Wooden you like one?

Is this a collision center's nightmare or what?! The reason that this car's body looks like it's completely constructed of wood is that it's constructed of, well, wood! Held together by shiny brass rivets. And copper metalwork? Just look at the exhaust and spokes.

This is clearly NOT Toyota's 2011 Corolla. So what the heck IS it? It's a 1924 Hispano-Suiza Model H6C "Tulipwood" Torpedo, that's what it is. It was commissioned (you didn't think this was a regular production model, did you?) by Andre Dubonnet. Those of you with European tastes will recognize the Dubonnet name as one associated with aperitifs and, as you might suspect, the Dubonnets were quite well off (as most huge liquor companies tend to be). So Andre had no shortage of cash with which to quench his automotive desires.

That gorgeous body is actually a one eighth inch shell and onto this shell were carefully placed strips of tulipwood, held on by brass rivets. The whole thing was sanded smooth and then varnished.

Very similar in concept to how lightweight racing sculls are constructed, in fact. And the reason that's how racing sculls are constructed is because it makes them light. That's certainly the case for this baby. The whole  body only weighs about 160 pounds. That long tail at the rear enclosed a gas tank that'll take 46 gallons – perfect for long distance racing.

Yoicks! He built it for racing? What was he – insane? No – just very wealthy. Nice life if you can get it.

This shows a closeup of the rear left fender and wheel. Just look at all those rivets. Can you image how long it must have taken to construct? And can you imagine how it would have felt to have heard it crunch in a fender bender? Makes me shiver just to think of it.

- And that's today's word from the bird