Lightly disguised mules.

Engineers talk among these undisguised cars, likely pilot production units.

All cars sport California manufacturer's license plates. The car on the right has subtle disguising, the car on the left is undisguised.

July 2005 – BMW is back. And they brought a Rolls Royce with them. Again, as in years past, they base their operation at the Church of the Nazarene, which is located across from the hospital on West Line Street in Bishop. This year it seems all cars are undisguised, but one SUV is obviously cobbled up with rough bodywork. And there is what appears to be a 5-series station wagon. I saw one sedan that was also rather cobbled up, but my camera didn't boot up in time for me to snap a photo of it on that day. A pair of Z-series sports convertibles were also seen. All were sporting California distributor's plates on the rear only. A few days later, while returning home from Lone Pine, I happened upon what might have been a pilot production X-series SUV. It had X3 styling cues in the rear, but appeared to be X5 sized. After snapping a few photos of the rear of the car, the driver sped up and passed the slower cars ahead. I gave chase at high speed, but decided to back off for fear of the potential getting caught by an oncoming patrolman. However, a few miles later, the same mule was parked alongside the road and when I passed the driver pulled back onto the road and came up alongside of me and hung there for a while. After I got the photo below, he tore off at high speed again.

July 2005 – Later in the month, after BMW left the area, I spied three rough BMW mules – two sedans and an SUV – heading southbound on US395 south of Bishop. At the end of July, I saw two mule sedans and an SUV heading northbound on US395 just south of Bishop.

July 2007: BMW again returns to Bishop, California; basing itself at the Church of the Nazarene as in past years. This year, however, I noted a lack of other BMW owned brands, such as Mini, Land Rover or Rolls Royce. And strangely lacking were truly cobbled up test mules. The vast majority of the vehicles were obviously based on present production models, but likely testing new technologies or components.

In later days I did spy and photograph two true camouflaged and cobbled up vehicles – a future 7-series sedan and a future X6 SUV.

July 2008: BMW returns to its base at the Church of the Nazarene in Bishop starting Sunday July 6^th. During the afternoon, as I was returning home from town, I spied a Z-Series mule northbound with a group of production looking sedans. During the week, I'd park across the street at the Northern Inyo Hospital for a few minutes at a time and snapped away. I also captured them in and around Bishop on the road.

The bulk of the test mules appear to be SUVs, primarily the upcoming X6; as well as the future 5-Series and 7-Series sedans. A single Z-Series sport car was also with the group, the same I saw first. This model has been around a while, but this one unique in that BMW is working on a folding hard top to replace the soft top of earlier models.

The X6 is represented by to distinct mules, one running a large bell tower on its hood. Later in the week, I also came across a bell tower equipped SUV that had front end styling treatment similar to the X5.

Later in the week, I also spotted what appeared to be a small 1-Series convertible. And oddly enough, while I was watching the goings on while parked at the hospital, a new Toyota Prius without plates pulled in and a couple of engineers got out, a third joined them and they went over the car. Is BMW considering a hybrid?

According to The Car Connection.com, BMW is testing hybrids. This is the reason for the bell tower on the hoods I've seen this year and last.

MORE INFO ON FUTURE BMW VEHICLES

Photos:

JULY 2006: I caught this newly released 3-series sedan going into a coin-op car wash on the south end of Bishop. I later snapped it as it waited for traffic, then again as it sat in the left turn lane waiting to turn onto West Line Street. Not sure why this vehicle is being run, unless they're trying out something new under the hood for the still under development 3-series coupe and convertible, which are planned to be released in the autumn of 2005.

Click on any image for a larger view in a separate window.

This SUV's bodywork is obviously cobbled up. This is likely the next generation X5, which is planned for a 2007 release. Compare with the Brenda Priddy photo.

This may be the upcoming 3-series wagon, due for an autumn 2005 release. However, compare certain minor styling element differences – such as taillights and exhaust tips – with this Edmunds.com photo of the upcoming production 3-series wagon.

