Limousines on playa
- hullabaloo
- Posts: 16
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- Burning Since: 2013
- Camp Name: Heavy Meta
- Location: Canada
Limousines on playa
Hello,
I have been dreaming of driving a limo to the playa and turning it into a MV. Over the years, the idea has evolved into this: turn the limo into a convertible (ideally with a detachable roof), create a limo cover out of gutted stuffed animals and pair up with BAIT or offer silly 'official tours'. I would intend to use it only as a day vehicle, not night.
My question to you, fellow ePlayaians, is would such a modification fit the criteria for a MV? This line taken from the MV Criteria and Licensing page has me thinking it could be a possible - "Consideration may be given to vehicles that are presented outside of their normal context".
It DOES look like this has been done before. To get a better idea of what I'm currently envisioning, I've attached an image of a vehicle that looks like it made it out to the dust (though I am unsure of the artist). I'm betting you can all picture what a limo with roof hacked off looks like.
Any comments, suggestions or snark would be appreciated. Thanks!
I have been dreaming of driving a limo to the playa and turning it into a MV. Over the years, the idea has evolved into this: turn the limo into a convertible (ideally with a detachable roof), create a limo cover out of gutted stuffed animals and pair up with BAIT or offer silly 'official tours'. I would intend to use it only as a day vehicle, not night.
My question to you, fellow ePlayaians, is would such a modification fit the criteria for a MV? This line taken from the MV Criteria and Licensing page has me thinking it could be a possible - "Consideration may be given to vehicles that are presented outside of their normal context".
It DOES look like this has been done before. To get a better idea of what I'm currently envisioning, I've attached an image of a vehicle that looks like it made it out to the dust (though I am unsure of the artist). I'm betting you can all picture what a limo with roof hacked off looks like.
Any comments, suggestions or snark would be appreciated. Thanks!
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take me down to black rock city
where the grass ain't green and the girls are dirty
oh won't you pleeeeeease take me home
where the grass ain't green and the girls are dirty
oh won't you pleeeeeease take me home
Re: Limousines on playa
DMV is pretty specific about the original vehicle not being recognizable. I don't think they will license a car covered with stuffed animals. Even if it is a limo. I think it's too cheezee. And I love cheezee. With all the designing, time and money put into the MVs this looks like just a way to drive rather than bike. Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear.
Those aren't buttermilk biscuits I'm lying on Savannah
Pictures or it didn't happen Greycoyote
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Pictures or it didn't happen Greycoyote
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Arthur Schopenhauer
- Dr Helix
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Re: Limousines on playa
Nope. And Nope. I have friends up in Canada that redid a cadillac into a beautiful bar in the middle. Called it "The Limo Bar" I mean this thing was a work of art. And they tried to get it into Burning Man. Turned down twice. One of the criteria of the DMV is that the base vehicle has to be radically modified so you don't even know what it is. Limos or any car like vehicles won't get invited. I mean you're welcome to try. But don't get your hopes up.
"Love, Rockets and write when you get work"
- hullabaloo
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Re: Limousines on playa
Thanks Ratty + Dr Helix, those are indeed the replies I was hoping to hear. Shame about your pal's limo though, Dr Helix - I'd love to see it.
take me down to black rock city
where the grass ain't green and the girls are dirty
oh won't you pleeeeeease take me home
where the grass ain't green and the girls are dirty
oh won't you pleeeeeease take me home
Re: Limousines on playa
Exceptions are made every year, but there is usually a very long history and merit behind the exception.
The Hearse that was operated a while back was quite recognizable as a hearse but was operated in a larger art context.
Some over-the-top flame vehicles are slim on the mutations but magnificent in the fire displays.
Overall, the perception of a stuffed animal / teddy bear covers car would be: “OMG that was fricking lazy”.
Unless you have a few hundred people shooting AR-15s at the stuffed animals as you drive by, then It would be way cool.
Only way I see that getting a permit is if you dedicated it to being a mobility-service cruiser with full ADA accessibility and run it like that for the better part of each day. Even then you’d need to know the right people and have an existing sweat-equity rep in the community.
The Hearse that was operated a while back was quite recognizable as a hearse but was operated in a larger art context.
Some over-the-top flame vehicles are slim on the mutations but magnificent in the fire displays.
Overall, the perception of a stuffed animal / teddy bear covers car would be: “OMG that was fricking lazy”.
