March 18: Motorama Dreams

Yes, sir, all these folks had Motorama Dreams. What's that, you ask? Obviously you do not live in Toronto and are not a car "person". For years, one of my rites of Spring would be the Performance World custom car and hot rod show held each March near the airport. Then it got tired and slowly slid into oblivion, only to be rescued in principle, if not in name, and resurrected as this year's Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo. Long name for what was a much better car show than had been held in the recent past. Let's take a brief overview of this new show........

I've always loved the 1960 Ford/Meteor, so to see this 60's style custom (with those very current huge rims) parked in the entrance way to the show was a very good sign of things to come.

Any good custom/hot rod show worth going to, will have a Willy's street rod. This model car has graced drag strips forever. It looks great and was slightly smaller than its compatriots from Ford and Chevy. They all seem to be black, but that didn't take away from this very well done piece.

The bottom car is rather unusual, in that it is done in an understated platinum shade that positively glowed under the show's lights. This would be a stand out anywhere. Subtle beauty.

This year, being Jeff Gordon's last before he retires from full time racing, one has to expect that there will be a tribute to him at every show across North America. No exception here in Toronto.......

.......as his #24 show car was the first thing one saw entering building two. No matter what one thinks of Jeff, he was a great racer. But let's get back to the real reasons I went  to Motorama with my friend........

This classic Mercury's colour scheme was sure not my style, but it was so unique and unusually painted that, it had to make it into my blog. Kinda a '70's vibe with its creator being undecided about what theme, with which they should overlay that glorious pearl paint. When in doubt try a little bit of everything?

Sure it's a Mustang, no question about it, but what Mustang? My guess is that it was an early '70's fastback recreated to look like the current car. Again, not my style, but extremely creative and the kind of full custom that folks love to see at these shows.

Motorama and Motorsports Expo, so it made sense to see local race cars. Here is a new addition to our drag racing scene. Rocketbilly's Pyro jet truck has been bought by a local drag race veteran and will be touring Canada in 2015. These jet trucks are ridiculous, but they put on a great show, all sound and fury, or as George Bush would say, "shock & awe" (but in a good way).

Want something contemporary, but with a very nostalgic look? Ok, then this 1969 Camaro stretched over a recent Corvette chassis and drive train should work for you........

Old looks updated and it's reliable, too. Not a bad combo, though I don't think anyone is driving this one in the rain. Once again, this is the kind of car one likes to see at these shows - a real show car.

Not sure if this '49 Ford was a work in progress or not. I don't like matte finishes, but it was a great way to highlight the terrific body work done on this custom. No way to hide any mistakes. That top was beautifully integrated into the old car's body, with not a bad line. Well done!

The very well known Tucci Brothers, from New York state, brought their '41 Cadillac custom to Motorama. These guys have appeared in many magazines and on numerous TV shows with their meticulous customs, as well as competing for the famous Ridler award, a feat in itself (Google it, please).

Like nostalgia drag cars?

......then this Comet dragster from the 60's should work for you. Right out of a time warp.

Speaking of a time warp.........one thing I noticed was the overwhelming number of grey hairs taking in this show. So is it all about nostalgia? Are the young folks not tuning in and turning out? Good question, but some of those at the show have certainly seen much better days.........

Until next time.......

March 13: Sbarro - a wild and crazy guy!

 Friday the 13th! Just the mention of this date sends nervous chills up and down most people's spines. The date do dreaded that, many of us are glad when the calendar turns to Saturday, the 14th. So, what would be a good car type topic to talk about on a day such as this? How about something kinda of scary, but really just harmless fun? Gotcha, that's what I'll do. So, keeping this in mind, who is that handsome gent looking out of this somewhat strange conveyance? Anyone guess, Franco Sbarro? Probably not, but if you did great job.

Franco Sbarro is a Swiss designer, whose company builds one offs and a few replicars. But, now here is the neat part, Franco thinks way outside the box. When the Geneva or Paris show rolls around, he usually trots out some wild and wildly creative design that, may be as scary as Friday, the 13th. Need proof? Ok, behold......

The top pic is of the Two-For-100 (name relates to its gas mileage) and the bottom one is the Autobau. Both concepts of cars that, wouldn't automatically come to mind when one is thinking about an interesting new ride. And I dare you to try to parallel park the Autobau. 

Not yet convinced of Franco's uniqueness (weirdness)?

How about now? Try to figure this one out. Is the rider installed on his new motorcycle on the assembly line or is there some other interesting way for him to become part of his machine? This is 100% a Friday, the 13th ride. It's a tradition in southern Ontario for bikers of all descriptions (usually 1000's), to show up at Port Dover every Friday, the 13th. Trying to be unique? Then here is your ride, friendo!

