This Japanese sportscar never been reached the production lines once

Forgotten ONES For those of you who were previously less familiar with the world of modification, especially in Japan, you certainly have never heard of Autobacs Seven Co., Ltd. or Autobacs. It's the name of a well-known Japan-based retailer of automotive parts & accessories with branches mainly in Asia and shops also located in France, even had reached America (currently it doesn't exist anymore).

The ASL RS-01 Garaiya, (ASL stands for Autobach Sports Laboratory) built in 2001 and is clearly engraved the styles adopted or inspired of the British sports cars. (Picture from: TopCarRating)

Once upon the time the mentioned company wanted to make a sports car. In short, then Autobacs launched its prototype sports car in 2001 named ASL RS-01 Garaiya, (ASL stands for Autobach Sports Laboratory).

As You can see, this ASL RS-01 Garaiya is one of the intact sportscar works made by this Japanese company. That's incredible, by considering that Autobach is only an automotive accessories retailer shop and not a car manufacturer, but is able to make 1 whole sports car that is not a modified result.

The ASL RS-01 Garaiya is powered by a high-potential SR20VE engine of the Nissan Primera which produces the power of 180 hp. (Picture from: Auta5p.eu)

This sports car has a physical size that is equivalent to the British sports car Lotus Elise. According to the Japanese company, although the Garaiya sportscar was built by using parts taken from the catalog in its store and also from some other Japanese cars, nevertheless it was designed in-house by Autobach and intended to rival for the well-known sportscars existed at the time like the British-made sports car Lotus Elise.

The ASL RS-01 Garaiya's front ends has similarity to Ferrari 360 Modena, moreover the taillights use cool lights from Alfa Romeo 147 coupled with the use of short windows and of course coupled with the scissor-style doors. (Picture from: Auta5p.eu)

As You can be seen on the Garaiya's figure, it is clearly engraved the styles adopted or inspired of the British sports cars. Why is that so? Perhaps this is as a result of environmental influences, considering the ASL is based in Norfolk, England and also the Garaiya's testing was carried out at the Milbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire England. 

Although the ASL RS-01 Garaiya has been designed to be spacious, due to it uses a scissor-style door, unfortunately makes it a little difficult for those of You with big body postures to enter its cabin. (Picture from: Auta5p.eu)

So it's no wonder, if the Garaiya has very thick of the feel of a British sports car has agile handling, while powered by a compact mid engine as well. Besides that, the Garaiya sports car was also built on the chassis of the Tommy Kaira ZZ-II, another Japanese-made 'English' styled sportscar whose the design had purchased by Autobacs.

It also has an effect that makes the Garaiya has a unique class in between the agility and compactness of Lotus Elise, but has the strength (almost) equal to the Noble M12 GTO. In another words, the Garaiya's design could be said like a reduced version of European supercar.  As seen from the silhouette of the front ends has similarity to Ferrari 360 Modena, moreover the taillights use cool lights from Alfa Romeo 147. Not to mention the use of short windows and of course coupled with the scissor-style doors!

The ASL RS-01 Garaiya has a unique class in between the agility and compactness of Lotus Elise, but has the strength (almost) equal to the Noble M12 GTO. (Picture from: Auta5p.eu)

As said earlier, Autobacs uses a lot of parts from Japanese cars. In addition to the Tommy Kaira ZZ-II's chassis, the company also took a high-potential SR20VE engine of the Nissan Primera which produces the power of 180 hp. That's more than enough, considering the RS-01 Garaiya weighs only 900 kg! Again, the design style refers to the benchmark of almost all British sportscars made by Colin Chapman with the design slogan of 'Less is more.'

