Incoming: Gadaffi Launches Four-Wheeled Rocket

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Just in time for the 40th anniversary of Moammar al-Gaddafi takeover of Libya, the Colonel and “Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution” designed a car. Not just a car of course. The Moammar-mobile is “the future of the automotive industry.” That according to a press release cited by Der Spiegel. The name of the car harkens back to Gadaffi’s military past and future ambitions: It’s “The Rocket.”

Financed by Libyan oil money, the car was developed at Tesco TS in Italy, strictly according to the vision of the “Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,” of course. Officially, the car is branded as made by “Libyan Company for Development and Investment, with concept and design by Libyan leader Colonel Moammar Gaddafi.”

His PR people need a little sensitivity training. The blurb says the car is “shaped like a racing boat to provide maximum safety.” As anybody who knows a little about racing boats can attest, very little is more dangerous for life and limb than a racing boat. And nobody wants a car that handles like a boat. It sure looks like it’s more at home on the water.

The first prototype of The Rocket did cost Libya’s leader “around two million Euro” – not unusual for a prototype. It comes with full leather interior and Libyan carpets on the floor. It’s powered by a 230 hp engine. Mass production in Libya is “under consideration.”

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

More by Bertel Schmitt

Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 20 comments
  • Gimmeamanual Gimmeamanual on Sep 03, 2009

    Maybe he designed the "prow" to be able to gently part and push aside the surging, unwashed masses. Or another way to put it, nice cow catcher, ya jacka$$.

  • Rix Rix on Sep 03, 2009

    Weapons of mass production.

  • Kurt. Kurt. on Sep 03, 2009

    ...and you know a thing or two about racing boats, eh Herr Bertel? (wink)

  • Yankinwaoz Yankinwaoz on Sep 03, 2009

    Damn that looks just like a Star Wars stormtrooper helmet.

Next