James Powers is credited with itsdesign, while Dean Jeffries, the creativeforce behind the Monkeemobile, wasresponsible for its construction. To givethe little car some extra kick, it got a sixcylinderCorvair engine to replace theVW's four-cylinder. It's not a turbo version,but the air-cooled, 110hp pancake six has plenty of suds to haul the lightweightcar around. The blower setup onthe rear deck is a prop, but the blowerbutterflies open with the throttle to createthe illusion of functionality. Exhaustwas routed up through the rear deckheaders. Eight pipes are visible, but theengine is a six-cylinder.
The paint job gives the impression ofreptile skin, and a dino-like center ribruns from front to back. Up front, inkeeping with the gruesome plot, are"teeth" that makes skewering pedestriansa breeze.
Inside is a familiar VW floor shape anddiamond-patterned upholstery and sidepanels. A Chevrolet steering wheel andsteering column off--we're guessinghere--a Monza are inside. A modifiedshifter and only two gauges are in theinterior, which also carries forward thegreen theme. It's definitely one of thewackier cars in the collection, but at leastit drives easily.
"Not too bad, just like driving a dunebuggy," says Mid America Motorworks'Dennis Gunning, caretaker of its collectionin Effingham, Illinois, of the car'sdriving experience. "People find it interesting,but don't pay much attentionto it until they find out it's got a connectionto Sylvester Stallone." Once theyfind out that the celeb's name isattached, they look at it in a wholedifferent light.
As you might imagine, it doesn't getdriven much these days. The Mid AmericaMY Garage display in open to the public,and you can look at this car all you wantwithout worrying about getting rundown. CF
PEOPLE FIND IT INTERESTING,...
PEOPLE FIND IT INTERESTING, BUT DON'T PAYMUCH ATTENTION TO IT UNTIL THEY FIND OUT IT'SGOT A CONNECTION TO SYLVESTER STALLONE.