01 March 2011

What Libya's 'Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution' Does in His Spare Time...

When he's not trying on new outfits  
or shelling protesters with naval artillery, 
Moammar Gaddafi likes to design cars...


Seriously: meet the Libyan Rocket... 
billed as "World's Safest Car"...


Your author is a lifetime car nut and student of automotive design, so fwiw: although a bit busy and sci-fi for my taste... 
hey, there's been worse. 

Very pointy, if you're into that- lol:


Looks kinda like a 2025 Honda Civic or something...


The appalling fatality rates on Libyan roads supposedly inspired Gaddafi to offer his ideas on how to best save lives, thus the safety theme -replete with zillions of airbags and "active defense system"- of the Libyan Rocket.  Powered by a 3.0L V-6 engine, a 7-second 0-60mph figure is claimed for the large-ish 217" sedan.

Although slated for production in 2009, the project was stillborn: only these two prototypes have been built by Italian engineering firm Tesco TS and the Tripoli factory that was to produce the car was never completed...


And if you didn't catch the ABC/BBC interview yesterday: Gaddafi makes Baghdad Bob look like a piker- but do note the laughter when asked if he'll step down because Obama and others told him to- as stated here yesterday, the only way this one's going out is feet-first...


Any chance he still wins this, though? Analysis -here-