For the cabin, many aftermarket parts from Autobacs are installed, such as the steering wheel, seats, gear lever, pedals to the speedometer. So in Our opinion, the Garaiya is like a TVR which also uses aftermaket parts in its cabin. Although it has been designed to be spacious, due to it uses a scissor-style door, unfortunately makes it a little difficult for those of You with big body postures to enter its cabin.😓

A modified version of the ASL RS-01 Garaiya called the Garaiya GT built by ARTA (Autobacs Racing Team Aguri) to compete at the JGTC racing arena in the GT300 class. (Picture from: Supercar.net)

Unfortunately, the Garaiya has a lot of problems. In addition to the non-functional design, the SR20VE engine, which is expensive to produce, Autobacs' own marketing plans are not in accordance with its market share, Europe, especially the UK. In the end, the ASL RS-01 Garaiya only ended up like the Tommy Kaira ZZ-II, which was only a prototype and sat on display at the ASL's headquarter which later changed its name to ASM, the Autobacs's racing and high performance division.

The Garaiya GT has a larger and aerodynamic body design, powered by a RB26DETT 542 hp engine combined with the ATESA ETS 4-wheel drive. (Picture from: Supercar.net)

Then was the Garaiya forgotten just like that? Apparently not! There's a modified version called the Garaiya GT built by ARTA (Autobacs Racing Team Aguri) which is a joint team of Autobacs and former legendary Japanese racer, Aguri Suzuki to compete in the JGTC racing arena.

The Garaiya GT has a larger and aerodynamic body design, powered by a RB26DETT 542 hp engine combined with the ATESA ETS 4-wheel drive, which both taken of the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R to compete in the GT300 class.

Although not as successful as the Acura NSX GT, which was also used by the ARTA team, the Garaiya GT itself able to grab sympathy and support from fans, before being replaced by the Honda HSV-010 GT. We think that's a such pretty beautiful ending for the car had never been reached the production lines though! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOBACS | TOPCARRATING ]

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Here's the mighty Squirrel had crowned as the world's fastest motorcycle of the early twentieth century

Mighty BIKES Nowadays 2-stroke engines technology is uncommonly used as a drive train for motorized vehicles especially motorcycles for several reasons like it's noisy, stinky and unreliable prone to overheating, and other compared to 4-stroke engines. Indeed, a number of shortcomings of the 2-stroke engine technology mentioned above have long been known by motorized vehicles practitioners, moreover some said that it was far from optimal result. Is it true?

This is how the Scott racing motorcycle that is crowned to be the fastest in the world of the early twentieth century looks like. (Picture from: MotorWorld)

Of course that's not entirely true, because there are also 2-stroke engines that are able to display optimal performance so that they can dominate the race for a long time. As We all knew that the two-stroke engine had been popular in many early motorcycle designs, it was more so in the early twentieth century when Alfred Angas Scott, an English gentleman who succeeded to bring the 2-stroke engine from a cheap, low-performance utility motor to a reliable high performance engine. Because the 2-stroke engine made of his company turned out to be better and faster than 4-stroke motorcycle engines from other companies in the era.

The first Scott motorcycle frame patent drawing in 1908 and powered by a liquid-cooled 450cc 2-stroke twin cylinder engine (is patented in 1904). (Picture from: MotorWorld)

The Alfred Scott's company mentioned above is called Scott Motorcyles Company, was founded by him in 1908, and at the same year, he has also patented his first motorcycle frame is powered by a liquid-cooled 450cc 2-stroke twin cylinder engine (is patented of 1904). The company is very well known for its uniqueness motorcycles of the era which have met a lot of margins due to most of them are attractive and much in demand by customers at that time.

One of the Scott racing motorcycles posed along with the rider Captain Tom Moore while is competed at the 1912 Isle of Man T.T. (Picture from: MotorWorld)

As it is known that the most existed motorcycles at that time featured with the transportation-mean concept because they were still a new thing, so the Alfred Scott's company didn't follow that pattern and started to build motorcycles based on his experience and knowledges at its plant in Bradford, England. So he chose to build it with a lighter triangulated frame with a lower center of gravity, powered by a water-cooled 2-stroke engine, coupled with sophisticated front suspension.

