Feb 10: Electrifying cars from the Orient

Behold brother, I have seen the light. I have seen the future and it (might) look like what I'm going to share with you today. Yes, others have come before me and proclaimed that they too have seen the future, that they too have the gift of vision, but I'm for real, so listen up, or in this case read on. Be enlightened like you never have been before.

Let's raise the curtain on what is to come, at least in the minds of my fellow dreamers.........

For many years, it has been predicted that we'd soon be seeing cars from China in the huge North American market. Hasn't happened. Sure, there are a couple of vehicles being sold here that are manufactured in China, but these are not Chinese cars. That is about to change, if one believes the press releases and the unveilings going on at various car shows around the world. Blame Elon Musk and his extremely successful Tesla line. Why? Because the next onslaught of electric cars are going to be targeted at the forwar thinking rich and they are going to come from China.

This one from the Wanxiang Group should look familiar, as it has been sold here in the recent past......

If those amongst you, said, "Hey, BWT, that's a Fisker Karma!", you would be wrong. The Fisker is no more, but our Chinese friends in the Wanxiang Group saw a great future in a car, that had already been developed, so they bought the bones of the company and plan to start selling this car again as a full electric and give it the catchy name, Elux. Look, I don't make this stuff up. Great way to save a ton of developmental costs and in short order start setting up dealerships in the local auto mall. At least, that is their plan.

Next up is a much more ambitious future, as seen by Lucid Motors........

.......with this gorgeous sedan concept, that gets my vote on looks alone. Plug it in or fill it up with gas, I'd be happy to be seen cruising my hood in this Lucidmobile......

Yep, if the rich are falling over themselves to get a Tesla S, then Lucid Motors figures to give them another expensive alternative. And make it even better looking. What could possibly go wrong with this plan?

Now, these companies are all dreaming and not in a bad way, but the biggest dreamers of all are the folks from Faraday Future and they are getting the most press. And after looking at their possible future vehicle line up, who could blame the scribes for not following the concept introductions of this company like lemmings?

Want wild?

Batman's next ride? Quite possibly yes. You know the old adage, go big or go home, well, it looks like Faraday Future is using that as their motto. A starling looking car, but now they have our attention, what "normal" ride might they have up their sleeve? Something that might possibly cause the Tesla S some jitters in the market place......

Yeah, this Le See sedan should do it. Gorgeous from every angle. Faraday has no cred, you say? Well, neither did Tesla when they first came out with their Lotus based electric, but certainly not electrifying sports car. But, look where they are now. Every well to do neighbourhood is crawling with Tesla S's, but this is North America and companies cannot survive on one great looking sedan. They need an suv and if the Tesla X is any example, it sure doesn't have to be good looking. So what is Faraday proposing?

Take a look.......

This model, the FF91  -  no kidding, this concept bears that peculiar moniker  -  is scheduled to be the first Faraday Future model to the post. Any chance it might be a success? In the first few hours that the order books were open, they took 64,000 orders. Those with substantial coin, line up here.

But hey, before we start seeing these electric dream cars in our hoods, there is a very long road and to build it, one needs to pave it with cash and huge amounts of it. History is littered with the broken dreams of cars that were proposed, but didn't get past the concept stage. And all those developmental dollars ended up, as in this pic, going down the drain..........

And only time will tell.

Until next time........

Feb 7: Instrument panel confusion

There it was staring up at me from my dashboard display. Oops, I meant instrument panel (showing your age again, BWT?). Everywhere I looked in my owners' panel drew a blank, but surely that little yellow circle couldn't be a good sign? Then tucked away somewhere on page 3825 of my rather comprehensive manual, I saw a note of explanation of this little yellow beacon. It was a weather indicator. A what? You know, it indicates the weather. When it was sunny, it was yellow, at night it was dark grey, when it was cloudy it showed a sun with clouds, when it was overcast it was all clouds and one day, it showed clouds with a lightening bolt. Give me strength. Of all the useless info to have when I'm driving, is an instrument panel icon informing me of the weather, I could see by simply  looking out the window or thru the sunroof. But, hey folks that's what it has come to.

Wonder how many other somewhat interesting icons there are..........