No creative designer should leave well enough alone, when it comes to a sport ute.........

This beast is the Windhawk, designed for some middle eastern type to be used for falconry. If they are hunting with falcons, why the gun? I guess this shows how much I know.

Or how about an interesting city car, that would put the smart to shame? How about this Assystem?

Its name is as much a mystery as its design. But outside the box for sure.

Whoa, what the heck has happened to this Golf GTI? I'm not sure either, but it has been followed up recently with the Sparta sport hatchback in the lower pic.

The Sparta is a much more "conventional" car, as I'm sure most of you would agree, but again, like most of Franco Sbarro's designs, it would stand out a mile away for good or for bad.

Now, because I like North American cars, I searched for something that Sbarro has done to one of our domestic cars. Of course, being an equal opportunity designer, I found something from a few years ago (quite a few actually). This '78 Eldorado was commissioned by a wealthy (what else?) businessman to be used as a mobile office.

Want a hint as to who that rich guy was? Ok, the name of this Caddy is the TAG Function. Get it? Anyway, it shows you that even in his early years, Franco Sbarro was way outside that proverbial box.

So, back to Friday, the 13th. Scary date and maybe a scary designer, but definitely fun. Thank goodness there are guys like Franco around to entertain us, when things go awry in our world or when it is Friday, the 13th!

Until next time......

March 10: A different kind of Galaxie

Here she is, my erstwhile little helper and companion, the Car Modelling Cat (CMC), doing some research on the next model we'll be working on.We can't just take it out of the box, paint it and glue it. No folks, it takes a lot more work than that to make one of our model cars. Since, we try to include every little exterior detail, it requires some research. We have a small library from which to draw the necessary info. Often times, we'll go through several books, before we find exactly what we need. In this case, the CMC is checking out Cars from the '60's. Not really the material that we needed for today's subject, but it's so easy to get sidetracked.

Today, I'm going to show you a 1970 Ford that, we modified to make a different kind of Galaxie. The kit we started with, was the 1970 Ford police car. The model below is one we made a while ago, depicting the paint scheme of the Saint John, New Brunswick police in the 1960's and '70's. Unique, if not a bit strange.

Anyway, this was our jumping off point. We wanted to build a regular citizen's car, but an entirely different and more expensive four door hardtop. The police car was the sedan version, so........

1) we had to remove the centre post to make it a four door hardtop
2) since it was a fancier version, a lot more chrome was needed
3) also white wall tires and full wheel discs were added

So ours needed to look like this pic taken from a 1970 Ford brochure........

You can see how the plain Jane cop car had to be transformed into a semi luxury cruiser with all the bright work expected by the ordinary citizen. With our skills and the painstaking application of lots of chrome foil, here is our result..........

The four door hardtop style went by the wayside after 1978, but it was usually my most favorite version. Our family had a Chev and a Buick in this body style. But take a minute to compare the police car to the family four door. Amazing how a few simple changes can transform a ho hum patrol car into a snazzy ride (hey, it's all in the eye of the beholder).

I had planned this car in my mind for a couple a months, before we started our build and we're very pleased with how it turned out. A model that you won't find on any hobby store shelf.

For us, modelling is like "mental mouth wash". Whether we spend a few minutes or an hour in the Car Room, it helps to clear our minds. Me from the stresses of daily life, the CMC about where to sleep next. We are very fortunate.

Until next time........

March 6: Maggini & Son - pride of ownership

Our world is filled with those huge tractor trailer units that clog our highways, as they deliver the lifeblood of our daily lives (poetic, eh?). Sure, some are nicely uniform in colour like Sunbury (all yellow) or a green cab, with a big MIDLAND written across the trailer, but many are just a mix and nothing really stands out. Want something a little different? Something that will stand out from anything else on the road? Something that will make your drivers want to climb up into that cab? Ok, gotcha. Look no further than the Maggini & Son trucking fleet out of Riverdale, California.

Big (of course) and yellow, but dig those green flames, graphics and all that extremely shiny chrome. This is a company that takes pride of ownership to a new level. Pity the poor bug that runs a foul of one of these monsters and splatters itself all over that beautiful paint and chrome.

As you can see, yellow and green are this company's identifiers, but each is unique in design. Who wouldn't want to be seen in one of these big bruisers, as they deliver their goods?

To a long haul trucker, which is closer to their heart, the church or their truck?

Good question, but better throw a little worship His way just in case it's all true. You know the old saying, cleanliness is next to godliness. Even this company's little truck, follows in the foot steps of their big rigs......

Seriously, can you think of a better way to get your drivers to take pride in their equipment? These extravagant paint jobs probably cost nothing, next to the savings in repairing the numerous body bumps and bangs that, a normal rig would get.

