Universe: "Alpha"
Story: Anti-Illegal Logging
First seen: Circa 1993
Type: Van
Year(s): 1993
Crew: 1
Passengers: 1-2
Top Speed: 125mph
Weapons: Machine guns carried in the back
Defence: Bulletproof glass
Capacity: Many golf bats, and assorted weapons and detective-type equipment
Length: XXXX
Width: XXXX
Height: XXXX
Fuel Type: Petrol
General Info:
I saw a report about the problem of illegal logging in some country on Blue Peter, and my takeaway was "I need to start an organisation to go there with cool vehicles and shoot the bastards". This was the vehicle. It was supposed to have a V8 engine with "16 valves", though I had no idea what "16 valves" actually meant, I just saw it on car adverts.
Variants:
Actually "represented" by a rusty BMX with bits of card in the wheels.
Origin / Inspiration:
The long, deep swage line was inspired partly by that pinnacle of automotive excellence, the, er, Austin Maestro*. Also by the Modulo concept car, which I've seen variously described as a Fiat or a Ferrari. I had a book from the 90's, though the contents probably dated from the 70's (and were American), which just described it as "A car of the future". I couldn't wait to grow up and be driving cars like that!
*Hey, a speed camera once clocked one doing over 500mph