There is just something cool about a vehicle that can take you to your local mall one minute, then across your cities local waterway the next. This is the Splashtours bus, an amphibious vehicle that has the capability to motor you around via land or sea. Located in the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands the amphi-bus provides up to 43 people a new and exciting way to see the city. Now granted you will have to make some compromises if you choose to go this route. For instance, there is no toilet aboard this bus, nor is it handicap accessible. However if you have a strong bladder and all your limbs are working properly then this is a floating experience that is sure to provide you with a good time.

Source: Splashtours.com

A 1989 Vanagon Synchro Camper

If you grew up in the 70s and 80s, it was impossible to miss the VW Microbus and the VW Camper on the roads. A predecessor to the modern minivan, VW busses offered owners the ability to haul passengers and cargo in (relative) comfort, and camper owners were fanatically dedicated to vacationing in their vans. Fuel economy was impressive for something that had the aerodynamic profile of a housing complex, but safety was more or less an afterthought. The drive was positioned in the very front of the van, with only a flimsy bumper and thin sheet metal protecting him from things like oncoming cars. Worse, the van’s high center of gravity made them prone to rollover if a driver lost control. I’m probably overstating the obvious here, but they were a handful to drive in any kind of crosswind, and even a momentary lapse in attention could cause you to drift into the next lane, or worse, the guardrail.

The last VW Campers, called “Westfalia Vanagon Campers”, were sold in the U.S. in 1991. The vehicles still enjoy a cult following, with clean examples selling for more money than when they were new. Volkswagen realizes how important the camper was to their identity, and Volkswagen’s design chief, Klaus Bishoff, is in favor of such a project. There were plans to revive the bus back in 2001, but costs associated with the project vetoed it from moving forward. There was plenty of customer demand, which may of may not translate into sales. The buying public is notoriously fickle, embracing concepts and petitioning car makers to build them is one thing, but parting with hard earned cash is something else entirely.

Before VW can build a retro-modern camper, the company must first decide what they’ll offer. Will the van be just another VW minivan, or will a camper be offered? Will it come in commercial variants, aimed at tradesmen, or just optioned out versions aimed at soccer moms? VW’s California design teams are hard at work on concept sketches, but it’s unlikely we’ll even see a concept vehicle on display until 2012 or 2013.

Source: Autoblog

This video is chock full of retro 1970s goodness, from Bud’s bizarrely patterned shirt to the avocado colored bathroom in the Starcruiser RV. It will remind you why we left these things behind, or make you wonder what the hell people were thinking 40 years ago. As for the review, Bud takes us through the 1972 Starcraft Starcruiser RV, perhaps the ugliest thing to ever roll off an assembly line. It looks like a cross between a vintage city bus and a catfish, and if Bud is to be believed it handles about the same. Inside is also filled to the brim with ugly, so be sure to put your taste away before you watch this classic road test.

The Starcruiser was powered by a 318 cubic inch Dodge motor that probably made less than 200 horsepower while sucking down leaded gas like Kirstie Alley sucks down bon-bons. Surprisingly, Bud found the “cottage on a truck chassis” to be ill handling, partially do its size and “inadequate” suspension system. I wondered why I never saw too many of these on the roads, even in the 80s, but Bud’s assessment was probably right. With “handling like a Wells Fargo Stagecoach”, I can’t imagine that owners kept these things longer than the last payment. That is, of course, assuming they didn’t die behind the wheel.

For those of you out there who have never been to a real live automotive swap meet let me just say that you’re missing out. Sure the majority of the stuff for sale is just about as old and useless as a 1985 Yugo, but that doesn’t mean that it’s any less fun. You see the real thrill of the swap meet is the hunt. People generally go to them not to find anything in particular, but more or less to just see if they can find that needle in a haystack. Car guys are notorious hoarders. We keep everything from the smallest screw, to the biggest fender in the hopes that one day we may in fact find an application for it. Sometimes in digging through our little stockpiles of stuff we come across a useful item, but most things just lay buried in the cockles of our garages.

Up here in the northeast the car season is coming to a close, as are the shows and gatherings. What the end of the year does bring are some of the best pick and pull meets of the year. Guys who have been holding onto parts finally realize that they’ve got no place to put them and will likely let them go for a steel, if you’re good enough at bargaining. At the swap meet everything is negotiable and I mean everything. Think about it this way, the morning of the meet some poor sod cleaned out his storage bin and lugged everything to the swap meet in the hopes that they’ll be able to dump it by days end. That means the last thing they want to do is load it back up again just to take it home. My advise is if you decided to venture out to one, bring cash, a pick-up truck and your bargaining hat because there’s no telling what you could walk away with.

When I look back at some of my old motorcycles as compared to the new steeds of today I have to say that they were pretty archaic. I remember having a 1985 Honda VF1000R, it was a great bike back in the day with its two-piece frame, quick release front wheel and V4 engine design, but by today’s standards the bike is an absolute dinosaur. These days motorcycle companies are trying anything and everything to get people back on the road, but one company in particular has decided to take a rather unorthodox approach.

