Cowabunga Dude makes The Ninja Turtle Van

Here is a restored 1994 Dodge Caravan and made to look like the The Ninja Turtle Van. The Ninja Turtles had a vw but this guy choose a Caravan because it was easy to find parts easy to work on, comfortable for him to drive.

The Turtles played a huge role in his childhood, growing up with all his cousins, playing Ninja Turtles while his Uncle Harry (Uncle Shredder) chased them around doing an exact voice of The Shredder. He used to drive them around in his Caravan, and now every time he sees one it reminds him of the Turtles Van. Cowabunga Dude!!!.

Art Car Book by Harrod Blank - A must have for your coffee table

What got me started in the journey with my own art car the Mercedes Pens and now with Art Car Central was a book called "Art Cars: the cars, the artists, the obsession, the craft" by Harrod Blank.I walked into the library one day and was browsing the car section when I came upon the most amazing book I had seen in a long time. In it was filled with images of people who had decorated their cars with paint, glued objects, car modifications and everything in between. Many of those cars have since been featured on Art Car Central like the Fruit Mobile, Hoop Car, Camera Van, The Phone Car, The Button King, Glass Quilt, and many more from Harrods Blanks Art Car Agency.

If you have ever seen an art car around town and wondered why would someone do that to their car. Or where curious about the type of person who would drive an art car, then this book is definitely for you. I now have my own copy and it never gets old. You never now, you might end up making your own art car and one day it could end featured here on Art Car Central, I look forward to your art car submission.

Bike Fro Art Car

This is what I call a Bike Fro art car, complete set of hair made entirely out of bicycles mounted to the outside of this ford van.

Oliver von Feistmantl on Art Cars

Le Baron Convetible Art Car

Racebus Art Car


Oliver von Feistmantl is a comic PoP artist from Vienna Austria that paints on pretty much everything, like houses, ships, snowboards, skateboards and even cars.
He started out as a graffiti artist in the 90´s but got arrested, so he decided to concentrate on legal ways to exhibit throughout Europe, Asia, the Caribbeans and NYC.

He makes acrylic paintings and sculptures in all sizes and in 2008 started to paint on a fishing boat in Thailand and in 2009 started to paint on cars.

The 1974 VW-Bus is called the racebus, because he got an engine from a Porsche 911 and was finished in October 2009. The 93 Chrysler Le Baron convertible was finished in 2010 and is the one he currently drives.

He hopes one day to come across a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow because its his personal dream to one day paint that car as well.

Easy A Team Art Car Project

The new A Team movie is coming out in June and with it will follow another wave of home made A Team vans. What's great about this particular art car project is that its easy to make and all you need is a black vehicle to start with. The only painting you have to do is the red stripe down the side and all you have to worry about is getting the angle right at the elbow, easy peasy.








Here is the original A Team intro video to get you psyched

Dangerous Duct Tape Van on the Loose

Dangerous Duct Tape Van on the Loose


I was sent this duct tape art van the other day from my friend mark, an engineer with a duct tape talent and here is what he said;

I am an art car artist and went to the westfest and Seattle Artcar Blowout several times. The duck tape van was created because of inspiring friends in Eugene, Oregon. These early forrays into art have opened new doors for me and enriched my life. As an engineer, duck tape was always there but never appreciated. Discovering the wacky, wonderful world of art cars released my spirit and let me fly.

Thanks Mark and while I was at it I found a few more duct tape van jobs created by folks gifted in other areas.

Window Repair Duct Tape Van Job


Rust Repair Duct Tape Van Job


False Advertising Duct Tape Van Job

The Man in a Van Project by - Art Car Covered in Recession stories

The Man in a Van Project - Needing a new water pump

Participant writing her recession story on the art van

Heartbreaking Recession Story

photos by maninavan's photostream

Aaron Heideman is an artist competing at art prize in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the largest art prize competition in the world. His art car piece is called The Man in a Van Project, and is traveling the country collecting stories from people whose lives have been affected by the recession. Most stories are written by participants on a large roll of Tyvek paper, and the best will written on the art van itself. He is currently on the road planning to visit 37 cities in 20 states, and finish in Grand Rapids on September 15, 2009. There is a section on his web site for support help Aaron complete his project and bring the stories to light. Good luck.

Van Covered with Stuffed Bear Road Kill

A van covered in stuffed bear trophies is one way to tell the world "I am cute and cuddly" or "I brake for carnival games" or "I break for garage sales" or "I am covering a major bad paint job or "my car is really a clunker in disguise"

Snake Art Cars - Kevins GI-Joe Cobra Rattler Art Car

GI-Joe Cobra Rattler Art Car - Rear View


GI-Joe Cobra Rattler Art Car - Side View


Inspiration for the GI-Joe Cobra Rattler Art Car


I finally got around to the most sought after car in the world, the snake art car because last week was like snake central. I go a second email from Kevin owner of the Hundai Cobra Art Car shown above explaining to me why he though his cobra car was a good candidate for art car central. Then I kept finding snake pens around the house and one in the car when my phone went missing. Then I went to the county faire and my kids wanted to see the snake exhibit. Snakes every where, so I finally gave in and decided to get this over with and post Kevin's cobra art car. I showed Kevin the real snake car and asked him if he though his car was up to par for consideration to ACC, here is what he said:

"I'm sure you will see that the whole car is in theme of a G.I.Joe/Cobra Vehicle and a lot of effort and design went into it. While I enjoyed the cobra car link you sent me I feel as though my car has a lot more artistic design complexity over a simple repeating snake scale pattern wrap on a car.

I'm also including a pic of the cobra rattler toy that my car's theme is based on, please view it to compare my car and the the theme I'm trying to achieve.

Thanks again, your blog is fun to look at!"

Kevin H.

Kevin thanks for your submission and I apologize for the long wait into ACC. I am sure it was well worth the wait. I also added other snake Art Cars so as not to excluded any o the other Snake Art Cars.

Snake Car - Covered in Vinal Wrap and "Real" snakes.

(snake car that Kevin mentioned in his email to me)

Snake Art Car - Truck actually "hand" painted.

Photo by Eli the Bearded

Snake Van - Printed Vinal Wrap

Photo by Akbar Simonse

The Phenomabomber Beta Art Van- The Phenomenauts and their Intergalactic Mission

A band of space cadets came together in 2000 to form what is now known as the The Phenomenauts. This intergalactic band of pioneers led by Commanders Angel Nova and Joe Bot, are a blend rockabilly, punk, and good old-fashioned rock‘n’roll. This this quintet has quickly become well known and loved by all who have witnessed their amazing shows. Their space adventures are made possible by the use of their space ship called "The Phenomabomber Beta" seen here parked in dry dock.

Go on Long Road Trips with the Toilette Paper Van

Photo by Delta Niner

This fabulous TP covered van was seen and not heard at this years Houston Art Car Parade. I think this is the ultimate solution for those long road trips with a van load of kids on the way to Disney land or some camping trip. Its strictly a summer road trip vehicle or else it would just look really tacky if it got rained on. I am also glad that the TP is set up flap facing forward and that the van has an additional 4ply bumper cushion for ultimate safety and comfort.