I came upon this SUV test mule, possibly the 2007 X5 between Independence and Big Pine. The rear styling is the same as the X3. This photo catches the rear details ...

... while this one catches the side and front end details.

JULY 2007 BMW MULES
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At a Bishop, California gas station/mini-mart I spied these two BMW mules. They were advance units, as BMW didn't base theirselves in Bishop for another couple weeks later.

This BMW coupe was parked next to the SUV pictured to the left.

Note that the same coupe is equipped with right hand drive, though an attempt was made to disguise the fact.

This production looking BMW X series SUV has a telltale sign that it's undergoing tests – the laptop computer hooked into the car's electronics and controls allow changes to be made on the fly.

My, look at that bell-tower on the hood of this X series BMW mule! Makes you wonder what's lurking under there ...

Now on to some real mules – the 2010 BMW 7-Series sedan. Due to start production in 2009. More info on the 7-Series can be found HERE.

Compare my shot with the 2010 7-Series with this superb Brenda Priddy photo, found at Car Connection.com

Later in the week, I spied this 2009 X6 SUV at a gas station in Big Pine, California. Another production BMW X5 SUV that was running with this mule was filling up at another pump.

The BMW test drivers of both SUVs chat idly as the 2009 is being fueled up.

Another view of the 2009 X6. More information on the production version can be found HERE.

JULY 2008 BMW MULES
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7-SERIES LARGE SEDAN
Two 7-Series mules were present – the one that's been around a while, and one closer to what the production unit will look like.

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The 2010 7-Series mule has been running around the globe for a couple of years and has returned to Bishop.

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The engineer/test driver walks away from his 7-Series mule.

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Same car, unattended.

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The new 7-Series mule, with body styling indicating what the production model will look like. I was only able to capture this car twice on two separate days, as it sat well back in between production vehicles much of the time I was in the area. However, you can find some fine photos of this car by other spy photographers at The Car Connection.com.

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5-SERIES SEDAN
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The 5-series mule, slated for a 2011 model year release. More information at The Car Connection.com

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X6 SUV
The X6 crossover SUV has been released recently, however, a hybrid version was tested in Bishop. The mule shown on the bottom row with the bell tower is definitely a hybrid. The others shown here may also be a hybrid, with hoods styled like what the production version is supposed to wear.

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The mule on this bottom row has a large bell tower on its hood, which has been identified as a hybrid version. The Car Connection also has photos of an X6 hybrid with a more production looking hood, which may be one of the cars above.

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MISCELLANEOUS SUVs
Several production, preproduction vehicles and slightly cobbled up units were present.

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A production looking vehicle. There were several in the fleet at the BMW base that were likely production models, used as errand runners and the like.

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This car did have some mule shoes. It appears to be an X5 model, but wears headlight styling like the X6 (which is based on the X5 platform).

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The same car from the rear.

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This X5 appears to have a hybrid running train, evidenced by the bell tower on the hood.

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Another X5 looking mule.

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This X3 appears to be an innocent bunny, with the predatory looking X6 hybrid mule getting ready to pounce on it ... If you take a close look at the driver, it appears he's spotted me.

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Another X-series mule. There must be something interesting lurking under that battle ram front bumper.

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Z-SERIES SPORT CAR
I had a heck of a time catching this car ...

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The Z-series mule is sporting the upcoming folding hardtop. More info at The Car Connection.com

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Lousy shot, yes. But it's the only one I was able to get of the front of the car. Auto focus on the camera wouldn't cooperate, except for that perfect photo of the car hidden behind another vehicle passing by ...

MISCELLANEOUS VEHICLES
Hey! What's with the Prius? Is BMW going green?

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This small convertible is dwarfed by the X6 mule next to it. A 1-Series convertible?

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This Toyota Prius pulled up as I was watching across the street, and two engineers got out. The third one joined them and they spent quite a while looking, pointing and talking about the car. Probably brought along to compare with BMW's version.

