OnScreenCars.com is still alive. It's been hard to keep up with posting with the holidays. But I wanted to include a very special holiday post. Ben Bond of the Tampa Bay Ghostbusters just shared with me a video of his Ghostbusters ECTO Truck all decked out for the holidays! I've been meaning to do a full feature on this truck. This is the second vehicle from the group to be featured on this site. You may remember Ghostbuster Jason Rawley's Chevrolet HHR. More to come in the future on this truck. But for now let's enjoy Ben's truck with a hint of Griswald flavor.
Just this last week, Gorillaz released a new music video featuring some cool muscle cars. Not to mention a surprising special guest. The new video is to help promote their upcoming album, Plastic Beach. For those who are not familiar with Gorillaz, let me give you a short introduction. Gorillaz are a virtual band created after comic book series Tank Girl. It's members are Russel, 2D, Murdoc and Noddle. The actual musical performers vary from song to song. It's a very interesting concept to say the least. But enough about the band. Let's talk about the video.
Each Gorillaz video tells a part in a never ending story. I'm not currently up to date with what's going on in the story, other than the fact their escaping to an island. But this video starts out with the gang racing through the desert in a 1969 Camaro SS. They're being chased down by a cop in hot pursuit. Noodle-bot manages to shoot at the cop till the cop runs off the road and crashes through a billboard (very Dukes of Hazzard like). Things are fine for the moment, till they pass Bruce Wills in a 1968 El Camino. Bruce Willis starts chasing down the group and tries to gun them down. He successfully shoots out the back window and driver side mirror. The chase goes on as Bruce's El Camino pushes Murdoc harder. Some nitrous effects are used and they escape only for Bruce Willis to catch up again later. The chase ends with the crew running off a cliff into the water, where the car turns into a shark. Let's talk about the cars!
The Cars
The Camaro is badged on the tail panel as an 1969 Camaro SS, painted black with a white vinyl top. The front emblem was replaced with a "Stylo" emblem. There's a star on the door with the bullet holes and rub marks, very rough looking. It's got the factory rally wheels with center caps. If it's a true Camaro SS, it should have either 396 V8 or a 350 V8 engine under the hood. It's debatable if the blower scoop is functional or if it's just there for looks. The scoop is sitting on top of a cowl induction hood. It looks kinda out of place. One last note, the Camaro front-fender scripts appear and disappear throughout the video. Do you think two cars were used?
The El Camino is a 1968 model (non-SS). The paint color resembles candy apple red. The wheels look like American Racing 200S, classic style. I found something a little confusing with the shifter. In one part of the clip, Bruce reaches down to grab floor shifter knob. If you look up at the steering wheel, you can see a column shifter as well. Is the floor shifter a fake or was the column shifter just left for nostalgia? If you look closely, the column shifter appears to be in the park position. Just a interesting note. Engine size? The car is badged as a 327 small block chevy (note the close up near the end of the video).
Final Thoughts
Two words. Mind Blowing. There is a lot of stuff going on here. I thought it was a great video. The video has a Mad Max kind of theme going on. The new album will be released soon, you can pre-order through our store! The cars are awesome. It's not that often that you see classic muscle cars in music videos anymore. Not exactly sure what the song is talking about. I've read different explanations on the web. Some say love, some say death and some say it's about the car. I think we're all left to interpret the meaning for ourselves. Question, is it just me, or do you guys think the video producers like classic Chevrolet cars? Would a Mako Corvette be a closer match for imagery of the car turning into a shark? Comment your thoughts as we work on our next post. On Screen Car will keep ya posted on On Screen Car happenings. See ya next time!
Meet the FireBreather, a custom 2010 Chevrolet Camaro built for the up coming film Jinn. This hero car was built for Exodus Pictures by Classic Design Concepts of Novi, Michigan. The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS was used as the base car. As you see there is a wealth of body mods on the car. The front nose, styling lines and graphics look like they pay tribute to Pontiac Trans Am. Note the four headlight setup and grill design. The car features a black and red color scheme with custom wheels. The wheels have the FireBreather graphics on the center caps. Performance mods include Elbach springs and Pirelli PZero Rosso tires. In addition to the movie production cars, there will be 50 cars released for sale. Pricing will start around $60,000.
OnScreenCars.com is proud to present our newest segment on our blog "Fan Created Rides." In commemoration of this event we're presenting the ECTO-1X. This custom 2008 Chevrolet HHR was modeled after the 1959 Cadillac Ambulance featured in the Ghostbusters movies. Jason Rawley of Fireblade Comics came up with the concept after seeing the HHR for the first time. He had intentions of designing a concept based on the PT Cruiser, but he quickly decided that the HHR was much better suited as a platform for the ECTO-1X. Jason also had help from his fellow Tampa Bay Ghostbusters group members. After months of planning and design, him and his crew built/constructed the modification.