Hope and pray they all don't come on at once. If they do, I suggest you take cover.

Yes, I know, technology is a good thing and I sure don't have any problem with that, although I'm not so sure I need to be able to change the colour of the car in my display to any one of the many shades available, but I can if I want to in my Maxima. But there is info that is terrific, such as the low tire pressure warning system........

Remember the not so long ago days, when you were notified via a dash board light, that one of your tires had low air pressure? Sure you do, but the better displays now show you which one it is and the exact pressure in all the tires. Now that is good intel. Out of curiosity, what vehicle has tire pressures shown in the display above (no prize for the correct answer)?

Technology can be perplexing. I read somewhere recently that most owners of the new techie vehicles, end up knowing about 25% of what their instrument panel display can conjure up. That sounds about right. On my last car, I was nearing the end of its lease, when I found that by touching a certain icon, I could replay the last song or the last newscast or whatever. Neat feature, never used it, even when I knew it was there. How many people would?

What about all those cameras, which we now have to aid in parking? Great idea and with mine I can amaze onlookers by parallel parking to within an inch of the other cars. I love the surround view camera, like shown below, but can't figure out how they get those great overhead views. Where the heck is it?

All I ask it to make the info useful and if you can't make it useful, make it really big, like this info screen for the Tesla X.......

Credit to Tesla, this screen is like a small TV and has the best graphics I've ever seen in a car or suv or whatever (that would be the Tesla X). Something to look at, while your supposedly autonomous vehicle mows down pedestrians and other annoying impediments, as it drives you to work. I told you technology was great. And speaking of Tesla, this display on an S can tell you when Elon Musk is calling to make sure all is a-ok........

But get over the interesting and useful stuff and let's see the real rocket science........

When you are driving along and this is in front of you, do you know what you are looking at? Maybe a bit too complicated? Well, I'm here to tell you, that with the rarity and price of the car within which this display resides, it is nothing for 99.99% of us to worry about. Let those billionaires have their fun and be confused while doing it.

There was time when this is what presented itself to you, when you sat behind the wheel.......

This fount of knowledge let you know your speed, engine temperature and maybe a couple of other minor bits. Straightforward and quite typical for its time. Everyone know exactly what they had in front of them. Great, eh? Sure for its day, but even if some of today's info might be unnecessary or unknown to the driver, this is the wheel I'd much prefer to be behind......

Even if the info I receive might be a touch disturbing at times.......

Until next time.........

Feb 3: Rick Dore's beautiful cars

Up until a week ago this logo meant absolutely nothing to me. Me, the car guy extraordinaire (at least in my own mind), had no idea who or what company was behind this stylized "RD". I like to pride myself on knowing a few of the top players in most automotive fields, but this one slipped by me. In my younger years, there might have been some wrist slashing, but these days, it is simply live and learn.

When I was doing my blog on the famous old Oakland Roadster Show, I came across some stunning designs and I came across the name of Rick Dore. A little research (what the heck did we do before the net?) turned up a wealth of great looking cars, that customizer Rick Dore has been turning out for many years. Many of which were like the work of those long gone European coach builders. Cars like, the famous Aquarius.........

.......which was built for a famous rocker. In 2014 this won many of the awards, that customizers work extra hard to win. I'd call this a tribute to the old Franay coach built cars of the late '40's. Don't agree? Look if up.

Or this exquisite brown beauty, Slow Burn........

And get a load of that paint, over a mile deep and descending. Makes me just want to caress this car's bodywork (enough already, this is a family friendly blog).

That afore mentioned rocker has commissioned more than one work of art from Rick Dore like this one, named appropriately the Black Pearl, which won the coveted Custom of the Year award..........

Isn't it great to have money? And for the traditionalist and for also the same rocker, Voodoo Priest.......

Interesting how many rockers love their cars and, of course, they have the coin to make their car fantasies come true, along with the help of a super creative designer like Rick Dore.

Then there are Rick Dore's typical custom jobs, beautifully done, but enhancing the original's lines as opposed to creating something almost from scratch........

1953 Buick Skylark Skyscraper

All with paint to die for, assuming that one wants to die for paint.......

.......and all with those catchy, sometimes clever names.......