CHEVROLET Return to List

1998 – I saw the current generation Corvette in testing stage and heavily camouflaged, hemmed in by three Corvettes from the last generation near Big Pine, California.

Photos:

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CHRYSLER Return to List

1998 - I was eating at PJ's Cafe in Lone Pine in 1998 and a group of Chrysler test mules and engineers came to eat. Afterward, I hung around the parking lot talking with them and got to see up close the 300M, then a couple of years in the future. Along with them were pilot production Concords.

2007 – In June, I was entering the north end of Big Pine, California. I just happened to be shooting at the time out my passenger side window at the Sierra Nevada. When I turned back, I happened to spy at the last second two or more test mules on CA168 waiting to turn onto US395. I managed to snap a quick photo as I passed by. Just as I turned straight again, another mule was coming at me northbound on US395 from the center of Big Pine and I managed to snap a photo of that one also. The primary mules appear to be mini-vans. I believe they are Chrysler products, as two undisguised and current generation Dodge Chargers were running with them, as you can see below in one of the photos.

Update – The Chrysler mules I saw were of a planned crossover SUV, planned for 2008. There is no name for the vehicle as yet, so is merely called the “NCC” (“New Concept Crossover”). More on the vehicle HERE and HERE.

Update #2 – The test mule I saw will become the 2009 Dodge Journey. Photo of the production model below.

MORE INFO ON FUTURE CHRYSLER VEHICLES

Photos:

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June 2007 - What appears to be a Chrysler mule-train, as they wait to turn onto US395 from off of CA168 at the north end of Big Pine, CA. The lead mule and the third vehicle appear to be mini-van mules. The 2^nd and 6^th vehicles are current generation and undisguised Dodge Chargers. What appears to be a current generation Chrysler/Dodge mini-van and a Dodge Sebring make up the 4^th and 5^th in the train.

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June 2007 - A few seconds later I captured this mule heading northbound on US395 a few hundred yards from the rest of the mule train. It is very similar to the 1^st mule in the train in the previous photo.

What the finished product – the 2009 Dodge Journey – is set to look like. Click on the photo above and your browser will open a new window to view a series of photos of the Dodge Journey on The Car Connection.com.

FORD / LINCOLN / MERCURY Return to List

2002 – A line of cobbled up what looked to be current generation Mustangs, traveling together and sprouting antennas; seen on US395 near Inyokern in 2002. Likely testing new running trains or suspension.

Later, near Panamint Springs, I saw a line of a dozen or so vehicles, all Ford, in various stages of camouflage or undisguised. Models included Focus, Winstar and pickup trucks. One vehicle, appearing to be a Focus, was set up much like a Can Am style race car.

2003 - I was driving southbound on the Trona-Wildrose road, coming toward the junction of that road and Panamint Valley Road. As I was dropping down the hill, I could see three vehicles driving swiftly with close spacing southbound on Panamint Valley Road; which I suspected were test mules. I attempted to speed up to intercept the cars, but reached it a bit too late to get a good look. I did get a photo. Looking on the Internet later, I find it may have been the mule for the 2005 Focus ZX5.

2006 – In December, I was at a gas station in Mammoth Lakes, California. A mini-van test mule pulled up, with front and rear bras. It appeared to be similar in shape and size to a Ford Freestyle. The mule was white with gray and black bras. A few minutes later, two 4-door sedan mules, looking like a semi-disguised Ford 500's, went by. I had my camera in my truck, but was could not get out to it in time to snap these vehicles.

2007 – In June of 2007, I noted over two days two test mule sedans in and around Bishop, California. Both were 4-door sedans of mid-size. I believe they are Ford or Lincoln mules as they were accompanied over the two days by an undisguised current model Ford Fusion. I did not have my camera with me on either day.

