March 26: It's the cops!

Relax, it's not the cops, it's only the beloved CMC, aka The Car Modeling Cat, at it again and this time with a couple of county sheriff's cars. As always, the little dear does her research to ensure that our models will be life-like and authentic........

She and I like building police cars and usually try to replicate a specific agency's cars, but sometimes we'll do an accurate representation of what could have been back in the day, but with no particular department in mind. Today we present two 1957 patrol cars, a Chevy and a Ford, from a California county sheriff's department.......

Similar but different, as that is usually the case with police cars. Whereas the Ford has one roof mounted red light and a hood mounted siren, the Chevy has two hood mounted red beacons (stop or else?) and a behind the grille siren (testing out what would become commonplace within a year or two). Both sport rear antennae and similar markings.

As per the highway patrol and many of the sheriffs' departments in California, both of these cruisers feature big for their time motors. The Ford runs a Police Interceptor, while the Chevy has the famous in its day, fuel injected 283 (checkout the markings proudly worn on the front fender). Speeders beware, as not much would be quicker than these two cop cars back in the day.

As always the CMC and I strive for accuracy in our builds and of course, even these fictitious cop cars are no exception. Prove it, you say? Happy to oblige........

Need I say more? Probably not and unusual for me, I won't.

That time again. The time to get pay back for beavering away industriously for the past few months and since it is cold outside, that means a southern holiday, specifically Mexico, one of our favorite hot spots. Back again with keyboard in hand on Tuesday, April 10th.

Until next time......

March 23: Sold out!

Take a close look at this logo. Memorize it? I wouldn't bother, as it's not likely that you'll ever see it while trolling the Walmart lot for a parking space. As an interested car person, it might be handy to use to start a conversation at the next Octoberfest event. The beer flows and the conversation lags, and then you drop this on an unsuspecting but attentive audience.

Our suv loving populace is always looking for ways to stand out from the crowd with their CR-V's, Explorers and even Escalades. Well friendo, with a Karlmann King, you'll stand out more than a rhino at a dog show. More than an exotic dancer at a seniors' home. More than a polish sausage at a vegan's lunch. More than........need I go on?

No sir, with a KK, you'll be the only one, in probably the entire country. So let's see this new standout.........

Another subscriber to the origami school of design, but all the better to deflect the slings arrows of those less fortunate souls in their Bentley and Lamborghini sport utes. Even with a custom paint job, those other pretenders to the suv throne can't hold a candle to the exclusivity of a Karlmann King. Coming out of China at a top speed of 87 mph or 140 kph, this ten of a kind will set you back the price of a nice sized house in my hometown of Toronto. Can't read the fine print in the top pic, ok, let me spell it out for you........$1,850,000 USD. Want to know what that translates to in your currency? Sold out!

This is no mere ugly off roader. No sir, this behemoth is fully armoured (remember those slings and arrows?), so to protect its owner during the next revolution.

A few amenities? Love that carpet. Let's see what Weathertech has to protect this baby.

Fancy something, let's say a touch more utilitarian? But still opulent enough to impress the locals should they get their dirty little nosy noses inside your throne on run flats........

Maybe offer them a Stella while you guzzle your Dom?

Sadly those few Karlmann Kings are sold out. Wondering who might buy such a conveyance? Wonder where the Chinese manufacturer showed this new ride? A picture is worth a thousand words.......

Until next time......

March 20: Not another flying car?

Since forever man has wanted to fly. More than anything he has wanted to be like a bird. He's dreamed about this for years. Never read about ancient man wanting to drive. No, nothing but wanting to soar like an eagle. So along comes Karl Benz and makes the first car. Now what does man think about? You got it, he wants his car to fly like a bird. Some dreams never die, although a few people have trying to make those dreams live.

I could spend the next month blogging about failed efforts to make the flying car dream come true, but ending up with a nightmare.

The flying car. Always a fun topic and quite enjoyable shooting holes in other peoples dreams, at least the car in the air ones. So last week at the Geneva show, what shows up, but the latest effort. Hey, these things get better all the time and this one might actually be a success, but those dreams of everyone buzzing thru the sky avoiding all the other winged marvels isn't something I'll see in my lifetime.

Behold the PAL-V Liberty..........

Priced a little higher than a new Rolls Phantom, but with none of that luxury brand's earth bound restraints. And when all your three friends want to go with you, pretty hard to turn them down with the Rolls. Not a problem with the PAL-V Liberty, as it only has room for one other high flyer. Got the money, then picture yourself sitting behind the wheel of this flying car........

This thing is more techie than The Donald's hair. Feeling nervous? Relax, since when you take delivery, you also get flying lessons, as you actually have to have a pilot's licence before you can leave the ground.

Leave your troubles behind you (or below you), as you soar over 10,000 feet (3500 metres) above the crowds at speeds up to 180 kph.

