tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-617587932630959692024-03-19T01:40:37.888-07:00Barry Thomas’ “Wheel to Wheel”Blog on all things cars or "wheel to wheel"......
- new car comments
- special vehicles
- model cars
- automobile history
- auto racing
.....and the Car Modelling CatBarry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.comBlogger878125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-6941817741636579532021-07-08T13:44:00.004-07:002021-07-08T13:53:53.035-07:00Swan Song<p> Appropriate that I should start today's blog with the famous (at least in my mind), <i>Swan Car</i> from back in the depths of car history and from the addled mind of an over the top car enthusiast........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8miXQ55YlNYrXGMs3IYudQ09KJpciuk4mhY6SLDWeKPW-XnEsydiQN3SIkJshv5lfl6bBCzmubakroqvZX_QPF-qG5ErWgxb4kBd7SHViY-hefVytEXJ2EyYooGmxu1P2n707GAgG1Q/s800/swan+car.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="800" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8miXQ55YlNYrXGMs3IYudQ09KJpciuk4mhY6SLDWeKPW-XnEsydiQN3SIkJshv5lfl6bBCzmubakroqvZX_QPF-qG5ErWgxb4kBd7SHViY-hefVytEXJ2EyYooGmxu1P2n707GAgG1Q/w400-h304/swan+car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Appropriate how? </p><p>Some of you may know that your Car Guy blogger has just celebrated his first month of retirement. Yes, after 27 great years of working with a varied range of (mostly) wonderful clients (you know who you are), I've decided to pack it in, hang up my hat, ride into the sunset or simply put, retire. </p><p>Sure, I loved my job, but there are so many other things that I want to spend more time doing. A few.....</p><p>- chair of my condo board</p><p>- building my beloved models</p><p>- reading</p><p>- golfing</p><p>- taking courses</p><p>.........and walking, baking, going to the gym (when finally open) and of course, Netflix. </p><p>Hey folks, I have a full life, so I'm not going to be one of those retirees who has to be cranked up and dusted off from time to time.</p><p>So good-bye to my <i>Wheel to Wheel </i>blog. A blog of which I'm very proud. I'm also flattered that so many have dropped in to read my latest meanderings thru the car business. Just about one and a half million, since I started writing ten years ago. Seems like only just over five hundred weeks have gone by since I started sharing my thoughts with you. Time flies or so goes that old cliche'.</p><p>So, it's time to bid you all adieu. A fond farewell from me and my dear little CMC, the Car Modeling Cat (who for this occasion only has agreed to show her lovable face)..........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdPWahlH3YaOUfhHw9n0tgAifqXbMxdngDbprzqvTYq1DfyGsqB0u74bda1lhXJ_ZthgG1QkzGFHftJx-a8mZfeBp8P7AWg0SPLePTWaTU1qR_NCNYbLTytVSWXfrJuC3A4YkQF5eig/s4000/IMG_6751.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdPWahlH3YaOUfhHw9n0tgAifqXbMxdngDbprzqvTYq1DfyGsqB0u74bda1lhXJ_ZthgG1QkzGFHftJx-a8mZfeBp8P7AWg0SPLePTWaTU1qR_NCNYbLTytVSWXfrJuC3A4YkQF5eig/w400-h300/IMG_6751.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Thank you so much for letting us entertain you.</p><p>Until next time?</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-17557381042192485392021-06-18T07:39:00.002-07:002021-06-18T07:39:24.732-07:00Looking Back.......<p>Today I'm recapping one of my favorite blogs, the Mr. Peanut birthday blog from over five years ago. If you remember it, great, if it's new to you, enjoy.......</p><p>Guess who had their 100th birthday this week? If you said my neighbour you'd be wrong, since he turned 100 two years ago. Guess again? Yep, you got it..........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6itdvB-jWy3JNJb7vWJMeXaB2bnl3uw1fWbLLM-aA-uI8UHSOveD-9kP2eYKgnSv_aBMZQDHg6vDfWuX7vbw_QZkNwuOK4rcmaJLPHZ3JbYRRNn3iJQgp9RPo3Svn48BmbaeIH9LITbs/s1600/pea12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6itdvB-jWy3JNJb7vWJMeXaB2bnl3uw1fWbLLM-aA-uI8UHSOveD-9kP2eYKgnSv_aBMZQDHg6vDfWuX7vbw_QZkNwuOK4rcmaJLPHZ3JbYRRNn3iJQgp9RPo3Svn48BmbaeIH9LITbs/s320/pea12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">.........Mr Peanut. He doesn't look any older, than when he came into this world, of course, being born brown and wrinkled, tends to make old age less noticeable. So, why would I bring this up in a car blog? Simple. Mr. Peanut has been a car guy since the beginning and has had himself some interesting rides. A man of his discerning taste wouldn't be buying just anything off of the lot. Oh no, his rides have always had a custom touch or two.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wlOxBEirvYyww-OcXkCG_i16IEZF468_OBpFWnB22U_mRClSwPDtaJ6a0Ytpts1_Zr6WSd7jt-uyJutaBujP5hPyUGglWmORxkOmVKyWIn4NhhovRlO3o7UQFC_TalL9kb9wxWItPdQ/s1600/pea13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wlOxBEirvYyww-OcXkCG_i16IEZF468_OBpFWnB22U_mRClSwPDtaJ6a0Ytpts1_Zr6WSd7jt-uyJutaBujP5hPyUGglWmORxkOmVKyWIn4NhhovRlO3o7UQFC_TalL9kb9wxWItPdQ/s400/pea13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Initially he started out with a sports model, after all he was a much younger peanut. Always a cut above, even with a sports model, he required a driver. One doesn't wear a top hat and a monocle and drive oneself, do they?<br /><br />But, time went by and his fame grew. He needed a ride that made more sense for a legume of his stature. The full custom treatment was required. Something to help him to come out of his shell, so to speak........<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3g8nFMgYW7bsvqdC_3ZR_iiuhBDohXQOw6b0QOu0AaZpC94M3NZ4x2rbmYNduGf9HtCq7o1lsXFi_oz9BromJlmU4Q9QvhJ6odJH_qZwk76aOtsXbn5PyZZwXHRRDP4yCEhbPLmcL9o/s1600/pea1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3g8nFMgYW7bsvqdC_3ZR_iiuhBDohXQOw6b0QOu0AaZpC94M3NZ4x2rbmYNduGf9HtCq7o1lsXFi_oz9BromJlmU4Q9QvhJ6odJH_qZwk76aOtsXbn5PyZZwXHRRDP4yCEhbPLmcL9o/s400/pea1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Yes, sir, a ride that would tell the world that, he had arrived in more ways than one. A ride that mirrored his unique look. You can see by this photo that Mr. Peanut's very special ride was fully up to the task of transporting such a unique personage.<br /><br />Want to delve a little more deeply into what makes this creation tick?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b5e9YtVuhchF8VHEm1lSmzmab0-LnDmzq2pc3HuR2JWcUaDDlgV8LH_m4Z3DSlqHZ4NIZ-OfTXFHFayaykYue_rGXAqOFCsb_-1bSpIHgD5avsfdPmjv6mEIGQgw4nbFlqCg3n9olKI/s1600/pea10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b5e9YtVuhchF8VHEm1lSmzmab0-LnDmzq2pc3HuR2JWcUaDDlgV8LH_m4Z3DSlqHZ4NIZ-OfTXFHFayaykYue_rGXAqOFCsb_-1bSpIHgD5avsfdPmjv6mEIGQgw4nbFlqCg3n9olKI/s400/pea10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">To understand just how custom his ride is, try sizing this pic up to see all those special details that, make his Peanutmobile such a "must see" vehicle when it rolls into town. Let's be frank (pun intended), it makes the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile look cheap (and a bit obscene) by comparison.........</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6fzWLbCzQoUtX2RjU3L2laZ23M23L-QgJddMP80Vmhxc_eMCSpt42WcitN4vz146cT7Mz56vJe15KGVNR8tdSOmb3d1OegdZdmKPbSN4Pd_slcMXBO5q1lod0FUzrbI2nz1Ccvc58Vk/s1600/pea41.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6fzWLbCzQoUtX2RjU3L2laZ23M23L-QgJddMP80Vmhxc_eMCSpt42WcitN4vz146cT7Mz56vJe15KGVNR8tdSOmb3d1OegdZdmKPbSN4Pd_slcMXBO5q1lod0FUzrbI2nz1Ccvc58Vk/s400/pea41.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">.......but them again, this is Mr. Peanut's special ride. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Being a man of many interests, Mr. Peanut also has a more sporting ride, complete with a larger than life facsimile of His Peanutship molded onto the top of his rather unique vehicle. Of course, the make believe huge engine is indeed, make believe, but under that "in your face" bodywork lies an motor of prodigious power. Being a discrete soul, Mr Peanut has been very reluctant to divulge its exact numbers. Let's just say, you'll know he's coming, even before he comes into view.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAfc2QzR5BhUoH1wsq7EFVf7vwIloet2DhUQP2iGrmlGzZNEkqgAb3I2hQU0DJHv-qTrRQYVNV-Q7NiY0ASz9LcQdI4NhdQnDDJV_vhi9Bms_ssZwWHxETsVvYfkHIgkegQo9EtMpaJk/s1600/pea4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAfc2QzR5BhUoH1wsq7EFVf7vwIloet2DhUQP2iGrmlGzZNEkqgAb3I2hQU0DJHv-qTrRQYVNV-Q7NiY0ASz9LcQdI4NhdQnDDJV_vhi9Bms_ssZwWHxETsVvYfkHIgkegQo9EtMpaJk/s400/pea4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Now he's 100 years old. Still youthful and always on the road, promoting the product that bears his name and arriving in his, oh so special, ride. Let's hear it for the old guy........<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv9ZHY6hemf3qHIMWra-DVpLO-sTAkvc76g-W-J7QRYW6UeucZCme2WsH2wmf41zj9zHPZRZt-BTTuFkwyO2JMtTinJ_sANRD3R2Z2vvUJDIoBrYqCUjojZd-5qmIwDZ-mlacQXTsLSA/s1600/pea8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv9ZHY6hemf3qHIMWra-DVpLO-sTAkvc76g-W-J7QRYW6UeucZCme2WsH2wmf41zj9zHPZRZt-BTTuFkwyO2JMtTinJ_sANRD3R2Z2vvUJDIoBrYqCUjojZd-5qmIwDZ-mlacQXTsLSA/s400/pea8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Until next time......<br /><br /><br />Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-43570676242599823312021-05-31T08:33:00.014-07:002021-06-01T10:15:08.892-07:00Finally Something My Neighbour Doesn't Have!<p>Got tons of money? I mean <i>really</i> tons of money? It's burning a hole in your safe? Want a car that even The Drake couldn't afford? Well, Bucko, have I got your ride.</p><p>Let's reminisce for a moment........</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBpsYtkpqszzaTisYgFy3sAjCTVCAjyTKPcOh5masS7qbPiOwBFHuHopfkwpv2OWqBIyMbn5av849PpQ5UII1KKIESlE54cofWGVbQGcfswhGH1j8tiCErL40PDuLEFKMWZDy9WJ7YA/s1023/RR35.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1023" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBpsYtkpqszzaTisYgFy3sAjCTVCAjyTKPcOh5masS7qbPiOwBFHuHopfkwpv2OWqBIyMbn5av849PpQ5UII1KKIESlE54cofWGVbQGcfswhGH1j8tiCErL40PDuLEFKMWZDy9WJ7YA/w400-h261/RR35.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />There was a time when that ultimate of luxo rides, Rolls-Royce, would built anything for their clients. Well, anything within the confines of good taste, as defined by Rolls-Royce. For instance, if you wanted a pink chenille interior and a polar bear fur roof, they would ask you to go see your local Cadillac dealer.<p></p><p>But once upon a time your wish was their command.........</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWEnWyigpXGUb9xCuPSif0EItmYADw1pHGkn7yuxL7pJO_S9peTQ3SzpcEQUSgfoQRB4C2Q2Fjo7NBcVIOOXI9tXyTWEMnvtvsv8QSraS-8Yfq6py9N1d8PL8Qpm5rq99mU17RmvQpg/s1024/RR50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWEnWyigpXGUb9xCuPSif0EItmYADw1pHGkn7yuxL7pJO_S9peTQ3SzpcEQUSgfoQRB4C2Q2Fjo7NBcVIOOXI9tXyTWEMnvtvsv8QSraS-8Yfq6py9N1d8PL8Qpm5rq99mU17RmvQpg/w400-h266/RR50.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoM2AJBrWxI2GpDqCOGDbzOCpOBfUI0sMO0N5Ski1-0Q0-cJ_xiSEm7bAgy162m6Pf6fV8K7sC12DyU7RSSn5R1rFkX7fyGbxrWHmiDqbGBDuyaoXJpoDLlJQuZWfWIJ7OYvJwEXG6g/s1024/RR51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1024" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoM2AJBrWxI2GpDqCOGDbzOCpOBfUI0sMO0N5Ski1-0Q0-cJ_xiSEm7bAgy162m6Pf6fV8K7sC12DyU7RSSn5R1rFkX7fyGbxrWHmiDqbGBDuyaoXJpoDLlJQuZWfWIJ7OYvJwEXG6g/w400-h261/RR51.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBPJVHLADgMf4opqerxSYhA-a1lnotuoPDQRnHvE_M2miE2HGQ7LrX61x00kYJSsY6iemon8Y5ABLpINwyCIVYjaHpYY-ta4DnvOq6TGLRDIdAohaYk3FZIldYBp4CSw3v3Gu8DadRQ/s500/RR52.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="500" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBPJVHLADgMf4opqerxSYhA-a1lnotuoPDQRnHvE_M2miE2HGQ7LrX61x00kYJSsY6iemon8Y5ABLpINwyCIVYjaHpYY-ta4DnvOq6TGLRDIdAohaYk3FZIldYBp4CSw3v3Gu8DadRQ/w400-h175/RR52.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Want a gold trimmed, ultra swoopy cabrio, a futuristic coupe or a one of one two door? Then Rolls-Royce was your car of choice. Have money to burn? Rolls-Royce knows how to help you burn it.<br /><p></p><p>All this leads up to Rolls' recent announcement that they are going back into the coach building business. Yes, like you, I can hear the cheers of all the oligarchs and oil sheiks, also maybe one from the Sultan of Brunei. Good for Rolls, you've made their day.</p><p>To show how quickly they are getting back onto the saddle, last week Rolls rolled out their first coach built ride, the Boat Tail........<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdbB4gtM2WTmhWT62OYRNm3Ye8uVJivFOOi3eLwcvj50Q7K0WLO0tzdnOSeCzTnkgpaWblHDe7_ZvfZtAjl_DC74qpTz7HSMyxL5PwNL4Ml79-unjZAzlhbY8SfaA0CscC4slqcLkWQ/s798/RR2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="798" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdbB4gtM2WTmhWT62OYRNm3Ye8uVJivFOOi3eLwcvj50Q7K0WLO0tzdnOSeCzTnkgpaWblHDe7_ZvfZtAjl_DC74qpTz7HSMyxL5PwNL4Ml79-unjZAzlhbY8SfaA0CscC4slqcLkWQ/w400-h260/RR2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcN9pM5Veit5Om8-ZEx0_Qx3_yEuLQEpuj_xCU0YMY67h85brzTvAxq2y9pItW2Yelw3-dKDWRFVwN_SWDATy-buuFtCE_rLzrO1PBkoiiHbAQ4CEwu8mnaAtWvphYsoP8w_i5-9QDg/s959/RR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="959" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcN9pM5Veit5Om8-ZEx0_Qx3_yEuLQEpuj_xCU0YMY67h85brzTvAxq2y9pItW2Yelw3-dKDWRFVwN_SWDATy-buuFtCE_rLzrO1PBkoiiHbAQ4CEwu8mnaAtWvphYsoP8w_i5-9QDg/w400-h281/RR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Thinking that this is just another Rolls cabrio? Ha, not a chance. Check out what happens when you open the trunk of this streamlined beaut.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVb-T5emN1-qe08PcbqKJcL5ySdjXEujhT6HwlrhefXtQ31bzFJBNdDAC7GxEyzd6JJT7M8vLgXurIAStG82hvA04sQ9M1jciXlQlDUrS4Gtnc8dvmEhJVZx0wAI-YNjtORDAbY-ovA/s1200/RR1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVb-T5emN1-qe08PcbqKJcL5ySdjXEujhT6HwlrhefXtQ31bzFJBNdDAC7GxEyzd6JJT7M8vLgXurIAStG82hvA04sQ9M1jciXlQlDUrS4Gtnc8dvmEhJVZx0wAI-YNjtORDAbY-ovA/w400-h210/RR1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Yes folks, that is an umbrella and matching folding stools. Hey, if the Phantom sedan comes with an umbrella, then why not this new dream boat? Wonder if a supply of dainty lunch time sandwiches are also included? Your choice of fillings.</p><p>Now for the important details.......Roll-Royce will be building five of these. Act fast, but they might even be sold out already, so temper your enthusiasm. We all know the old line........if you have to ask, then you can't afford it. But we have to ask. Ready? <i>$28,000,000 USD!</i> Twenty eight million bucks! Yep, I know how disappointing that number is to those among us who might be able throw down three, four or even five million, but the high twenties are too much of a stretch. We plebs feel your pain.</p><p>I'll speak for the rest of the billion odd folks in the world, in saying that we feel happy for those fortunate very few billionaires who can pony up the coin for a coach built Rolls. It just makes us feel all is right with the world.<br /></p><p>Until next time...... <br /></p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-59377729110352956532021-05-20T09:28:00.002-07:002021-05-20T09:28:40.763-07:00It's About Time!<p><i>Some things about the auto business make me wonder. Some? Sure start off my blog with an understatement. </i></p><p>You all recognize this gem of a car.........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jOkmaQEFrLU2zMUTPgs7OS0QjgPAZ9x9d3PWeXfjAvT1zu9W5CDuY6K9AqmWLFttBLUIg2dDH5Fad20H0-TQYhjyv34Uk-sc44NiRBOAuA5IvqQTqXfBK40E4i_pcJ0v6fOHm7lnpQ/s1200/CT10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jOkmaQEFrLU2zMUTPgs7OS0QjgPAZ9x9d3PWeXfjAvT1zu9W5CDuY6K9AqmWLFttBLUIg2dDH5Fad20H0-TQYhjyv34Uk-sc44NiRBOAuA5IvqQTqXfBK40E4i_pcJ0v6fOHm7lnpQ/w400-h225/CT10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Absolutely, it's the 1964 Mustang, that came out (obviously) fifty-seven (!!!) years ago. It seems like only fifty. Anyway, my point is that this automotive idea was copied so successfully by everyone else, that all these many years later, the Mustang and two of its competitors are still racking up sales in 2021.</p><p>So this brings me to the adorable compact suv, that is so very popular today, the Subaru <i>Crosstrek</i>........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgap0BqyBC000znqzisGmD6GKEhyF9zB9IEAuIhyphenhyphenoTEVgF31BOpve8GNw2HjyzrJhtXEuo7Fz_9CONc2VPFkBvsUY8ATE-hBwx_B_YijH4TzC-znMjB58v1RK_opuv6nKt65SpD9W8HeQ/s2048/CT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgap0BqyBC000znqzisGmD6GKEhyF9zB9IEAuIhyphenhyphenoTEVgF31BOpve8GNw2HjyzrJhtXEuo7Fz_9CONc2VPFkBvsUY8ATE-hBwx_B_YijH4TzC-znMjB58v1RK_opuv6nKt65SpD9W8HeQ/w400-h266/CT.