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[pmcd9]

Hey all you language queers, I need your help.  I'm trying to write a definition for a word that does not appear in the dictionary.  The word is a conflation of art and car, artcar.  If used separately, as I'm using the words art would be an adjective and car a noun.  I'm thinking the new conflated word would be a noun, but I'm not too smart about such things.  I just took the pronunciation of art and car and combined them.  Does that look correct?

artcar n \ˈärt-kär\  : a vehicle moving on wheels produced as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes:

[side_show]

Yes it's a noun, and I do believe the pronunciation is correct.  However, might I suggest that you may want to add "produced or modified?"   My thought is that many vehicles are originally produced for other purposes, but later altered for the purpose described here. 

[CortJstr]

Does at artcar have to be able to move? Does it still have to be able to move under its own power?

[pmcd9]

However, might I suggest that you may want to add "produced or modified?"   My thought is that many vehicles are originally produced for other purposes, but later altered for the purpose described here. 

Yes, thank you.  In fact, I think I'll take out produced all together.  I think I'll replace with "modified or altered."

Does at artcar have to be able to move? Does it still have to be able to move under its own power?

Yes, if it doesn't move it's just a sculpture.  I'll be getting into what constitutes an artcar in a later article, and there is some difference of opinion on this issue, but I think most agree that to be an artcar it has to move.  The purpose of this article is to assert artcar as one word and rewrite the stylebooks.

[jay-ell]

What is an artcar?

An artcar is not, as the metaphysicians say, the manifestation of some mysterious idea of beauty or transport; it is not, as the aesthetical physiologists say, a vehicle by which man lets off his excess of stored-up energy; it is not the expression of man's emotions by external road signs; it is not the production of pleasing objects; and, above all, it is not pleasure; but it is a means of union among men, joining them together in the same feelings, and indispensable for the life and progress toward well-being of individuals and of mobility.

[greenkoolayd]

sometimes when form and function love each other very much they have a special naked hugging-time.

[Nabubrush]

Paul, I've got a couple of snapshots of a local example that I had to hook you up with. Nothing crazy, but I thought you might like to see it.

[pmcd9]

Paul, I've got a couple of snapshots of a local example that I had to hook you up with. Nothing crazy, but I thought you might like to see it.

Yeah, sure, would love to see it.  Was it this one, by chance?  Or one of the cars in this set maybe?  I don't know which ones came up from Portland.

[Nabubrush]

It's this one - I didn't see it in your group.

[pmcd9]

Hmm, don't know that one.  Maybe it's an artcar in the wild.  I'll show this photo around if you don't mind.

So0oo, good English speaking people, are we good on the artcar definition?

[jay-ell]

Looks good to me, with smells' suggested change.

[side_show]

artcar n \ˈärt-kär\  : a vehicle moving on wheels modified or altered as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes

I like it.

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but my dad was a autobody teacher, so growing up, I saw so many weird vehicles and weird paint jobs.  Paul can probably explain the line between skillfully/beautifully rendered body jobs on cars vs artcars better than I can.  I can't really articulate it - I know I've never seen what I would consider an artcar at a standard car show, and although I've seen some really souped up, modded hot rods, I also don't consider them art cars...  I can't really explain the difference apart from saying that the intent behind those doing the work is different on some level.  I could categorize either type of vehicle at a glance though.  The thing I'm wondering, looking at the definition above, is with it worded the way it is, I think the work of some autobody techs would fall into the definition, although they themselves would not agree that their work does.  I think artcars are made by artists or craftspersons, while technicians do autobody work...  It's an interesting debate.

[AugustWest]

The way that's written, "modified or altered as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes" modifies wheels.  I don't think that's what you mean.

Also, this definition would include bicycles, wheelbarrows and lil' red wagons.

How about just "An automobile modified or altered as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes."

[jaydub]

Are motorcycles considered automobiles?  I've certainly seen some bikes with an assortment of purely decorative modifications, but I don't know if I would consider them under the "artcar" definition.

[pmcd9]

artcar n \ˈärt-kär\  : a automobile modified or altered as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes

Paul can probably explain the line between skillfully/beautifully rendered body jobs on cars vs artcars better than I can.  I can't really articulate it - I know I've never seen what I would consider an artcar at a standard car show, and although I've seen some really souped up, modded hot rods, I also don't consider them art cars...  I can't really explain the difference apart from saying that the intent behind those doing the work is different on some level.

I think you've hit the nail square on the head.  Although I do consider hotrods to be artcars, they are from a different world, a different species.  The intent of the artist is the key.  In the hotrod world there pretty strict guidelines of conformity on how things should be done.  In the artcar world individual expression trumps all other considerations.

It's way more complicated than that, but I think that's at the heart of it. 

The way that's written, "modified or altered as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes" modifies wheels.  I don't think that's what you mean.

Also, this definition would include bicycles, wheelbarrows and lil' red wagons.

How about just "An automobile modified or altered as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes."

I've taken your suggestion.  Bikes are their own thing and I've never seen an art wheelbarrow, but there is a Little Red Wagon.

Are motorcycles considered automobiles?  I've certainly seen some bikes with an assortment of purely decorative modifications, but I don't know if I would consider them under the "artcar" definition.

I haven't seen too many art motorcycles, but lots of art scooters.