Alfred Angas Scott (1875-1923) in pictured of 1914 while rode along with the Scott-Sociable, one of his three-wheeled machine creations powered by a liquid-cooled 578 cc 2-stroke twin cylinder drivetrain. (Picture from: MotorWorld)

His liquid-cooled, parallel twin cylinder engine had a 180° crank and displaced 333 cc. A three port intake system and large internal flywheel between the two separate crankcases gave the Scott exceptional power and quelled the vibration two strokes were known for.

The military version of Scott motorcycles served in the 1st World War powered by a two-stroke single cylender engine. (Picture from: MotorWorld)

Besides that the Scott was considered as the first motorcycle with a kickstarter instead of pedals to start the engine as well as being the first production bike to have a foot gear shift. By 1911, the  Scott became the first to use rotary disc intake valves. Other manufacturers wouldn't catch up with Scott’s innovative design for two-stroke engines until the 1970s.

We didn't know why Alfred Scott left the company in 1919 and then founded a new one, named Scott Autocar while the Scott Motorcycles Company continued without its founding father. Through the new company, he continuing to develop the Scott Sociable, a pioneering weird three-wheeler although not as successful as the Scott motorcycle or could be said failed.

The Scott Squirrel (in pictured is the 1926 model) known as the first generation model as well as the first motorcycle ever made by the company presented in 1922 and powered by the 486 cc engine. (Picture from: Hemmings)

Initially the Scott Motorcycles Company made motorcycles specifically made for the Isle of Man T.T. racing purposes since 1908. The company first participating on the racing event by making several motors based on its Squirrels which went on to break the lap record in the second year after the bike was produced in 1910. There're no other motorcycle brands in the era managed to have many success raced on those events such the Scott was. Other victories followed, including victories at the T.T. in 1912 and 1913 and breaking the fastest lap record in 1911, 1912, 1913 and 1914.

The Scott Super Squirrel known as the 2nd model (in pictured is the 1929 model) is powered by a further revision engine from 498 cc or 596 cc, which was then a mainstay of many people. (Picture from: Classic-Motorcycle)

And during the 1st World War (1914 - 1918), Scott Motorcyles Company had supplied for the single cylinder military-purposed motors to meet the company's contract agreement with the British War Departement, which of course it was the opposite of Scott's previous twin cylinder engine product which proved to be more successful. The military version of Scott motorcycles were supplied to France, Belgium, and Russia.

The Scott Flying Squirrel (in pictured is the 1930 model) is powered by a larger 600 cc engine. (Picture from: National Motorcycle Museum)

The first generation of Scott Motorcycles Company production version motorcycle is launched in 1922 and powered by a 486cc engine. And the company's made motorcycle then given a such funny and unique name of the Squirrel, ranging of the Scott Squirrel, Super Squirrel and Flying Squirrel in which all of motorcycle models have a water-cooled, two-cylinder, two-stroke engine. It also has the distinctive rigid triangulated frame design that contributed to the machine’s excellent handling. The Scott's motorcycles were noted for their acceleration, the two-stroke engines developing more power at lower speeds than their four-stroke rivals.

This is a 596cc Scott and sidecar in action at the Ramsgate sprint in 1963. (Picture from: Real-Classic)

And the first production Scott's motorbikes featured not only the distinctive water-cooled two-stroke engine and triangulated frame but also a kick-starter and foot gear change, both advanced features for the time. Over the years the Scott's motorcycles developed an almost cult following among enthusiasts. The Scott Motorcycles Company publicity boasted of "silence, performance, simplicity and smoothness".

Besides that the British motorcycle maker rightly used their famous and fortune on the Isle of Man T.T. racing event by advertising the motorbikes using such a unique and funny names, in which in the end made his motorcycles become more famous and successful. Sadly, shortly after the 2nd World War ended, the Scott Motorcycles Company should ceased the motorcycle production due to the company went into voluntary liquidation in 1950.