Unless you have a few hundred people shooting AR-15s at the stuffed animals as you drive by, then It would be way cool.
Only way I see that getting a permit is if you dedicated it to being a mobility-service cruiser with full ADA accessibility and run it like that for the better part of each day. Even then you’d need to know the right people and have an existing sweat-equity rep in the community.
Re: Limousines on playa
And it's too long to get a personal license for a disabled vehicle. Someone on this board had their limo refused on that note.
Those aren't buttermilk biscuits I'm lying on Savannah
Pictures or it didn't happen Greycoyote
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Pictures or it didn't happen Greycoyote
Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
Arthur Schopenhauer
- Sham
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Re: Limousines on playa
15 or so years ago, someone set up a large movie screen on the roof of a limo and towed a large trailer with movie theater seats set up on it. I don't recall the movies, but things like that were allowed in the old days.
- hullabaloo
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Re: Limousines on playa
I do like this idea, though perhaps flamethrowers would be more appropriate. Let me go back to the drawing board.
The ante has been upped.
I snapped a pic of this old Cadillac (?) at BM a few years back which also lead me to believe a limo could get a pass. Now I wonder if the person behind the wheel just drove it onto playa. Loved that keg in the trunk

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take me down to black rock city
where the grass ain't green and the girls are dirty
oh won't you pleeeeeease take me home
where the grass ain't green and the girls are dirty
oh won't you pleeeeeease take me home
- Sham
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Re: Limousines on playa
That is most likely a DPW car. There is a whole menagerie of cars, trucks and cobbled together shit boxes that are part of that group.
- Captain Goddammit
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Re: Limousines on playa
A limo covered in stuffed animals is not gonna get licensed.
Yes several have been done before but the rules change and the standards evolve.
I think that’s a good thing, it keeps out the zero-effort cars covered in stuffed animals... there used to be a saying, “Spray painting a penis on the side of daddy’s Lexus does not make it an art car”.
You’ll see all kinds of vehicles on the playa, that doesn’t mean they’re wearing Mutant licenses. They can be DPW vehicles, staff vehicles, Ranger vehicles...
Yes several have been done before but the rules change and the standards evolve.
I think that’s a good thing, it keeps out the zero-effort cars covered in stuffed animals... there used to be a saying, “Spray painting a penis on the side of daddy’s Lexus does not make it an art car”.
You’ll see all kinds of vehicles on the playa, that doesn’t mean they’re wearing Mutant licenses. They can be DPW vehicles, staff vehicles, Ranger vehicles...
GreyCoyote: "At this rate it wont be long before he is Admiral Fukkit."
Re: Limousines on playa
Reinforce the roof, add small wheels to it, and make it drive around the playa upside down with all passengers forced to hang from five-point harnesses, and you'd still probably have trouble getting it approved these days. If that helps set the bar.
- hullabaloo
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Re: Limousines on playa
Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I've come to this conclusion:
A stuffed animal covered limo may not be weird enough for Burning Man, but it will be weird enough for my suburban neighbourhood.
A stuffed animal covered limo may not be weird enough for Burning Man, but it will be weird enough for my suburban neighbourhood.
take me down to black rock city
where the grass ain't green and the girls are dirty
oh won't you pleeeeeease take me home
where the grass ain't green and the girls are dirty
oh won't you pleeeeeease take me home
- hullabaloo
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 7:22 am
- Burning Since: 2013
- Camp Name: Heavy Meta
- Location: Canada
Re: Limousines on playa
This would make an EXCELLENT bumper sticker.Captain Goddammit wrote: ↑Wed Mar 27, 2019 6:14 pm“Spray painting a penis on the side of daddy’s Lexus does not make it an art car”.
take me down to black rock city
where the grass ain't green and the girls are dirty
oh won't you pleeeeeease take me home
where the grass ain't green and the girls are dirty
oh won't you pleeeeeease take me home
- motskyroonmatick
- Posts: 1981
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Re: Limousines on playa
I remember that! Word on the street was they showed movies in the city but sometimes a feed from the back seat when roaming deep playa. Never saw it in deep playa so I can not confirm.
Black Rock City Welding & Repair. The Night Time Warming Station. iGNiTE! Bar.
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When you pass the 4th "bridge out!" sign; the flaming death is all yours.-Knowmad-
Card Carrying Member BRCCP.
When you pass the 4th "bridge out!" sign; the flaming death is all yours.-Knowmad-
- ygmir
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