Zolie Mae inspecting the nozzle of the F-1
Crew waiting to Launch BM 2015
Flight Crew 2015
In process build 2021
Project Empire

From the creators of The Golden Mean and The Serpent Twins comes a new stunning spectacle of art car, unique costuming, and performance art called. PROJECT: EMPIRE.

Inspired by the heyday of science fiction concept art, the cryptic history of a canceled NASA mission, and the optimism and hipness of the early 60’s Apollo Rocket Age, Project: EMPIRE (Early Manned Planetary-Interplanetary Roundtrip Expeditions) is the physical creation of a mythological spacecraft and a new anachronistic style we call AEROSPACEPUNK. See Project:Empire.org

Mythos
Project EMPIRE asks the question: what if NASA had gone farther than Apollo? What if all the crazy proposals had actually been made? What if humanity had become a space-faring race in the middle 1960's and discovered there's much more to outer space than we thought?
We explore the mythological return of a 'lost' NASA mission to Mars (and beyond) where far-traveling humans adapted to survive using their wits, style, and salvaged alien technology to explore a universe before coming home. Built on a large-scale, heavy-duty industrial truck chassis the street-legal art car will be of an impressive size and scope with the highly-detailed execution that people have come to expect from our all-volunteer team of artists, craftspeople, and collaborators. Extensive costumes and an epic backstory complete the picture of a fun traveling band of adventurers re-discovering Earth.
Past Shows
2015-08Burning Man
2015-09Oakland Pride Parade
2020-02Jay Leno Monster Garage
2023-08Burning Man
Specifications
  • Performance
    Speed:
    70 mph | 112 km/h
    Range:
    3000mi | 483km
    Passengers:
    7 (with seat belts)
    :
    35 (absolute maximum capacity)
  • Dimensions
    Weight:
    9960 lbs | 4518 kg
    Length:
    420in | 1067cm
    Width:
    138in | 366cm
    Height:
    216in | 549cm
  • Chassis
    Frame Construction:
    2002 Isuzu NQR
  • Drive
    Brakes:
    Rear: Mechanical Drum
    :
    Front: Mechanical Drum
    :
    Parking: Hand Brake
    Suspension:
    Rear: Spring HD
    :
    Front: Spring HD
    Steering:
    Manual Assist
  • Fuel
    Car Engine:
    25gal Diesel
    Fire Effects:
    NA
  • Note
    :
    Vehicle specifications subject to change without notice