Galpin Scythe

Galpin Scythe, a wildly customized specialty muscle car

Galpin Scythe

By Stuart Schwartzapfel

With the Scythe Concept, Van Nuys (Calif.)-based Galpin Auto Sports essentially brings a Hot Wheels or Matchbox car to life. The handmade, molded fiberglass body sits on a 2008 Mustang GT convertible platform. The working concept features a twin-supercharged, 5-liter V8 that produces 1,005 horses. The powerful engine bulges through the vehicle's bright purple hood. Ground effects, meanwhile, look like flowing fabric. Inside, tricked-out features include an onboard, voice-controlled computer that manages basic functions such as the radio.

The Verdict: An absurdly exotic muscle car only for show.

Stuart Schwartzapfel is a regular contributor to BusinessWeek.com. He has studied the automotive marketplace and works as an advertising and marketing strategist for major manufacturers. He does not write about any car brands for which he currently works.