyday that someone can turn science fiction into reality. That's exactly what Casey Putsch of Putsch Racing in Dublin, Ohio did. When he merged a 1989 Batmobile replica with a turbine engine. Something that even Hollywood didn't attempt to do. Not only did he successfully merged the two, but it's functional. Not to mention street legal at that! Casey just 29 years of age is a 2005 graduate of Ohio State in fine arts, aspires to be a race car driver. However he isn't able to move forward without additional sponsorship. Looking to prove to the world his talent, Casey set out to build this car. How did he do it?
The power plant is a military spec jet turbine engine from drone helicopter built by Boeing. Casey self taught, rebuilt the engine and fabricated the parts to make it work in a car. What's even more amazing is the fact the car works just as normal street car. The power is transferred directly from the engine through a semi-automatic gear box to the rear wheels. What's it run on? According to the YouTube video it runs on kerosene, diesel, or jet fuel. Nice to know you can pull this thing in to just about any gas station and find something to run it on (minus the jet fuel). If you watch the videos closely notice Casey is wearing ear protection. This thing is loud!
Looking over the pictures and a YouTube video you can see how cleanly Casey put this package together. It all looks stock and straight-out of the movie. There are a lot of neat buttons to control the engine and other car functions. Including the guns that popup out of the fenders. There are a wealth of gauges to monitor engine stats. I would imagine the iPad may have some additional monitoring apps on it, plus something to take notes. If nothing else it looks really cool with the Wayne logo. Time to build was five months. I could imagine that being very intensive. Jet engines aren't exactly easy to work on.
Since construction was completed (June 2011) Casey has already won several awards at the very prestigious Ault Park Concours de Elegance in Cincinnati, Ohio. This car competed against some of the most valuable cars in history. An amazing story. Casey was very prompt and was happy to grant us permission to run this article. We wish the very best for Casey and Putsch Racing. We hope he get's to live his dream of being a driver. You sure have wowed us all. Readers see ya next time, same OnScreenCars.com time same OnScreenCars.com channel!
Gotta monster of a eBay Find for you readers this week. The Monster Garage Volkswagen Beetle Swamp Buggy has been spotted! An Ebay seller from Thurman, OH has listed this one of a kind ride recently at a price of 10K or BO. Nice a bad deal, especially if your looking to wow the folks at your local car show or cruse in. If you remember it does travel on land and water (kinda, sorta). For those who may not be familiar with this ride. Let me fill you in.
On the show's third episode, Jesse and the team put together vehicle capable of driving on land and floating on water much like a bayou swamp boat. They started with a 1999 VW Beetle for the base. They were given just a week and a small budget of just $3000 (not including the cost of the car). They hacked up the rear deck hatch and squeezed in a fan boat motor on tracks. Body modifications were made to help create a shell/hull. The empty hull was filled with foam to help make the car float. A long tall pipe was added to direct the exhaust up and out of the water. The team was successful in making a functional vehicle to meet the challenge while keep it relativity stock looking.
According to the eBay auction the car has been in storage for quite sometime. After the first season aired, the car along with other vehicles from the show went on tour. It eventually wound up in the Peterson Museum for sometime before being returned to the set. After the show was canceled the car was stored in warehouse in Burbank, CA. At some point most of the Monster Garage cars were sold at Barrett Jackson Auto Auction. However this lucky bug didn't go up on the auction block. Later the car was sold to the current owner and housed in Ohio out of public view. Which brings us to where we are today.
Now it can be yours! Head over to the auction and place your offer or buy it now. Be ready to pick it up locally. If you do. Please let us know! We'd love to feature your new OnScreenCar! See ya next time folks!
Warning: Sarcasm and BS ahead. Ever wanted to be like Bo and Luke off the Dukes of Hazzard? But can't seem to find a 1969 Dodge Charger suitable for conversion? Well the wait is over. I'm going to tell you how these fine folks featured in this post managed to 'live the dream'. But before we get to the pictures. Let me fill you in how the system works.
It's simple really. Years of research have determined that it's a scientific fact that if you paint your car orange and place a 01 logo on each door it will increase your car's performance 100% percent. That's right. Your car will drive faster, have sloppy steering and jump higher. The confederate flag and General Lee logos are optional. However you can increase your drag coefficient by adding a large CB antenna to the trunk lid. Go ahead and hook up a CB to that antenna so you can talk to your Cousin Daisy and Uncle Jessie back at the farm. For protection, arm yourself with a good bow and arrow. Maybe a little bit of TNT. Don't forget the push bar on the front. Wouldn't wanta get stuck in a pile of cop cars.
Alright. Enough with the BS. Seriously there are some interesting vehicles out there that have had the treatment. But I'm not sure if it was done for 'performance' reasons. It was just done because it's cool. Nothing like the classic orange paint job and 01 lettering. There's no doubt about it, ya do it to show your love and support of the Dukes of Hazzard. Some just show it a little more than others. Let's see those pictures!
Sometimes half is just as good.
No car? But ya got a van. No problem!
I'm thinking the turbo is doing them a little more good than the paint job.
Oh no. It's the Dukes of Fallujah!
Don't worry we'll get ya to the airport on time Mr. President!
I like what has been done here. Note the winch on the front and the exhaust stacks with flappers. The car bra is total win too!
Someone converted a love bug. This one's not getting the Herbie Treatment Package.
Down and Dirty Racing!
"Let me plug back in before you chase me Roscoe. It'a just take a few hours. Don't wanta miss the big jump!"
I'm sure Boss Hogg got a little bit of envy when he saw this. That white Caddy isn't near this long. Could ya throw bull horns on the front?
Got luggage? I've got rack!
Daisy wanted to join the boys. Plus she was tired of freezing her buns off in the winter (note the hard top).
I'm sure you've spent hours hovering over the replay of Ken Block's Gymkhana videos. I know we have. If you're not familiar with rally/stunt car driver Ken Block, check out his video below. Just so much going on. The man is a drifting genius. Makes you wanta get right out there and fire up your Ford Fiesta and give it a go? Well that's about where the fantasy ends. Seriously, how many of us could soup up their ride with all the mods necessary and still drive it work everyday. But maybe there's an alternative way to experience Gymkhana. Enter the latest installment of the Dirt 3 off-road racing game.
Dirt 3 offers a huge world of different off-road racing modes. But the one we're gonna look at today is the Gymkhana mode. The game offers an intense training program for you to learn the art of Gymkhana. You'll master the drifting skills necessary to do some of the tricks Ken does in real life. Then once you're ready. You'll move on to the Play Ground. On Play Ground, you're free to go wild. You can challenge your friends by setting the clock and see who can do the most moves in the time aloud. This open ended form of game play makes for some interesting gaming parties. Reminds me of sitting around with the guys goofing around on GTA (non-mission mode). This time with a little more purpose. Till next time. Keep your tires in check.
Imagine your favorite movie cars as Pixar characters! Well the guys over at Next Movie commissioned Old Red Jalopy (a poster designer) to anthropomorphically redesign seven famous movie cars as Cars 2 characters! Seven famous movie cars were Pixarized (is that even a word?). Not sure. But I agree with NextMovie.com, I too smell a concept for some interesting sequel material! Listen up Pixar and Cars fans!
All of the cars feature eyes on their windshields just like the regular Pixar Cars characters. Each of them have a unique smile and facial expression. I like how the artist took the time to make each car special. I can start to see voices and personalities forming in my head for some of the cars. However the pieces that really caught my eye were the Delorean Time Machine, The Batmobile, and Ecto 1! Check them out over at NextMovie.com! Hopefully Old Red Jalopy will have these posted on their site for public consumption too! See ya next time.