But the Scott's motorcycle story did not end there either. In the late 1950s, the Scott's production license was bought by Matt Holder, who decided to restart production in Birmingham, England. The Birmingham Scott motorcycles were produced until the late 1960s and all the time retained the features of the original Scott models. This British classic motorcycle maker continued to live with a small amount of production to completely dead in 1978.😢

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SCOTT-MOTORCYCLE | CLASSIC-MOTORCYCLES | HEMMINGS | NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM | ULTIMATEMOTORCYCLING | REAL-CLASSIC | NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM | TRACTORS FANDOM | CLASSIC BIKE MAGAZINE | MOTORWORLD ]

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Did You know this mysterious Japanese supercar of the 2000s?

Forgotten ONES If We talking about a Japanese supercar, maybe what you have in mind is only the Nissan Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra, Mazda RX-7, Acura NSX, and many other 'mainstream' ones. Are they exotic? Not exactly, maybe because of they were produced in mass large number of productions. And how's about the Lexus LFA? It could be, in addition to having an exotic design, the automaker made it in limited number.

The Tommy Kaira ZZ-II was a promising Japanese supercar that never made into production. (Picture from: CarThrottle)

So, is the Lexus LFA, the only-one Japanese supercars? Apparently, there is also another Japanese-made supercar called the Tommy Kaira ZZ-II, which known also as one of the legendary JDM supercar, despite having an amazing design and capabilities, it unable to shine in the global's automotive market.

As an automotive company, originally Tommy Kaira founded as Tomita Yume Koujou is a Japanese automotive tuning and manufacturing company founded in 1986 and headquartered in Minami-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Meanwhile the company's name after its two founders, Yoshikazu Tomita and Kikuo Kaira.

The Tommy Kaira ZZ-II is designed by Tomita Yoshikazu and built by the Japanese automaker in 2 versions, namely the racing and street versions. (Picture from: AutoWeek.nl)

For those of you who often play racing simulator video games, surely know the cool cars made by this Japanese company. Well, the Tommy Kaira ZZ-II produced by the Japanese automaker in 2 versions, namely the racing and the street versions, and both of which are cool, unique and could be driven virtually in the famous racing simulation video games of Gran Turismo.

The Tommy Kaira ZZ-II is designed by Tomita Yoshikazu and intended to be the successor to the company's previous popular product, the Tommy Kaira ZZ. This supercar built based on the ZZ's lightweight aluminum chassis with an aggressive and charming design.

The Tommy Kaira ZZ-II's cabin is unique for the size of a Japanese-made left hand drive layout car with the position of the handbrake is really high. (Picture from: S2ki.com)

As it is known that since the ZZ sports car, Tommy Kaira has always used Nissan-made engines. So, for the ZZ-II, Tomita choose the mighty RB26DETT Skyline GT-R modified engine and mounted in the middle, to make it more powerful with a maximum power of 542 hp at 5,900 rpm.

Is that enough? We think those engine's power numbers are enough if combined with the the ZZ-II's weight which is 1 ton only! It is conceivable to accelerate from rest to 100 kph in just 3.3 seconds, as well as could reached a maximum speed of up to 210 mph. That's certainly an impressive performance figure considering the automaker  is not a big company!

The Tommy Kaira ZZ-II is powered by the mighty RB26DETT Nissan Skyline GT-R modified engine and mounted in the middle, to make it more powerful with a maximum power of 542 hp at 5,900 rpm. (Picture from: HotCars)

With such impressive performance numbers, normally good control is needed. So Tommy Kaira cleverly installed four-wheel drive taken from the Skyline GT-R as well as the ATTESA's state-of-the-art traction control technology. As for the car's braking system, as shown in the picture, it uses disc brakes with 6-piston calipers at the front and 4-piston calipers at the rear.