2008 – February 29, 2008: Waiting for traffic to clear before turning south on US395 at the south end of Bishop. Noticed a group of what appeared to be current generation Ford Escapes going southbound. Some very dirty, some clean. I had a hunch they were pre-production or engineering mules. I caught up with them and passed them, shooting photos along the way. Got to Big Pine, swung a U-turn to park in front of the post office, and shot photos of the mules approaching me. All mules wearing Michigan manufacturer's plates, had radio antennas, and had auxiliary gages on their A-pillars. All had some sort of LCD screen atop their dashboards, possibly readouts of critical readings in the running trains. Photos below.

Photos:

Ford test mules at the junction of Trona-Wildrose and Panamint Valley Roads in 2003.

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All – Ford Escape Engineering Mules spied in Bishop, CA, southbound US395 and Big Pine, CA.

HONDA Return to List

Various – Numerous models testing in Panamint Valley and Death Valley over the years. I probably see Honda mules the most, as their proving grounds are reasonably nearby in California City.

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HYUNDAI / KIA Return to List

2002 - Small lightly camouflaged sedans running all over Panamint Valley over several weeks in 2002 appeared to be Kia or Hyundai mules.

September 2005 – Pulling into the Kmart shopping center in Bishop, California, I noticed a test mule sedan about the size of a Toyota Camry pulling out. It was covered front and rear and had a Michigan manufacturer license plate mounted on the rear. After completing my shopping at Kmart a while later, I found a test mule SUV parked near my truck. I had my camera in the truck and was able to snap photos without getting caught by the driver(s). The manufacturer's nameplate molding in the grill appeared to be made for either Hyundai or Kia. The SUV appeared to be similar in shape and size of the Hyundai Tuscon/ Kia Sorento. The body wasn't too badly cobbled up, but did have sizable paint runs and epoxy and metal fasteners holding together some body panels to each other. The dashboard had a lot of duct tape affixed to it, paper labels with Korean or other Oriental wording affixed to the dash. After snapping photos, I pulled back onto the street and immediately found another SUV mule coming at me and got its photo also. This SUV was likely from the same manufacturer, but had different styling cues. Note the front end resemblance to the current Hyundai Sonata. I did not get a chance to snap photos of the sedan.

MORE INFO ON FUTURE HYUNDAI / KIA VEHICLES

Photos:

Photos of the Kia and possibly Hyundai SUV test mules in and around the Kmart Shopping Center in Bishop, California. Click on any image for a larger view in a separate window.

JAGUAR Return to List

July 2007: Heading to Mammoth Lakes, California, during my work day, I was driving northbound US395 about a mile south of the exit to Mammoth Lakes. To my right, at the stub end of an old alignment of US395, was a test mule. I quickly pulled off at the turnoff to the old alignment, near the old, now abandoned Mono County Sheriff substation, and parked; acting as though I was making a cell phone call. I had my camera ready and snapped one shot of the test mule as it slowly approached through my outside rearview mirror. As it passed by me, I snapped another shot and the car suddenly accelerated, probably figuring out what I was really doing. It was obvious that the car had a throaty V8 engine under the hood. The car sported Arizona license plates, but I had a hunch this car was British and probably a Jaguar. I followed the car, but he suddenly stopped in the middle of the road, forcing me to swerve around him. Since I figured I was made, I decided to continue on to work. A short distance later, as I was passing under the US395 overpass, I became aware of a similar test mule coming at me and snapped its photo. As I was doing so, I was nearly broadsided by yet a third test mule. I captured its tailend as well. All three cars had European front license plates, Arizona rear plates. Checking the Internet later, I found indeed that these mules are of the upcoming Jaguar XF. Even a couple of the test mules caught testing in England wore English license plates bearing the same first letters.

INFO ON THE JAGUAR XF (EDMUNDS.COM)

MORE SPY SHOTS OF THE JAGUAR XF (THE CAR CONNECTION.COM)

MORE INFO ON THE JAGUAR XF (THE CAR CONNECTION.COM)

AND YET MORE INFO ON THE JAGUAR XF (THE CAR CONNECTION.COM)

Photos:

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The first Jaguar XF test mule I spotted on an old alignment of US395. This image was shot using my outside rearview mirror, later reversed to correct perspective in photo enhancement software.