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The recipe.......take one compact hatchback, in this case the Subaru Impreza.......... </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguld9VarfhEYvKyuC8vNc1CAyh6INlnCIIsiXtpVfLHvgmWBUZCu46OnVjbteXFd-8yTBHN0F5oMdjQVEcwyVLpL6t-QZGZ15nDp-TgB6NbVah3u59ytm3XE07M5bb5ni6UZxP8u8OJQ/s530/CT20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguld9VarfhEYvKyuC8vNc1CAyh6INlnCIIsiXtpVfLHvgmWBUZCu46OnVjbteXFd-8yTBHN0F5oMdjQVEcwyVLpL6t-QZGZ15nDp-TgB6NbVah3u59ytm3XE07M5bb5ni6UZxP8u8OJQ/s320/CT20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>.........add all-wheel drive, add fender flares, add a couple of inches in height, finally a catchy name, <i>Crosstrek,</i> and watch all those folks beat a path to your showroom door to see this ALL NEW model from Japan. In reality it's just a messaged Impreza. Not a bad thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>This Sub has been on the market for a few years and is consistently a great seller, so where is the competition? Ok, VW tried to compete with the <i>Alltrack </i>version of their Golf wagon.......</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sN4f8xQRO__r_iQMCi4TF6HIsk72z-LEgeBrQvFkhVixhE4tAMT7Ut3d26J9ZrenXB1dnzKam8_QYbI7CwIO8_Q_h3uPUh3s0MljLsDC4dFquzycu_w2FV4g7SLcUuDq16GSP9xphA/s1075/CT1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="1075" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sN4f8xQRO__r_iQMCi4TF6HIsk72z-LEgeBrQvFkhVixhE4tAMT7Ut3d26J9ZrenXB1dnzKam8_QYbI7CwIO8_Q_h3uPUh3s0MljLsDC4dFquzycu_w2FV4g7SLcUuDq16GSP9xphA/w400-h140/CT1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This lasted, maybe two years before VW decided those those few people who actually wanted an Alltrack, could go down the street to the Subaru dealer and buy a Crosstrek. Take the easy way out.<div><br /></div><div>The question is why didn't it sell? <i>Very</i> good question and I have no idea. I expected this trend of tarting up a compact hatch to be the next big thing. maybe that's why I'm not an auto exec. Or maybe it's why I <i>should </i>be one!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, now look what's happening. Finally after several years, other auto companies are getting off their buts and doing their own Crosstreks, ignoring VW's lack of success. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is Ford's candidate for compact suv sales greatness in Europe, the Focus <i>Active</i>......</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRYRRxOQHxESXGXJIqAJLTDzbNVFHgin0p3Vg4r41QscgCduW3Ny8G4mS1FebP1EM2FMrvteU3-8qYEt_f0X64XHvXAtQ1J05e613gVnfl5eZpX7onIevrL0qGJpFTpCpPO45WrUeUA/s600/CT4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="600" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRYRRxOQHxESXGXJIqAJLTDzbNVFHgin0p3Vg4r41QscgCduW3Ny8G4mS1FebP1EM2FMrvteU3-8qYEt_f0X64XHvXAtQ1J05e613gVnfl5eZpX7onIevrL0qGJpFTpCpPO45WrUeUA/w400-h255/CT4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Will we get it over here? Maybe, maybe not, but give me one good reason why it shouldn't be at your local Ford dealer. It's an suv type, which in itself is usually sales gold. <div><br /></div><div>Look at what Kia and Hyundai are doing in this sales area and try to figure out why the Toyota Yaris <i>Cross </i>(top pic)<i> </i>isn't already at your local Toyota dealership<i>.....</i><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc80m1jpbuZa9Ei-atfVERvUEMFPMW8YJBmhEoXyh-M0mglORhDNgUg2bF0DeFBLfBaboxldv743S0jSdLqK1NkexmkyKio2gVJRuEzHoMSq4WI6GW0DWEbt2ExhC5cspnbBxc9CFHng/s2048/CT3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc80m1jpbuZa9Ei-atfVERvUEMFPMW8YJBmhEoXyh-M0mglORhDNgUg2bF0DeFBLfBaboxldv743S0jSdLqK1NkexmkyKio2gVJRuEzHoMSq4WI6GW0DWEbt2ExhC5cspnbBxc9CFHng/w400-h225/CT3.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEb69apjmic50vL74TIBm6ugIW3g_0mVRuTYbX6L0-hZIajWEh8E6ZRiCnOozh15HSAN3UBZJen9kPAmc8hAxr-SCmcEp4ryxV4_a5jGg5DCRjfo_gRxMCFIydHBeLKeajwU7wmcw9Q/s620/CT2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="620" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEb69apjmic50vL74TIBm6ugIW3g_0mVRuTYbX6L0-hZIajWEh8E6ZRiCnOozh15HSAN3UBZJen9kPAmc8hAxr-SCmcEp4ryxV4_a5jGg5DCRjfo_gRxMCFIydHBeLKeajwU7wmcw9Q/w400-h225/CT2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><br />Too small? Ok, I get it, so how about the new 2022 Corolla <i>Cross </i>(bottom pic)? So far only for other continents, but there are rumours. There are always rumours. This is a no brainer.......take the world's best selling vehicle, the Corolla, make it interesting by jacking up the body, along with the price and reap the rewards. That's rewards spelt with a $ sign, Friendo.</div><div><br /></div><div>So going back to my original question, what's taken so long to fill the field with Crosstrek competitors in this hot and sensibly sized/priced market segment? Who knows, but I can only assume they haven't read my earlier blogs, where I've given them an idea and a poke.</div><div><br /></div><div>What do you think?</div><div><br /></div><div>Until next time.......</div></div>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-86539731342350316712021-05-07T14:06:00.011-07:002021-05-07T18:08:56.826-07:00Time on my hands.......<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdlmaLXVe26Uh_e04vSe_YQvEw7rmQw43IsVqw1mmy5v8nzFpW_VmMX97t1k1FJVMlQmS9Qc-hMJp-kmPe3LtXpMs6lxl6bXfZMQYGf-0Vamj8MmurGUWb-wZvuNcoCAAs_fFbxVQYQ/s1600/CMC.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdlmaLXVe26Uh_e04vSe_YQvEw7rmQw43IsVqw1mmy5v8nzFpW_VmMX97t1k1FJVMlQmS9Qc-hMJp-kmPe3LtXpMs6lxl6bXfZMQYGf-0Vamj8MmurGUWb-wZvuNcoCAAs_fFbxVQYQ/w400-h300/CMC.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">I hope you all know by now that when the CMC, the Car Modeling Cat, appears in this blog you are going to be treated to her and my latest pandemic relief projects. What better way to while away both our and your down time than checking out what your fellow human (and felines) have been up to.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">First off, check out this 1976 Cadillac Eldorado........</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5Lfi2v5j3DnuppwowIoU0aeD1hFyGsZkiq9rjv8qPwEJXiA-reHRK17kgjTR22rXEyJDESV1OlnDBmympT0ftKWrUimbppA0S3AHpkyHxhJak4r1WJaU5t7tayK-bORpPZWmgK8Pqw/s1200/Eldo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5Lfi2v5j3DnuppwowIoU0aeD1hFyGsZkiq9rjv8qPwEJXiA-reHRK17kgjTR22rXEyJDESV1OlnDBmympT0ftKWrUimbppA0S3AHpkyHxhJak4r1WJaU5t7tayK-bORpPZWmgK8Pqw/w400-h300/Eldo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;">Be honest. For a moment you thought that the CMC and I built this gold creation, didn't you? Oh well, I can certainly understand that, as our work tends to look like the real thing. This one below is our handy work and it is slightly more accurate than the real one above. The difference? The centre of the hubcaps are body coloured on ours, where as the real one has caps from a darker colour. car Yeah, I know, picky, picky, but significant to a Car Guy and his CMC.......</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpn3wbq-8adV80PAApfQLypb_TsJsFdwrTS8PWi2p_UnWlTXAlicMTf3TEQmSJ_ypUusNzcVcboVzEuVdqJHoK6nIsuD7-7cVTSea7EgkoN_0aJAZ76oknro9wfFBLSBBgBkWZNdc4A/s4000/IMG_6711.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpn3wbq-8adV80PAApfQLypb_TsJsFdwrTS8PWi2p_UnWlTXAlicMTf3TEQmSJ_ypUusNzcVcboVzEuVdqJHoK6nIsuD7-7cVTSea7EgkoN_0aJAZ76oknro9wfFBLSBBgBkWZNdc4A/w400-h300/IMG_6711.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6-C7anWTMC2C_qKgI0yprrU0MA3f9C2r1q6XQWi3r8xSw16xNLJYLpPsKrzFvbyQpo1ld4W7LCCL1ejEZMSTqbuowfdsx8DNXjHjkodsE3YZbARwkzZ2NiDQEli4qu5tZKcKV1xKQQ/s4000/IMG_6716.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6-C7anWTMC2C_qKgI0yprrU0MA3f9C2r1q6XQWi3r8xSw16xNLJYLpPsKrzFvbyQpo1ld4W7LCCL1ejEZMSTqbuowfdsx8DNXjHjkodsE3YZbARwkzZ2NiDQEli4qu5tZKcKV1xKQQ/w400-h300/IMG_6716.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fuzzy in picture only</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: times;">Sure, we love the big old 'Murican iron, but we are far from being one trick ponies, or in this case cat and human. Always looking for something a little different to please our readers? Hah! To please ourselves. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">When this next model was released last year, I wondered who would buy it and yet, we ended up buying two. Go figure. This is a 1967 Ford service truck, which we turned into a fire department support vehicle.......</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kve4tBAzl3wV9nwVVTSx3PrUS-Uip-Js7oEZ2IyXaiHvk9WDNoWV7lrBNPwHu28gBFklh-bhv-IOKaxNkuRCa9LTpMLd1xsYasHUPO_4MZb8shlL-4hTLrztDmO0svXxUs9-Z2HFpA/s4000/IMG_6726.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kve4tBAzl3wV9nwVVTSx3PrUS-Uip-Js7oEZ2IyXaiHvk9WDNoWV7lrBNPwHu28gBFklh-bhv-IOKaxNkuRCa9LTpMLd1xsYasHUPO_4MZb8shlL-4hTLrztDmO0svXxUs9-Z2HFpA/w400-h300/IMG_6726.JPG" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hdYIoWbeDZuUpgdqBEjXkABeRg_B-bRRnCM_S-wMYyvHfIetf78DFE6-0CzljP_SZ2OvXBngqdSOgpjtl362DNhA-N3YSCp6AoZz3nzz5mJ6WfVjbqmSggFvroxn-Axsu-_34Hp4Xw/s4000/IMG_6724.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hdYIoWbeDZuUpgdqBEjXkABeRg_B-bRRnCM_S-wMYyvHfIetf78DFE6-0CzljP_SZ2OvXBngqdSOgpjtl362DNhA-N3YSCp6AoZz3nzz5mJ6WfVjbqmSggFvroxn-Axsu-_34Hp4Xw/w400-h300/IMG_6724.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Think all reds are created equal? Think again, as this is definitely not the case. A little creativity with colours turned this white plastic truck into the correct red, with which all fire equipment is coated. Add some appropriate accessories in the back and we are ready to head out. A build of which the CMC and I are quite proud. Our second kit was done in the form of an electric company utility truck. Sorry, no pic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Staying with service vehicles, next up is one which is quite different and much faster than our little red service vehicle......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53eoINYAmSRBJdYv02J9pbjEXsgHWkZHho2RcS1kGXBaKM6-GGOpDjx0p0eL8HKNIcD2nVQICZgv3yD8ccwuTCSywbPtoPat097qer41U674uupV0qNSJ8thVszrHZRCbInyvPys04w/s4000/IMG_6729.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53eoINYAmSRBJdYv02J9pbjEXsgHWkZHho2RcS1kGXBaKM6-GGOpDjx0p0eL8HKNIcD2nVQICZgv3yD8ccwuTCSywbPtoPat097qer41U674uupV0qNSJ8thVszrHZRCbInyvPys04w/w400-h300/IMG_6729.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBY_Fv4EIvmRIFy9ov1BEMSl8SHDNxZLOWzQTzxT_LuhPzmZ5L1B-so0v9mdz_-hp5ZuIdDGDedOzBGksJXLlSm9ODbF5o8a2rigHPzmKfE4yx5g3n3kGS5XQ5SRNnmq0MV6u7A30OQ/s4000/IMG_6731.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBY_Fv4EIvmRIFy9ov1BEMSl8SHDNxZLOWzQTzxT_LuhPzmZ5L1B-so0v9mdz_-hp5ZuIdDGDedOzBGksJXLlSm9ODbF5o8a2rigHPzmKfE4yx5g3n3kGS5XQ5SRNnmq0MV6u7A30OQ/w400-h300/IMG_6731.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Take your pic, the top one with the typical police hubcaps on a black heavy duty rim or the bottom one using Ford's regular Mustang alloy wheel. Both were used by the CHP (California Highway Patrol).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6i_Qru_psdrUeYEOEKVcHBzC1TNWMd9dIA9RrhavIj5SRwp9WPo7PD64kvwuCqSh2IyFkgbRtaUDBFa6IvqR6RN6nx1g1LhgKcjMFhxFIHLRJnb0ENFu-z4WvCf4ZLdwwVodoJLADw/s2048/chp2063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6i_Qru_psdrUeYEOEKVcHBzC1TNWMd9dIA9RrhavIj5SRwp9WPo7PD64kvwuCqSh2IyFkgbRtaUDBFa6IvqR6RN6nx1g1LhgKcjMFhxFIHLRJnb0ENFu-z4WvCf4ZLdwwVodoJLADw/w400-h240/chp2063.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><p>Over a year and this is all we have to show for it? Not likely, but how much time do you actually have to sit here and read about all the others?</p><p>On another matter........with my retirement looming, all the 1/18th diecast models from my office have to be assimilated into my treasured car room. Not possible. Here are some that are up for grabs, no cost, first come, etc and all you need to do is email me at <u>barry@havakar.com</u> .......</p><p>2011 Audi A5 Coupe</p><p>Aston Martin DB9 Volante (cabrio)</p><p>1934 Cadillac V16 Aero Coupe</p><p>1938 Cadillac Town Car</p><p>Porsche 911 GT1</p><p>2006 Viper GTS and 2015 GTS R</p><p>Something to think about.</p><p>Until next time....... </p><p></p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-67172177652740783032021-04-29T06:13:00.018-07:002021-04-29T06:18:48.588-07:00Wanting What We Can't Have<p><i> I want it!</i></p><p>And why not? We live in a land of plenty (stop complaining), so shouldn't we be able to have anything that we want? Even things we don't want should be available to us. Now that we all agree, let's move on.......</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NUZu4NMbHXnuoTaMTKcsZx11QS2ccHVvkRIrAhRYaCw2JX3DGMlxvg84hPz8E4z-_H3vxT1Ynux4D5eqqydwfPxLFwQLotE9GTR5FnV_Uv6dBH9d_ryyzndMoy0X3P8IFLa_25vCvA/s934/Chinaaudi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="934" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NUZu4NMbHXnuoTaMTKcsZx11QS2ccHVvkRIrAhRYaCw2JX3DGMlxvg84hPz8E4z-_H3vxT1Ynux4D5eqqydwfPxLFwQLotE9GTR5FnV_Uv6dBH9d_ryyzndMoy0X3P8IFLa_25vCvA/w400-h258/Chinaaudi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i> </i>Isn't this one of the best looking Audi's you've seen recently? What is it? For China, Audi designers took the A7, that maybe too big fastback and gave it a trunk. Also note the un-Audi like way the body curves up as it blends into the C pillar. Beautiful design. You want it? Move to China, as this one isn't coming here anytime soon. <i>I want it!</i><p></p><p>Love a Mercedes C or E Class, but need some extra room? Don't have the coin to move up to the mogul's, oligarch's and dictator's ride, the S Class? Again, you're going to have to move to the Forbidden Kingdom......</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXArN4M2ZIpZlNcUjsw57k54KhxJMKfLGS69wqksyg606nimeiFAL4yQgfeBTJbGSoFNdRDZv3SwsACkn8p9UxY_40V9YXJKILwita9R_JgkqlDxo6uQG-icbb8TgQkauioHcxPM6zeQ/s1920/Lin3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1920" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXArN4M2ZIpZlNcUjsw57k54KhxJMKfLGS69wqksyg606nimeiFAL4yQgfeBTJbGSoFNdRDZv3SwsACkn8p9UxY_40V9YXJKILwita9R_JgkqlDxo6uQG-icbb8TgQkauioHcxPM6zeQ/w400-h216/Lin3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIVQkl1FbmoTnR1n5GqAlDBn3f0Ji_YsCoIfew3BUm6ZuqVJ3JA9WSu1-K70hBJ1LIOwETDxrNeGIEMjpzfg5EHOmgf-hcOunrRpP-aqrwXXEjk8hlUQlWsRGFZQyOA8P5Fqr-q7xOw/s1920/Lin4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIVQkl1FbmoTnR1n5GqAlDBn3f0Ji_YsCoIfew3BUm6ZuqVJ3JA9WSu1-K70hBJ1LIOwETDxrNeGIEMjpzfg5EHOmgf-hcOunrRpP-aqrwXXEjk8hlUQlWsRGFZQyOA8P5Fqr-q7xOw/w400-h225/Lin4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i> </i>Both the C and E Class come in an L model with more back seat room. You know how those folks like to be chauffeur driven. You didn't? Well now you do and that is exactly why these two models exist, but only over there.<p></p><p>What's next? Who among you has any idea what this is........</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvffKCysYY6mIZdza22EUr2BV5k8iHR1DUIUvqqLS9b07u6BfbeIHfSCSmEhh__iqJzF1BOOAOKzbMt-AewV96hlWZOJdiYIxE_ozu7A9ExYeKjeG6m8gsxHZVFK6lilQ6iGyn6gsEA/s1360/LIN1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1360" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvffKCysYY6mIZdza22EUr2BV5k8iHR1DUIUvqqLS9b07u6BfbeIHfSCSmEhh__iqJzF1BOOAOKzbMt-AewV96hlWZOJdiYIxE_ozu7A9ExYeKjeG6m8gsxHZVFK6lilQ6iGyn6gsEA/w400-h225/LIN1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDyz6ZJM91ZxWll8SWGm3O-SQ7DnSIaIMlclzI07EJOJfznQqjvC1hJAFN8k47yRfz7r8_rlV6mJBXGXlCIJ2JMtlu8m6gNeUAONl7SdRoJBbFlsua4QSADhokdZF5QHyupkvZEGyvQ/s881/Lin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="881" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDyz6ZJM91ZxWll8SWGm3O-SQ7DnSIaIMlclzI07EJOJfznQqjvC1hJAFN8k47yRfz7r8_rlV6mJBXGXlCIJ2JMtlu8m6gNeUAONl7SdRoJBbFlsua4QSADhokdZF5QHyupkvZEGyvQ/w400-h225/Lin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /> Everyone give up, just like Lincoln has given up on sedans in it's homeland? Not so in China, as this new Lincoln <i>Zephyr Reflection</i> shows. Just unveiled and it's stunning. Want it? Then move, Bucko, as it ain't coming to your local North American dealer this year and probably never. Even with my bad knees, which making sedans a tough prospect, <i>I want it!</i></p><p>The Ford <i>Evos</i>........<i> <br /></i></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniS4grIAM0UxiObn6QysxnzpHgi4MYt2baK9RLXY_0_OUxuDC0i0yugQ6hnx_FgR-dmf6kIMi7qxl329sAVq3Z2xMLKDp2RqWkcSJEho6ws0cSavGCVFq3P44BEqdGsZesM0FBqR5xQ/s1920/Lin7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1920" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniS4grIAM0UxiObn6QysxnzpHgi4MYt2baK9RLXY_0_OUxuDC0i0yugQ6hnx_FgR-dmf6kIMi7qxl329sAVq3Z2xMLKDp2RqWkcSJEho6ws0cSavGCVFq3P44BEqdGsZesM0FBqR5xQ/w400-h216/Lin7.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMKXAWQmxqjr6z_uKUoledULixI09O8eH1kRpYSSndcXDZyWxX4XfwYmgnFL1hp7f2ovudoMOpN4hhhmZ6ApOlvIV2yEnQO1OPlg3pZrDANO03h-0G5rc3NO-4q5HhaB7dQhVya_kmA/s1280/Lin20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMKXAWQmxqjr6z_uKUoledULixI09O8eH1kRpYSSndcXDZyWxX4XfwYmgnFL1hp7f2ovudoMOpN4hhhmZ6ApOlvIV2yEnQO1OPlg3pZrDANO03h-0G5rc3NO-4q5HhaB7dQhVya_kmA/w400-h225/Lin20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>What is it? How about a high end suv with that coupe like profile that has become so popular. Mixed messages about it coming to North America or Europe, but it seems unlikely. It will be a hybrid. Unveiled last week at the Shanghai Auto Show, it apparently will be a treat for buyers in China, at least (cross your fingers) for now. <i>I want it!</i><p></p><p>And now for something completely different (sort of)........<i> <br /></i></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxRI-_m3vX_fyw-HbvybHH82aoSbtdkWheISnrnBi7TwRw-zp4OKo4jr3xbYPZtvbGMJ-06BAC39JwC6PEA7ip6kk064G47ikMoQPZz0sIKK73EEgFvqewxNgKM9B2maMyHvjeO5Avg/s1024/Lin6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxRI-_m3vX_fyw-HbvybHH82aoSbtdkWheISnrnBi7TwRw-zp4OKo4jr3xbYPZtvbGMJ-06BAC39JwC6PEA7ip6kk064G47ikMoQPZz0sIKK73EEgFvqewxNgKM9B2maMyHvjeO5Avg/w400-h225/Lin6.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i>This fabulous interior comes from a humdrum suv that Ford only sells in China. They can keep that suv, but <i>pleeeease</i> put this gorgeous interior into something they sell over here. <i>I want it!</i><p></p><p>Time to move?<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkEX6lK0Owbhsej2bnBDGxD2I65NDIX1h_FjcWcBQ-9jmNbWb-N0ZQnZgLg-2J2N2L1OH6tJIdAbHAMPnktf7plrGAc80L7uekg7Vh4tQQpmGluWWJ9FckNZM29Lq820pco6Ld6F70A/s450/Lin50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkEX6lK0Owbhsej2bnBDGxD2I65NDIX1h_FjcWcBQ-9jmNbWb-N0ZQnZgLg-2J2N2L1OH6tJIdAbHAMPnktf7plrGAc80L7uekg7Vh4tQQpmGluWWJ9FckNZM29Lq820pco6Ld6F70A/w200-h200/Lin50.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></div><p></p><p>Yep, I feel your pain, so let's shed a tear for all these beautiful
