Tattoos, man. Everybody’s got at least one these days. Me? Zero tatts. I’ve never felt strongly enough about anything to have it permanently written or drawn on myself, fully confident that I’ll always feel the same about whatever thing I paid someone to needle into my skin.
I could get behind a tattoo that reads “I Regret This Tattoo,” because it would A. always be true and (hopefully) B. would be funny, but since I’ve gone undecorated this far into life, I’m probably going to stay blank for the foreseeable future.
But what if I (or you) had to get a tattoo – specifically, a car-themed tattoo (or anything related to engines and motors and things with wheels, you get it)? Hilarious as it would be, I would probably not opt for a Camry across my chest, as shown in the top graphic (and no, I did not pose for that photo, but you’re kind for asking).
However, I could see myself getting a tattoo of a Honda XR100, just a sentimental reminder of a wonderful, simpler time before adult responsibilities and social media and screens and all that. Man, the future looked a lot different to me then, and not just because I was wearing a huge pair of glasses. In the same nostalgia mode, I’d happily get inked with a 1980 Honda Accord hatchback or Dodge Omni. Or a Plymouth Horizon, same thing.
Wait, who am I kidding? Forget that sappy nonsense, I want to be cool, man. I’m gonna get a tattoo of a TURBO! (CSI Miami scream):
QOTD:
Where is “turbo alternator tattoo guy” today? And is he still sporting this ink? pic.twitter.com/Q1OfMFYKzk
— Michael Klotz (@Mike_M_Klotz) March 7, 2024
Your turn: You Have To Get A Car-Themed Tattoo. What Would It Be?
Top graphic images: depositphotos.com; raseldesigner93/Vecteezy.com
There’s a silhouette of the 718 Cayman that comes up in the infotainment screen and the left pod in the binnacle when you start it. I’d get a tattoo of that.
I’d get Jason’s drawing of a Chevy Citation. Maybe I SHOULD get that tattoo. It’d probably go well with my Zelda and Hitchhiker’s Guide tattoos.
Screaming Chicken, Ben Affleck style no question.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/MjsAAOSwh15lJBCR/s-l1600.webp
Easy, I got my van with my two dogs driving tattooed on my arm
https://opposite-lock.com/topic/104880/tattooposite-lock
A check engine light because, well….
I do NOT need the reminder that my body’s check engine has been on for several years. But this is a great tattoo choice.
21 year old me had the mustang horse tatooed on my arm, 55 year old me wouldn’t do that, but it’s still there!
21 year old me was a dick. I wouldn’t trust him to look after anything I wanted to use 30 years later.
65 year old me has never wanted a tattoo, but if it did, it would be the mustang pony.
My most themed tattoo would probably be the one I’m already planning.
“1-5-3-6-2-4”, on my wrist, in small machine type.
The firing order of every commercial inline 6 diesel. And nearly every inline 6 in existence.
I’ve spent two decades in an industry repairing these inline torque monsters, and in the twilight years of the ICE engine, as my industry slowly converts to EV, it feels a fitting tribute to what has been a part of my life since high school.
My all mechanical Cummins will be growling past the burned to the axles toxic remains of forgotten battery cars in the distant future.
The commercial world goes where it’s most profitable to be. All things come to pass.
Some will pay for reliability and geologic end-of-life dates.
Not commercial businesses. They’ll pay for whatever makes them money on a 5 year or less scale.
Downtime for your trucks can kill a small business faster than a big one.
Cost-per-mile will kill you faster.
The 5-Speed pattern (R in lower right for me) as others have mentioned but printed in mirror image on the palm of my right hand. Branded there, if you will.
Prob a schematic of the Ford/Mazda 2.0L I4 engine blown apart.
As I said only yesterday on here: if I had to have a tattoo it’d be “+1 regrets”. It’s not car themed though.
I’ve had 25 cars, mostly cool (when they were new, or now, but not when I had them) so a bunch of little car tats? Although do I want a constant reminder of a 1984 Astra GTE, or the CRX I lost in the divorce?
A friend has a map of the world and colours countries in as the visit them, so maybe an engine cross section with parts coloured in as I’ve designed them? It’s unlikely that I’d find a tattooist obsessive enough to replicate things I’ve designed to a level of detail I’d be happy with.
There is a transport related piece of artwork that I’ve liked for 30 years, so I guess I’d still like it if it was tattooed on me.