The same car as it made me out and suddenly accelerated. A throaty V8 growl gave it away that it was powerful.

A second Jaguar XF coming at me as I was passing under the US395 overpass on California 203 westbound to Mammoth Lakes. Note the European (likely England) front license plate.

A third Jaguar XF mule, which I nearly broadsided as I was shooting the second car. This car had just come off the offramp of southbound US395 and was heading into Mammoth Lakes. Note the Arizona rear license plate.

The Jaguar XF concept car.

JEEP Return to List

2002 – A pilot production Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, undisguised and sporting the Rubicon badging, seen at the gas station at Paiute Palace casino in Bishop in 2002. Release of the model was still a couple months in the future.

MORE INFO ON FUTURE JEEP VEHICLES

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LAND ROVER Return to List

2003 - In August and September, 2003, I saw numerous squared off SUVs appearing to be Land Rovers. In August, I saw eight to ten of them in and around Bishop. Each were heavily cladded and painted with drab, chaotic shapes, but had a similar body styling as the current Range Rover. Each had small, single projector headlights, which were always lit. In September, I saw two of the same test mules, without body cladding but still painted in drab, chaotic shapes, running at the south end of Bishop.

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MERCEDES BENZ Return to List

2000 - I saw eight or ten undisguised Mercedes mules while I was going to work in the early morning hours. Due to having seen them in Car & Driver, I recognized them to be the C-Class line due out a few months later.

July 2004: In Lone Pine, while riding through town with friends in their car, I noted three test mules on a side street waiting to turn onto US395. The first and third mules were heavily disguised, the middle one was partially so, but obviously cobbled up. There was no insignia on the middle car, but a circular insignia base molded in the middle of the grill, plus the lines of the car were very much like the CLK model, left no doubt that these were Mercedes Benz. I had my camera with me, but was so busy trying to make out the cars, that I didn't get the camera out of the bag and booted up.

July 2005 – Denise Flynn, owner and webmaster of the Inyo Gen Web site, was traveling through Beatty, Nevada and saw what appears to be a very cobbled up Mercedes Benz mule filling up at another pump. She said other cars were nearby but she was not able to photograph them. Her photo is included here courtesy of Denise.

July 2005 - “Ranboze,” who was traveling through the eastern Sierra, happened to park alongside of this test mule at the Interagency Center on the south end of Lone Pine. It appears to be from the same manufacturer, and has Mercedes Benz styling cues in the rear taillight arches. The car appears to be cobbled up in the same manner as the car in the photo by Denise Flynn, but it is likely not the same test mule. The wheels on the car snapped by Denise Flynn has five spokes, the car snapped by “Ranboze” has six spokes. Ranboze's photo is included with permission.

MORE INFO ON FUTURE MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES

Photos:

The sedan in Lone Pine looked much like this, but more heavily clad. Internet photo, by Brenda Priddy & Company.

MG Return to List

c. 2000 - A half dozen new MG models in pilot production form, seen all over Lone Pine, a few months before release. Seeing them in Car & Driver tipped me off.

MINI COOPER Return to List

September 2005: I spied a Mini Cooper test mule traveling northbound on US395 just south of Bishop, California. I had my camera with me, but I didn't recognize the car as a test mule in time to snap a photo. What caught my eye was the front end sported only a single set of small projector headlamps on a cobbled up front clip and no other lamps. The car didn't have any coverings but was painted a flat drab color. The car sported a single European license plate on the rear.