rides that won't see the light of day on our continent, but move? Not in this life.<br /></p><p>Until next time........</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-78496692651188573642021-04-21T09:46:00.009-07:002021-04-21T09:53:07.191-07:00Family Hauler Time<p>For anyone of my age, when one thinks about the <i>good ol' family hauler</i>, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a minivan. Ok, I get it, but go back a little further. Back to a time long ago, when the family hauler was a station wagon, like this behemoth below........<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADFc8e0VakfL5_UWDAl_njv5T-QPJuE8gjh_cpFS8rYXX-RrAdRTzd87cYh5EU4N6gwaJz0SC-v5W4fiJV0XMJAhlTEPHM-xBKkej1Tv4SWOFogRXqq8c57SBc208i1BsBCK9gO4kQg/s504/DB15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="504" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADFc8e0VakfL5_UWDAl_njv5T-QPJuE8gjh_cpFS8rYXX-RrAdRTzd87cYh5EU4N6gwaJz0SC-v5W4fiJV0XMJAhlTEPHM-xBKkej1Tv4SWOFogRXqq8c57SBc208i1BsBCK9gO4kQg/w400-h210/DB15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Like the long extinct dinos, these things roamed our neighbourhoods and were as common as the now ubiquitous suv. These days, call something a station wagon and you've destined it to being nailed to the showroom floor. Ain't no one ponying up hard earned coin for a friggin' <i>station wagon</i> around these parts. </p><p>Long gone? Ancient history? Dead?</p><p>Maybe, but that depends on what you call a station wagon. What is this double talk I speak of? Ok, folks, let's call them something else and see what happens. </p><p>Years ago Aston Martin started a tradition of making a few wagon copies of their beautiful sports cars.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ECFj4owe64ntOocS75Qg-zN5cT4DBXLZiYvuRrN1WoFb9KFTz1OYUUokgZSPGia8ahgk8EdltXbCGnaGw9y0u9rtjuYl76k0E6bcm_Ssz2_Lnxwiu-2-BvX95-IghnWywqq9oBERlQ/s1920/DB3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ECFj4owe64ntOocS75Qg-zN5cT4DBXLZiYvuRrN1WoFb9KFTz1OYUUokgZSPGia8ahgk8EdltXbCGnaGw9y0u9rtjuYl76k0E6bcm_Ssz2_Lnxwiu-2-BvX95-IghnWywqq9oBERlQ/w400-h266/DB3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Always gorgeous and always called <i>shooting brakes</i>. They probably could have called them chuck wagons and they would have sold. This tradition has continued up to the present day with the Zagato Vanquish Shooting Brake.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HAOKcMEd1zbPPgS-YSioEeNsW6L9Nn_2E8zU7Vlwyr7XXORzkdK8g9O29PeHwHSyk-dPdQZWc68DgORQb6QhWREiG5LUFBQslEWmanNNN8C0sxkDpaA-62y4Kjo02C4omvivzHHuag/s940/DB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="940" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HAOKcMEd1zbPPgS-YSioEeNsW6L9Nn_2E8zU7Vlwyr7XXORzkdK8g9O29PeHwHSyk-dPdQZWc68DgORQb6QhWREiG5LUFBQslEWmanNNN8C0sxkDpaA-62y4Kjo02C4omvivzHHuag/w400-h215/DB.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>No wood panelling, but definitely a wagon. Don't look for one at your local mall, as only a handful were made. Wonder if Chrysler knocked off a few of their big old wagons, called them shooting brakes, whether they would find a home?</p><p>Now cast your thoughts over to Porsche. Their lovely Panamera has had a wagon version for a few years.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic13VxYTdOcRtR5Fryrs5iKOBHiXxQ5v5zt7JqG485kl3nLqtxXgCoLL-4T8mn8sbsxGdnv51scKpHibfoVe0AMtsvbSoFbTvmqRoQjhtD71S83FvBLZGt2mTtfUCziWRBiIbimI1iZw/s1600/DB5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic13VxYTdOcRtR5Fryrs5iKOBHiXxQ5v5zt7JqG485kl3nLqtxXgCoLL-4T8mn8sbsxGdnv51scKpHibfoVe0AMtsvbSoFbTvmqRoQjhtD71S83FvBLZGt2mTtfUCziWRBiIbimI1iZw/w400-h200/DB5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>A wagon? Not quite, a <i>Grand Turismo. </i>Yep, that makes all the difference. Love a Porsche? Love to have a 911, but need the room? Play golf and need even more room? Then look no further. </p><p>You're an environmentalist you say? Porsche has you covered.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjAEC2h_tlBK9THFtiotE2_6MRtIRmGjilXWi0nEbx4hMoR7FCBKhAd8cxPXS_G4vBPfTbSM7gPBQXZAi3NqY8zdMGaykyYg3jrr2Gl_8VgtBtwzmT2FM2QwnrhZVEgRdX3l8eY0T9w/s768/DB4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjAEC2h_tlBK9THFtiotE2_6MRtIRmGjilXWi0nEbx4hMoR7FCBKhAd8cxPXS_G4vBPfTbSM7gPBQXZAi3NqY8zdMGaykyYg3jrr2Gl_8VgtBtwzmT2FM2QwnrhZVEgRdX3l8eY0T9w/w400-h225/DB4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Take a Taycan EV, give it the Grand Turismo treatment and <i>viola</i>, you are the envy of your local Green Party candidate and a few other envious tree huggers you pass along the way.</p><p>Being one of those oddballs who like wagons, these hot new ones have my eye and heart. Of course, selling my soul still wouldn't give me enough coin to put one in my name. California Dreamin'? I think so. But it makes me happy that the old family hauler is still alive and well, but configured a little differently (and unfortunately vastly more expensive). </p><p>Ah progress.</p><p>Until next time......</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-75514772403744202752021-04-12T08:21:00.018-07:002021-04-13T11:29:39.309-07:00EV Dreamin'<p> If you look at the pic below and start drooling, while gushing over the stunning lines, then you'd better move on to another blog.........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwH3g3UkVSnyD0HqZEJF18J3ve0fFXR7PHS5TMbfHwbRSv-E6oMYkkVyax24FkjENyOFxHiGuF9XukcGwQqBMnjuO7veg_uxQsouxxBAglyAToRcSuV4AYxN1klQvlRKkoiqU5bPxtQA/s505/EV10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="505" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwH3g3UkVSnyD0HqZEJF18J3ve0fFXR7PHS5TMbfHwbRSv-E6oMYkkVyax24FkjENyOFxHiGuF9XukcGwQqBMnjuO7veg_uxQsouxxBAglyAToRcSuV4AYxN1klQvlRKkoiqU5bPxtQA/s320/EV10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Recognize this frumpy old Hyundai from the mid 2000's? A mere 15 years has gone by this since blandly styled car was the norm for Hyundai and also it's sister brand, Kia. Times have changed and both of these South Korean companies are now known for their exciting styling and quality products. If you don't believe me, time to enroll in an updating course at your local college.</p><p>Nowadays everyone is talking EVs. Every week another new and near future EV is unveiled to enthusiastic response from everyone waiting for some Tesla competition and maybe a price they can afford. Well, not sure about the latter, but more about that later.</p><p>Hyundai and Kia have just unveiled their upcoming debutantes for the EV ball....... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgLgfcpZLXhhoe2D42PM0m5hbhOKayrnylJ1GIgWM9Sb9bRp4vClTEzk6CjEAPT4O26MW2q_ou5MccskDi_7Vula1w4qkdseUxapmY11vm2OcBZ4bGOW3Pcxz3HVzGwYyyeIpeJMygw/s799/EV3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="799" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgLgfcpZLXhhoe2D42PM0m5hbhOKayrnylJ1GIgWM9Sb9bRp4vClTEzk6CjEAPT4O26MW2q_ou5MccskDi_7Vula1w4qkdseUxapmY11vm2OcBZ4bGOW3Pcxz3HVzGwYyyeIpeJMygw/w400-h266/EV3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kia EV6<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSIlIxNIZ7VlyggR_tRC1hs2DEQg-k_PdxZk-TasCqezWIQBZLaMdgtKMbcCIhbYN-tRYDW2FKvb7goCGG3lIlzlH4-baGdTKuL8EYif1b26VgXPkz43ey8INFDSJ03ZKViQyIInrAw/s800/EV.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="800" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSIlIxNIZ7VlyggR_tRC1hs2DEQg-k_PdxZk-TasCqezWIQBZLaMdgtKMbcCIhbYN-tRYDW2FKvb7goCGG3lIlzlH4-baGdTKuL8EYif1b26VgXPkz43ey8INFDSJ03ZKViQyIInrAw/w400-h260/EV.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hyundai Ioniq5<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>Not a bad line on either of these beauties, but did anyone doubt that when these companies got serious about an EV, that they would be attention grabbing?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTALXjYCrWIUYbxN-Z_BGXn_aLGnl5UFfxTKfMd4H3X9rwL7Wzko_fdD-rVrHMfCCwyZojBR4BkjLDVWQhIK6TYNYEBKW6zpoNKguOeZ-1_daZ2ydTnQaPs1CfdnjQjeqaJaH1ZVL5Fw/s1921/EV1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1921" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTALXjYCrWIUYbxN-Z_BGXn_aLGnl5UFfxTKfMd4H3X9rwL7Wzko_fdD-rVrHMfCCwyZojBR4BkjLDVWQhIK6TYNYEBKW6zpoNKguOeZ-1_daZ2ydTnQaPs1CfdnjQjeqaJaH1ZVL5Fw/w400-h211/EV1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ioniq5</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV8zxh8XgDeM9BXRy5McUxFyhzp1JTqbbDuZKy1IKybT48-6KAHpGcc6r9k9_U_A4QT8d8Z1nw7CWxYtU5ZlnOUSjRLzHKUrvyyPLXCX3nmzmMsd7NykvYthmqEvo3JPF1-ddVpL6jg/s610/EV4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="610" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV8zxh8XgDeM9BXRy5McUxFyhzp1JTqbbDuZKy1IKybT48-6KAHpGcc6r9k9_U_A4QT8d8Z1nw7CWxYtU5ZlnOUSjRLzHKUrvyyPLXCX3nmzmMsd7NykvYthmqEvo3JPF1-ddVpL6jg/w400-h225/EV4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EV6</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Interiors that match their outsides in being up to date and showing the quality that has been these companies' recent hallmarks. The Hyundai looks more futuristic, while the Kia has a more traditional feel. Hey, we all love choices.</p><p>Pricing? Good question. These two will hit Europe first and the Ioniq5 is already being shipped to dealers. The EV6 should follow a short time later. A year from now both should be able to rip $ from our bank accounts. Expect them to be around $60-$70k Canadian, but that's only a guess based on European prices. </p><p>Looking for a four door Ferrari? Maybe an electric Stinger?<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4513lQz_VkZPzfRENWwxD5qxcM3kglu45-3L49hfg3wNQ7u1NlFlXq2ByWI0had0n2ubO5Tb-Jcople3nHEowQUo0RhBlrajQNReuAUkDC7iXl_t0LGwwQ7DNM9d9ru7l12oWiQZTw/s794/EV15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="794" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4513lQz_VkZPzfRENWwxD5qxcM3kglu45-3L49hfg3wNQ7u1NlFlXq2ByWI0had0n2ubO5Tb-Jcople3nHEowQUo0RhBlrajQNReuAUkDC7iXl_t0LGwwQ7DNM9d9ru7l12oWiQZTw/w400-h200/EV15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Kia has your number. This GT version is bragging about 577 HP, so hit the loud pedal (in this case the silent one) and hang on. Being an EV, those acceleration numbers will be as stunning as this EV's looks.</p><p>Just think, an entire blog about Hyundai and Kia without a mention or even a thought about the original Hyundai, a rolling piece of junk, that we all remember as the Pony. How things can change over what have been a relatively few years.</p><p>Time to end this blog with a time worn cliche...... <i>the future is now!</i><br /></p><p>Until next time.......</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-35285370186639354572021-03-30T08:56:00.006-07:002021-03-31T07:52:24.198-07:00Looks Like a Rolls, but.........<p> What's it like to be looked up to and copied by everyone? Well, I know what it's like to be looked up to, being well over six feet has that effect. I live with it and try to be humble, but it's oh so hard. </p><p>But you may have noticed that this is a blog about cars, but what car is copied more than any other? Those of you who said Chevy Cavalier can go to another blog, maybe a very small one listing Donald Trump's admirable features?</p><p>Those of you who raised your hand and yelled out Rolls-Royce can stay. A quick look again at this icon before we begin...... <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Cptyf-dUXG7AvO2_uvXZJNbmoe_-3in9xrk9tR2oe36jn8iiOsshi_dsC-cT7zdWxXbdwJCCHHqEiy7wB6oYumYIYXvRYFG7VA1RNFkyGm3dzEqjId8P2XaSDex1igJIxSAhO52SNg/s2048/Rus21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Cptyf-dUXG7AvO2_uvXZJNbmoe_-3in9xrk9tR2oe36jn8iiOsshi_dsC-cT7zdWxXbdwJCCHHqEiy7wB6oYumYIYXvRYFG7VA1RNFkyGm3dzEqjId8P2XaSDex1igJIxSAhO52SNg/s2048/Rus21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSJwcmeQILZn2a0uTFZDLMq_IobdIfoU3dXgCiMh3GwdH_g9bddz6UsRpcLR3pl9qLKEPIr5GfuHeqrF8JWQKoFbSIKPUwrTENoz_3KzvBJOfKAAZzYeMwRVKdo24ipEvRLsR2IlF9Q/s2048/Rus22.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSJwcmeQILZn2a0uTFZDLMq_IobdIfoU3dXgCiMh3GwdH_g9bddz6UsRpcLR3pl9qLKEPIr5GfuHeqrF8JWQKoFbSIKPUwrTENoz_3KzvBJOfKAAZzYeMwRVKdo24ipEvRLsR2IlF9Q/w400-h266/Rus22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Cptyf-dUXG7AvO2_uvXZJNbmoe_-3in9xrk9tR2oe36jn8iiOsshi_dsC-cT7zdWxXbdwJCCHHqEiy7wB6oYumYIYXvRYFG7VA1RNFkyGm3dzEqjId8P2XaSDex1igJIxSAhO52SNg/w400-h266/Rus21.jpg" width="400" /></div><p><br />Ready?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZAfs75mWwRDq187xuy18YSjXEeGBhvJVQ44mwbwiiCTbl2Jqu6B5mX_hS7-SDL7CMbf_Ik5ZkqMXd5CLPKFixbruQ8Ar0TZkTALwfF179w14BuU996Q64zp_PcekAjOMkaNygLcW1w/s1600/Rus3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1600" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZAfs75mWwRDq187xuy18YSjXEeGBhvJVQ44mwbwiiCTbl2Jqu6B5mX_hS7-SDL7CMbf_Ik5ZkqMXd5CLPKFixbruQ8Ar0TZkTALwfF179w14BuU996Q64zp_PcekAjOMkaNygLcW1w/w400-h234/Rus3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2X2ZFhoJdsCtjXUhAVYMgvoeLahBu8ct2BlT8dHIkb0tpxIyUpW-oLgXYIRl0Q34sE2e3cblmOx9oeacQ7xkCXNLrwYod6EMlOH2pZrheSwvlRy8eog8wkOeAXl8Yg7glrjINB8x6JA/s510/Rus4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="510" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2X2ZFhoJdsCtjXUhAVYMgvoeLahBu8ct2BlT8dHIkb0tpxIyUpW-oLgXYIRl0Q34sE2e3cblmOx9oeacQ7xkCXNLrwYod6EMlOH2pZrheSwvlRy8eog8wkOeAXl8Yg7glrjINB8x6JA/w400-h225/Rus4.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></div><p>This is a Chrysler Imperial concept from 15 years ago. Maybe I should have started off with something a bit closer to the RR, but this one sure looks like a Rolls offspring to me. <br /></p><p>Let's get a little closer.........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlKkfV7taficKPSh1bH9oCW19_3AdRcEZTAO_u9XbYHpY7b4CPxsy7Eib6k2icT2f9Z498pVAnSCsPv85bTowsuT1SDCgQU7PLaNQ-PrAhH4DW_9lG-OuuNhGV8EuiDReOKK_GyY41w/s1920/Rus1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlKkfV7taficKPSh1bH9oCW19_3AdRcEZTAO_u9XbYHpY7b4CPxsy7Eib6k2icT2f9Z498pVAnSCsPv85bTowsuT1SDCgQU7PLaNQ-PrAhH4DW_9lG-OuuNhGV8EuiDReOKK_GyY41w/w400-h240/Rus1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWD9YiEwu5n3Y3jgGDHJ-ensoWYN1CbVfKxNp-2gerz1z3bS85RJLpJ9JtcdnKR8HavjER8xasE58774rG1PjCIrvmw6-K8y50oKj6aNdo0ER0y1WGlH_Vh4-Vu83FcT5VSoDd5Cm9g/s600/Rus2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWD9YiEwu5n3Y3jgGDHJ-ensoWYN1CbVfKxNp-2gerz1z3bS85RJLpJ9JtcdnKR8HavjER8xasE58774rG1PjCIrvmw6-K8y50oKj6aNdo0ER0y1WGlH_Vh4-Vu83FcT5VSoDd5Cm9g/w400-h304/Rus2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>You doubt who the Russians had in mind when they threw this design up on their drawing boards? Look again........