Jo Burt draws a cartoon of a mountain biking sheep called Mint Sauce. Full of whimsy and utterly charming. One of my many 90’s MTBs is a Mint Sauce spec Pace RC200, which includes a bit I bought from Jo Burt himself. I’m a massive fan.
So a tattoo of Mint on his RC200 please.
The best automobile tattoos relate to both the bearer and the ink.
A specific piston and rod combo (to scale only) is the ultimate tattoo for someone who also is a car person as well as a runner/cyclist or works with their power (and mind).
I laugh at this question as I was in Jr. High (middle school to urban upbringers) when a classmate Bic and pinned a Chevrolet bowtie on his chest and (even though I had found a love for Honda’s) would never ever do that at his same age. Submitting yourself to a brand is the most wretched thing one can do to their body, unless they own it.
Tattoos are like getting a medal for something you are really passionate about, but know that passion deserves to be treated like a marriage.
If I git a tattoo, it would have to be something gloriously stupid. So how bout a Peterbilt emblem on my… well… you know.
Child?
I actually have one planned that I haven’t gotten yet. It’s going to be a replica of the speedometer / odometer in my MG Midget. The odometer will read 2,457 to commemorate the mileage of a road trip my buddy and I took in it and the trip odometer will read 2022 for the year of the trip.
The “Au De Volant” logo from the card game Mile Bourne
The old Rover logo with the viking ship! I’m from Scandinavia..
Back in my younger days, we had some comm guys in my platoon that got plus and minus signs under their nipples – a nod to their nicknames as BOGs (battery operated grunts). I was a bit jealous of the creativity, but as a diesel mech, I had the idea of doing a fuel filler cap with “JP-8 ONLY” underneath above the heart. For whatever reason, I chickened out before getting it done. May have been a good idea. Maybe not. I also avoided getting an EGA – definitely one of my better choices.
If I go bald or shave my head, I’ll consider a check engine light tattoo on it.
I’d get a realistic tattoo of SWG, complete with a detailed recreation of his own tattoos.
I was once standing in line in a McDonalds, already feeling somewhat ashamed as a result, and in front of me was standing a young woman in her twenties, and on her shoulder was a large and very crudely drawn, very simplistic tattoo, executed without the slightest touch of artistry or style. It was a picture of a boom box with a prominent handle on top. And on the handle sat an owl, and the owl was looking straight at me with large eyes. The owl was wearing a pair of headphones, and the headphones were plugged into the boom box by a coiled cord.
There was no text to shed light on this mystery.
And I stared and wondered at the possible meaning of what I was seeing and I have yet to figure it out.
Help me if you have any ideas.
It did occur to me that people who live in Akron, Ohio do occasionally make their own meth.
It was then and there that I decided never to get a tattoo.
lol
I don’t have any tattoos and have no interest at all either. Mentioning turbo made me think of “Turbo” from the show Outback Truckers…he has just the word Turbo tattooed on his right arm. It’s a good show and is really interesting seeing the road trains, terrain, etc down under. I watched them all years ago and am watching again for free. Makes me think of the awesome Project Cactus. That was my favorite Autopian content so far!
https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Outback-Truckers/0R7PYCZ9S9FOVB8M5JMWBI2KAH
For anyone who hasn’t read it…
Project Cactus!!!
https://www.theautopian.com/project-cactus-was-a-literal-shell-in-a-field-two-years-ago-now-its-an-excellent-daily-drivable-ute/
I always like the Saab turbo Special with mirror image turbo in script on the front, so it would show up in mirrors.
Go Dog Go.
How come noone has yet suggested the most obvious pick of them all?!
TORCH’S DRAWING I GOT OF THE CAR OF MY CHOICE FOR MY BIRTHDAY!
I didn’t see your response until after I had posted, but that is what I chose. And I really think his drawing of a Chevy Citation would be a fun tattoo to have.
i always liked the idea of something similar to a shock absorber or coilover on my calf
a skull and crossbones but the bones are wrenches and the skull is made of gears or something similar
after being entrenched in BMW turbodiesels for the last few years, an M57 head gasket or isometric compound turbo drawing would be cool
I’ve owned Shelbys for 11years now and would consider getting the Cobra tattooed.
You are going to have somebody tattoo your snake (as I write this realize double entendre there too…)?
Ouch…..
Something simple like an isometric piston? Maybe a piston from the top – just a circle (is it even possible to get a piston ring or two in there).