September 2005: The day following my spotting of the Mini Cooper mule on US395, I exited a mini mart in Bishop and found a second Mini Cooper mule fueling up at the pumps of the store. I grabbed my camera and shot several photos of the car at the pump, as well at the side of the store; the driver was fiddling with something on the passenger seat for about five minutes while I was snapping away. This car, however, had a California distributor's license plate instead of the European plate of the first car I spotted. The car was unmistakably Mini Cooper, but had panels over the headlights and taillights, as well as tape in various places on the body. Paint was a mix of flat and gloss black.

MORE INFO ON FUTURE MINI COOPER VEHICLES

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PONTIAC Return to List

2000 - The current Banshee, spotted undisguised north of Independence.

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ROLLS ROYCE / BENTLEY Return to List

2002 - A cobbled up yet unmistakably Rolls Royce or Bentley seen running in front of the Bishop Country Club. I saw more of them over the next few days, in right hand and left hand drive configurations.

July 2005 – Rolls' parent company, BMW, is back in Bishop and stationed at the Church of the Nazarene across the road from the hospital. I only saw one Rolls sedan, which was undisguised but not badged. At one point, as I was driving up the road to go to fuel up my truck at a nearby station, the Rolls pulled in to the pump ahead of me. I nonchalantly asked the driver if it was a pilot production or test mule. He answered back in his native tongue, which sounded Italian. I have a hunch he understood me and spoke English, but was feigning language incompatibility as a precaution in case I was spying. I was, but did not have my camera with me at the time. It was a splendid photo op, as the driver went inside the store associated with the station, leaving me with ample opportunities to get some really good shots of the interior and exterior of the car. The photos below show the car as I caught it a couple days later at the Church of the Nazarene.

Photos:

Rolls pilot production vehicle among BMW test mules. Click on image for a larger view in a separate window.

Rolls pilot production vehicle among BMW test mules. Click on image for a larger view in a separate window.

TOYOTA / LEXUS Return to List

May 2007 – At a gas station in Bishop, I noticed two mid-sized black sedans with no insignias, manufacturer's license plates and 2-way radio antennas gassing up. One man and one woman were in each car, all Oriental. The cars were undisguised, but as mentioned, had no insignias to indicate their manufacture. From their general shape and headlight shape, they appear to be pilot production Lexus models. I also saw the same two cars the following day on US395 between Bishop and Big Pine, California.

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VOLVO Return to List

1998 - Several test mules south of Lone Pine.

2002 - Two test mules parked on top of Westgard Pass.

September 2003: A California Highway Patrol cruiser in pursuit of the lead car in a string of a dozen or so XC series Volvo pre-production cars.

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UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER Return to List

• A very cobbled up mule of undetermined make spotted on US6 near Chalfant Valley, California.

• A highly camouflaged mule in Bishop, California, a squared off spots sedan; speculated to be a BMW.

• Several sedans, lightly camouflaged, appearing to be Honda or other Japanese make.

• A camouflaged mini van spotted on US395 north of Lone Pine, California.

• Two full size van mules getting gas in Big Pine, California. Cobbled up, no identity.

• Three mules, all missing front end fascia, running together in Panamint Valley, California.

September 2005 - Two mule sedans of undetermined parentage running southbound on US395 south of Bishop, California. Later that day, I passed them again as they traveled northbound back toward Bishop. Neither time did I have time to get my camera booted up in time to snap a photo. They were about the same size as a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.

September 2005 - A single mule of undetermined manufacture running around Mammoth Lakes and vicinity. It was a midsize to large sedan, about the size and shape of a Toyota Camry (Toyota is currently testing the '07 Camry and the car I saw appears very similar). It was lightly camouflaged and had coverings front and rear.

September 1, 2007: A half dozen or so mules, split between sedans and SUVs. Appeared full size. All fully cladded and camouflaged. Seen running together southbound on US395 between Bishop and Big Pine, California. No production vehicles were seen running with them to give a clue as to manufacture; although by their size and apparent styling, appearing to be of American manufacture. My hunch was Ford because of the relatively blocky shape of the SUVs. I did not have my camera with me at the time.

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