Monday, February 02, 2009

The Death Mobile

Meet the most famous truck on the island. Or at least the most easily recognizable. And it can be yours for the tidy little sum of 10,000 US dollars!







It doesn't look much better from the front. And you would have to update the license plates. The current ones are two years old....at least! One would think that if they were doing their jobs, the transit police would pull this thing over. Of course, the license plates would be the only violation that they would even notice.








Actually, I have a history with this truck. I sat in this very driver's seat one scary night about four years ago and drove it to my friend's house, who was the owner at the time. A very drunk owner if I recall correctly. I vividly remember that the seat would not adjust and my rotund belly actually hit against the steering wheel. Which, by the way, took two complete revolutions to engage the tires. Not fun on these narrow streets down here. The brakes only worked, somewhat, on the third pump.



There are so many things to point out in this picture. The blue spare gas can on the floor. The lack of real gas and brake pedals. The list goes on. Enlarge this picture to see all the great detail!







Of course, when I drove it, there was a windshield. Broken with holes and shatter lines, but still a windshield of sorts. Notice the lovely new passenger seat recently installed.








And you can use the battery as an armrest.







The best part is the truck bed, or what is left of it. This is the gas tank. A handy little hose syphoning gas directly to the engine.





What? No, this would only be hazardous if there were actually an accident. And that could never happen in the traffic here, especially with all of the unlicensed drivers and drunken golf cart operators. Silly you!

So if you see this truck here on the island, do what I do. Get as far away from it as fast as you can.

13 comments:

Sue said...

But...the steering wheel looks great! :-)

K.W. Michigan said...

And the damn thing still runs!?

Life's a Beach! said...

And I thought the red furniture store truck that's always parked across from the owner's shop on Juarez was bad! :) I saw the owner hosing out the interior one night! But this one obviously gets the prize!

Ann said...

Wow! I've seen some interesting "vehicles" on Isla, but never one as bad as this!

Calypso said...

"And it can be yours for the tidy little sum of 10,000 US dollars!"

$10,000 - are there 10 Krugerands in the glove box - or how can this be 10K? I'm confused.

Steve Cotton said...

My theory is that it comes with DeLorean "snow" tires.

Anonymous said...

Doesn't seem much less hazardous than many golfcarts I've seen on the road.

It has a lot of conveniences - easily accessible gas tank and spare battery, no upoholstery to get wet, no obscuring cracks or scatches on the windshield and enough room to keep even the most drunk day tripper gang within the siderails. It even looks like there is a plastic mat that would keep the spilled beer and vomit mostly off you when you pass out or fall down in the back.

Billie Mercer said...

Unbelieveable!

ElleCancun said...

Definitely one of the funniest posts I've had the pleasure of reading!! What makes it so funny...is that we know it's the real deal !!! Scary....!!!! LOL.
Awww...Mexico!

Isla Deb said...

Hey, my son's looking for a new vehicle...maybe this could be an option!

Anonymous said...

How have I never seen this gem? Then there is that other vehicle. It is green and topless. What it is called? Something adventurous or creative. You know the one with the milk carton crates with the board across it as the front seat.

Anonymous said...

That truck is full on Mexico!! Love it!!

norm said...

When I was a kid (late 60s) we had a 51 Ford sedan that we chopped the roof off of with an ax and used as a truck in the woods. We had a 3 gallon can strapped to the firewall for fuel, and milk crates for seats. We would fill up the car with kids and tear around the woods and fields as fast as we dared. Today they would put our folks in jail for our having that much fun.