Let us introduce you to Sonoma-based artist David Best’s Rocket Car. 

Built in 2003 with a 1977 Cadillac Sedan DeVille as its base, it measures 27 feet in length and has been seen at multiple Burning Mans with up to 16 passengers aboard. 

To create the Rocket Car, Best and his team hacked the roof off the vintage Cadillac before setting to work tweaking the custom panels. Once all the panels had been stripped, the team began fabricating the huge cones that run the length of the car, almost doubling its dimensions.

“In creating his art cars, Best strips vehicles down to the core before reconstructing them, striving to make the car’s original form unrecognizable.” KQED Arts

The piece of art is definitely heavy. Originally the sedan’s curb weight was 4410 lbs; its actual weight after mutating into this steampunk-esque roadster remains undetermined. The current drive train is a 7L V8 developing 180hp and is coupled with an automatic 3-speed gearbox.

Lawrence bought the Rocket Car in 2021 and wants to keep the legend alive and silent by converting it to electric. It doesn't have to go faster than 15-20mph and doesn't need to be street-legal as it will only be driven at Burning Man and a few car shows/festivals. 

According to Lawrence, rust is there but not terrible. The car has not been updgraded or restored since 2021 and it may require a small amount of work but the body is in good condition.

Lawrence needs a turn-key conversion as he is not interested in physically taking part in the process. The closer the builder, the better, but will consider shipping to neighboring states. Range expectation is between 30-50 miles, and he is interested in a few hours charge. A 20 mph top speed would be great.

When driven last September brakes and suspension seemed fine; they should not need attention. For the gauges, he would be interested in understanding the options available and how they would integrate into the existing cockpit/dash look. 

It is currently located in Oakland, California. Lawrence's deadline is August 10th.

Sources: Top Gear, KQED Arts, Jalopnik.