The Tommy Kaira ZZ-II's cabin is unique for the size of a Japanese-made left hand drive layout car with the position of the handbrake really high. The plan, Tommy Kaira designed the ZZ-II on the basis of the Lotus Elise, and was intended for the European market for around $90,000, it was a proper numbers for a supercar at the time.

The Tommy Kaira ZZ-II is built on the ZZ's lightweight aluminum chassis with an aggressive and charming design. (Picture from: CarThrottle)

Supposedly with an aggressive and charming design, the ZZ-II certainly attracts the attention of many parties. Unfortunately fate said otherwise!😓 Just because of a bad marketing strategy, it makes sales figures flat and can be said to be not sale well. Fortunately not everyone closes their eyes, apparently there are still some parties like Autobacs, the largest Japanese car accessories franchise whose still appreciated it.

Then the ZZ-II acquired by the ASL to be sold under its badge and used later as the basis for their new sportscar named the ASL RS-01 Garaiya. Nevertheless, from that We can took the lessons, at least it showed that there's an unfamous company was able also making great supercars, even without the support of major manufacturers. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOBACS | CARTHROTTLE | AUTOWEEK.NL | HOTCARS ]

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A unique Austrian-made Felber Autoroller T 400 of the 1950s

Unique ONES When the world was still recovering shortly after the end of the war that was so painful and engulfed almost around the globe. That's when the development and presence of small, cheap and fuel-efficient vehicles to be a kind of excellent helping angels to the impoverished the postwar Europeans and attracted those who could not afford to buy "real" cars. Over time, their popularity spiked after the Suez Crisis of 1956, when the price of oil rose steeply.

An early model of the Felber Autoroller T 400 produced in the 1953 featured with cycle-type mudguards that swivelled with the front wheels. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

It looks like the idea of the cheap and fuel-efficient microcar seems to have come to the peak of its line, just as motorcycles in the 1950s. Like the plague, the development of the microcar quickly spread to all corners of Europe. At that time there were so many brands and models appearing, let's say that in Germany there was the Messerschmitt KR 175, BMW Isetta, Heinkel Cabin and Zündapp Janus. Meanwhile, the Italian giant Piaggio launched the Vespa 400. Then in England there is the Scootacar, Peel P50, Bond Bug, and many others. 

The 2nd model of the Felber Autoroller T 400 produced in the 1953 featured with fixed wheel fenders in the front. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

Like the most countries in the Europe, Austria also experienced a severe economic setback as a result of the destruction of many industrial facilities and infrastructure during the war. And turn out from the Austrian automotive industry business players back in the 1950s also had time to bring up microcar model called the Felber Autoroller T 400.

The Felber Autoroller T 400 (in pictured is the 2nd model) had an unusual seating arrangement, with a small child-sized seat behind the driver on the left and a conventional passenger seat diagonally behind and to the right. (Picture from: Flickr)

We first seen the such vehicle on the Quirky Rides status on Twitter, which then invites our interest to find out more about it. The mentioned microcar produced by Felber & Co is a well-known manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars based in Vienna, Austria ranging from 1952 to 1953, and about 400 units were built in two versions, all of which were painted in light green color using a standard paint for machinery because considered more cheaper than regular car paint.

The Felber Autoroller T 400 (in pictured is the 2nd model) is powered by a rear-mounted 398 cc Rotax two cylinder two stroke opposed twin engine capable spew power of 15 horsepower. (Picture from: Fahrzeugbilder.de)

The Autoroller was designed by Ernst Marold, in which the early models had cycle-type mudguards that swivelled with the front wheels, later models had fixed wings. The Austrian-made three-wheeled microcar powered by a rear-mounted 398 cc Rotax two cylinder two stroke opposed twin engine capable spew power of 15 horsepower (11 kW).