<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfOmZ5rXfJHGVn_a4mZ5TYDbaIglWFac6dLFN-7qiGdGQQj0mxcradEqU6jHag4xSiId1W6kGqJYQ0O6lB-L9ZyqJ0yQkKdjSIXoEQSAN_DxCwaFKs7cLQkRWG-m4XkPx1o_ahdYPAQ/s1280/Rus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfOmZ5rXfJHGVn_a4mZ5TYDbaIglWFac6dLFN-7qiGdGQQj0mxcradEqU6jHag4xSiId1W6kGqJYQ0O6lB-L9ZyqJ0yQkKdjSIXoEQSAN_DxCwaFKs7cLQkRWG-m4XkPx1o_ahdYPAQ/w400-h225/Rus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Next up in our stroll thru the copycat files, the Geely from the Forbidden Kingdom.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMAJFdRSe41Rk40h5FeDKhSifbKioXTET9HnUAqLA2uADuiHDxPrRAZteIt7dDYhWTJBdGE0dzBRFzsqsliVS3AnkrM9HnMZUT5qaVPTVpv9e5EOqmXzAdpaDzk3TAdS6-Y4CLEEFBg/s480/Rus8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMAJFdRSe41Rk40h5FeDKhSifbKioXTET9HnUAqLA2uADuiHDxPrRAZteIt7dDYhWTJBdGE0dzBRFzsqsliVS3AnkrM9HnMZUT5qaVPTVpv9e5EOqmXzAdpaDzk3TAdS6-Y4CLEEFBg/w400-h300/Rus8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirs8g58_9oFZdkOF8CQiZ6KkkgqFB_x8KdBD5WxynWuWt7Ug80VOdTCiEpRgSGvudWg-ZYI-0UjjbebLVQriYsLEOAH5fTixHv-gf7CJisvnrrnVXWGQjxv0TAC5nGgoj2GYIIbs5kQQ/s900/Rus9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="900" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirs8g58_9oFZdkOF8CQiZ6KkkgqFB_x8KdBD5WxynWuWt7Ug80VOdTCiEpRgSGvudWg-ZYI-0UjjbebLVQriYsLEOAH5fTixHv-gf7CJisvnrrnVXWGQjxv0TAC5nGgoj2GYIIbs5kQQ/w400-h265/Rus9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I rest my case.<br /><p>A Rolls-Royce is a Rolls-Royce is a Rolls-Royce Not a Russian Aurus, a Chrysler concept or even a Geely. Copy all you want, Rolls is no doubt flattered (or severely pissed off). If you can't be original, might as well pick the low hanging fruit. Everyone knows what a Rolls represents, so knock it off. Don't try to convince your target market that a Lexus copy is close to being desirable.<br /></p><p>Maybe some of history's car failures should have gone this route? Then again, maybe not, just fail on your own merits. <i>Now there is a quote for the ages.</i></p><p>Until next time........</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-16754118582355237802021-03-22T08:17:00.010-07:002021-03-24T06:29:59.391-07:00Are you kidding me?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tiqaPSID12vURuM0DWg4vkhe-29UiNMoUNgFOhYl7GE03Q4BYmH1RkFMLXasiRBLHOhnTEOTYsVt1EDAUO_CJeSmN7xAUGTr2lwYbmFICRMGsTUDxZ21ryN5RAFKXtRCFk5i2Zrofg/s623/AD15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="462" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tiqaPSID12vURuM0DWg4vkhe-29UiNMoUNgFOhYl7GE03Q4BYmH1RkFMLXasiRBLHOhnTEOTYsVt1EDAUO_CJeSmN7xAUGTr2lwYbmFICRMGsTUDxZ21ryN5RAFKXtRCFk5i2Zrofg/w297-h400/AD15.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><p></p><p>"<i>Women are kind and gentle, but they hit things."</i></p><p>Are you kidding me? VW, the master of the cute Beetle ad actually thought that this was a good idea? Were things so different a few years ago? Try writing that today and apart from the various groups that would immediately start picketing VW's headquarters, the press would rip VW's throat out.</p><p>Now we all know that this is politically incorrect. Sexist. Stupid. Want to take a short walk through a handful of some other dumb ads? These ones wouldn't get the manufacturer sued, but they are strange in today's or any other context.</p><p>Ford's slogan back then was about having a better idea. Was this one of them?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q5Jv0A75hkdsmxvivl7mHjdoXvZCqHn-dvg_qKhso9ei-Rb0Z3hD4ydADiivi-aXUXl6PFaUIfJgFMPuwcg6V6tUg4xOIARNjDFMFPR-zlg9EwZ0aJ1KpYpX0imDxwqk32ClUpL6tg/s1024/Ad14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="765" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6q5Jv0A75hkdsmxvivl7mHjdoXvZCqHn-dvg_qKhso9ei-Rb0Z3hD4ydADiivi-aXUXl6PFaUIfJgFMPuwcg6V6tUg4xOIARNjDFMFPR-zlg9EwZ0aJ1KpYpX0imDxwqk32ClUpL6tg/w299-h400/Ad14.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><p></p><p>Sure, drive a fashionable two door hardtop down a ski slope to prove something. Maybe, that you can still hit the slopes, even if you forgot your skis? Makes sense to me. Note that those fancy hubcaps are staying in place through this dumb stunt.</p><p>Does being humble make a great ad?</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7O31IPpVs1wxBUdMWyj5pY7X4nmyoNScTa7kmbLoiup7eourUeivEAK1G1TBH_qW1ZlShfVUbJog-Gmn331h06P9nzLpSsL5aixEwN-3EwMChnXV81NnFx-e-zev4cx8wlK-HLdZ4A/s1000/Ad12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb7O31IPpVs1wxBUdMWyj5pY7X4nmyoNScTa7kmbLoiup7eourUeivEAK1G1TBH_qW1ZlShfVUbJog-Gmn331h06P9nzLpSsL5aixEwN-3EwMChnXV81NnFx-e-zev4cx8wlK-HLdZ4A/w400-h284/Ad12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Apparently so. This Austin Princess ad from the 1970's.........<i>Princess - better than average.</i> Are you kidding me!!!!!! Even in the terrible '70's this sure doesn't seem like a great sales proposition. "Hey, Geoffrey, how's your new Princess?" Answer...."Well, Basil, I've got to admit, it's better than average." On second thought, maybe this was a strong selling feature way back when. <p></p><p>What's wrong with this picture........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACs6uKFE0R0O0V2CPrI__arNwSflYc4EnsSkOYimuH7R3VR3ASAHLDbJgVQnc9R4bZ0KASsqL0bMWRHrSzREBsL6Ba8-4UiPS0G1TgCjyGFkK9RYA9DYi7cPeXsdaIvVPHYuaQvg0Dg/s600/Ad11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="600" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACs6uKFE0R0O0V2CPrI__arNwSflYc4EnsSkOYimuH7R3VR3ASAHLDbJgVQnc9R4bZ0KASsqL0bMWRHrSzREBsL6Ba8-4UiPS0G1TgCjyGFkK9RYA9DYi7cPeXsdaIvVPHYuaQvg0Dg/w400-h328/Ad11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br />A happy French family at the airport awaiting the arrival of their friends from somewhere. Whoever thought that this Air France jet dive bombing to the runway would be great advertising? Maybe for a funeral home? But seriously, were they nuts? Take a closer look at the stewardess at the bottom of the stairs. Is she holding her head in terror knowing the outcome of this kamikazi approach?</p><p>Great advertising or the decision maker's day off?</p><p>Enough said. I'm sure that there are many more of these <i>what were they thinking</i> ads. So let's leave this subject with a bit of European humour........ <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdaFmgXAgqQ_POTpI5Bezhpx-d-js2DBx_bjUW2F2LOPdEpd7R_diCWkHYhP6tvtLUEPR4d5fxPr9BtSopY-RKXQ1AjYfrwQXcpxZwcbZWcnvenTGUlYXM2lBXWD0GrAFwYHeNfJIew/s624/Ad13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="624" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdaFmgXAgqQ_POTpI5Bezhpx-d-js2DBx_bjUW2F2LOPdEpd7R_diCWkHYhP6tvtLUEPR4d5fxPr9BtSopY-RKXQ1AjYfrwQXcpxZwcbZWcnvenTGUlYXM2lBXWD0GrAFwYHeNfJIew/w400-h306/Ad13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>So, tell us, what do you really think? No wonder sales of North American cars overseas are less than mediocre. Good for a laugh regardless.<br /></p><p>Until next time......</p><p><br /></p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-79577138018214921162021-03-12T07:03:00.001-08:002021-03-12T07:03:29.948-08:00You again?<p> Ah, the good old days, when men were men and cars carried real names, not an alpha-numeric soup that no one can ever remember. If a friend is getting a new CT4, do you immediately know what it is? Maybe, but probably not. I don't really <i>loooong</i> for those days of yore when cars had real names, but it made things easier.</p><p>Hey, I'm not the only one who feels like this. Lincoln, who had a line up of the MKS, MKT, MKC and MKX has seen the light. All their new intros carry real names, like Aviator and Corsair. The latter being a blast from the very distance past. So, maybe Ford has also gotten the message.</p><p>Remember the unforgettable and unmemorable <i>Maverick?</i></p><p><i> <br /></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FiaZBB7lc51RX851Zr9g7zwD7wC3jTr27gra7VScGTsvbUDVcW1P4wXvu9_zTLRaAR9rXll4Zm2s7jFcZC2vJWXVpuPNGNoPiTokoC1fStQ9Bs4zEBwScHFNe9uFoTLByYPolPhqYg/s1259/Mav5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1259" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FiaZBB7lc51RX851Zr9g7zwD7wC3jTr27gra7VScGTsvbUDVcW1P4wXvu9_zTLRaAR9rXll4Zm2s7jFcZC2vJWXVpuPNGNoPiTokoC1fStQ9Bs4zEBwScHFNe9uFoTLByYPolPhqYg/w400-h259/Mav5.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div><p></p><p>Really, who could forget the<i> Maverick</i>, although most of us of a certain age would like to? Show up at a cruise night in one of these and probably get spat upon. </p><p>Well, folks, it looks like I got it all wrong and didn't appreciate the warm feelings that the name <i>Maverick</i> generates. How so? Check out this picture, courtesy of the car info website, <i>https://www.motor1.com/</i> ........</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXB5Wg_As16LuDYR-9XOM8dGjO5anYy3KXS91-RBM7RNc2f8MFocDA1xqf6Vk5Rljs75MwkjwCiLzxhgjGjJJuwPS1xRTFdh9c7T3o4hWklp16xxMHxds-PTS2vGnOtCIkdBwwbsidHg/s903/Mav9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="903" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXB5Wg_As16LuDYR-9XOM8dGjO5anYy3KXS91-RBM7RNc2f8MFocDA1xqf6Vk5Rljs75MwkjwCiLzxhgjGjJJuwPS1xRTFdh9c7T3o4hWklp16xxMHxds-PTS2vGnOtCIkdBwwbsidHg/w400-h375/Mav9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Check out that name.........<i>Maverick</i>. Yes, friends, Ford is bringing back that apparently cherished name and putting it on a new compact pick-up. No complains, at least it's not another letter number combo. But <i>Maverick</i>?</p><p>Here are some guesstimate renderings based on the camo models, that have been caught in testing and the pre-production body above. Again these are courtesy of another website, KOVE'CA.RU.......</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6i0-IHPg5sKx3nR4ZSWsvHz3cgWppx1AA1EgMqKJZCJsKJ6cMn894oxQG5MsgECy9AbUSNqySbDDpHDZ-ErGriyySBlzpQ9cNIuZrKMhm1eXudv4tl5Ob_5XvXoo-9Q_AmeQA0DzXg/s1600/Mav1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6i0-IHPg5sKx3nR4ZSWsvHz3cgWppx1AA1EgMqKJZCJsKJ6cMn894oxQG5MsgECy9AbUSNqySbDDpHDZ-ErGriyySBlzpQ9cNIuZrKMhm1eXudv4tl5Ob_5XvXoo-9Q_AmeQA0DzXg/w400-h225/Mav1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZPxWxXnwdMeP2G9FiAAaxnnMNHy_-6OfVzAcq596RdWGwsMr4r-4UkO5JxnnUI3jf1Z-Q2q3jq7vWXPm5LMeQEGL97qMOSWNlSSKxF3pCU1rWGU9qhgQSC1397plyuS7nnic3Yl6ig/s1920/Mav.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1920" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZPxWxXnwdMeP2G9FiAAaxnnMNHy_-6OfVzAcq596RdWGwsMr4r-4UkO5JxnnUI3jf1Z-Q2q3jq7vWXPm5LMeQEGL97qMOSWNlSSKxF3pCU1rWGU9qhgQSC1397plyuS7nnic3Yl6ig/w400-h216/Mav.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> We all know that the world, or maybe just North America, needs another pick-up. Sure we do, since we live in a time when millions of these trucks are sold yearly to a seemingly insatiable market. Just like the suv market.<p></p><p>Since Ford just brought back the Bronco, maybe we are seeing a trend here? Maybe we can get a few other companies to give their new arrivals names that most of us can remember? </p><p><i>Maverick</i>? Not sure about the name, but I see a winner no matter what Ford called it.</p><p>Until next time.........</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-17351295534295076142021-03-03T08:49:00.017-08:002021-03-04T10:41:15.425-08:00What Are You Watching?<p>What are you watching? </p><p>Sounds like an intro to a Netflix ad, doesn't it? Well, you can relax, it isn't . Over the past year (yes, it's been that long) us poor car folks have been barred from cruze nights or any other vehicular gathering. Poor souls? Hey, not so fast. My friend and I have come across several car sites, where an interesting YouTuber introduces us to a car that they either have or have come across. Watching these is a great way to stay sane, assuming that is the direction you want to take.</p><p></p><p>Let's look at a few of my favs.........</p><p>This first one is probably the most well known, <i>Jay Leno's Garage</i>. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HBTKSvnKqTLKFsfijN8n_wQ77Gz-Zj9ExiNg_FdHY2dSZBysYuEUWT5YiGhhJZJVuGQGxprhfTg1ox21jztDrW0WFJZFNVUbrCHoWE5OtxH7QFQIu2y1Cq6jWHXxEX9HHK_7hkLiKQ/s1136/Leno+jag.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1136" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HBTKSvnKqTLKFsfijN8n_wQ77Gz-Zj9ExiNg_FdHY2dSZBysYuEUWT5YiGhhJZJVuGQGxprhfTg1ox21jztDrW0WFJZFNVUbrCHoWE5OtxH7QFQIu2y1Cq6jWHXxEX9HHK_7hkLiKQ/w400-h300/Leno+jag.webp" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Yes, it's <i><b>that </b></i>Jay Leno. Apart from being a successful talk show host and comedian, Jay is a car lover from when he was a mere child in Boston. Neat thing about Jay is that he doesn't ever sell any of his cars and he just buys ones he likes. His knowledgeable tour of each vehicle is very low key, like he was talking to a good friend, who he did not need to impress. I love his weekly shows.</p><p>One a friend recently discovered and passed along to me is <i>Vice Grip Garage.......</i></p><p></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigklJsRkeNuvareASHfkntz7u5dwjpcQZIeONqCqydUaC8A1e71GDWxiRRxoBcY6OHXqeG5LBH7SupMbwvAVeeynwo_JCuIqaQIH6FvXhMexsp9LQ9l7jWsvBZWbXnFa4cwWpFFvkYBw/s246/VG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="246" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigklJsRkeNuvareASHfkntz7u5dwjpcQZIeONqCqydUaC8A1e71GDWxiRRxoBcY6OHXqeG5LBH7SupMbwvAVeeynwo_JCuIqaQIH6FvXhMexsp9LQ9l7jWsvBZWbXnFa4cwWpFFvkYBw/w400-h225/VG.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div><i><br /> </i>This one is a bit unusual. Derek is a "down home", unpretentious kind of guy from Minnesota, who resurrects old vehicles, that have been sitting in fields for years and years. Would I ever have thought I could watch a guy fiddle with a car trying to start it after 15 or 20 years? Not likely, but I do. Derek is self effacing and his wording is strange, but fun to listen to. What he can do is amazing.<p></p><p>My friend has also told me about <i>My Car Story with Lou Costabile.......</i></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFw9rnWUHdDJgbBhvXEeup_gmSVTuMMI-wPiZHQCx5BV7vtrTuXIpap2I7cW9voCI1zydVm5NTyq2vWbT09ewYBxnfj9XmDCzWzfnumOQ5zI3hJ7dkV13OQ3zxFZnDldYFobM77sIXg/s1024/lou1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFw9rnWUHdDJgbBhvXEeup_gmSVTuMMI-wPiZHQCx5BV7vtrTuXIpap2I7cW9voCI1zydVm5NTyq2vWbT09ewYBxnfj9XmDCzWzfnumOQ5zI3hJ7dkV13OQ3zxFZnDldYFobM77sIXg/w400-h225/lou1.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div><p>Lou is another low key guy, who does show and tells with any old car from muscle machines to old '50's classics. If you like older stuff, he is the guy to watch and when he opens the trunk for <i>Trunk & Treats, </i>you never know what he'll find (no dead bodies).</p><p>Tom Cotter has been scouring the US for years in his old Ford woodie. Along the way, he has written several books about his searches for old forgotten cars. <i>The Barn Find Hunter</i> pretty much sums up his raison d'etre. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkg6veg3qtlSUyQ5NUBr6_jfGbbjy_sFZR7UxXmidRA0o5evc2CpMuMkXRS4hUOKS5RZxDBxZR-S9BcYixiAEy6bAdlc0fchsr3ox99C1bW_JOZoZ2pUIZO7XQd_ZQAKYuTSrBCsPrg/s2000/Barn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="2000" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkg6veg3qtlSUyQ5NUBr6_jfGbbjy_sFZR7UxXmidRA0o5evc2CpMuMkXRS4hUOKS5RZxDBxZR-S9BcYixiAEy6bAdlc0fchsr3ox99C1bW_JOZoZ2pUIZO7XQd_ZQAKYuTSrBCsPrg/w400-h205/Barn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>Dusty, dirty old treasures that have been out of the public's eyes for years are what Tom seeks out. He also tells us what the real value of these "gems" are.</p><p>Like very in depth reviews of new or older unusual vehicles? If so, then San Diego's Doug Demuro is the guy to watch. I like his comments, but he might be an acquired taste (ask my brother). Doug will go anywhere to see the car to be reviewed. Recognize the background below? Of course, it's the Big Smoke. This was taken in 2019, when Bugatti invited him to Toronto to review and drive the soon to be released Chiron. I told you, he'd go anywhere. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD5iTnYvf51QrcN4FAtq9Dt9YQ7JfUfTXtG_FnZn9UOEAf9vI9j9wFgyn76WdKIz0EcMxdtHegRfjc5tYLiTBX9DerTBGc3HCGKWSx8Xx3lDozMXwN4VY8_Lema1-p_IF0OSAeTueTA/s1280/Chiron.