This page is for updates on the Longview High School Art Car.

Since 2003 (excepting 2008) Longview High School has had an entry in the Orange Show Art Car Parade in Houston, TX.

Longview Lobo Lego Mobile - 2003

In 2003 LHS started off strong with the Longview Lobo Lego Mobile, a full size, four-wheel-drive work van completely covered in LEGOs that formed a scale map of the world. The Longview Lobo Lego Mobile won honorable mention in the student category.

Vanquility - 2004

In 2004 the Lobos came back with another strong entry. The entry titled Vanquility was based on a donated 90s van. It was covered in a coat of Stuff insulation foam then carved and painted to resemble a zen rock garden. The van was topped with two paper mache lobos (Spanish for wolf) that were plumed and functioning water fountains. There was a small goldfish pond on the hood of the van and a larger moat on the top that encircled the rocks the lobos were sitting on. One wolf sprayed water to the gold fish pond on the hood and the other sprayed its water to the water holding tank on the back. The art car won second place in the student category at the 2004 parade. Vanquility was sold following the 2004 parade to a couple who still occasionally drive it around and maintained it as an art car.

Wolf Pack Auto Cycler - 2005

In 2005 the sculpture class changed things up by entering in the bicycle category. The complex bikes were a challenge to make but turned out great in the end. As always the Lobos participated in Main Street Drag which is the parade for the people. The goal of Main Street Drag is to take the art car parade to the people that can't make it to the parade on Saturday. Main Street drag splits the parade entries into small groups and the participants drive all around Houston visiting schools and hospitals. The Lobos were on the 2005 Hospital route which took them all around down town Houston. This made for an interesting time for the wolf pack who had to ride their bikes some and also pack them into the Ryder moving truck to get from place to place. There were several engineering challenges that had to be over come for several different issues including attaching the bike's skin to the bicycle frame, making a kick stand that would keep the bicycles from toppling over, as well as a way to get 'in' and 'out' of the bicycles. These issues were solved with inventive methods that even included the use of angle brackets salvaged from a dilapidated metal book case.

Portable Paradise - 2006

For the parade in 2006 the Lobos went back to their automotive roots. This year's art car was built on an old Mercury Sable. The design featured the transition from a nice sandy beach to the watery ocean. The hood showcased a real sand box that had fine white sand and sand box toys for the young and old to play with. The rest of the front half of Portable Paradise was painted a white sand color and had real sand painted onto the body. The back half of the car was painted a rich blue. There were two red crabs on the back roof that spit water into a cascading waterfall that ran down the car's back glass window and into a holding tank that doubled as a goldfish pond. The car was topped with a wooden dock and had a detachable metal ladder that lead up to it. The dock was sturdy enough to support at least four female adults. During the parade Portable Paradise pulled a Sunfish sailboat complete with raised sail. The car was a huge hit with the parade crowds as well as the children at the hospitals that the Wolf Pack visited on Main Street Drag. This year was a bit different for the Lobos because there was a change in Jeff Hull's sculpture class. In the fall semester of 2005 the sculpture class became a Pre-Ap sculpture class. Because of this there wasn't room in the curriculum for the art car. As a result the Art Car Club was formed. Even with the change there was still enough interest in the art car that it got done in time and turned out great.

Toaster Van - 2007

For 2007 the Lobos stepped up and produced one of their best art cars. The toaster van was a success due not only to looks, but great engineering as well. Inside the full sized van there was a scissor lift that rose up and down to 'pop' the pop tarts out the holes it the top of the van. The pop tarts were made with twin inflatable mattresses covered with custom sewn slip covers that had pop tart icing and sprinkles painted on. The van resembled a classic stainless steel toaster. The back of the van bore a perfect resemblance to the panel on a toaster. It was even equipped with a button that rose and fell with the toast. For the paint job the Lobos collaborated with the cross town school, Pine Tree High School, auto body class. The students at Pine Tree did a remarkable job painting the van. The Toaster Van was certainly a crown favorite as well as a Judge favorite. The Toaster Van won first place in the student category of the 2007 parade.

Tree House - 2009/2010

This year the Wolf Pack is recycling Portable Paradise and have huge plans for the Mercury Sable.

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