r/WeirdWheels

The third of the four made, one of two commissioned around the media blitz of Thunderball. This car was driven up to a seminar in Rhode Island yesterday and I didn’t see it until I walked out. Not much makes me speechless, but this did!

In Lombardy Italy

Just missing Aunt Edna on the roof.

The J-P Wimille was a French automobile manufactured from 1946 until 1950. Powered by a rear-mounted 60 hp Ford V-8, it was an aerodynamic saloon designed by racing driver Jean-Pierre Wimille. No more than 20 were built. Some of the cars appeared after Wimille's death in the 1953 film "Les amours finissent à l'aube"

The company produced two-seater, closed sports cars with mid-engine, as Wimille was enthusiastic about the mid-engine concept. The prototype from 1946 had a four-cylinder engine of the Citroën 11 CV with 1911 cc displacement and 54 hp. With this engine, the top speed was set at 150 km/h. Later, Ford supported the project, so that a V8 engine from the Ford Vedette with 2158 cc displacement and 60 to 66 hp was used.

Chevy S10 paratransit vehicle with Dodge Caravan hatch components, unknown builder.

Rayton Fissore Magnum, introduced in 1985, was one of the early luxury SUVs and later reached the U.S. as the Laforza. It used a shortened and lowered frame from an Iveco military vehicle, retaining a solid rear axle and independent front suspension. Patented UNIVIS construction increased body rigidity, while rubber mounts helped reduce noise and vibrations. Four-wheel drive with low range was paired with engines ranging from Sofim and VM Motori turbodiesels through the Busso V6 and BMW inline-six to a Ford V8.

The luxurious interior combined leather, wood, comfortable seats, generous rear space, and a large luggage compartment. On the road, however, the high weight caused significant body roll, understeer and troublesome rear-axle behavior, while the brakes were inadequate for the vehicle’s weight. Straight-line driving was the opposite, with high stability and comfort aided by good insulation and body mounting. Tom Tjaarda gave the body rounded forms and smooth panels that moved the traditional off-roader toward a more refined road-going appearance.

The American Laforza received a modified grille, reinforcements, improved insulation, and a Ford V8, later joined by a supercharged engine. High prices, quality and electrical problems, and poor driving characteristics still limited its success. Around 6,000 Rayton Fissore examples were built by the first half of the 1990s, followed by approximately 1,200 Laforzas. The Magnum therefore remained a rare early luxury SUV combining military-derived hardware with a luxurious interior.

Could the Magnum have succeeded with the backing and know-how of a major automaker, or did it arrive at a time when wealthy buyers were still interested in a different type of body style?

Youth support group but also church kinda. Interesting mod.

Hey everyone, I've always been fascinated with these plans for years. I'm a part of a group that has the tri-Magnum plans which are cool to look at but it wasn't something I was ever interested in building. I always thought the Phoenix van and other ones were cool. I posted in a van group about the phoenix, and within 2 minutes I was pointed in the direction of the construction booklet and schematics. Talk about blown away.

I'm here looking for someone who might have a copy of the plans for the town car, Centurion or urba. I posted for the Boogie van in the other group because it's a van groove but if somebody here has them, I won't complain. Does anybody have any plans for any of these or anything else from RQ? I'd love to get a copy just enjoy looking them over and contemplate doing something like building something. Once I find my hovercraft plans, I'm happy to upload them to someone who wants them. Thank you.

It’s a boot but also a car