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhD5iTnYvf51QrcN4FAtq9Dt9YQ7JfUfTXtG_FnZn9UOEAf9vI9j9wFgyn76WdKIz0EcMxdtHegRfjc5tYLiTBX9DerTBGc3HCGKWSx8Xx3lDozMXwN4VY8_Lema1-p_IF0OSAeTueTA/w400-h225/Chiron.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>These are just a very, very few of the hundreds, maybe thousands of YouTubers out there doing videos of just about anything car related that one can think of. Life is short, but I still have a few years to discover new and maybe different takes on cars. Time well wasted? Absolutely!<br /></p><p>Which are your favs?</p><p>Until next time......</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-87881797150869529342021-02-24T10:40:00.002-08:002021-02-24T10:40:37.908-08:00When is a mini van not a mini van?<p> Remember the "old" days when a van looked like a van? Short nose and that giveaway back sliding door.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEfVgIFCGJSAMKwd7qr2YZ855gbGsoAfGM0gqWxqgQ8nhvOyMbAYjj9Wx0uUfY1imb5UuPuwOJa89J8EWGuLrYfSLpH74a5Y6q324T5K7H_eCe3WW4T_rsCsWXh_qIiRCT2K8MXQzaQ/s580/Kia4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCEfVgIFCGJSAMKwd7qr2YZ855gbGsoAfGM0gqWxqgQ8nhvOyMbAYjj9Wx0uUfY1imb5UuPuwOJa89J8EWGuLrYfSLpH74a5Y6q324T5K7H_eCe3WW4T_rsCsWXh_qIiRCT2K8MXQzaQ/s320/Kia4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Was there a husband anywhere and maybe a few wives, who really liked owning a minivan? I had one client who loved hers, but most folks lived for the day when they could say good-bye to to this most practical of vehicles and get an suv.</p><p>Well, folks, Kia felt your pain and their answer is mere weeks or months away.........</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmNKg9-pt6StUUcPyzfmFI9m0WcFmk91XI0CpR6aEOWEUXB2ducqJ3_RnvNCZ3xqY21IFYZinmmPYMlwtlPDm9PWiu_Xv4CdFidQM0pubM3s1YjM1WIJpWX1hLj-niid1h3XB3uVmjQ/s1482/Kia1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="1482" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmNKg9-pt6StUUcPyzfmFI9m0WcFmk91XI0CpR6aEOWEUXB2ducqJ3_RnvNCZ3xqY21IFYZinmmPYMlwtlPDm9PWiu_Xv4CdFidQM0pubM3s1YjM1WIJpWX1hLj-niid1h3XB3uVmjQ/w400-h300/Kia1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I can hear you now. Nice pic, Barry, but that's an suv, not a van. Maybe even a baby Telluride. Look at the suv front end. Look at those lines. That, you say, is definitely an suv. And you are all so wrong. The tell tail van trademark is the sliding back door. See? No friendo, those are not suicide doors.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XrTu_RWCnThFipQUq2hyK2QXA1Skle_5HiWvpDOwFXyFGEbrYffKTXKupUVC3SVfw0OxW3r91It8TByH-pnCR08U59jxW6ny0xEl5XyFuShVuHk2acqBX1ro9FfsuP9LnWxFvOZ6fg/s960/Kia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XrTu_RWCnThFipQUq2hyK2QXA1Skle_5HiWvpDOwFXyFGEbrYffKTXKupUVC3SVfw0OxW3r91It8TByH-pnCR08U59jxW6ny0xEl5XyFuShVuHk2acqBX1ro9FfsuP9LnWxFvOZ6fg/w400-h266/Kia2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>This folks is the all new Kia Sedona, renamed <i>Carnival</i> for 2022 (like I said, all new). Graduating from a van look-a-like to a crazily popular suv look-a-like. What soccer mom or dad wouldn't be thrilled to be cruising the hood in this ride?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNbEY9VoTI9KfHMFh3ddJftscuF6odihMKbA-y_OvAbvCypwEK1HA20lmX68ZOIO1Zymae2wt6FPr0e9O5X6LTMxTTMRtnM8bIwUauWU1UVMADdgi3jUl5R-jnwch3j8eLeNZnCLUIw/s480/Kia7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNbEY9VoTI9KfHMFh3ddJftscuF6odihMKbA-y_OvAbvCypwEK1HA20lmX68ZOIO1Zymae2wt6FPr0e9O5X6LTMxTTMRtnM8bIwUauWU1UVMADdgi3jUl5R-jnwch3j8eLeNZnCLUIw/w400-h225/Kia7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> Looking for all the world like one of the new full size GM's or the Ford/Lincoln twins. And looking great. My next ride will be an suv (bad knees!), but seeing this new <i>Carnival</i> I began to think,"What if?". Room for our golf clubs and carts, <i><b>and</b></i> the two cats. Nothing could be finer.<p></p><p>Except and there is that big except, it is a van and I know it. Head up my you know where? Maybe. </p><p>An interior looking like it was lifted from the local big shot's limo.......<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKD7e4PGohWoBjrCXEHNmsg3GOIrndUS230pWRdXvZGpM5_HLmjqqN_2uPZLWEmImsT77Kh-o1EA6qu7DVIZNX6VKHroOT6516-1NRacOEhrXClX85fzxyvr4DE0uv0c4e0Bh8YJNEdw/s480/Kia3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="480" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKD7e4PGohWoBjrCXEHNmsg3GOIrndUS230pWRdXvZGpM5_HLmjqqN_2uPZLWEmImsT77Kh-o1EA6qu7DVIZNX6VKHroOT6516-1NRacOEhrXClX85fzxyvr4DE0uv0c4e0Bh8YJNEdw/w400-h245/Kia3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Downside? Can't think of one, so maybe I'll think outside the box for a (welcome) change.</p><p>No matter. Kia has nailed it with this new creation, whatever you want to call it. Price it against the perennial fave, the Odyssey and make Honda wish they had thought outside of that same old box. Mark this date down in your calendar. This is the date I'm telling anyone who'll listen, that Kia has a game changer. They've breathed new life into a stale market segment.</p><p>Bets to see if I'm right? Send your money to me, where it will be safe.<br /></p><p>Until next time.......</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-45588302098543012832021-02-17T08:36:00.001-08:002021-02-17T08:36:14.571-08:00Be Still My Heart!<p> When I met my darling wife way back in September, 1978, her father had two Audi 100LS's (one for him, one for the wife) like this one shown here........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBaUULsc1A7Dr5n6yQadLs4ibFgFKz1uO1gi9RAiRJzBPbT1spaeqCbKvbz3MWgdTX0nDVJJqbyG2P9AUL8_HiNxg0GP9_6DDU6HIazh0dnuev1wqdJ8R4_vg0i13q5XzcSnmTHaf0A/s1280/audi5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="1280" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBaUULsc1A7Dr5n6yQadLs4ibFgFKz1uO1gi9RAiRJzBPbT1spaeqCbKvbz3MWgdTX0nDVJJqbyG2P9AUL8_HiNxg0GP9_6DDU6HIazh0dnuev1wqdJ8R4_vg0i13q5XzcSnmTHaf0A/w400-h328/audi5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Her dad was a very successful businessman, but with terrible taste in cars. Like the time he bought a Hyundai Sonata, when Hyundai's were junk, but the thing was he bought it in winter, so of course, he didn't ask if it had A/C. It didn't! There are other stories, but not at this time. Back to those two Audi's. Not cheap back in the day, but terribly unreliable and worth nothing as a trade in.</p><p>How things change.</p><p>These days Audi has great designs and they are as reliable as any German luxo brand and as costly to repair, when they aren't reliable. Pays your money and you takes your chances.</p><p>I love the Porsche Taycan EV........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUolLfucKvV4_PBJ8SzG6ro8idaPDbd0wU5g9RbrPs_ggAWou7a3THmEmAmtR9SXkvixFBGjAyxM4fIWnYisjQ7htiIjkcd4YuHGpfIjDfQq_hRNlzRBQ4KSg8Wz7o9Z7nwyfqQo8Vmw/s1920/Audi4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUolLfucKvV4_PBJ8SzG6ro8idaPDbd0wU5g9RbrPs_ggAWou7a3THmEmAmtR9SXkvixFBGjAyxM4fIWnYisjQ7htiIjkcd4YuHGpfIjDfQq_hRNlzRBQ4KSg8Wz7o9Z7nwyfqQo8Vmw/w400-h225/Audi4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Great looking in pictures and breathtakingly beautiful in real life. Costly? You bet. Hey, it's a Porsche.</p><p>Like the design, but need something a bit more budget friendly? Like who doesn't, except maybe Jeff Bezos, but he could buy the company. Anyway back to affordability and Audi. Please keep in mind that "affordability" is a relative term here and also relative when it comes to any EV. So recently Audi has unveiled their e-tron EV, the GT.</p><p>Early sketches showed showed the designers' dream car, but like most of these type of sketches, the final product had no chance of really looking like this.......<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyIEvuZ6vy73nzZaxaoJE9-SIaC-gNNfe9jv2O4mNDP2bkIxA5AIbj0zfIONu6X5zDkfpTYSZ5MBt2W9MjBkanIYoTIDLJLdO7Ci8I0QE1t2p4j8gPdbe2pkHQ30FwC18KPxCJ1Jr5A/s1080/Audi3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyIEvuZ6vy73nzZaxaoJE9-SIaC-gNNfe9jv2O4mNDP2bkIxA5AIbj0zfIONu6X5zDkfpTYSZ5MBt2W9MjBkanIYoTIDLJLdO7Ci8I0QE1t2p4j8gPdbe2pkHQ30FwC18KPxCJ1Jr5A/w400-h400/Audi3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Probably a good thing. Now that the final product has been unveiled and is on its way to production, we can see that Audi actually improved on those wild sketches......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEzeIT5c9IJctoJbYKvMxYkEVl-okInHIc2GoUMXCX9RGfbdzz9hHLFLT_OhzF1_Nya6zvWWMjZRD431MOAOJXyk94liQjSRa4Usc3j9pqfJ8fqw5C8-lnQxc6KuYUTnlpiWHZlIvzA/s740/Audi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="740" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEzeIT5c9IJctoJbYKvMxYkEVl-okInHIc2GoUMXCX9RGfbdzz9hHLFLT_OhzF1_Nya6zvWWMjZRD431MOAOJXyk94liQjSRa4Usc3j9pqfJ8fqw5C8-lnQxc6KuYUTnlpiWHZlIvzA/w400-h225/Audi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>........and in doing so, gave us plebs a "poor" person's Taycan. Sure, it's kissing around a $100k, or maybe these days, elbow touching that dollar number. But, it's less than that gorgeous Taycan, so start saving.</p><p>Stunning and I can absolutely guarantee that if my father-in-law was still around, he would never buy two of these or even one. They look too good and they will be reliable. Two no no's for him.</p><p>Be still my heart........ <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUI_ctM3FQITCQWMh5AiQObUFIWn_nkj55w5dG8bI10prrH6ZKVubsvBP-76zzqmobP-D4LANXMN1lrH_hRHHrYZqN-aUzI5c-2yEC01KPKOMi30gPe2fXzBqhlHzwWPmfiQ0lzMJ2mA/s1200/Audi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUI_ctM3FQITCQWMh5AiQObUFIWn_nkj55w5dG8bI10prrH6ZKVubsvBP-76zzqmobP-D4LANXMN1lrH_hRHHrYZqN-aUzI5c-2yEC01KPKOMi30gPe2fXzBqhlHzwWPmfiQ0lzMJ2mA/w400-h266/Audi2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHOE3e-wQY3NXrz6JW8jFrmgccyLW6wmcuiyo0FIvN9Hbs0Uov8tBfSZ8_oFDLNZS2yV6xYc5OSeiQlbgkYmThNY6HY42m5KMXW25GertZ6_2YMxa7GD3Pk7FfuN4HK55RC1-xfn_fg/s2048/Audi9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHOE3e-wQY3NXrz6JW8jFrmgccyLW6wmcuiyo0FIvN9Hbs0Uov8tBfSZ8_oFDLNZS2yV6xYc5OSeiQlbgkYmThNY6HY42m5KMXW25GertZ6_2YMxa7GD3Pk7FfuN4HK55RC1-xfn_fg/w400-h300/Audi9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>......what a beauty. Now I have two dilemma's when my current lease is up........a Taycan or this new GT? If money factors into this decision, then maybe I can afford the wheels and tires, but even that might be tight. Why didn't I buy Tesla stock or Apple when no one had ever heard of them. Or maybe Zoom? Hey, if I was that smart, do you think that I'd be blogging each week?</p><p>Please let me suffer in silence.</p><p>Until next time.......</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-77066309491877125642021-02-10T10:16:00.001-08:002021-02-10T10:16:47.247-08:00Hard to Believe<p> <i><b>Retro!</b></i></p><p>These days we seem to hear a lot about retro styling. You all know about the Mustang, the Camaro and the Dodge Challenger which have copied old designs with varying degrees of success.......</p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQSMvvZl_5GWaZBGv5-q-IzVOBlIsAEHbzsZuer2Tsxw6Nrgsqnn5keG-w5Z1DAMcbQRxDIwmVg26_jOC7vDJJ4rPAvFS_76lTJqT32VqUEzRgIVAi-XzsGe6VWQApgVCuYLAGBvfug/s621/D5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="621" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQSMvvZl_5GWaZBGv5-q-IzVOBlIsAEHbzsZuer2Tsxw6Nrgsqnn5keG-w5Z1DAMcbQRxDIwmVg26_jOC7vDJJ4rPAvFS_76lTJqT32VqUEzRgIVAi-XzsGe6VWQApgVCuYLAGBvfug/s320/D5.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pxqOVW24BpcIWJWrPNQiunuclnfffliLOJXG0TPsc3FCFJykooHL6f6_Hw9DLzXoENcZHvoTEJRlFmmG0Vo4dm1lTQw4J_mlorh3dW8KUfJnYlkGx5XFN4AtTromdLysKRmnZmiJZA/s1595/D6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1595" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pxqOVW24BpcIWJWrPNQiunuclnfffliLOJXG0TPsc3FCFJykooHL6f6_Hw9DLzXoENcZHvoTEJRlFmmG0Vo4dm1lTQw4J_mlorh3dW8KUfJnYlkGx5XFN4AtTromdLysKRmnZmiJZA/s320/D6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b> </b></i>Not exact, but a close family resemblance to what roamed the wild streets so many years. Intentional? You know the answer to that, absolutely intentional. <p></p><p>The other day I saw a couple of recent designs that might also be called retro. Not really, but I knew that I had seen the general lines of these cars many, many years ago. Let's call it 50 and move on. Beautiful cars but where did their new designs have their origin?</p><p>These two are right up there with my most favorite cars of the past few years. Each one has a similar look and each one is gorgeous.......<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABOiv_mZfIo01-4PKiWGfCE8TUkiLIkQ5gty6auOaCA9xqE8FkkNyxbRCtI_ctTJWs-PzvL3ZgrsdqjC33MZ8ztz9QHkKQqQWk2_DDRMhaF-REeRlSf7hjiLzd6qKVb1u6rOkouidwA/s1200/D3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABOiv_mZfIo01-4PKiWGfCE8TUkiLIkQ5gty6auOaCA9xqE8FkkNyxbRCtI_ctTJWs-PzvL3ZgrsdqjC33MZ8ztz9QHkKQqQWk2_DDRMhaF-REeRlSf7hjiLzd6qKVb1u6rOkouidwA/w400-h225/D3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qxFC3xgZ7S4JeEDamR-km1o7oia9hHUXb6cAsDEpKfiMrAhBsT-l3XdqTxRDvtCEuVE-xoyXg-7ARx6T4p21q4lnC7KFZhpOKF-USRq3mtRx3yvHJmil76JeAdlZNVVia47Girp77w/s2048/D4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qxFC3xgZ7S4JeEDamR-km1o7oia9hHUXb6cAsDEpKfiMrAhBsT-l3XdqTxRDvtCEuVE-xoyXg-7ARx6T4p21q4lnC7KFZhpOKF-USRq3mtRx3yvHJmil76JeAdlZNVVia47Girp77w/w400-h225/D4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Original design? Now this is where it gets interesting. Check out this oldie.......</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMkzOETRsiB2463ZyIuSH7kXNscIk9dTQbGlcnwQVFEQm-MdQgceUjuMzxVBv1TxQRtpLA3oG17ycrYkrfoo1of4KbA4Gl3Uqm0l8MQRb-ADvz6V_YA7SJ4nVNLS-2uoqIHwenJgLyA/s1010/D1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1010" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMkzOETRsiB2463ZyIuSH7kXNscIk9dTQbGlcnwQVFEQm-MdQgceUjuMzxVBv1TxQRtpLA3oG17ycrYkrfoo1of4KbA4Gl3Uqm0l8MQRb-ADvz6V_YA7SJ4nVNLS-2uoqIHwenJgLyA/w400-h297/D1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCYJ2Uu33r3Iu2-E4L9sjQc0IzBNhAHNyKR5zQaG2tDFQemMIHoZowk67QfF4bTjPgwv3hEI38tYaP4k1Ui1aCFAEi_gEn8PY2x6wZ58oraO8vCJKtR6SkAIypc6DNaZjxDO7_pYFrQ/s640/D2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCYJ2Uu33r3Iu2-E4L9sjQc0IzBNhAHNyKR5zQaG2tDFQemMIHoZowk67QfF4bTjPgwv3hEI38tYaP4k1Ui1aCFAEi_gEn8PY2x6wZ58oraO8vCJKtR6SkAIypc6DNaZjxDO7_pYFrQ/w353-h400/D2.jpg" width="353" /></a></div><p> Hard to believe this 1971 American Motors (you know, the original Jeep guys) bears more than a passing resemblance to the Audi and the Mercedes wagons of today. Think I've been into some unusual stuff and smoking up a storm? Ha! Look more closely and you'll have to agree that the old American Motors Sportabout has more than a passing similarity to the two German beauts.</p><p>Let's keep this idea to ourselves, as I don't want the Germans to come looking for me, accusing yours truly of spreading fake news. It wouldn't be pretty.</p><p>But remember, you read it here first.</p><p>Barry</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-54213626209923143852021-02-03T10:17:00.010-08:002021-02-03T10:23:51.291-08:00The Way We Were<p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJB2FsxbKoBbBKjFMPoXXeaO9P8LvU-9fPIXw1bU1QSPTSoWnpkiRL6eOLm1wBH_0xz8EXp3sUpwCrEn10TIs28L0X2ZxomLoCpj-MykhtaMICMPHStvG8UV5cLpbxnUpfyEVgkkHV_g/s512/A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="385" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJB2FsxbKoBbBKjFMPoXXeaO9P8LvU-9fPIXw1bU1QSPTSoWnpkiRL6eOLm1wBH_0xz8EXp3sUpwCrEn10TIs28L0X2ZxomLoCpj-MykhtaMICMPHStvG8UV5cLpbxnUpfyEVgkkHV_g/w301-h400/A.jpg" width="301" /></a></p> Just like a new Lexus ad? Well, maybe the colour is more era appropriate to 1959 when this ad dropped. And maybe the Lexus ad wouldn't show that almost baroque background. But my, how times have changed, since way back when.<p>A different way to sell cars? Maybe, maybe not. Sure these days the safety and performance features are featured more prominently, not just the feeling of owning a car, like these Cadillacs. Today's ads for a BMW or a Benz still tell you that there is a certain feel to their cars, but it isn't presented in the same fashion. <i>Fashion</i> might be the key word here.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6DsAtWNScEdPaLlPFlSC3T00Q0Q_N2Pv2dbNJCnoR7Lnwxt_x14FrumZASsuNy17wNxSYSu5819gP5ey0k0CpzeqUdNx8U-clnLqKfxto2kRKzLcr5TXAb4psqen1J0FzdN3-9guwQ/s1371/A2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6DsAtWNScEdPaLlPFlSC3T00Q0Q_N2Pv2dbNJCnoR7Lnwxt_x14FrumZASsuNy17wNxSYSu5819gP5ey0k0CpzeqUdNx8U-clnLqKfxto2kRKzLcr5TXAb4psqen1J0FzdN3-9guwQ/w299-h400/A2.