Do you know this mutant vehicle?

[Elliot]

A camp-mate is looking for the builder of an MV that he remembers as resembling this illustration:

[Jovankat]

Is this it?

Screen Shot 2016-09-21 at 6.53.58 PM.png

I don't know anything about it sorry, I just came across this picture soon after seeing this thread.

[Elliot]

I would say that must be it! And then it just might be the handiwork of one Fred Besch, well known for fabulous metalwork. Thanks!

[maladroit]

It was a cool car. I bet that roof retracts down to "submerge" the whole thing during a dust storm.

[Elliot]

It very much resembles Fred Besch's "Speeder", but all the details are wrong, and there is the question of the size -- this one appears to be much larger. And there's the "antenna dish". We are trying to reach Fred Besch now.

[Elliot]

Jovankat, do you remember anything at all about how you found that picture? My camp-mate is still searching for the builder.

[Captain Goddammit]

It's called The Rocket. It's a guy from France, this is his Flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/141457103@N06/

[BBadger]

That is some badass work!

[Elliot]

Yess! Thank you, Captain!

[Leap]

This was one of my favorites!

[maladroit]

Notable genius aspects from that album: this car started life as a flatbed trailer. The hitch area has a contraption similar to an aircraft landing gear. It's made from a car's rear differential, with the drive shafts lopped off right up to the pumpkin. I don't know much about small engines but it's either small motorcycle engine or a V twin lawnmower-type engine, with a two-stage reduction through a belt and a chain to the differential.

It's lovely, and perfect setup for the playa.

[SquirrelHead]

I believe it was inspired by the Grumobile from the Despicable Me movie.

[Jovankat]

I just shared that Flickr album on a FB post asking about the car and got a reply from a lady who worked on the build. She said the French dude didn't build the car, a guy from LA called David Shields did.

It seems like Laurent was somehow tangentially involved but is taking credit when he really shouldn't be. I encouraged her to come post here in case you folks have questions.

[Captain Goddammit]

Hmm.... I can believe that.
I used to build MVs with a friend and I did half to more-than-half the work and he did the same thing.
I wondered why I never saw mention of transporting the thing from France and why it had no European looking parts in its drivetrain. And why the writing on the truck trailers in the background of the outdoor construction shots is in English and so is all the writing in all the plans.
I dunno what the deal is but it seems odd!

[MechMind83]

That french guy is a liar. He payed for it but he had no hand in designing or building it. Just some rich jerk who thinks he can take credit for the hard work of the people who designed and built it for him. David Shields is the guy you want to talk to. He's near Los Angeles.

[burner von braun]

I searched a bit, and apparently David Shields, along with others, was involved in the build of the giant yellow Disco Duck mutant vehicle that has been roaming the playa as well.

I wasn't able to find any quotes where LB, the French sponsor of the Rocket, was claiming it as his own build, but I can certainly imagine a person wording it that way to elevate their own ego, even though they may not have lifted a wrench. I think my impression of this sort of thing is determined on whether credit is given where credit is due.

[Elliot]

Thanks for the updates!