Festivals don’t get more far-out than Burning Man, so it’s only fitting that the vehicles you’ll see coasting around Black Rock City aren’t exactly typical. Thanks to festival restrictions—no traditional cars are allowed on the Playa, and the speed limit is capped at 5 mph—Burners are forced to get creative with their wheels. Very creative.
1. THE DISCO FISH: It might resemble a deep-sea anglerfish, but this mutant vehicle looks as stunning by the bright light of day as it does in the desert darkness. When the sun's out, its disco ball lantern throws off bright shards of light; by night, each of its scales lights up individually. And no matter the time of day, its foldout couch provides a place to take a breather after busting out your three-count hustle.
Image courtesy of BLM Nevada/Flickr
2. THE STEAMPUNK SHIP: This glorious vehicle is as majestic as Burning Man art cars get. A car-ship-steampunk zeppelin hybrid—all crowned with a crystal chandelier—it offers one glam way to take in those Playa sights.
Image courtesy of Anne Gomez/Wikimedia Commons
3. THE PINK RABBIT: Even amidst the gloriously wacky rides that putter along the Playa, you're bound to stand out in an art car that resembles a giant, fuzzy, pink rabbit. We're worried the heat might have gotten to this bunny, though—he looks a little bugged out.
Image courtesy of Ratha Grimes/Flickr
4. THE NEON WICKER BED: Find yourself missing the comforts of your bed after the sun goes down at Black Rock City? Simply seek out this wicker bed (on wheels). You might not get much shut-eye, with those neon lights...but it does look comfy.
Image courtesy of Vito Fun/Flickr
5. THE DINO-MOBILE: My, what big claws you have! Of all the Burning Man art cars, this incredible ride is one you probably don't want to mess with—just check those metal spikes. Best to stand off to the side, where you can dance to whatever tunes the dino-mobile's speakers are blasting.
Image courtesy of Steve Jurvetson/Flickr
6. THE CAT CAR: Clifford the Big Red Dog? Meet your match. Another entry to file under "impossible to miss" is this brilliantly vermillion cat car. For the best perch, peep the hidden hangout behind the cat's whiskers.
Image courtesy of Bill Dimmick/Flickr
7. THE SKYLINE RIDE: This mischievous little art car could almost be a mirage, so surprising is it to see an urban skyline in the middle of the desert. Being urbanites ourselves, we love that this vehicle brings a bit of the city along for the ride. (Are those the spires of the Chrysler Building and the Transamerica Pyramid that we spy?)
Image courtesy of Geoff Stearns/Flickr
8. THE HOUSE ON WHEELS: We're getting a bit of a Studio Ghibli vibe with this lovely art car, which looks like a Victorian house on wheels. Howl's Moving Castle come to life, anyone?
Image courtesy of BLM Nevada/Flickr
9. THE SILVER LOBSTER: It's not every day you come face-to-claw with a brilliant silver lobster—but it's also not every day that you venture to the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. This lovingly constructed metallic crustacean is one of the prettiest art cars we've seen (though we might not get so close to those pointy edges, personally).
Image courtesy of Vito Fun/Flickr
10. THE RAINBOW UNICORN: Is it possible not to have fun on a giant unicorn art car, festooned with rainbow ribbons and equipped with a viewing deck? We think not. Save us a spot!
Image courtesy of Geoff Stearns/Flickr
