The tension created by the often-opposing forces of aesthetics and functionality has been studied since the time of Socrates. This came to mind as I watched a Toronto hipster crash his bike on College Street, destroying a pair of skinny jeans, a gingham shirt and (hopefully) his vehicle design philosophy.
Shortly before the crash, I noted that the hipster's bike had no brakes. Believe it or not, this is a trend. Among a certain urban class that favours low-slung jeans and ironic eyewear, a no-brakes bike makes a powerful statement, declaring that a rider is an aesthete, a mechanical purist and a riding master.
At least that's the theory, although I believe that my hipster friend may have rethought it after slamming into the tail end of a delivery van.
Which brings us to the always-fascinating topic of bad vehicle ideas. These are the flights of design fancy that lead us down dubious paths. I've succumbed to a few fashion-induced errors myself – such as the extractor exhaust system put on a Beetle to gain a few extra horsepower and impressive sound, even though it eliminated my car's heating and defroster system.
Then there was the rock-hard, super-low suspension I bolted into a BMW 2002 because it looked so cool, ignoring the fact that my car was now essentially worthless for everyday driving. Like a woman who wears spike heels to the grocery store, I was paying a steep price for style.
The intersection of fashion and engineering has always been a source of amazement. Here are some of the worst vehicle fashion decisions of all time.
1. The Low Rider
Dropping a car on its suspension gives it the purposeful, low-slung look of a
race car. All eyes will be upon you. Especially when you get hung up on that
speed bump in front of the grocery store.
2. The Chopped Top
During the postwar hot-rod boom, customizers learned that lowering the roof of a standard car decreases its frontal area, improving top speed and giving it a unique look. If you’re trying to set a record on the Bonneville Salt Flats, this makes a lot of sense. On the street, where outward vision is a prerequisite, and 400 km/h aerodynamics are irrelevant, the chopped top loses its appeal.
3. No Fenders
Formula cars don’t have fenders, and they look amazing. So why have fenders
on your street machine? Stripped of its fenders, a car looks elemental and
mechanically pure. On the downside, dirt and water will spray the sides of your
car, necessitating a daily wash. And the exposed tires will sling rocks at the
cars behind. Such is the price of looking good.
4. The Streetable Supercar
Given the reality of speed limits, parking garage entrances and daily chores, a ground-scraping machine with a 400 km/h top end and no trunk space doesn't make sense. But a supercar is the codpiece of the vehicular world, so we buy them anyway. I have one myself, what can I say?
5. Giant Wheels
Outfitting your ride with a set of monstrously oversized wheels will make you
stand out. It will also make your speedometer read incorrectly, and announce to
the world that you have zero understanding of suspension geometry or the
concepts of rotating mass and unsprung weight. Your fashion sense will also be
questioned.
6. The Urban Monster Truck
If you’re a hunter who needs a machine that will carry you into the
backwoods, a truck with elevated suspension and paddle-wheel tires makes all the
sense in the world. On the paved streets of a major city, those half-ton axles
and tractor tires aren’t going to do anything for you – except jack up your fuel
bill.
7. The Extended-Fork Chopper
If you’ve watched Easy Rider, you know how cool a long front end
looks on a motorcycle. And the front wheel at the end of that long, gleaming
fork looks so much better without a brake on it. The price of your fashion
statement is a turning circle the size of a football field, and stopping
distances worse than an 18-wheel truck carrying a full load of steel.