Can you imagine traveling to school in a flying saucer? What about on a bike-like contraption that looks like a giant donut? People invent all kinds of interesting ways to get around. Some vehicles can get you where you're going faster and better than ever. Others are mostly for fun. Learn about some of the world's wackiest vehicles.

"Vehicles so totally bizarre, ugly, or inappropriate (and in some cases all three) that they must be recorded for posterity ... [especially as] they were meant to be serious offerings to the motoring public"--Page 4 of cover.

Think you know vehicles? Think again! Unconventional Vehicles is a nonfiction collection of 45 of the strangest, most unconventional vehicles that have ever existed. Vehicles include an underwater battery-powered scooter, a carriage pulled by ostriches, a hot air balloon shaped like the Cathedral of Saint Gall, and five different jet packs. • Filled with history, science, technology, engineering, and interesting bits of trivia, all in one kid-appealing package • Part of the Uncommon Compendiums series • Vehicles range from submersibles to dirigibles. Unconventional Vehicles explores very strange modes of transportation for vehicle fans, rocket inventors, budding space-and-aeronautics experts, and anyone who's ever thought, "Why can't I ride a motorized suitcase through the airport?" Brimming with fascinating facts and diagrams presented with wit and humor, this book is sure to enthrall vehicle enthusiasts of every age. • Ideal for children ages 8 to 12 years old, especially those interested in vehicles and engineering • Author Michael Hearst brings his signature verve and humor to this fascinating read. • Young readers will devour all the substantive and silly content in this book, proving definitively that nonfiction is anything but dry. • A great pick for teachers, parents, grandparents, and caregivers • You'll love this book if you love books like Cars, Trains, Ships, and Planes: A Visual Encyclopedia of Every Vehicle by DK; Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross-Sections by Stephen Biesty; and Cool Cars by Quentin Willson.

This marvellous book, now updated as a second edition in a new paperback format, is a celebration of eccentric cars in all shapes and sizes – some of the most ugly, crazily designed and downright awkward vehicles of all time. Where else would you find, in one book, descriptions and photographs of automotive oddities as diverse as the Gaylord Gentleman, Suminoe Flying Feather or Zil?

For ten years, he laboured to construct his ultralight airplane, then, on a whim, he doused it with gasoline and set fire to it. When the rat invades his home, Gerry goes to drastic lengths to rid himself of the vermin, but ... Dying of mesothelioma, but living with zest. A bachelor shoots himself in the back with a shotgun. A meal of moose testicles. More than forty true, but unbelievable stories of the bizarre lives of an endangered species: the bachelor. No single man worth his salt is married. The thought could have come straight from Yogi Berra’s vault of butchered expressions. However, many married men – the wannabes - in spite of wanting to remain married, idolize and envy the bachelor. Few bachelors return the favour. But the bachelor is a unique breed. Always threatened with extinction, bachelors have survived, and thrived, by doing things and thinking their own way. They are Robert Frost’s travellers in the yellow wood. It is true. No single man worth his salt is married. All the good ones are not taken; they are recalled from the market

From artsy to zany, readers won't believe this collection of truly bizarre cars, featuring everything from the relatively tame Batmobile and Weinermobile to the Dracula dragster, phantom Corsair, and a zebra-striped Subaru. Contains more than 500 photos of the strangest, wildest wheels anywhere.

""Weird Driving"" takes readers on a fascinating journey through the world's most unusual traffic laws and driving customs. This unique travel reference explores the quirky, often humorous, and sometimes baffling regulations that govern our roads across the globe. From the prohibition of driving blindfolded in Alabama to the ban on eating while driving in Cyprus, the book uncovers a wealth of strange vehicular traditions that reflect the diverse cultural, historical, and environmental factors shaping our driving experiences. The book is structured into four main sections, progressing from an introduction to weird driving laws and customs to specific examples grouped by themes, followed by an analysis of the reasons behind these rules, and concluding with their implications for international travelers. By examining the evolution of driving laws since the advent of automobiles, ""Weird Driving"" argues that traffic regulations are not merely practical safety measures but windows into the unique values and beliefs of different societies. This perspective encourages readers to view driving as a cultural phenomenon, offering insights into the complex interplay between law, culture, and technology on our roads. What sets this book apart is its blend of serious analysis and entertaining anecdotes, making it an invaluable resource for travel enthusiasts, legal professionals, and cultural studies scholars alike. With its accessible language and engaging style, ""Weird Driving"" challenges readers to think critically about the rules they follow on the road, providing a newfound appreciation for the complexities and curiosities of global driving practices.

The love of fast cars has moved into top gear. From its beginnings as a rebellious underground pasttime, it has become a huge cult, spawning its own exciting subcultures in music, art and fashion. Speedseekers is the ultimate book on the world of Hot Rods and Custom Culture. Alexandra Lier spent a decade at the epicentre of the scene revving engines and burning rubber with the world's foremost mechanics, racers and adrenaline junkies. With hundreds of full colour photographs and graphics throughout, this book - more exciting than a nitro-burning supercharged Hemi - is the ultimate cult guide to the greatest human obsession of all... going fast!

These bizarre true stories of collectors and their cars is "a whole lot of fun" (The Virginian Pilot). Have you heard of the fellow who squirrelled away dozens of Chevelles, Camaros, and other classic muscle cars in semi-trailers? How about the president of Shakespeare fishing rods, who sold thirty Bugattis for a mere $85,000? What about the English nobleman who cut up and buried his Ferrari hoard in an elaborate insurance scam? Or how about the Duesenberg abandoned in a Manhattan parking garage for decades only to be uncovered by Jay Leno? Most car collectors exhibit a healthy enthusiasm for their hobby by digging into their favorite marques, chasing parts, swapping stories, and generally living the car-guy lifestyle. Some, however, step over that fine line between enthusiasm and obsession—and that's where these legendary car-collector stories come from. In Strange but True Tales of Car Collecting, Keith Martin and the staff of Sports Car Market Magazine recount the wildest, most eccentric, over-the-top stories of collectors and their collections. "This likable book serves as a ‚ÄòRipley's Believe It or Not!' for car obsessives." —The New York Times