Your only care will be where to park when you land or maybe avoiding that Boeing 777 coming up behind you. Mere trifles when you are cruising in your very own PAL-V Liberty.

Going to the cottage? Your life is filled with choices, now that you are no longer tied to the ground......

Drive or fly, the possibilities are almost endless. No more traffic jam headaches, simply push a few buttons, rev those engines and away you go, not having to gas up until you are 500 kms away.......

And all along you thought the Dutch were only famous for their wooden shoes. Add another break through to your list of their accomplishments. But thanks to those Dutch dreams, what had seemed but a mere fantasy for many, many years now will be our new reality. A new reality, of course, if you have more money than Midas or have found pirate treasure. So laugh at those old magazine covers. They actually did see the future, although it might have taken longer than they thought......

And take it from me, it will take even longer.

Until next time......

March 16: Filling another niche - the AMG GT Coupe'

Seems perfect, right? Going balls out around your local track in your gift to yourself, a Mercedes-Benz AMG GT. Quality time with the most important person in your life. Wonderful, but way at the back of your mind is that niggling bit of guilt about leaving the family behind on this beautiful day, while you selfishly indulge your inner Lewis Hamilton fantasies. What to do? What to do? Buy the wife another Louis Vuitton handbag? The kids another computer game?

Fear not, since this is Mercedes-Benz we are talking about, the niche filler extraordinaire and they have heard your prayer. Round the corner of your mansion with your loving wife, the kidlings in tow and thrill them with the knowledge, that they'll soon be spending more time with the man they adore..........

Yes sir, your dream of expanding quality time with your family is about to come true, since at last week's Geneva auto show, M-B dropped another hot rod on an unsuspecting public. I mean, who comes up with these ideas? Who thought a four door AMG GT was needed to complete the line? Who started this thought process?

Going way back, someone thought a four door Vette would fly........

We all know how well that went over, but to be fair, this was a handcrafted effort by an aftermarket supplier and only a few ever saw the light of day. Also, it was back in the time when a 10 second 0-60 time was considered a feat, so maybe not enough power to pull those extra bodies. Maybe they'd have better luck with the new one........

And surely Benz wasn't thinking about the Porsche Panamera, when they were planning their family hot ride......

Not really a 911 sedan, just an unusual four door with Porsche styling cues. Capable, but no 911 hunter.

Ferrari has also tweaked us with this modern day family car..........

Nice, but they'd rather spend their developmental dollars on an upcoming suv. Maybe after that one starts outselling the rest of the Ferrari line (shortly after introduction, no doubt) will they drop a four door on us. Those holding their breathe better start making funeral arrangements.

Now back to Mercedes and our family man looking to make the most of his spare time with his loving family. So, everyone grab your helmet, as this ain't no Gran Turismo video game. This is real life and daddy knows how to make all the right moves........

With up to 630 hp and 195 mph Father's Day will never be the same. And all thanks to those niche fillers at Mercedes-Benz.

Until next time.......

March 13: A sign of Spring

If you think that a sure sign of Spring is a slightly underweight robin searching for a recently woken up worm, then you are reading the wrong blog, Bucko. The real first sign of Spring is the custom and hot rod show, in this case the Motorama held last week in Toronto. Loaded with famous customs, hot rods and race cars, this show gets us ready for those warm Summer days and nights - the smell of burning rubber and the displays of pristine old cars. Examples, please, from the old style classics to the fire breathing hot rods.........

Ah, yes, nothing says Spring and Summer like an old Willys from the '30's running some sort of blown motor capable of terrifying grannies and young kids. Not scary enough, you say? Then add a dollop of beautifully painted flames to the front end, just in case the giant blower sticking up thru the hood is a bit too subtle. Run this beast down your local dragstrip and post a number.

Powerful, yes, but want to talk real power? Power that wins races between equally wild competitors?

Ok, I feel your need. Ever heard of Drag Week? Neither had I. Simple concept. Run your car at five US dragstrips over six days and whoever has the bestoverall times wins. Easy? Not so fast. The cars in the top class have close to 3000 HP and quarter mile time slips around six and a half seconds at over 200 MPH. Serious speed. Hardly a street car, but to win this contest the car has to be driven over 1000 miles (1600 kms for us Canucks) between the tracks and has to tow a trailer. Now that is a challenge and here is the 2017 winner........

Local boy makes good, as the winner is from Toronto. Want to know what kind of coin it takes to field a car like this? Well, if you have to ask........

And speaking of Corvettes, check out this show winner from Iowa......

Almost stock looking, but you had to see the paint in real life to appreciate its beauty. One of those finishes that is so deep you can't see the bottom.

And of course, lots of local oval track racers.......

.....but they never have the gorgeous finishes of the drag cars and with good reason, which is bumpin' & bangin'. Whereas these three will never or should never touch another competitor.........

