July 28: The Great Pause

So what did you do to keep busy while the world shut down? Took a trip? Not likely. Called a few friends? Probably. Read a bit? Yep. Went for walks? Yes. Watched tons of Netflix? Definitely. Did some baking? Maybe. Cruised the net? Of course.

And if you are fortunate to have an engaging hobby, this was a great time to spend quality time working on a few new projects.

Me? You know I'm your Car Guy and my hobby is building models of all those great cars, that I'd like to have in my garage or that I find interesting.  A quick look at one of my walls of shelves shows you that there are a lot of good ol' American cars that I'd like to own and drive. Call me the Jay Leno of model cars. Jay has hundreds of the real thing, worth millions, but I have hundreds of 1/24th scale replicas worth_____? Who knows, but they won't amount to an early retirement.

And yes, I did all those other activities that I list above, but with the models, my buddy, the Car Modelling Cat (CMC) and I, built or rebuilt several. Rebuilt? I've been working this hobby for years, but most of the models I built eons ago, were done to my skill level of that time (give me a 3 out of 10). So I take the old model apart (most come apart easily), repaint them, chrome them up, add details where necessary and viola, a restored classic looking like the day a proud owner drove it off of the showroom floor.

Here she is, the darling little CMC, looking over many of the models we worked on during that too long pause. A mixture of old and new, but they include a couple of state police cars, a '65 Caddy, a '60 Valiant and a '63 Mercury...........

 Like anything, some were easier to pull apart and redo than others and one, we are still working on, is agonizing, because it simply won't give in to our deconstruction efforts. Oh well.

Here's an example of a toughy..........

When first built, I was a mere pup and I gave this 1963 Pontiac Bonneville a lousy paint job, so this time around we had to remove it, which was not an easy task. Compare it to the real thing........

Not a bad job under the circumstances and a definite improvement over a much younger Barry's 1963 effort. Although hard to see, our model even has the gold Bonneville lettering on the grille and side trim.

Let's hope our leaders get it right and we can eliminate this dam virus. Hope that we don't have to go into another long pause and shut down. If we do, how are you going to spend your days?

Until next time........

July 22: A new contender!

The Hummer H2 is dead. Long live the Hummer H2! 

But how could this be? Easy, if you are an Estonian company with a desire to serve the needs of all those needy folks (with copious amounts of coins), who want and need something, that almost no one else has. Something like this Dartz Black Stallion, based on the gone and forgotten H2........

 

And yes, of course it is armoured. Just what any sane individual needs, along with an interior that would put any standard H2 to shame. In case you were wondering, the alligator (crocodile?) trim on the dash is extra.

Impressed? Well you should be.

Here is the mission statement of the Dartz company.......Bullet proof opulence trusted by billionaires, tzars, superstars, generals and dictator (sic) since 1869. So obviously their products were not always based on the Hummer, any Hummer. Or, they have a sense of humour. Either way, their products make a statement that is hard to ignore.

But, if you feel, that your new ride may be ignored, upgrade to the Aladeen Edition's chromed plated tackiness........

With its interior of buttery soft, cheese coloured leather. A Saudi prince's dream ride, for sure.

Like the idea of a Black Stallion, but with the added benefit of the see and be seen rear quarters, then the Royal Landaulet is your kind of ride.......

Time to talk dollars and sense, well at least dollars. Check under those sofa cushions and vending machines for any loose change, Bucko, because you'll need it. These creations range from around $500,000 to $800,000 Cdn before the lizard hide gets added to your instrument panel. And to think you berated your neighbour for spending so much on his H2 a few years back.

Show up at Dartz with cheque in hand and a little imagination. Let them create some concoction just for you. And at less than a million per, your $ will be well spent and you'll get a ride as rare and distinctive as the Bugatti you also own. But that cost over $3 million. A penny saved, etc.

Until next time.......

July 13: Tractor power

 What is it about tractors that makes these companies (at least two of them) want to build high powered, high priced sports cars?

Today's pop quiz.......what are those two companies? Give up? Aston Martin and Lamborghini. Is it any surprise about Lambo, when you peruse the sleek farmyard friendly lines of this blue and orange original. Imagine the pigs squealing in delight, as this looker chugged into view.

Yes, good ol' Lamborghini, whose cars have usually been a bit over the top. Not the smooth lines of a Ferrari, but lines that would cut your throat if given the chance. No wonder Car & Driver chose to pose this vision in black with a Countach for a cover way back when.........

 

Was there a car kid anywhere, back in the day, who didn't have a Countach poster on their bedroom wall? Or at least that magazine cover, which covered two basic teenage needs? Which finally brings me to today's topic.

Although always in your face, the latest Lambo harkens back to those Countach days, so time to start printing up wall posters for car kids everywhere. Behold their latest wild child, the Sian, available in both spyder (top) and coupe form.........

 

For all you environmentalists longing for a really wild ride, but having difficulty seeing your way past a Prius, relax, as this Lambo is a hybrid. Your choice, buy about 150 Prius sedans or one Sian for the same price. Economies of scale won't work with this equation.

Some important numbers........Lamborghini will build 63 coupes and 19 spyders. Get it? 1963, which is when the first sportscar to wear the Lambo name was introduced. Cute.

By the way, with a beginning price of $3,700,000 USD, you might think this car would be a hard sell. Wrong, of course, as all have been pre-sold. Let's see......how many Russian oligarchs are there? How many Saudi princes? And of course, let's not forget the Sultan of Brunei and one for the Dubai police. Those eighty two being built just might be enough.

I peaked your interest with that tractor picture and then let you down talking about an exotic sportscar? Ok, so there is one in every crowd. The Sian is a no-go, but this latest Lamborghini tractor should make you break out into a cold sweat........

Sorry, no wall posters are available.

Until next time and stay safe.........

July 8: Wild in the streets!

Looking for a good old American sedan? Something unpretentious for you and four good friends to cruise around in with lots of interior space? Something full size, that can be had for less than $40k CDN. Something that looks just like your local cop cars? Well folks, I have your ride. Step right up and take a look at this 2020 Dodge Charger, which has been around basically unchanged since 2005.

Boring? Absolutely! So how about spicing it up? What might be a nice addition to this family sedan for 2021? Leather? A sunroof? GPS? Or how about a neat little symbol on the front fender? Something like this........

So what's the catch?

The catch is that this symbol will turn your humdrum Charger into something a little less mundane. Something that will still fit all your friends (assuming you have only four). Something that will keep your local tire dealer in business. Something that will excite the local constabulary. Something that will strike terror in the hearts of all those exotic car owners, who think that their mucho expensive cars can't be beat.

The catch is this demon symbol with the red eye means, that your Charger is packing a mighty 797 HP under that air scooped hood, making scenes like this common place in your neighbourhood......

Yes sir, it was only a matter of time until those horsepower addled folks at Dodge decided that the Charger Hellcat simply wasn't enough with its mere 707 HP. So for only (and I mean "only) about $100,000 you can embarrass your local fancy car owners, who paid hundreds of thousands of dollars more for bragging rights and still don't crank out this much wonderful power.

Take an ordinary Dodge sedan, throw on a wide body kit, an air scoop, humongous tires, this intriguing little devil symbol and you create the wet dream fantasy of every red blooded North American car guy or gal. Gee, we live in a great time.

What will those crazies from Dodge think of next?

Until next time and stay safe........