By Robert Farago
August 19, 2008 - 3,241 views
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And here it is: the love child of a BMW Z3 and a Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. The fact that this Gorgon-on-wheels is trust fund-busting expensive is just icing on the pie-in-the-poseur's-face (a la Three Stooges). As for Autoblog's irony-free report on this monstrosity, someone needs to take Noah Joseph out and get him, well, you know. Drunk. High. Laid. Something. "The Pininfarina Hyperion was unveiled just this past weekend at Pebble Beach, and our man Drew was on hand to bring you the best shots of the one-off coachbuilt special from the show stand as it was unveiled and from the fairway where it was displayed in all its glory." I know, I know: Jay Leno's Tank Car– which he actually drove to Pebble Beach. But c'mon, there's nothing more ridiculous than looking ridiculous when you're trying SO hard to look suave.
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POWERED
August 19th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
This looks like the phallus the Ambiguously Gay Duo drove on Saturday Night Live.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I get the feeling the Pininfarina designers had better things to do when the coachbuilder called and said the design was two weeks late.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Just an update of this:
http://www.car-nection.com/yann/DBas_drm/1978/78svlpr3.jpg
or this:
http://www.camera-crafts.com/Dc4×0300-B9.jpg
August 19th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
This looks more like something Cruella DeVille would drive. The Ambiguously Gay Duo would be more likely to drive a Maybach Exelero Coupe and that would have to be world’s most ridiculous car.
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/precast-maybachs-pearl-jam-alfa-redux-redux-porsche-mule/
August 19th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Certainly not my cup o’ tea, but how is that any more ridiculous than any Rolls, or many other cars?
Surely not more ridiculous that the H2, the SSR … I could go on…
…and I will:
- anything made by the reincarnated Stutz Motorcar of America; see http://www.madle.org/estutz.htm
Just one sample:
http://www.madle.org/bh78jf06.jpg
- Corvette 789; http://horsepowersports.com/corvette-789/
Sample:
http://horsepowersports.com/images/corvette789b.jpg
August 19th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Meh, another fugly Rolls Royce. I have never seen a truly good looking one.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
This looks like the phallus the Ambiguously Gay Duo drove on Saturday Night Live.
That’s what I first thought. I could see Ace and Gary jumping out of it.
It also looks a bit like the car in “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
@cwallace:
I don’t see the resemblance at all.
This is the Ambiguously Gay Duo car. It is flesh-colored, not blue. The cockpit in the Ambiguously Gay Duo’s car is at the back. It has chrome bumpers, whereas these ones are body-colored. It can shoot lasers. This car cannot.
Edit: Oh God, I just realized I typed “cockpit” to describe a part of a phallusmobile. I’m sorry, Robert, this forum-type place has become a pit of wretchedness and evil. I am so, so sorry.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
It’s a little gaudy, but “the most ridiculous…”???! I can’t get excited about it in that way
August 19th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I don’t find it so much ridiculous as just sad. Very very sad
August 19th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I’m with David Holzman here. It’s not to my taste, but I actually find it a little less tacky than the R-R Phantom Drop-Head on which it’s based. (Admittedly, that’s setting the bar down around ankle level, but still.)
August 19th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Is this the reason Pininfarina died last week?
August 19th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Is this the reason Pininfarina died last week?
He died in a traffic accident while riding his Vespa. But maybe there was something karmic about it.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Mr. Niedermeyer beat me to it. The first thing that popped into my mind when I saw this car was a ridiculous thing called the Milan convertible which was based on the first generation Cadillac Seville. The pictures linked above appear to be of something similar called the Grandeur which had the elongated hood with the fake sidemounts as well. Both of these and this RR abomination have oddly scrunched-up proportions where the rear seat should have been. This sort of thing looks even worse with the top up.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Nope, it don’t matter how long I look at it, it is truly ugly…
Kinda like a fat chick on a moped ugly… you don’t want your friends
to see you with either…
SteveKBLeitch
August 19th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
it should be burned at the stake
August 19th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Now that retractable hardtops are so common in luxury convertibles (and more than a few near-luxury ones, as well), is there actually still a market for cars at this price point with a fabric roof?!?
And I mean a market, not a handful of people with money to burn…
August 19th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
“Look at me. LOOK AT ME!”
August 19th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
BuzzDog,
I think the fabric roof is to save weight.
Or maybe, it isn’t a convertible at all, but has one of those vinyl roofs that were so popular with the old-timers in the 70’s.
Bottom line: this is an atrocity that destroys the Pininfarina name.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Really, it looks like something from the old Supermarionation show “Thunderbirds”. I had an old Corgi or Dinky car from that show this reminds me of.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Maybe I like the ridiculousness, but I’d roll it all day long.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I might not recall the following anecdote with perfect accuracy, so feel free to correct me:
A few decades ago a custom coach builder (those name escapes me) took a RR frame and built a body around it that used a very curved and stylized version of the traditional RR grille. RR was so infuriated that the grille designed was modified in such a manner that they tried, but without avail to purchase the car, so that they may erase it from existence.
After looking at this new one-off convertible, I cannot but think that BMW has finally put the last nail in the coffin of what was once undeniably one of the trade marks of Rolls Royce design.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:58 am
It vaguely looks like the Batmobile in the 1990’s animated series.
http://www.batmobilehistory.com/1992-batmobile.php
I wonder if it has the turbo afterburners!
August 20th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
leno’s got more money than good taste. or more ego than he really needs. or both.
August 20th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
That thing looks like someone blew up a Z3 with a foot pump and drew on a RR grille. Ugh. I don’t think I’d drive that if someone gave it to me.
August 20th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Wow. That is odd.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:38 am
If this car was US built it would be hailed a masterpiece. Just because Johnny foreigner comes up with a radical idea that puts it way ahead of the US industry there is always an immediate reaction to condemn it. Jealousy is an awful handicap to bear!