Pick what pleases you and with any luck you can spend fifteen or twenty minutes chatting with the owner......

Me? I love the new nostalgia funny cars. Oxymoron? Not really, as these are new versions of old funny cars from the late '60's early '70's. This is a knock off of the Jungle Jim (Google it) cars that were so famous back in the day. I chatted with the owner about his funny car for far longer than he wants to remember. Are you kidding, I made his day!

My favorite standout of the Motorama? Something different and oh so cool........

Now I ask you, when was the last time (or the first time), you saw an custom ramp truck with an early '30's hot rod riding on its back? One of the best pieces on display.

How much patience do you have? I've got dozens more pics, but for the sake of your sanity, I picked these few to show.

Like car shows, but not interested in what you can find in any local showroom? Then a Motorama type show is right up your alley. Every March and a sure sign of Spring.

Until next time......

March 9: Less for more - the new Range Rover SV Coupe

 Someone thought that this was a great idea. Take the swoopy Land Rover Evoque suv and offer it as a two door coupe to go along with the regular and expected four door. Let people know you don't have any friends or if you do, make them work to ride with you. There's some logic to this as suvs, including Land Rovers started out as two doors and had the four doors added as families wanted the versatility of this type of vehicle. Of course that was years before this Evoque appeared and market trends had changed. Good college try, but at over $5000 more than the four door, this Evoque found few takers. I think I saw my first one last week and they've been out of the line for several years.

More history...........when Land Rover decided to offer a bigger and more civilized suv for all those very British gentlemen sheep farmers, they only made it as a two door........

.....but as demand grew, so did the Range Rover and those extra doors were added, along with a touch of prestige, as this became the country estate ride of the royal family.........

What better way for Liz and Phil to cruise their innumerable acres than from a high perch in a Range Rover. Wellingtons and a tweed jacket were popular options among the Downton Abbey set.

Flash forward to today, where the Land Rover line reeks of money. The product mix covers everything from want-a-be's to those with real money, as the SVA Dynamic model sells for just over $200k CDN. Never a shortage of fat wallets lining up for any new Land Rover when it hits the showroom floor. Time to rethink the coupe idea? Apparently so, as the Geneva auto show this week saw the unveiling of a new Range Rover model, the SV Coupe (as in a real coupe with two doors)........

And in Land Rover tradition, when two doors are removed the price goes up and up and up. How far? Way up into nose bleed territory. But this is a very special two door. Only 999 will be built and only those with royal aspirations need apply, since the starting price before the sheep shearing option will be $295,000 US dollars! Take a deep breath folks, as that is very serious money.

Trying to start a new trend? Check out that gorgeous interior. Yes, even the back seat passengers are coddled like royalty, but notice anything unusual? You got it, those back seats are a different colour leather.

Not exactly a Ripley's moment, but strange nonetheless. Watch for it in Corollas ten years from now.

Priced like a Bentley, interior like a Rolls, exclusivity like a Ferrari. Want to bet they'll be sold out by the time you finish reading this blog?

Until next time.......

March 6: It's about time

Holy conundrum, Batman, how in the world do we redesign a box and make it look the same?

This must have been the dilemma facing those overworked designers at Mercedes Benz, when Dieter Zetsche left a post-it note on their desks, saying after nearly forty years it's time to redesign the classic, dare I say, iconic G Class. Change it completely and make it look exactly the same. Whoa Nelly, now that is a tall order. But hand it to those hard working Swabians, they were able to turn this.......

2010 G Class

......into this.........

2018 G Class

......and still have time for a bratwurst lunch down by the river. I guess the threat of being fired and having to work at BMW lights a fire in any person. Check out that slogan, Stronger than Time. Which means exactly what?

Way back forty years ago, the G Class was started as the Gelandewagen, a rough and tough Land Rover competitor made initially for the German military.

But as always, as things moved along, things changed. It was also offered in a civilian version, then another couple of doors were added. Then as the suv kool-aid was drunk by the Americans, the demand for anything remotely resembling a tough 4x4 was fawned over by those "too wealthy to care" folks. Add some nice rims, an interior to die for and a way too powerful motor (available 621 HP V12). And, of course, a price in nose bleed territory for most of us (starting at $160k Cdn). Voila', the suv of your dreams.

Non military interior

And the suv lusted after by those fashionistas who have more money than good taste.......

Oh, the shame for such a noble beast. How do you think a G Class would prefer to spend its time? Protecting its countrymen...........

.....or doing the town?

Either way this money maker for Mercedes has been overhauled from stem to stern, in other words completely. Kept the name, changed everything else. Made to look exactly the same. Clever. Sadly I won't be around for its next major redo in 2058, but if Mercedes thinks the way they did this time, then we've already seen it.

What icon is next due for a redesign? I know for a fact it's this Land Rover Defender.......

Any suggestions?

Until next time......