Notice something else about Maggini's tractors?

Where are all those ugly wires, chains and tubing that, normally inhabit the area behind the cabs on most of these big trucks? Hidden! Yes sir, Maggini has thought of everything to keep their fleet looking like nothing else on the road.

So next time you are in California and see one of Maggini's truck, please give them two thumbs up and a root-toot of your horn to show that you appreciate the eye candy they provide. Visuals that make your weary journey just a touch more enjoyable.

Three cheers for Maggini & Son!

Until next time........

March 3: Who asked this question?

Keep this picture in mind. It is the Land Rover Evoque two door. What, you haven't seen one? Not surprising, as most of the Evoques sold in North America are the good old four door versions. Maybe overseas they are more popular. Anyway, the Evoque is a stylish and, based on what I see around Toronto, a very popular smaller suv. Now take a look at this recently discontinued oddity.......

Never sold in Canada, although I do see the odd one around here, this is Nissan's CrossCabriolet. In other words, it is a Murano convertible. First of all, two doors were removed and then the top was chopped off. The answer to a question, I don't believe anyone ever asked. At least Nissan could have made it look a bit (or a lot) better. So it was recently discontinued. That tell you something?

Manufacturers are usually willing to do most anything in order to get a jump on the market. Even coming up with a convertible sport utility. Lesson learned? I don't think so. Just look at what Karman, the German design and engineering company, did. They took a shot at coming up with a cabrio sport ute.......

Why you ask? Does someone actually think that there is a market for this type of car? Truck? Whatever? Obviously some great minds, with a few developmental dollars to spare, do think that a market exists.

Think back to that Evoque at the beginning of my blog and now think of it like this.......

Land Rover has done what Nissan did and what Karman imagined. They have taken the top off of their very popular Evoque. This new model will be introduced at the Geneva Auto Show, which opens to the public on March 5th. Granted, it is one heck of a lot better looking vehicle than the Murano Frankenstein was, but hey, who asked the question?

The Murano was a dud, but this one will tell the world if there is actually a market for such a thing. Better looking, but probably the same price as the CrossCabriolet, it will appeal (in my opinion) to a much younger and hipper audience. But will they care? Did they ask this question? Or, did they not know, that they actually wanted this type of suv? As I've said several times before.....stay tuned.

Until next time......

Feb 27: Audi - when 8 is not enough

The late 1970's Audi 5000. Audi's first attempt to build a more luxurious and higher end car to compete with the BMW's and Mercedes of the world. My father-in-law had one for himself and one for his wife. Surprising, since he was not really a cutting edge kind of guy. Cutting edge? Well, not really, but it was more expensive than what Audi buyers had been used to. Quality? Not so much, actually quite dismal. Resale? Not so much either. Anyway, Audi tried the upper end of the market for many years, until they got firmly planted there with their A8.

What I call the luxury car for discerning buyers, those folks who are not intoxicated by the three pointed star or the blue and white propeller. Quietly showing their hard earned cash with the A8, which has evolved into a formidable luxury car. Sure the higher end S Class is not too worried about Audi's inroads, but some of the other companies are on notice.

But when is 8 not enough? As the monied folks of this world get more money, they need and yearn for ways to spend it, so the car companies are looking for ways to take advantage of that yearning. Case in point, Mercedes' new Maybach.

So, for Audi the A8 may not be enough car. What to do? Even a grade school kid knows that, if 8 is not enough, then go to 9........

This may or may not be the car that Audi plans to build as the A9, but it shows their design direction. Called the Prologue (clever, eh?). And like Cadillac, Audi has been teasing the auto show world with this concept for the past year. Just maybe, if you were heading out to buy your "once every ten years" Mercedes, you'd hold off for another year, in case this beauty was unleashed on the world.

The important Geneva show will be held shortly, so Audi is at it again, but this time the Prologue is an Avant (station wagon for those unfamiliar with Audi terminology)......

This sure would be a first for a high end luxury model. But, hey, the A7 is a very large fastback and it sells, so why not a big and expensive wagon? And what a wagon! This version is even more striking than the coupe and that takes some doing. Would we ever see it in North America? Good question, but my educated guess would be, not a chance in h____.

And if Audi called it a "station wagon", you might as well start digging its grave now.

The main point with both of these concept vehicles, is to give notice that Audi is serious about venturing even more upmarket. Unlikely, it would start with either of these two show cars, more than likely a sedan would get the nod. These cars though, do get people's interest and by virtue of their designs, will garner lots of publicity for Audi and their upcoming A9.

When is 8 not enough? Well, you can see it sure isn't, when you have a gorgeous, new, uber luxury car waiting for its world debut.

Until next time......