The Felber Autoroller T 400 (in pictured is the 1st model of 1953) is produced ranging from 1952 to 1953, and all of which were painted in light green color using a standard paint for machinery. (Picture from: VroomVroom)

Uniquely, the microcar had an unusual seating arrangement, with a small child-sized seat behind the driver on the left and a conventional passenger seat diagonally behind and to the right. As quoted of Wikipedia, once upon the time there're remarkable Felber Autoroller T400 troupe caused a stir when accompanying the wedding limousine of Ernst Marold in front of the Karlskirche in the Viennese City centre in 1954.

Unfortunately, this car manufacturing proved to be uncompetitive, after the liberalization of car imports to Austria came into effect in 1954. So that the company then switched to producing industrial washing machines, in addition to being the soles and distributor of cars from Heinkel, Trojan, Spatz and Reliant.

The Felber Möve 101 is built by specialist coachbuilding company Hofmann & Moldrich in Vienna who build upon them the egg-shaped body out of 0.8 mm aluminum plate as many as twelve units back in 1954. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

Besides the Autoroller T400 model, it turns out that about twelve rolling chassis were sent to the specialist coachbuilding company Hofmann & Moldrich in Vienna who build upon them the egg-shaped body out of 0.8 mm aluminum plate called the Felber Möve 101, and the only-one car existed today is sat on display at the car museum in Aspang in Lower-Austria.

Reportedly, there are 4 units of Autoroller T400s survived today, consisting two units are seen on display at the RRR scooter and microcar museum in Eggenburg, Austria. A third one is under restoration in Serbia near to the Hungarian border (maybe it's been restored now) and another one in Bavaria.

The Fusion Flea, a single-seater futuristic fictional microcar that appears in the Fallout 4 game (in 1:18 scaled model). (Picture from: Quirky Rides)

Out of context, our curiosity has not dried yet, the temptation appears again, when from another Quirky Rides's status we also found a unique vehicle that at first glance resembles the Fellber Autoroller T400 known as the Fusion Flea, a single-seater futuristic fictional microcar that appears in the Fallout 4 game (in 1:18 scaled model). Thankfully it's not a real microcar, so it's possible for us to be one of the lucky owner. If You wanna have one, plz come  here to see it. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | QUIRKY RIDES | BOOK.GOOGLE  | THEWANDCOMPANY ]

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The weirdest Lamborghini concept ever

Weird ONES There's such a contrasting view like heaven and earth as seen at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show, on the first ones, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the next generation of its venerable S-Class, the ‘W140'. It was a tech-fest of innovation (double-paned soundproof glass) and previewed the company's new design theme.

Lamborghini Sogna designed and built by Ryoji Yamazaki based on Lamborghini Countach back in the 1991. (Picture from: TopGear)

Meanwhile in the other sides, the one-off Lamborghini Sogna, a really kind of weird styling supercars. Well, this is really kind of weird styling supercars unveiled by a little known Japanese auto tuner and called as the first generation of what the automaker planned as a small numbers of production.

Interior view of Lamborghini Sogna. (Picture from: http://www.tf1.fr/)

The Lamborghini Sogna was not a tech-fest of innovation, and did not preview officially Lamborghini's new design theme either. It just an V12-engined, hand-crafted one-off kiwi green colored raging bull weird dreamed car. The car was the brainchild of a Japanese designer named Ryoji Yamazaki known also the owner of the Art & Tech design studio, whose had a dream about a supercar while he was at 13; and at 41, he managed to realize it (Sogna, an Italian word for ‘dreams').

Interior view of Lamborghini Sogna. (Picture from: http://www.tf1.fr/)

And luckily for those of You, it also could be mean Your dream come true as well as Yamazaki was. As quoted of Autoblog, the Sogna was built in 1991 based on the Lamborghini Countach, which also known was the dream car for many people in the 1980s around the globe.