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqltQ0eDG4gyVYT_Boq77k9r5nnER09s6L0n0MbEvkm6mOa1b6qWbgNn2bHpvkBC5xxQ21JL8wDJzyqOj863bd46E9OKOnsZq0nr4klMXONtH2iHSOue5a07IjLxzDC-K1HbX2LaSzQ/s951/A3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="951" data-original-width="770" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqltQ0eDG4gyVYT_Boq77k9r5nnER09s6L0n0MbEvkm6mOa1b6qWbgNn2bHpvkBC5xxQ21JL8wDJzyqOj863bd46E9OKOnsZq0nr4klMXONtH2iHSOue5a07IjLxzDC-K1HbX2LaSzQ/w324-h400/A3.jpg" width="324" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cadillac had a wonderful way to instill in its prospects, that a step up to a Caddy was definitely a step up and a big one at that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have hardcover books showing ads from the '50's, '60's and '70's for a variety of cars. They are fun to thumb thru. Interesting nostalgia. I can't imagine similar books showing ads from the past twenty years. Well, actually I can, but what I can't imagine is my buying them.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FglS53t-vHKJIOO33ECQizDIqa7mWp5EcFbTHBWwtjIhMySNVp8KrI9aFppkgn9rDAIF3kerGifl2oMZ3S3O-5bWkhT0vp2bV8Ls_NglVnjN-FhNJbXjjE9aRtUbm96htJHWLCX6yA/s827/A4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FglS53t-vHKJIOO33ECQizDIqa7mWp5EcFbTHBWwtjIhMySNVp8KrI9aFppkgn9rDAIF3kerGifl2oMZ3S3O-5bWkhT0vp2bV8Ls_NglVnjN-FhNJbXjjE9aRtUbm96htJHWLCX6yA/w300-h400/A4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9br3-cTytG5finablnTa3NS8Yr9-LpmDB3k0SKMuPiLEejHLusJDqdXUHLtawvNN69cg7tTU3mmfOhvY2hJN8w1Ija7-cXXbEKvvgbzjn_P4PkucWncyxxWxeGo0WhMLNvx9zPx6E_Q/s1074/A5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="840" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9br3-cTytG5finablnTa3NS8Yr9-LpmDB3k0SKMuPiLEejHLusJDqdXUHLtawvNN69cg7tTU3mmfOhvY2hJN8w1Ija7-cXXbEKvvgbzjn_P4PkucWncyxxWxeGo0WhMLNvx9zPx6E_Q/w313-h400/A5.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br /> Today's blog focuses on Cadillac. Remember when they sold cars, not just aspirational suvs?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFzF5S8COt-U-vIe4NP9Z8NZiJtbi8ohXV9dPnDCB-8aU3vDd-Bzr-IivIwCAN3-J6zW9IEMXBcIo9QlPY5TcqU9VnE7LZlFkId235niBRezyyi1TLX2-gB__NsabT1ZwutagyaflGw/s1599/A6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="1047" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFzF5S8COt-U-vIe4NP9Z8NZiJtbi8ohXV9dPnDCB-8aU3vDd-Bzr-IivIwCAN3-J6zW9IEMXBcIo9QlPY5TcqU9VnE7LZlFkId235niBRezyyi1TLX2-gB__NsabT1ZwutagyaflGw/w263-h400/A6.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5yakQGxIq-wTJGdjXHq9uv1Zn7cwJhx2W3IRIKG9V8HajmsPW2zSDLjGCMR_5ZWV9Z75jLvg605-AQQhST3hsvW5LHKrrxZUR5kilhiboPdTzZlWJi_p5FR8UQ9EcAFrt4huD0P96g/s2048/A7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5yakQGxIq-wTJGdjXHq9uv1Zn7cwJhx2W3IRIKG9V8HajmsPW2zSDLjGCMR_5ZWV9Z75jLvg605-AQQhST3hsvW5LHKrrxZUR5kilhiboPdTzZlWJi_p5FR8UQ9EcAFrt4huD0P96g/w298-h400/A7.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes folks, those were the days. Now don't get me wrong, they were not the good ol' days, but the old car ads had a definite charm, that is missing today. Ask a 25 year old if they miss that charm and they will toss you a quizzical look, before they turn and walk away shaking their head.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5ccX5POJzeOF0DHdXVvnyH9HcIqMoan8VRKGKaPIrPfDhLe0jT8ncz3kruf5jm4XLQ8kBCvOYM8pC3W7-vyTeW8T_SGO0h-ZG9r30n4AKXoiRQEfCdZ97xedqsI7xRa7IV904sDdnQ/s769/A9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5ccX5POJzeOF0DHdXVvnyH9HcIqMoan8VRKGKaPIrPfDhLe0jT8ncz3kruf5jm4XLQ8kBCvOYM8pC3W7-vyTeW8T_SGO0h-ZG9r30n4AKXoiRQEfCdZ97xedqsI7xRa7IV904sDdnQ/w313-h400/A9.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But just maybe I spoke too soon. What does a 2021 Cadillac ad look like? A rap star cruising the hood? A drug dealer doing a drive by? A nanny dropping the employer's kids off at private school?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's take a look......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSb6mJP0ChbzVyr8s2AWISyTGjKTR-2Po22TJQabr_-kx11joububssPbtT0GRCK-FQ1IU5Bn7tCUktrbyYdnaruro746tWkKRXcEenfCrLg8b_GTCGgE7jAn84SNQ2MF8o9oqKJS5Pg/s1280/A20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSb6mJP0ChbzVyr8s2AWISyTGjKTR-2Po22TJQabr_-kx11joububssPbtT0GRCK-FQ1IU5Bn7tCUktrbyYdnaruro746tWkKRXcEenfCrLg8b_GTCGgE7jAn84SNQ2MF8o9oqKJS5Pg/w400-h225/A20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Does this ad remind you of one from the past? Elegant lady, simply missing the baroque or bejewelled background. Oh well, the more things change, the more they stay the same.</p><p>Until next time.......</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-59589916124306001362021-01-27T10:24:00.005-08:002021-01-27T10:27:06.367-08:00Pity the poor Miata<p><i> I JUST WANT TO BE ME!</i></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_n7szKnpNFHZEAHAKyGXa4WXQ0HCVBNp9dvXCMYiFPOcOHDEvmK0Hi2bQa6eJwPBHRiwkb7FdQgx8PYsNmU0d0OGyFRb0jNskl6IPCr2IhbCbtQaYe9IUkUeioiIFlQ9y74Y6ya2pbw/s505/M11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="505" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_n7szKnpNFHZEAHAKyGXa4WXQ0HCVBNp9dvXCMYiFPOcOHDEvmK0Hi2bQa6eJwPBHRiwkb7FdQgx8PYsNmU0d0OGyFRb0jNskl6IPCr2IhbCbtQaYe9IUkUeioiIFlQ9y74Y6ya2pbw/s320/M11.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i>That might be the refrain of the humble Miata. The sporty little roadster, that has been stirring enthusiasts' souls since it was first introduced over thirty years ago. Bringing back memories of all the great, inexpensive and semi-reliable British sportscars like the MG and the Triumph. But to some, this little corner carver is simply a blank canvas.<p></p><p>Speaking of which, for those of you who missed out on getting your dream Corvette back in the day or who simply can't conjure up the coin to buy an oldie today, this Miata conversion should speak to you......<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sIOTy7TUfPQ-5vSMY6wpZUct9AzlAacG3_lGQGO2ImK6Cr_b51t7ixr2oRxvFYc12Wee9vSP7e4Az8rN8IRoOCCqZ12wF8i03e6vAU30s1VIfK-ACTq5_l-0vH6onhJDM1MvIBO6og/s980/M3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="980" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sIOTy7TUfPQ-5vSMY6wpZUct9AzlAacG3_lGQGO2ImK6Cr_b51t7ixr2oRxvFYc12Wee9vSP7e4Az8rN8IRoOCCqZ12wF8i03e6vAU30s1VIfK-ACTq5_l-0vH6onhJDM1MvIBO6og/w400-h200/M3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Just another Miata under the skin, but trying to be something the little darling isn't.</p><p>Attention Mustang lovers.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57Sl7gSY76GlkHJtLRFEtOhB9YAllvtUiX9i4kcVZYXNSXQVuVDsFdnvck2bHEcPNnPxxArLJ7E3gQtmEROw92bu1vr1aPcSIObCks8_yppgeoI5DqABBjC5DQ1Gad-4ulVnPHAvV-A/s400/M.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="400" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57Sl7gSY76GlkHJtLRFEtOhB9YAllvtUiX9i4kcVZYXNSXQVuVDsFdnvck2bHEcPNnPxxArLJ7E3gQtmEROw92bu1vr1aPcSIObCks8_yppgeoI5DqABBjC5DQ1Gad-4ulVnPHAvV-A/w400-h223/M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Yes folks, under this two seater Mustang copy sits the Miata roadster, crying out to be accepted for what it is, not what a few souls would like it to be. Of course, the Miata cover up doesn't stop with a couple of American "back in the day" icons, oh no, others strive for much loftier heights......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqRm57ZDbfm6pYkk9Aswe_Qt-Pc1JdouTXJ6gUcesBvCkdVFCfVyynBCPTeYACYsi1TzsetOdd5tm88Fcv4WpVicrhGq-FDuZ-Vp0iea-sCkFin_F9YDOozftIZ2FikKiLaSTokhBFw/s640/M1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqRm57ZDbfm6pYkk9Aswe_Qt-Pc1JdouTXJ6gUcesBvCkdVFCfVyynBCPTeYACYsi1TzsetOdd5tm88Fcv4WpVicrhGq-FDuZ-Vp0iea-sCkFin_F9YDOozftIZ2FikKiLaSTokhBFw/w400-h266/M1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBArFcyUrnUvv0-LkSxJqKf5hGQd0XxUOnBLvYAEqvGTEpZyWh062XYNGSKXnY6gA-N6zsmC63NL4H6CUmdxeSB3j3mAjtdE-ziyiJXBJucrxC0Bo8gED_-oON0_EPTFBaCkWZvow4CQ/s1000/M2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1000" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBArFcyUrnUvv0-LkSxJqKf5hGQd0XxUOnBLvYAEqvGTEpZyWh062XYNGSKXnY6gA-N6zsmC63NL4H6CUmdxeSB3j3mAjtdE-ziyiJXBJucrxC0Bo8gED_-oON0_EPTFBaCkWZvow4CQ/w400-h265/M2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQ1Sqv_WT6bTiXUbBnN-wfzQo3YkfTKkEWpPLTB3r1qxKHiLwemcGfSPe1Gho2K2N-4LPC6_8T3NsEFu0P7q-1H96wZaIm4lzR-MgBfh8BSkxQvg_OgPccNsMv0GxBbDYC6LLXH5wrQ/s550/M5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="550" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQ1Sqv_WT6bTiXUbBnN-wfzQo3YkfTKkEWpPLTB3r1qxKHiLwemcGfSPe1Gho2K2N-4LPC6_8T3NsEFu0P7q-1H96wZaIm4lzR-MgBfh8BSkxQvg_OgPccNsMv0GxBbDYC6LLXH5wrQ/w400-h208/M5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Take your pick, a make believe Ferrari or maybe this Maserati or failing those two, a Shelby Cobra. Pick your model from a selection of cars, whose prices these days are up in the stratosphere, if you could actually afford to ask.</p><p>And that poor little Miata just wants to be appreciated for the way it looks, the way it was born, without one of these ersatz bodies being plunked on top of it. Pity the poor Miata.</p><p>Now if you think it stops with these few, think again, Friendo.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyv9q4s-d6nTNifSaUUZYxT9x_IG04PoOygPDqqcGyfhm7bMPLRUvR8tFygJS3W8bFQEuqBeO9L_2DQCwVdss2M2f_G_6CWiLwJ70bvMIjvGGL7emQrUSgAH8nWBA_w7_rls5kuJgNw/s1400/M8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1400" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyv9q4s-d6nTNifSaUUZYxT9x_IG04PoOygPDqqcGyfhm7bMPLRUvR8tFygJS3W8bFQEuqBeO9L_2DQCwVdss2M2f_G_6CWiLwJ70bvMIjvGGL7emQrUSgAH8nWBA_w7_rls5kuJgNw/w400-h300/M8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWL1WL3UUiCjnhJPQe8W9CBAPWqwYn9Ktgr_5R3fLC6I4_A75638a6vpnPicEItfKMCH3fFq7fVYmgkIcLvI4J0B5I0SsGhAD-pXfZvkzO7OI-2LApkYqpcxF6ZTVfr6mySE6fmaS_Q/s1920/M9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWL1WL3UUiCjnhJPQe8W9CBAPWqwYn9Ktgr_5R3fLC6I4_A75638a6vpnPicEItfKMCH3fFq7fVYmgkIcLvI4J0B5I0SsGhAD-pXfZvkzO7OI-2LApkYqpcxF6ZTVfr6mySE6fmaS_Q/w400-h225/M9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Take your pick. Drive one of these copies and be the person that you wish you could be, above driving a Miata, but without the bucks to go crazy on the real whatever.</p><p>And finally, in case you thought people disguised Miatas with only the hottest bodies........<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa6TxON0go3RpSdwyBMlvuuxsgl9OdOUOJ4qdd51EPKcFKTNSTS5jFyBrieXq6-FWSjZRNcYZqBvtNA3tdW0M5lOf8Uv-k0HRA7vjTnnSwclbSwKlr1wplbNwzZsbu4EInXjHzOIuLg/s636/M4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="636" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa6TxON0go3RpSdwyBMlvuuxsgl9OdOUOJ4qdd51EPKcFKTNSTS5jFyBrieXq6-FWSjZRNcYZqBvtNA3tdW0M5lOf8Uv-k0HRA7vjTnnSwclbSwKlr1wplbNwzZsbu4EInXjHzOIuLg/w400-h225/M4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Shed a tear for the taste of this poor individual who lusted after the almost ugly BMW Z3 and had a spare Miata on hand.</p><p>Pity the poor Miata. Just a nice little sportscar, longing to be appreciated for itself, not what a few underachievers would like it to be. Life as a car can be cruel.</p><p><i> I JUST WANT TO BE ME!</i></p><p>Until next time.......</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-9015053758142697722021-01-19T09:35:00.003-08:002021-01-19T09:35:50.429-08:00Electrifying looks!<p> Have you noticed? Check out the picture below and see if you get what I've been noticing........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIyR0HBE0kfQJu5s46kWZja8Goz1iT0ZoGWCXOeev-39ad3kVS_un_IXK_VQtCUpeckjfANMgGKg-DA4eXoI2y4sTKc849ySmoBNA6H3duSD7B6yyTZ1eCdBN5JHdEOlVyQ3cZeAsvQ/s1000/EV+Neuron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIyR0HBE0kfQJu5s46kWZja8Goz1iT0ZoGWCXOeev-39ad3kVS_un_IXK_VQtCUpeckjfANMgGKg-DA4eXoI2y4sTKc849ySmoBNA6H3duSD7B6yyTZ1eCdBN5JHdEOlVyQ3cZeAsvQ/w400-h225/EV+Neuron.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>See what I'm noticing? These are the latest EV designs of a truck, that will hopefully hit the market before this new company runs out of cash, that they are probably going thru like flushing a toilet. Ok, give up? What I notice is that all the new EV trucks are really great looking. Smoothly futuristic with no resemblance to what is currently roaming our highways.</p><p>Sounding like a name from the Forbidden Kingdom, GM has just unveiled their <i>BrightDrop </i>(no spacing) at the Consumer Electronics Show.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HB_de8kmY9BFYVmHjdbAA1tSKP5NPrweYWNd6D9sTsxGRZsA6tWvyqgxdFuPuja4_KSDJrlBs46zfF7Qed_7Dk2w0s9Z1iUWK2pzRD_5r7emQ1dX8HmeXu0RiryLTzBkHK5UREXzIQ/s2048/EV+BrightDrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2048" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HB_de8kmY9BFYVmHjdbAA1tSKP5NPrweYWNd6D9sTsxGRZsA6tWvyqgxdFuPuja4_KSDJrlBs46zfF7Qed_7Dk2w0s9Z1iUWK2pzRD_5r7emQ1dX8HmeXu0RiryLTzBkHK5UREXzIQ/w400-h281/EV+BrightDrop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Peel back that unusual name and you'll see the newest addition to the burgeoning list of EV commercial vehicles. But what stands out is that great looking design. I can tell you that when these hit the road, I'll be ordering anything that FedEx delivers just to see this beauty roll up in front of my home. Extreme? Maybe not.</p><p>Why did it take so long to break the design envelope on these type of vehicles? Don't know, but I'm happy to see them. Another very cool looking FedEx van........<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6fInJIHBQbvmVhY0CQE44rR-IUcL7IdfomcTdy3j_DRAdpvZezi0Zb0bb5J55CR3ceE1ncGVoHZcPQGE4A9dnSE-kY9stP8quki8xrDUJWwcQaNDWQJe403UVJuZ7WG1rvPABfxKfA/s2048/EV+Fed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="2048" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6fInJIHBQbvmVhY0CQE44rR-IUcL7IdfomcTdy3j_DRAdpvZezi0Zb0bb5J55CR3ceE1ncGVoHZcPQGE4A9dnSE-kY9stP8quki8xrDUJWwcQaNDWQJe403UVJuZ7WG1rvPABfxKfA/w400-h250/EV+Fed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p>You know Rivian? This Michigan company seems to be very well funded and they've shown an suv and of course, another great looking EV pick-up......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6QaGbaAOZrDIpr3F8MMPv0GO9VOiwJLgALjvnmiXCtMztGIgBQ2wESewueEnZ79eZjInqIhR83yTV1jLOm8Hwvj0Zbm091wa1l2-LipGXCBhAICO5Ae-eTUMwMZ9YzR2k0Io6LNeeA/s840/EV+Rivian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6QaGbaAOZrDIpr3F8MMPv0GO9VOiwJLgALjvnmiXCtMztGIgBQ2wESewueEnZ79eZjInqIhR83yTV1jLOm8Hwvj0Zbm091wa1l2-LipGXCBhAICO5Ae-eTUMwMZ9YzR2k0Io6LNeeA/w400-h266/EV+Rivian.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Pick-ups these days are all pretty good looking. How does one stand out? Tell me that Rivian hasn't scored with their vision. </p><p>But let's not stop there, as Amazon (you've heard of them?) also wanted an EV delivery van........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGqc92SLlBONCZChJ3hLXdEKQ3BvLJgU2L6t-3DpH_BFpZ49OxIQ66iqwAbIO5SLvYGLNSJw6_AdnybRno2wZ4JWMFraFPWltXpK3g0TOR6YjufPTVNvpiwPv_bQhhMAp62RJYT2uUg/s800/EV+Rivian+panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="800" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGqc92SLlBONCZChJ3hLXdEKQ3BvLJgU2L6t-3DpH_BFpZ49OxIQ66iqwAbIO5SLvYGLNSJw6_AdnybRno2wZ4JWMFraFPWltXpK3g0TOR6YjufPTVNvpiwPv_bQhhMAp62RJYT2uUg/w400-h217/EV+Rivian+panel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Between this van and the two FedEx's, I think the next year is going to be very expensive for me.</p><p>I recently blogged about the new Hummer.......</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDZySPpmsPVu5LfEWcsa70LeircCJrf2_3GjZRngwa09cuuxq5e4x0Lk-VQHLPY3VAmzZxIGF6TM1qBp3QFD6O1oqv_f40OSsZBoNXGqVnX7m0peolW0WqaomgmbgIWv7bRdWGY8uuQ/s1200/EV+Hummer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDZySPpmsPVu5LfEWcsa70LeircCJrf2_3GjZRngwa09cuuxq5e4x0Lk-VQHLPY3VAmzZxIGF6TM1qBp3QFD6O1oqv_f40OSsZBoNXGqVnX7m0peolW0WqaomgmbgIWv7bRdWGY8uuQ/w400-h225/EV+Hummer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Yet another example of a new EV with <i>electrifying</i> looks, the 2022 Hummer.</p><p>Again, why did it take so long for the designers to come up with something new and different? </p><p>Same old beer, but look at futuristic Nikola EV currently hauling this load of Bud........<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4vGMpZP09BfcpxVxagAFftPek_Tn2dbuuyd0eczWrAIngSZhPAy0Pp-peeG1uU9anlb4t2eqNYywMc58NN4TduGvI-cw29W1MSEApx04yqRrGYV63zHR3tTkNX3tEQ6P91T-dZIwsg/s1200/EV+bud.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4vGMpZP09BfcpxVxagAFftPek_Tn2dbuuyd0eczWrAIngSZhPAy0Pp-peeG1uU9anlb4t2eqNYywMc58NN4TduGvI-cw29W1MSEApx04yqRrGYV63zHR3tTkNX3tEQ6P91T-dZIwsg/w400-h225/EV+bud.webp" width="400" /></a></p>And these few are just the trucks, as most new EV cars are just as good looking. <br /><p>Notice what is missing from this brief preview? Does the name Tesla come to mind? Sure does, but their EV, while futuristic looking in the extreme..........