On April 23, 1974, performance artist Chris Burden was crucified shirtless onto the back of a pale blue Volkswagen Beetle.

[1] The assistants rolled the car out of the garage, where it ran while stationary for two minutes with the engine at full throttle.

[1] Burden later displayed relics from the performance, including a plaque alongside the two nails.

Interpretations of the piece include Burden atoning for outcry against his prior body art works, or giving commentary on the forgotten connection between the "people's car" built by Nazi Germany.

[3] The performance artist Marina Abramović sought to use the work in her Seven Easy Pieces but Burden denied her permission.