The Rack
The modification includes a rack (much like the one on the original ECTOs). The rack is constructed out of PVC pipe mounted on a plastic board. It appears to be removable and very durable. Most of the contents of the rack are pieces of recycled office and home entertainment equipment, aka Ghostbusting Gear. Jason has included the key components of good Ghostbusting, a sniffer/binocs unit, a radome, directional antenna, etc. Note this stuff is very technical and are highly specialized pieces of equipment. Alright, all jokes aside. The light bar across the top is a great choice. He notes that it's held on by magnets, plugs into the cigarette lighter and has 30 different flash patterns. The light bar flashes amber, so he doesn't have to worry about getting in trouble with local law enforcement.
Graphics and Placement
Jason and his team did a great job with the graphics and placement. He spent months designing the layout and placement of all the graphics. In the first version of the design, you can see the caution strips running along side the bottom near the rocker panels. Later he revised design by moving the middle set of strips to the top. The revised version also has little reflectors on the bumper uprights as well. Of course to make it official, Jason put the famous "NO-GHOST" logo on the front doors and rear hatch.
Final Thoughts
I would love to own something like this. I think it's completely retro and new. Thumbs up to Jason and the team at Fireblade Comics and Tampa Bay Ghostbusters. Hope to see more from you guys in the future. May you inspire a whole new generation of Ghostbusters fans where ever you go! I think it would be really cool to see more modern retros of old tv and movie cars. This design is very clean and slick! This is the first of many Fan Created Rides here at OnScreenCars.com If you've got a Fan Created Ride pop over to our forums, register and tell us all about it! You're car might be the next to appear on our blog at OnScreenCars.com! See ya next time!
The March 2010 cover of Hot Rod Magazine features an exciting concept vehicle inspired by the movie Smokey and the Bandit. It's creator Kevin Morgan came up with the concept nearly as soon as the 5th Generation Camaro concept was introduced. He started out drawing up some Trans Am concepts based off the Camaro. He presented and sold prints at car shows and they became an instant success. His first big break came when he displayed and sold the prints at the 2007 Bandit Run event.
At the Bandit Run event, Kevin caught the attention of legendary car designer Chip Foose. He also got an interview with the producers from the DIY Network (Do It Yourself Network). DIY did a special about the Burt Reynolds, Year One Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am. Kevin got to be part of the show! Later at the Bandit Run, he made contacts with the editors of Hot Rod Magazine at the Bandit Run dinner. He describes the experience that day, like being on "Cloud Nine". This event followed by a chain of other events later, lead to the production of the Kevin Morgan Concept Trans Am.
Concept Car
In 2009 the first car was built out of collaboration between Kevin Morgan Designs and Otto Body. The car is referred as the "Phoenix." The Phoenix was on display by the group at the 2009 SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV. An official announcement has been made by Trans Am Depot and Otto Body that cars will be available for sale. However no word has been said about an official conversion kit. But the parts included in the covered product are listed on their website. I would imagine there is a lengthy waiting list for these cars.
Features [from Otto Body's Website]
Exterior
1' - 1.5' Lowering Kit w/sway bar handling upgrade
Wheels & Tires
Front: 20x9.5x120 CB-66.9 Gold or Silver Machined Face Snowflake Wheels. PIRELLI PZERO 275/45ZR20
Rear: 20x11.5x120 CB-66.9 Gold or Silver Machined Face Snowflake Wheels. PIRELLI PZERO 305/35ZR20
Hood
Shaker Scoop
Fender Extractors
Exhaust Conversion w/ splitter tips
Rear Fascia Clip w/tail lamp lenses and bulbs
Rear Spoiler
TA Graphic Package
Interior
Embroidered Head Rest and Console Lid - KM Graphic Punch
Turned Aluminum Door Panel
Turned Aluminum Dash Inserts
Turned Aluminum Instrument Cluster
Door Panel Badges
T/A SN Badge and Designation
Check out our Store for some great Smokey and the Bandit stuff!
Final Thoughts
What does this mean for Smokey and the Bandit fans? Well there may not be another Smokey and the Bandit movie coming out. But here's an opportunity to own a cool retro version of the movie car. Using the modern F-Body platform, the Kevin Morgan Trans Am Concept gives owners a blend of modern automotive technology with classic Trans Am styling. It will also excite a new generation of Smokey and the Bandit fans. Who knows it might even persuade GM to bring back the Trans Am. I wouldn't mind seeing a "Chevrolet Phoenix." What ever happens, let it be known it all started with our friend Kevin Morgan! Here's to you Kevin, from all of us at OnScreenCars.com! Till next time, "keep the pedal to the metal." We're working on the next On Screen Cars post! 10-4 Good Buddy!