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvq1VlYVtLMfyDGAP3Zk8ImAowkRtu9PIGs3YCHlNimhVwSvWAjKroV5QD-VJwWyuHxafnOtwtH7aa3QjHRVhd4_54AqLysEMngifIm6xUtvsE-C3_elWRrfGyczClHn4Ihs40liJdA/s875/EVT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="875" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvq1VlYVtLMfyDGAP3Zk8ImAowkRtu9PIGs3YCHlNimhVwSvWAjKroV5QD-VJwWyuHxafnOtwtH7aa3QjHRVhd4_54AqLysEMngifIm6xUtvsE-C3_elWRrfGyczClHn4Ihs40liJdA/w400-h225/EVT.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>...... is also hideous in the same extreme. An outlier in every group? Let's hope Tesla makes a few major changes before this beast ends in their showrooms. </p><p>Apart from the Tesla, our visual EV truck future looks bright. Will we all look forward to driving again, just so we can see these rolling sculptures cruising silently along our highways? Take the kidlings on a spotting mission.<br /></p><p>Don't be silly, Barry, but it's a great way to get them out of the house.<br /></p><p>Until next time......</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-61782826293959629822021-01-13T09:10:00.011-08:002021-01-13T09:14:56.891-08:00Time on our hands<p></p><p>Yes, we've been busy over the past few months. The Car Modelling Cat (CMC) and I have been hard at it, keeping busy while the virus keeps us away from other things that we like to do, like eating out. Of course, the CMC regrettably gets left behind on those occasions, but hey, she sleeps and probably doesn't even know we've left. When it comes to making our precision scale models, she is right in the thick of things.</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVwa1PbD85p-KjQn03F3HiZtBwS1RoI_IARL_PuExuhMGYYBFhub9zDDpah3a5ZISDK4aXXOrHivY8xm8nJS4Fpmag_gQh1anmbwXtrx0G7H9vfPiapG2DphxwQ5y7Ht8ChY1VAeR7A/s4000/IMG_6703.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVwa1PbD85p-KjQn03F3HiZtBwS1RoI_IARL_PuExuhMGYYBFhub9zDDpah3a5ZISDK4aXXOrHivY8xm8nJS4Fpmag_gQh1anmbwXtrx0G7H9vfPiapG2DphxwQ5y7Ht8ChY1VAeR7A/w400-h300/IMG_6703.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><p>So, here is the little darling looking over our vehicle production of the past few months and below a little clearer pic of what we've been up to, minus a furry head and ears........ <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcWR2DCISeAwTpIfr9sQrw1S67OZCeGjaXVoW5IK0_ExAfrhQ6V7g2jM75CwRupogGDJRu8W4g5NMwNhfnTvRR348QQ4f6tczAGAgpkAq-V-TEMTUzvaFn3-d7-6tOBOeolor8fuF7w/s4000/IMG_6698.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcWR2DCISeAwTpIfr9sQrw1S67OZCeGjaXVoW5IK0_ExAfrhQ6V7g2jM75CwRupogGDJRu8W4g5NMwNhfnTvRR348QQ4f6tczAGAgpkAq-V-TEMTUzvaFn3-d7-6tOBOeolor8fuF7w/w400-h300/IMG_6698.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />A variety of vehicles types, but one of the most unusual models we've done recently is a rare one. A car that really shouldn't have existed in that it is just plain strange. Those of you with a sharp eye can see a bit of it in the far background on the right. What is it? Any guesses? Any correct guesses?<br /><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iCFpS0kKpADYNjZc8mCorMuwSMmJrPGypMc4I5HqZA6LCmSSZyu_3ZR7jS3PzHWe-lRRrrKIolThPXsUDWQbPpmZxcx4bqermckDaTwVMjTD2GhyUJJ0XDa2Fhf4DmxGxbkuMNZXvQ/s4000/IMG_6701.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iCFpS0kKpADYNjZc8mCorMuwSMmJrPGypMc4I5HqZA6LCmSSZyu_3ZR7jS3PzHWe-lRRrrKIolThPXsUDWQbPpmZxcx4bqermckDaTwVMjTD2GhyUJJ0XDa2Fhf4DmxGxbkuMNZXvQ/w400-h300/IMG_6701.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6xOAl4j7HH49gVU5ckJKn4FvQjVWZBKBfTiHCklJr3U9lvAej7_yK23tBDJ1i2Q8Zb8l9zXC2NGDawQ68mNG5PGDuDbt-Mu08JLnS9LHhMyDjZQrIvjU-33qbIOiD9-3ix4-2XKt2Q/s4000/IMG_6700.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6xOAl4j7HH49gVU5ckJKn4FvQjVWZBKBfTiHCklJr3U9lvAej7_yK23tBDJ1i2Q8Zb8l9zXC2NGDawQ68mNG5PGDuDbt-Mu08JLnS9LHhMyDjZQrIvjU-33qbIOiD9-3ix4-2XKt2Q/w400-h300/IMG_6700.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO24kU7k7OBUy1BLAP-5CLSJxp0rgRG3ZkozKO3hoUuEqOSPaqLDMxgwA1hLkKF2rJritj_LIkylfYosQM1syK60YZXk_d_Zeo1I_0KVninpT395DOm0HwDkgYD-uofHuVY5afkgL4Vw/s4000/IMG_6699.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO24kU7k7OBUy1BLAP-5CLSJxp0rgRG3ZkozKO3hoUuEqOSPaqLDMxgwA1hLkKF2rJritj_LIkylfYosQM1syK60YZXk_d_Zeo1I_0KVninpT395DOm0HwDkgYD-uofHuVY5afkgL4Vw/w400-h300/IMG_6699.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Give up? Well, folks this is the 1980 Corvette <i>America</i>, which is simply a Corvette with a couple of more doors added. Good idea? I file it under the category of, just because you can, should you?<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1rxjbX8FBJQlyNX50SYsisOV4YR3jgkAagUgbxBPsuwrFoNUMcGOHFYS0xNRZWkq3zrXWTU5XuT_foiiDlemRQNItq4IOXAx8tM3nwbzxND6WvmqQ1i2JN8CwLGD-5UX4pso2cQKbQ/s700/CA1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="700" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1rxjbX8FBJQlyNX50SYsisOV4YR3jgkAagUgbxBPsuwrFoNUMcGOHFYS0xNRZWkq3zrXWTU5XuT_foiiDlemRQNItq4IOXAx8tM3nwbzxND6WvmqQ1i2JN8CwLGD-5UX4pso2cQKbQ/w400-h246/CA1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtZ9Pr_a8VUO3faVjlbGFW2IUioCJsDfxGy2LdhLMgv-4bO78Pa0fYSidI02ngD4019js0E8BuPWqmACkfIxhXDwhoRE5Myp9D6LvnTCYW7ioLTr6ViSjY2VU-jbTTKvBWJzqQl2_Lw/s789/CA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="789" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtZ9Pr_a8VUO3faVjlbGFW2IUioCJsDfxGy2LdhLMgv-4bO78Pa0fYSidI02ngD4019js0E8BuPWqmACkfIxhXDwhoRE5Myp9D6LvnTCYW7ioLTr6ViSjY2VU-jbTTKvBWJzqQl2_Lw/w400-h235/CA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Whatever you think of this custom jib, it mirrored the 1980's when all sorts of strange vehicle mods hit the streets.</p><p>Now you know what the CMC and I have been up to during these strange times, what have you been doing?</p><p>Until next time......</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-76720786316055319952021-01-06T08:45:00.011-08:002021-01-06T08:48:59.351-08:00Happy New Year?<p> Happy New Year? </p><p>So why the question mark? Used to be I'd be looking forward to the Detroit Auto Show and all the new concepts, but that like so many of these shows is temporarily(?) history. So, now I check online to see the latest reveals. </p><p>Hoping for good things, I cruise my favorite new car info site, <i>Carscoops. </i>Oops, maybe not such a good idea, as laid out before me in all it's ugly glory is the upcoming Toyota Supra roadster.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnJMsI9mZp3UdupMvXj2ApNNzbSeW7Zs3pzVy1VTqP1UHsk3YlCFu_3hV1zEfqheDhlH5zZOBbFOLEHRih9HdjMjaCUKuT2kBEu_QpeKSy9oqj9-EH9CpGBVUtrEqlVfZiIk8RV58aA/s1080/TS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnJMsI9mZp3UdupMvXj2ApNNzbSeW7Zs3pzVy1VTqP1UHsk3YlCFu_3hV1zEfqheDhlH5zZOBbFOLEHRih9HdjMjaCUKuT2kBEu_QpeKSy9oqj9-EH9CpGBVUtrEqlVfZiIk8RV58aA/w400-h225/TS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p> </p><p>Be still my heart? I don't think so, as Toyota has taken their very well reviewed, but gawd awful looking Supra coupe and made it into an even uglier drop top. Yeah, yeah, I know all about, "It's only your opinion.", Barry, but surely my readers have eyes.</p><p>As my well informed readers know, the Supra and the BMW Z4 are the same car, developed in tandem, with each company putting their particular twist on things. What did BMW come up with?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6bdrkrVS6cQiDAibSD5746odKAOpqgLaQ4fwCtCPQNo7MQ83hb1PjHJj12qjNOUpnU90SNK-Dc0Kz2DaHnU7yIPs72Cw1bWaltnXvuWgpX_7iOmsSx1CR2oKOlxGf17bgX-dhwRp0g/s1337/TS1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1337" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6bdrkrVS6cQiDAibSD5746odKAOpqgLaQ4fwCtCPQNo7MQ83hb1PjHJj12qjNOUpnU90SNK-Dc0Kz2DaHnU7yIPs72Cw1bWaltnXvuWgpX_7iOmsSx1CR2oKOlxGf17bgX-dhwRp0g/w400-h266/TS1.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Compare this tastefully done Bimmer to its Toyota cousin and tell me who got it right? Sure, Toyota's styling is on a peculiar roll these days, with each new model, including Lexus, trying to stand out in the worse possible way. Can't they hire some of the Hyundai designers, who are mining gold with each new model?</p><p>It wasn't always this way. Years in the rear view mirror, shows us a very appealing model from the 1980's.......<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjflMx9AgO1UBAfiIWEj7tGNJHbpI9kPyPhpoUQ-f6FAocsmOKmKBe9pssS2SwyIlD2WXANZqy20qF_Rf-QRnB4Ewi6QHZHyrfzlcAwp_ze4Ra14bPJ93maK43IaOFPPEOWLmiLkVVPg/s540/TS3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="540" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjflMx9AgO1UBAfiIWEj7tGNJHbpI9kPyPhpoUQ-f6FAocsmOKmKBe9pssS2SwyIlD2WXANZqy20qF_Rf-QRnB4Ewi6QHZHyrfzlcAwp_ze4Ra14bPJ93maK43IaOFPPEOWLmiLkVVPg/w400-h268/TS3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">......followed up by another model, which cemented the Supra in the hearts of enthusiasts everywhere or at least in most places.......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKUwLP-mFplhtkfteHjQOUQwNcvUeegRW72UpmTh02NEJjyW4omkSf0UI3MQgt0WG16GRsKUoD8ezYH9i8Go9M5jNRV3rlhZlH6pbhtPVPcwxGh9UIYkEdj_j0kIbQQl9qK-AH05d2A/s2048/TS4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1328" data-original-width="2048" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKUwLP-mFplhtkfteHjQOUQwNcvUeegRW72UpmTh02NEJjyW4omkSf0UI3MQgt0WG16GRsKUoD8ezYH9i8Go9M5jNRV3rlhZlH6pbhtPVPcwxGh9UIYkEdj_j0kIbQQl9qK-AH05d2A/w400-h260/TS4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eventually becoming the daring of the <i>Fast & Furious</i> set worldwide.......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLS403tPx_OVUnJP7fckQUeq2hSZ2y2BIP-vV2pDqJLu_cJf4oXuxlblVhigX59mFkK2_ltjc4snAcU7RxCRj9p_A76s9uycBQgXKzhHgSkuYMh01MZmVjBP7I-1qSkMj8qC5GfbB-og/s1100/TS10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1100" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLS403tPx_OVUnJP7fckQUeq2hSZ2y2BIP-vV2pDqJLu_cJf4oXuxlblVhigX59mFkK2_ltjc4snAcU7RxCRj9p_A76s9uycBQgXKzhHgSkuYMh01MZmVjBP7I-1qSkMj8qC5GfbB-og/w400-h320/TS10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even with all the icing on this car, it still out preforms its modern day counterpart in the looks department.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So back to my questioning Happy New Year. Looking forward to great things from the auto world and being beset upon by this latest Supra model. Oh, how things have changed and we can't blame it all on the virus. Or can we? Has some off putting design virus hit those folks at Toyota? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Who knows? But if so, pray for a vaccine.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until next time........<br /></div><p><br /></p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-23264344918284826772020-12-18T08:41:00.005-08:002020-12-18T08:47:29.942-08:00These are a few of my favorite things<p> Yes friendo, it's that time of year again. Christmas? Of course, but I'm referring to those interminable lists, that everyone and their close relatives publish this time of year. Best whatever you can think from the past year. Should I be any different? Well, maybe a little, so my take on those tedious lists will be to simply show you a few of my favorite things.<br /></p><p>Moving right along, this first one is an suv to die for, at least in its looks and at least in my opinion, ever so humble, the Hyundai, oops, Genesis <i>GV70</i>........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIE5aarigQBUGfh6_TPC3_tRk0NtjMF8LsVxi3zkCZ9tXUFwafWWt1ze-JO97ADEXKdpa8DSZ__EmmngzWAsv-bCgirrwPTHMdIdFzr5L-_NHNdaeVOSVWyTZ9MLYJvAr4Ss7NKK4JA/s1654/List4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="1654" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIE5aarigQBUGfh6_TPC3_tRk0NtjMF8LsVxi3zkCZ9tXUFwafWWt1ze-JO97ADEXKdpa8DSZ__EmmngzWAsv-bCgirrwPTHMdIdFzr5L-_NHNdaeVOSVWyTZ9MLYJvAr4Ss7NKK4JA/w400-h228/List4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br />New from a company, that a mere ten years ago would have been laughed off the stage, if anyone suggested that they would be a style leader. An suv with a gorgeous look, that avoids looking like any other suv out there. Sure the Lambo Uris is a stunner, but it's at least six times the <i>GV70</i>'s price. At around $50k-$60k Cdn, this is a luxury suv for everyday people like you and me (well, at least me).</p><p>But as nice as this suv is, it doesn't get the pulse racing like these next few of my favorite things.</p><p>Any Ferrari is a head turner, some more than others, but the new <i>Roma</i> brings tears to this car guy's eyes......</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n44UoLS6cOdbxnpCul72QklyrLkZ4ZzVa0tsACiG0wb5URFkEjAFyv_UV_pZN4FdOPCsDnv5pd50dYCCFixQt8ed0Hh3whc2rcJcv5RE9Hnliv7hw_hrU3TaWHZuCUKD0Bm59p-jVg/s800/List20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n44UoLS6cOdbxnpCul72QklyrLkZ4ZzVa0tsACiG0wb5URFkEjAFyv_UV_pZN4FdOPCsDnv5pd50dYCCFixQt8ed0Hh3whc2rcJcv5RE9Hnliv7hw_hrU3TaWHZuCUKD0Bm59p-jVg/w400-h225/List20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Seeing this beaut is the one time, that I wish I was The Drake. Not when thinking of cleaning his 30,000 square foot tasteless palace, but of having a small portion of his enormous wealth, so this <i>Roma</i> could be in my garage.<p></p><p>But why stop there, now that the new Bentley <i>Bacalar </i>is being seen in production form.......<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXAPfXIbAN-5WHRMPacprW3UwPjXtDeKA1uvXDzcIMPiCz__11NSmlJ7oFuOpXSOPlWDqkJGuZWqoW5FoUCXWDmIUf4yull3bxcyasV7In4S18IZfbb_f_Xn9V6qM0668xNgPYzo_9A/s1200/List1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXAPfXIbAN-5WHRMPacprW3UwPjXtDeKA1uvXDzcIMPiCz__11NSmlJ7oFuOpXSOPlWDqkJGuZWqoW5FoUCXWDmIUf4yull3bxcyasV7In4S18IZfbb_f_Xn9V6qM0668xNgPYzo_9A/w400-h266/List1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></div><p></p><p>A toy for those mega rich folks, that I occasionally (or infrequently) envy, this majestic ride is a mere two million US dollars. Would Bill Gates notice that pittance missing from his bank account? Be the only one on his block to have one of the handful (handful equals 12) being built.</p><p>Long to be a secret agent? If the British government insists on its James Bonds driving Aston Martins, then sign me up. This <i>DB11 </i>tugs at my heart strings every time I see one, which unfortunately is rarely.... <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMgIuc_jazHsCZoHkdo1_SqDTxeu2qCMG2tiNHETxz61jNBniGGRXSclpr9HGDK27yd9z4bZ-MbIyFHlwRDnNWSY2gt5wsodEXPQMDvMxIJN6Av1FOSf0woNLJBe1v3eYiwQ2W4rnIg/s1980/List9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="1980" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMgIuc_jazHsCZoHkdo1_SqDTxeu2qCMG2tiNHETxz61jNBniGGRXSclpr9HGDK27yd9z4bZ-MbIyFHlwRDnNWSY2gt5wsodEXPQMDvMxIJN6Av1FOSf0woNLJBe1v3eYiwQ2W4rnIg/w400-h265/List9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Not a bad line anywhere, except maybe the bottom one.</p><p>Now let's get real and look at one of my favorite things, that most of us could afford........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2rjbnBlDIPvNShjjKnJdIuFEsCQxLs7US18XtJcPk-9iWV33lOkpVUfbn-z2SM6Ay_ufMz2z5TscJcc-37Aqc2RQMf9fkhFfEa31oR4FDMFr6Sfzpg_FNjn7KCcOZILOyDLCBLk7gA/s940/List6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="940" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2rjbnBlDIPvNShjjKnJdIuFEsCQxLs7US18XtJcPk-9iWV33lOkpVUfbn-z2SM6Ay_ufMz2z5TscJcc-37Aqc2RQMf9fkhFfEa31oR4FDMFr6Sfzpg_FNjn7KCcOZILOyDLCBLk7gA/w400-h201/List6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The '60's were a great time for car design and this 1965 Chevy <i>Caprice </i>was to me one of the best. An important point........since it is a four door, its value is lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut (courtesy of some country singer somewhere).</p><p>And finally........ <br /></p><p>.......with apologies to my other little grey fur ball, here is my favorite tabby.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXb6sWlmgM7cqZQnSMSK2by4q_Wh7R4mN1GMIzh1WaTGolLoT5ZihRxKCqkVFoWuGpF4phZGw5yNA5_lPn70mvVs08bwSEZgsmwoBiuDGvoUPS33f8HQ92i7SDRilsXsGwpmA00qLWg/s1600/CMC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXb6sWlmgM7cqZQnSMSK2by4q_Wh7R4mN1GMIzh1WaTGolLoT5ZihRxKCqkVFoWuGpF4phZGw5yNA5_lPn70mvVs08bwSEZgsmwoBiuDGvoUPS33f8HQ92i7SDRilsXsGwpmA00qLWg/w400-h300/CMC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>You got it. No list would be complete without an appearance by that most famous feline, <i>The Car Modelling Cat</i>.