Back in 2007 the Can Am Spyder RS was released to the public and upon its release was met with very mixed reviews. Some thought it was too much of a departure from a “real” motorcycle and yet others simply didn’t know what to make of it. At first glance you may think it looks like a snowmobile and quite honestly, you’d be right. You see Cam Am’s parent company, Ski-Doo has been building some of the best sleds out there for years so it seemed only natural that their first attempt at a road going machine would have a similar configuration. With two wheels up front and a single out back the Spyder is a trike in every sense of the word. It’s comfortable, looks great and has enough performance to get you excited in any gear.

It’s now 2011 and after 3 years of production the Can Am Spyder has secured itself a strong foothold as a great alternative to the traditional two-wheeled motorcycle. Aimed at a slightly older crowd Can Am also saw the need for more of a dress-up tourer as well and for 2011 they’ve stepped up to the plate with the new Spyder RT. With ample room for two and the luxury capacity of a mid-70′s Cadillac, the Spyder RT was developed for comfortable long range excursions that allow you to simply enjoy the trip without the worry of leaving something behind. Keep in mind that both the Spyder RS and RT are completely different from anything out there and while not a motorcycle, they can still fulfill that desire to ride and get you back out on the open road.

Source: Spyder.brp.com

I won’t get into the debate on whether or not the Midnight Rider qualifies as a limousine, since it really doesn’t matter. Just take one look at the video and tell me that you’re not thinking the same “rolling brothel” thoughts that I am. Limousine or not, this thing is pure genius on the part of Michael Machado and Pamela Bartholemew, who designed the rig back in 2004. It’s based out of California, where the exchange of money for clothing-optional-recreational-activity is against the law. Nevada, the next state over, does indeed allow it in several counties, so I’d be willing to bet the Midnight Rider spends a fair amount of time over the state line.

Not counting the, um, adult themed entertainment, the Midnight Rider has a staff of five, including at least one bartender. The video shows the front and rear “lounges”, but I’d be willing to bet there’s at least one “VIP Suite”, reserved for, um, “contract negotiations” between entertainment and clients. I have no idea what it costs to rent this thing, but if I ever publish the great American novel, I’ll be hiring this for my book tour. If anyone has actually partied in the belly of this particular beast, let’s hear your stories.

Jim wasn’t sure if he should go with brick or stucco to replace his RV’s aluminum siding.

Source: That Will Buff Out

I have no idea how Autoblog found this before I did, but here’s one RV that is so full of retro kitsch that it’s actually wrapped the dial back into cool again. Up for grabs on eBay is this custom built, one-of-a-kind 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado GT motor home. From the beige exterior to the dark paneled, plaid-clad interior (complete with faux marble panels), this camper is a time capsule of 1970s tacky goodness. Break out your BTO 8-tracks, squeeze yourself into those polyester bell-bottoms and get ready to hit the road in style. Trust me on this, you won’t be sleeping alone very often, especially if your rocking a serious moustache.

The camper was factory built for an RV industry executive, then sold to a mechanic who replaced the 455 motor with a new short block just 4,000 miles ago. Unfortunately, that was done back in 1986, so the camper hasn’t been used much in the last 24 years. I’d expect it to need a little work and some TLC, but the whole thing is based on ‘70s technology, which means you can repair anything with hand tools and duct tape. It’s also sold without a title since that’s how the last owner registered it in Georgia, so just make sure your state DMV can still issue plates.

With a buy-it-now price of just $15,000, this baby won’t last. If you want exclusivity, this rig is your ticket to the big time. It’s one of one, baby! Even Ferrari 599 GTO owners don’t get that kind of cred. Besides, you can’t sleep, shower or give your disco queen a Samoan piledriver in a Ferrari 599 GTO. I say 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado GT Camper for the win.

As Dave watched his Inferno trailer burn to the ground, he found himself wishing he’d bought a Wilderness trailer instead. Or perhaps found a way to tow his trailer with a GMC Typhoon.

Source: That Will Buff Out

Own a Jeep and regularly use it for excursions to the middle of nowhere? Tired of sleeping on a cot, or worse yet on the ground? Had your share of waking up with a rattlesnake in your sleeping bag? There’s good news from the Mopar catalog: soon you’ll be able to order a pop up camper, designed for off-road use, at your local Jeep dealer.

There are actually two models to choose from. The price of admission starts at $9,995.00, which buys you the Trail Edition. Don’t think that you’re losing out on functionality, because even the bargain basement model comes with BFG Mud Terrain tires on alloy wheels, 12 inches of ground clearance and a torsion bar / trailing arm suspension designed to work when you’re SERIOUSLY off road. Wear areas are reinforced with diamond plate aluminum, and the interior sports a queen size bed, fold out couch, 110v power and a heavy duty canvas roof.

Spring for the $11,995 Extreme Trail edition, and you get 35 inch BFG Mud Terrain tires, reinforced frame, full underbody skid plates, 15” of ground clearance and an available pintle hitch for towing in extreme environments. As with the Trail Edition, the Extreme includes a queen bed and fold out couch, heavy duty canvas top and 110v power.

The campers will come in four Jeep Wrangler colors, including Bright Silver Metallic, Flame Red, Mango Tango Pearl and Natural Green Metallic. Chrysler tells us they’ll be available for order beginning next month, just in time for your Labor Day weekend camping trip.