Rear three quarter of Lamborghini Sogna with its scissor-doors opened. (Picture from: TopGear)

As the story goes, Yamazaki bought a Lamborghini Countach, removed the original body and left the chassis only, then he constructed an entirely aluminium newly body on it, painted it green and wheeled it out for the 1991 Geneva Motor Show as a rolling chassis prototype which is intended to be limited production models (it never happened).😥

Rear three quarter of Lamborghini Sogna. (Picture from: TopGear)

A few years later there's another examples of Sogna was built, this time a fully-functioning prototype complete with 455 bhp V12 drivetrain shown and also up for sale for £1.9 million at the 1994 Essen Motor Show. No one brought it home at the time.😭 As quoted of the TopGear, the car from Essen had ever listed for sale for € 2.38 million, or around US. $3.25 million back in the 2013.
Obviously, it's not an official Lamborghini model, which is why you get that bonkers weird bodyshell, but underneath Yamazaki retained the Countach's running gear. So the Sogna is still a 5.2-litre V12-engined supercar with 455 bhp all running riot through the rear axle with the top speed of 186 mph (299.33 kph). So it takes more gut for those of You who want to try speeding with it on the highway. *** [EKA [28032014] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TOPGEAR | AUTOBLOG ]

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The world's biggest (and weirdest) sedan ever made

Weird ONES Sedan has been known as a classy, ​​elegant vehicle, and is used to transport officials or dignitaries. But you know, that the largest sedan in the world is actually used to pull the plane (strange isn't it?)

The Soviet aircraft tug MAZ-541 was known as was the largest sedan ever built with a weight over 3,5 ton, and powered by a 38.8 litres, 12 cylinder 300hp D-12A diesel engine. (Picture from: Wikiwand)

In the mid-1950s, when aircraft evolved into large jet aircraft and where the airport had to find a larger vehicle to pull the plane. And in Russia (the Soviet Union at the time) offered one of the most curiously revolutionary solutions ie making sedan-shaped cranes with large bodies and machines outside the tank.

Yes, these weird sedan is the MAZ-541, that made by the Minski Autamabilny Zavod (Minsk Automobile Plant). This car is only produced as many as three units and was first launched in 1956. In some articles indicate that the car manufacturer has produced 13 units, but other sources claim that 10 other cars have been planned to be produced but never implemented.

A Soviet sedan-shaped tow truck called MAZ-541 with a TU-144 supersonic plane or Soviet Concorde. (Picture from: Wikiwand)

With a box-shaped body, it seems to be tailored to its function as an aircraft tow truck. With this function, the car has two drivers, just like a train that has two engineers to facilitate the operation of the car at the airport.

A Soviet MAZ-541 tow truck on action at Sheremetyevo International Airport. (Picture from: Flickr)

But for a tow truck class, driving style and features installed on this car was more surprising. Yes, seen on the sedan-shaped tow truck has a wide body, there are chrome features in some parts, and a stylish grille shape. These MAZ-541 uses a Soviet-made T-34 liquid-cooled V12 diesel engine that has capacity of 3,888 liter. The machine is capable of supplying the power for MAZ-541 up to 500 horsepower assisted by a five-speed transmission with three forward gears and two gears for retreat.

MAZ-541 sedan-shaped tow truck appearance from front, side and back. (Picture from: Devianart)

On some articles explain that these car is used to serve at Sheremetyevo International Airport located near Moscow, which became one of the Soviet way to boast these weirdo vehicle, especially to the foreigners who visited Russia at that time. So, it is quite possible that the stylish appearance (in quotation marks) is deliberately made.

This car is clearly shown in a promotional footage of the TU-144 supersonic plane, also known as Soviet's concorde. As time goes by and as the aircraft continued to be grown (its size and weight), then in the 1970s those three sedan-shaped tow trucks were no longer in use.

The MAZ-541 may be the largest, powerful, and arguably charming design and weird as well that the Soviets once made. Did you know, until now the MAZ-541 still holds the title as the world's biggest (and weirdest) sedan ever made. *** [EKA [04052018] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DEVIANART | ]

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