A diligent modeller and helper par excellence. Sure, she sleeps thru
most of our builds, but wakes up for the most important parts. An unbeatable asset.</p><p>My sincerest apologies for succumbing to the list syndrome, but even your humble blogger has a weak moment.</p><p>As I close shop until the new year, my best wishes for you to have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks for reading and stay safe.</p><p>Until next year.........</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-58421670550455330002020-12-09T10:12:00.021-08:002020-12-14T05:12:00.596-08:00Start getting excited!<p> All car people get excited about the next big thing. The anticipation of something new and if possible, different, turns us inside out with joy. Over stating it somewhat, but in these virus times, maybe not by much.</p><p>Once again let's turn to the east or I guess, west, since we are going back to China for more good news. There is a possibility that the company I'm mentioning today will sell their line in Canada. Of course, there is a possibility that the temperature one day in January will hit 20 degrees. Possible, but a long shot.</p><p>Enough with the talk, let's take a look at these break through vehicles that might be coming our way.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MJWkoLL_xC3jXcox2kcXIjhFAVgBlg_2Onjjxrsw93XkJAzeJBd7dPzS396E971pQaMWLSC7MberKeeNcFcqxlhM80r2QOA8xeXfii6qD8534jiVvTQ5KYNFXqJ3lIQip85DU7a8ZA/s1144/H.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1144" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MJWkoLL_xC3jXcox2kcXIjhFAVgBlg_2Onjjxrsw93XkJAzeJBd7dPzS396E971pQaMWLSC7MberKeeNcFcqxlhM80r2QOA8xeXfii6qD8534jiVvTQ5KYNFXqJ3lIQip85DU7a8ZA/w400-h220/H.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Firstly the company is Neuwai, secondly their vehicles are electric. 'Nuff said. The taxi above is Smart car small and is actually a four door version of the two seater below........<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqh1tyB9itwBTJMXrplxi2V2vaevfsarIiN5D2FiYw-xIERDQcVfM1iEF2PzFMl4QxOiVWmUqiRTzh4KmKPx3RswCQdetyWOS4kjUm9qk3o0cOEhvntTkAYuHAvHo6It_81c_09SkVIw/s1280/H10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqh1tyB9itwBTJMXrplxi2V2vaevfsarIiN5D2FiYw-xIERDQcVfM1iEF2PzFMl4QxOiVWmUqiRTzh4KmKPx3RswCQdetyWOS4kjUm9qk3o0cOEhvntTkAYuHAvHo6It_81c_09SkVIw/w400-h225/H10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Maybe some sales in Europe, but even the Smart car hasn't been a runaway sales success there, so put its chances of being in your local Canadian Neuwai dealership as very low, read "zero".</p><p>Moving right along to the volume vehicles, that will make Neuwai's trip to North America worthwhile (tongue firmly in cheek).......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8pd6_f9WS9mJZewbWn8NPTOCTP0hDwcuGUZ0CaRU7WnVtvCqbaYweL5UscCxD4FvNT2k3iFctTXVJYXq0UQcERwkrJ9cVKKy4SL8ENsWUQuXCW9eD2DV4BSf4hmlUxQ6zLQqKO512g/s512/EV2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="512" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8pd6_f9WS9mJZewbWn8NPTOCTP0hDwcuGUZ0CaRU7WnVtvCqbaYweL5UscCxD4FvNT2k3iFctTXVJYXq0UQcERwkrJ9cVKKy4SL8ENsWUQuXCW9eD2DV4BSf4hmlUxQ6zLQqKO512g/w400-h220/EV2.jpg" width="400" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXD5G636GM1TqUeY6HDFDPZXCvMo5yu1Z02uYMMy48YC6SFn1ivEQ2gDUjPuH1-nJCNP4RrAwGAGJWinLK74BCa5qzcfAfG-WIs1tF_r0NmeASl1eL97H43UBYj31gyHkNaLgDWTQWg/s303/H5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="303" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXD5G636GM1TqUeY6HDFDPZXCvMo5yu1Z02uYMMy48YC6SFn1ivEQ2gDUjPuH1-nJCNP4RrAwGAGJWinLK74BCa5qzcfAfG-WIs1tF_r0NmeASl1eL97H43UBYj31gyHkNaLgDWTQWg/w400-h219/H5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><p>My thoughts? The top model, the <i>H1</i>, looks like the 1920's meets the future, stopping along the way to mate with a Fiat Multipla.......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2oc_c4w45XQawoj7KZjRVizfDFwVQdE9QDo8tM5XbBGf_U6dnKfDPfOc5B8qcYgfwzJjw6dS3EkEOYJTAMT3vsDw8sEfp1HRruYJJ2Jadal5aJm1e6KnZcmPOpZSnTltPq4QrUIi-Q/s512/H30.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="512" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2oc_c4w45XQawoj7KZjRVizfDFwVQdE9QDo8tM5XbBGf_U6dnKfDPfOc5B8qcYgfwzJjw6dS3EkEOYJTAMT3vsDw8sEfp1HRruYJJ2Jadal5aJm1e6KnZcmPOpZSnTltPq4QrUIi-Q/w400-h266/H30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The white work truck, the <i>T</i>? Lots of these type of things in the far east and Europe, so why not let them have whatever surplus comes out of the Neuwai factory in the Forbidden Kingdom?</p><p>So you get the idea, that I don't hold out much hope of Neuwai's stock market price going through the roof in anticipation of an intro to our Canadian market. But there is one ray of hope......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsZ4zt2vD-7YW5UkkGZt8n-YjY727fT-UYOsXyKSLuVgaj0oL8nevgUAlgvdeAMSja3H4reooxW1bj__VLXl13cB-s7hQejT3Yv4i1KZd3F__TEYMzoyLSqWhrj-9QbH7sqm8s3hVkg/s512/H3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="512" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsZ4zt2vD-7YW5UkkGZt8n-YjY727fT-UYOsXyKSLuVgaj0oL8nevgUAlgvdeAMSja3H4reooxW1bj__VLXl13cB-s7hQejT3Yv4i1KZd3F__TEYMzoyLSqWhrj-9QbH7sqm8s3hVkg/w320-h300/H3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIC5MTgMdPUYT-dVS-oXVqUfHIKXHoEcwX2rxZzrerWlYKmFpdOJbHQ_SODHM9XNqbRZzY0NvKQT73EnUgkr9ubHGcJYi-RPkDXI1jG5r9Nv1I70vgRW1MZZOpJuppVzKrPErf7isxnQ/s1280/H4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIC5MTgMdPUYT-dVS-oXVqUfHIKXHoEcwX2rxZzrerWlYKmFpdOJbHQ_SODHM9XNqbRZzY0NvKQT73EnUgkr9ubHGcJYi-RPkDXI1jG5r9Nv1I70vgRW1MZZOpJuppVzKrPErf7isxnQ/w400-h225/H4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Possibly, maybe, perhaps.........any of these words might describe the chance for Neuwai's <i>UX602 </i>to make a splash when and a big<i><b> IF</b></i> it reaches our shores.</p><p>But back to the beginning of today's blog. Car people live in anticipation of seeing the next new thing, big or otherwise. So now, when over the Christmas holidays, a friend stops to ask, "What's new?", you'll have an answer (after which they'll probably never ask you again).</p><p>As always, you read it here first.</p><p>Until next time......</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-18902940394280698622020-12-03T09:44:00.002-08:002020-12-03T09:44:33.090-08:00Longing for the good ol' days?<p>Wake up after dreaming of the good ol' days with visions of old 1990's era Chevy Blazers causing your head to spin? Not surprising and I believe you are not the only one, as I bet there are at least a couple of hundred other folks with the same dilemma.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsx3LXoa89vuqq2JYyk1uQM53-4XVm555Ph2oT0sgWqeIGgq7jKESeQDAlj2mPDB8jRvDcsyPTTZ4v3GqVh-1FvP4eUh-TuDHsc4SMd0Z6p0CIANEmVJiKQVagrR4hDpbgIP2iueGvQ/s1664/M8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="1664" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsx3LXoa89vuqq2JYyk1uQM53-4XVm555Ph2oT0sgWqeIGgq7jKESeQDAlj2mPDB8jRvDcsyPTTZ4v3GqVh-1FvP4eUh-TuDHsc4SMd0Z6p0CIANEmVJiKQVagrR4hDpbgIP2iueGvQ/w400-h225/M8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The stuff of dreams or nightmares? Excellent question. Now take a look at this beauty.......<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWp-5zUMYI236iP-oKKb4a2Jhra6n75BF_mJ0Xgm3mceKG5ZHjSXTFb8LQ7SyQVLuOiRifhrNYGYy9VlDYqeRVGaIFo4oSPv9r2NGQMfSsqqgeJR7b9LImPBnOTV8jRhb0Gx73KqRpFA/s1200/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="1200" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWp-5zUMYI236iP-oKKb4a2Jhra6n75BF_mJ0Xgm3mceKG5ZHjSXTFb8LQ7SyQVLuOiRifhrNYGYy9VlDYqeRVGaIFo4oSPv9r2NGQMfSsqqgeJR7b9LImPBnOTV8jRhb0Gx73KqRpFA/w400-h201/M2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Brings back memories of the memorable 1990's, doesn't it? So, what's the catch? Is this some sort of photo shopped image? No sir, this is the 2021 and 2022 <i>Mitsouka Buddy</i>. Ok, let's backtrack for a paragraph or two.</p><p>Quite a while back, I wrote about the Japanese company, Mitsuoka, who put new body panels on mainstream Japanese cars, in order to make them look like something else. Maybe something desirable, but rather costly. Who could forget these two aspirational cars......</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBRDw6yZ8omn7sqkZUeiZugWfyl1J2H3oIUdgWig-1G0n7-QeaKnTZQMG2SLN2ztBbArI8gKDkoqexlOunlBx87zIkPXqpeCTeI4QNx0ltpIEbBGEFHDothVWVfyStDcfz8L6mdXmag/s640/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBRDw6yZ8omn7sqkZUeiZugWfyl1J2H3oIUdgWig-1G0n7-QeaKnTZQMG2SLN2ztBbArI8gKDkoqexlOunlBx87zIkPXqpeCTeI4QNx0ltpIEbBGEFHDothVWVfyStDcfz8L6mdXmag/w400-h200/M1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjfoWDVE2HiaT_puS-HtEDYYwApavT-6DdlHQvEdWXgtqbREKwMopnqUt5H6Z20jlparaCgZxBjnfTz0-ZkZZSQQnwu6jp_i2YeoKi1LtiR3h1dyZiFaw8oB6_4ddvj1Sw8kTyYyRQA/s640/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjfoWDVE2HiaT_puS-HtEDYYwApavT-6DdlHQvEdWXgtqbREKwMopnqUt5H6Z20jlparaCgZxBjnfTz0-ZkZZSQQnwu6jp_i2YeoKi1LtiR3h1dyZiFaw8oB6_4ddvj1Sw8kTyYyRQA/w400-h200/M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The blue roadster is a make believe 1960's Corvette conjured up from a humble Mazda Miata. The want-a-be high roller mobile features an iconic Bentley grille grafted on to a humble Nissan Altima. Make like you are The Donald without spending the coin or being an insufferable, narcissistic bore. <br /></p><p>Apparently there is a strong market in the Land of the Rising Sun for Mitsuoka's creations. The <i>Buddy</i> sold out its production for the next two years in only four(!) days. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6HYt3qdbm18NfMuYybYkvofiyIt4391L3hyphenhyphenAlbgec-ATKGyAfdInQOsSYSHYTv9Gh2u_SNcYpNCkugOid_LskhxQR86GfZjm0MLqJ9gszARavWHamascvQcHyzbT6U4bZcjhMqZZYg/s900/M5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="900" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6HYt3qdbm18NfMuYybYkvofiyIt4391L3hyphenhyphenAlbgec-ATKGyAfdInQOsSYSHYTv9Gh2u_SNcYpNCkugOid_LskhxQR86GfZjm0MLqJ9gszARavWHamascvQcHyzbT6U4bZcjhMqZZYg/w400-h265/M5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmL0_x35dFlSJY4DuiZP95cxp-yjmzIe3xJG84jjRf-wMMzPyhFU-I0hrmrxPPl0-7i1TdVRUBs009i5363lCKJ2MZf2D3uSsxzk8vEUh9i5Da37Y_9IuUXALhAnjM77nZEM8yOcVlg/s1024/M6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="1024" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmL0_x35dFlSJY4DuiZP95cxp-yjmzIe3xJG84jjRf-wMMzPyhFU-I0hrmrxPPl0-7i1TdVRUBs009i5363lCKJ2MZf2D3uSsxzk8vEUh9i5Da37Y_9IuUXALhAnjM77nZEM8yOcVlg/w400-h228/M6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Of course, Mitsuoka is only going to make 200 copies over the next two years, so liars figure and figures lie. You know the deal.</p><p>Does the starting point of this unusual transformation look familiar? It should, as it is that perennial best seller, the Toyota Rav4. Already have one, but lust after that 1990's Chevy look <i>and</i> who doesn't? Simply cough up about $20,000 US and you too can cruise down memory lane with your <i>Mitsuoka Buddy. </i>Oh, I forgot, like I already mentioned, they are totally sold out. Sorry!<br /></p><p>Any guesses to what Mitsuoka might come up with next? Dream big and pay small. What a deal!<br /></p><p>Until next time......</p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-89796350519509810452020-11-25T07:06:00.004-08:002020-11-25T07:13:05.157-08:00A toast to affluence<p>Let's make a toast to affluence...........</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxbrF-prXSd9L4d2BFERG_oXf5GN_XYZwvJsZrMTHloP70Oqfg_CBhL7tdSglwu-itsRBSjK3tRFVxgwL9ry7_MoVoJamd3TBIW9O3wTf9lwn5HBwGOJ8Tun2RZm40oGUgumVAn3RSQ/s960/MB7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxbrF-prXSd9L4d2BFERG_oXf5GN_XYZwvJsZrMTHloP70Oqfg_CBhL7tdSglwu-itsRBSjK3tRFVxgwL9ry7_MoVoJamd3TBIW9O3wTf9lwn5HBwGOJ8Tun2RZm40oGUgumVAn3RSQ/s320/MB7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Sit back in those ultra cozy, baby bottom soft, fully reclining, Nappa leather seats. You know, those heated and cooled ones, with the calf massaging feature. Now that is luxury. And while those calves are getting that oh, so soothing massage, pick up the pad on the rear console and from this lap of luxury use it to control EVERY feature in your chauffeur driven land yacht.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hORPcwATuarI17qUVEvPKOtzmq1yca7sRdZuA1Mi-6Lka5dYSfo0btwHfNC-hfiwM3gfjI9G4pJ6wFifn_83duXzJ92Nz1aaBLwtUe1D9DbXGvh-CDdJkpjf1lYIUjR9udfrbye3XA/s940/MB4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="940" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hORPcwATuarI17qUVEvPKOtzmq1yca7sRdZuA1Mi-6Lka5dYSfo0btwHfNC-hfiwM3gfjI9G4pJ6wFifn_83duXzJ92Nz1aaBLwtUe1D9DbXGvh-CDdJkpjf1lYIUjR9udfrbye3XA/w400-h266/MB4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>What is this luxo barge, that has these wonderful features, that mere mortals like myself can never even hope to aspire to, unless those lotto tickets, that I refuse to buy, finally ring my bell?</p><p>Ah yes, that ultimate of Mercedes, the <i>Maybach</i>......<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7J0c_J4yZ38wZpRQ5VQYGpeVEbmWEiNVdn8nOhm2DpmGW4M4ZQhbM9BzlDUDIL48DKLaRcVwTuBEos2VYrm0oC5DSB1IkaOlQHPcscNVHPOTW_iIhBL4VZ8EqgwE9zI0PH-gXoUUWEA/s2048/MB6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="2048" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7J0c_J4yZ38wZpRQ5VQYGpeVEbmWEiNVdn8nOhm2DpmGW4M4ZQhbM9BzlDUDIL48DKLaRcVwTuBEos2VYrm0oC5DSB1IkaOlQHPcscNVHPOTW_iIhBL4VZ8EqgwE9zI0PH-gXoUUWEA/w411-h249/MB6.jpg" width="411" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37euuKZovcFcpyi6IsypT9_PTIljT_ig_eJ9UXtulooGz4LSxeYEzJGn4q4w9ugP0N5t_zFLf-8E6ZnAMksWQMXQMdVPcVbTTJ8m3SHzUkeXsueaO1y2iqTOGvireQKMtQE7AoDF1Gw/s980/MB2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="980" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37euuKZovcFcpyi6IsypT9_PTIljT_ig_eJ9UXtulooGz4LSxeYEzJGn4q4w9ugP0N5t_zFLf-8E6ZnAMksWQMXQMdVPcVbTTJ8m3SHzUkeXsueaO1y2iqTOGvireQKMtQE7AoDF1Gw/w447-h236/MB2.jpg" width="447" /></a></div><p></p><p>About twenty years ago, Mercedes decided to dredge up the famous old <i>Maybach</i> name, last used in the 1930's for an impressive ride, that stood out in the Black Forest and among the castles along the Rhine. Yes sir, it fit right in.........<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B7nTCg8ckeYxoahmhLdbBEg-uWCoB12SRPwJTxPA0o_iFyQIrupQc48iCqg-16QFpsJLJTB7G1acBb9HXJta5bDEoMaro15VMYw-a5xpA90LG5gcPoeL_j7NC-geSgPBPu3pvt9YLQ/s1024/MB20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B7nTCg8ckeYxoahmhLdbBEg-uWCoB12SRPwJTxPA0o_iFyQIrupQc48iCqg-16QFpsJLJTB7G1acBb9HXJta5bDEoMaro15VMYw-a5xpA90LG5gcPoeL_j7NC-geSgPBPu3pvt9YLQ/w400-h300/MB20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>In the early 2000's Benz slapped that name on a hoped for Rolls-Royce rival. Problem? While the
Rolls had the look, the <i>Maybach</i> had styling so subtle, that even the most
informed car person could miss it in an empty parking lot. Sales were as
dismal as one might expect. Finally it was given the axe. </p><p>Realizing that the actual name <i>Maybach</i>, still had some sort of cache', Benz decided to bring it back as a <i>ne plus ultra</i> version of the S Class, itself a pretty impressive carriage. Make some changes, like a longer wheelbase to give those back seat owners tons of leg room. Add those valued extras like a thirty(!) speaker sound system, massaging calf seats and power rear doors (opening and closing the door yourself is so yesterday). Jack the price up into Bentley territory (slightly under $300k) and give it a go. It worked!</p><p>Add a few exclusive colours, ten two tones and then stand back and take orders. Oh, one thing before you open that order book. Be sure to let your wealthy clientele know, that those very nice two tones will add $15,000 CDN to their bill. Who cares, you ask? Probably no one considering this model.</p><p>Not a sedan buyer? Be patient as this GLS based suv is also coming soon........<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPpAbe0R5aCdAIwpTwXhoIZ8QG0ygiY0FHN2xsEQNcGX5r8XUQhx_HL3buweye29mIBrSccsyjKNdpt_rPdOM7Is5UwyKyfG2rEndq8FkTU-ApTR3Ue6nWC5JJ8c2C0ucuyEgMNW3jQ/s1075/MB22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="1075" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPpAbe0R5aCdAIwpTwXhoIZ8QG0ygiY0FHN2xsEQNcGX5r8XUQhx_HL3buweye29mIBrSccsyjKNdpt_rPdOM7Is5UwyKyfG2rEndq8FkTU-ApTR3Ue6nWC5JJ8c2C0ucuyEgMNW3jQ/w400-h140/MB22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqFxhprSkjZDCpSrcHUjfWqNBdGgWiP0_WUtBkAcmiSshxAQn-yaiS3Gs7oDs9meEDx_HVYtW6qdTrmhUaK9ComQ_L73vYbTlgIz9dTx2PoOtaHiCoLX5DCqNjEFn8GZZ-bJtsv-VEw/s640/MB21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqFxhprSkjZDCpSrcHUjfWqNBdGgWiP0_WUtBkAcmiSshxAQn-yaiS3Gs7oDs9meEDx_HVYtW6qdTrmhUaK9ComQ_L73vYbTlgIz9dTx2PoOtaHiCoLX5DCqNjEFn8GZZ-bJtsv-VEw/w400-h300/MB21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Same thing applies to this model as the sedan, if you have to ask the coin needed for the entrance fee, then please don't slam the door as you leave the dealership.</p><p>Sure the <i>Maybach</i> is subtle. Watch out for that front end, also a longer looking S Class body. If all else fails, read the dam name on the back.........</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwh-MrGaG58nGZol0eSSDuqoE6rirQxytojGmrj4zGtNstO__EALQa_Xlto_6tbvicaHZjHiBZF8wlpqpi-XUZFP0zsqcT4icezLoHa_zT3uMjAM5HY4v7WD7rckw-7N4vX1FVu04Mw/s600/MB30.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwh-MrGaG58nGZol0eSSDuqoE6rirQxytojGmrj4zGtNstO__EALQa_Xlto_6tbvicaHZjHiBZF8wlpqpi-XUZFP0zsqcT4icezLoHa_zT3uMjAM5HY4v7WD7rckw-7N4vX1FVu04Mw/w400-h300/MB30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>.......and know how your fellow driver spends their money.</p><p>Until next time.........<br /></p><p><br /></p>Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61758793263095969.post-79511313007014686852020-11-18T07:45:00.003-08:002020-11-18T07:49:02.310-08:00Above all else, make it noticeable<p>When BMW decided to get into the EV business, they did so with this funny little gnome of a car, the i3.........<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7l-YQjHU8ui1UvICup_w1uA9kVegVodhIav_HDSjJIdpPHp9zICZjuYoz6K_RQ00leVjFoBjvRx9C77nH3SZNYYZZWYyjZyIxis1J6dTmFBZfzn2rgIn0NqZhae_LVyzLV-yhue6DQ/s1062/X5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1062" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7l-YQjHU8ui1UvICup_w1uA9kVegVodhIav_HDSjJIdpPHp9zICZjuYoz6K_RQ00leVjFoBjvRx9C77nH3SZNYYZZWYyjZyIxis1J6dTmFBZfzn2rgIn0NqZhae_LVyzLV-yhue6DQ/w400-h265/X5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Strange looking in every way. I'm distressed to say, that when my wife saw one for the first time, <i>she liked it! </i>I have learned to live that down and accept that my exquisite taste in cars, is not always shared by others. BMW obviously wanted to have their EV noticed, much like Toyota's hybrid, the Prius. Like it or hate it, it's a Prius and it gets noticed. Selling from a stripper model at $47,000 CDN to a loaded up one at $69,000, the i3 impressed few and it has quietly been pulled from BMW's EV table.<p></p><p>Another Bimmer EV, the i8, that was intro'd at the same time has suffered a similar fate........<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzYPpsFTzXYq0oK8oVr9KZmWHNTKqxPyWxFqlLh4dvXDX1pcpTOJpcUqCUlb7tl42t2q7NHo5TTLGaEJ589NkhHVRoZ8WpdaAygu_nLDpDpt9b3K0rNey0HvyyW0B6GkxSOkjkP1jsw/s890/X10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="890" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzYPpsFTzXYq0oK8oVr9KZmWHNTKqxPyWxFqlLh4dvXDX1pcpTOJpcUqCUlb7tl42t2q7NHo5TTLGaEJ589NkhHVRoZ8WpdaAygu_nLDpDpt9b3K0rNey0HvyyW0B6GkxSOkjkP1jsw/w400-h225/X10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Although totally different cars, both of these shared one common element, the "<i>Hey, look at me!</i>" factor. A bit pricier than the i3, this one topped out just shy of $200 large. <br /></p><p>Obviously BMW has this thing about their EV's standing out from the crowd. From the past to the present and the just unveiled iX..........<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzL6siGKBGMZWcg5emEqLsjDLM-Rk2BBvhOwO7KMYg0Z3K7-1o4OkjO2dyeiA6yN4YfGwKlRgfc84KRmA4FBn38p4lru3K19PU0rEBZcy8SnXBYCAlcf8KC7tdXIIQp9xR70cIkVItNg/s815/X.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="815" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzL6siGKBGMZWcg5emEqLsjDLM-Rk2BBvhOwO7KMYg0Z3K7-1o4OkjO2dyeiA6yN4YfGwKlRgfc84KRmA4FBn38p4lru3K19PU0rEBZcy8SnXBYCAlcf8KC7tdXIIQp9xR70cIkVItNg/w400-h268/X.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzBGbAcGmXGELzqxjtPspL8HAVQ3_7wYAWIY9H8QgLaNZLyVInL7GqLSbbVY9q_zN2UxmL6lM395f6drbdABP7_RViw4gCXLKuD8ImCphgQE3TbDAmB-GSK76Qd1iRgPDDN7bU_azgA/s1200/X4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzBGbAcGmXGELzqxjtPspL8HAVQ3_7wYAWIY9H8QgLaNZLyVInL7GqLSbbVY9q_zN2UxmL6lM395f6drbdABP7_RViw4gCXLKuD8ImCphgQE3TbDAmB-GSK76Qd1iRgPDDN7bU_azgA/w400-h266/X4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Less objectionable style-wise than those earlier EV's, but still a BMW that really doesn't want to look at itself in a mirror, at least not from the front. I guess like many oddities, this one will look better as time goes by. I still hesitate to embrace that new Bimmer grille, but here it is not the stylist's worse nightmare. Not as scary as on the new coupes.</p><p>The interior....... <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbpZGupMO7T5SJkLxyQLpguw1u5PSviwablXqU_I9KFSQENBY8KN4kYF19u7c7T1W0YdYv9k3lKikgquIUaJLlJ4cxwBSOTOXD7u-CnpdHRE6Qg_gXQO0BPaHuGFPZATA_fBFnCqqkw/s800/X2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbpZGupMO7T5SJkLxyQLpguw1u5PSviwablXqU_I9KFSQENBY8KN4kYF19u7c7T1W0YdYv9k3lKikgquIUaJLlJ4cxwBSOTOXD7u-CnpdHRE6Qg_gXQO0BPaHuGFPZATA_fBFnCqqkw/w400-h225/X2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Like with many of the new EV's, the dash is simplistic and loaded with those multiple screens, that are becoming the EV norm.</p><p>Price? Well, this model is a ways time-wise from local driveways, but let's just say there won't be much change from a $100,000 bank draft.</p><p>Be noticed while saving money at the pumps. Call your local BMW dealer and stand out in more than one way.</p><p>Until next time......<br /></p><br />Barry (the Carguy) Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17466068688127118144noreply@blogger.com0