1956 Lincoln Mark II Remarkable

1957 Buick Lavender Persuasion

All these cars and over the past twenty plus years, I'd never heard of Rick Dore. Gee, that's enough to almost make me doubt myself as a true car guy (almost, but not quite). Maybe I should watch a bit more TV, as this Discovery channel show, focusing on Dore and his work, hit the air waves in 2014......

Ok, so now I'm educated about this artist in metal. Now, I'll check out his stuff from time to time to see what new creations he is creating. Now, I know lots about Rick Dore, no wonder he looks so pleased.....

Until next time......

Jan 31: Oakland roadsters

Some events have gone on forever and others just seem like it. But there is one in the car world that has gone on for a good long time and and the prestige it brings to its winning car is enormous, at least amongst people who care about these things. Way back in 1950, as the California hot rod scene was getting established and the California custom car scene was in its infancy, the National Roadster Show was started, but it quickly morphed into the Oakland Roadster Show. If you look closely at the poster above from the second year, you can just make out the type of cars that this show attracted in the very beginning, while the pic below shows it evolving into the roadster and custom car event, that it has continued to be up until the present day......

Interesting, but the point of this blog is to highlight two custom roadsters shown at last week's show, that prove that the art of custom coachwork is still alive and well in the good ol' US of A.

After Shock by Rick Dore Customs (watch for an upcoming blog) takes a late '30's Ford and transforms it into this gorgeous piece of rolling sculpture, that could have come from any of those famous European design houses from way back in the 1930's. This is not your typical, but well loved, big motored, big wheeled, American Graffiti mobile........

Not a line wrong on this car. If I had the money, would I be looking for Rick Dore's phone number? You can see that this car has gone beyond a mere nip and a tuck of an old Ford in order to create something unique.

Very, very nice, but the winner was its equal (and since it won, I guess more than its equal).......

This is the aptly named '36 Mulholland Speedster and if you have noticed that very prominent Packard grille, I guess you know the inspiration for this custom roadster. Again, another beauty, that could easily have sprung from the pen of one of Europe's best......

Now, customizers have always been extremely creative, usually making a car that was highly individualized, but isn't that what customizing is all about? But with these lovelies, they have transcended mere customs and moved into works of art (how poetic).  

Yes, the Oakland Roadster Show is the granddaddy of custom shows, but lest you think that its original purpose has been forgotten.......

Not a chance, as this show still showcases the very best of the hot rodder's art, which still remains the heart and soul of this famous old show.

Until next time.......

Jan 27: The new Gazoo Supra

Take a long hard look, as this is the new Toyota Supra. Who cares? Good question, but for some reason, the Toyota Supra has become an icon. How did this happen? I have no idea, but there is more buzz about Toyota's upcoming Supra reveal than I believe, any car since the current Corvette. I know it evolved into a very capable car, but I had no idea enthusiasts were pinning for a new version. I guess Toyota is longing to get those Supra enthusiasts back into the fold.

Amazing how a car that started out as a garden variety Celica with a longer front end and a bigger motor, morphed into a car that has been missed for the past many years........

And even the second generation was little more than a longer Celica, but with a V6 motor........

Granted the change made this a great looking car, but funny how greatness starts from average and works it way into, as I said, greatness. I drove a few of these and they were a blast. Gobs of power for a heavy right foot.

So now Toyota is just around the corner from unveiling the new Supra under their performance brand Gazoo. Gaz what? Look, I'm fairly attuned to what is going on with performance brands, after all, everyone has heard about AMG from Mercedes and Alpina from BMW, but who the heck has ever heard of Gazoo from Toyota. A little research, please........

.....and what do I find? Of course, I find that Toyota has been using the Gazoo Racing branding for quite a while. Who knew? Well, I guess quite a few people knew, as they include all their racing entries under that banner. Live and learn, Barry.

So now, the world, or at least the car enthusiast world awaits the new Gazoo Supra, which will probably look like this or darn close to it.......

For years Toyota/Lexus has cruised along with their mobile sofas, but if you read my blogs, you'll know that this is changing and the new Supra will be a big part of that change. Great to see that complacency is now taking a back seat to a vehicle worth being seen in.

Until next time......

Jan 24: The Auctions

Now, let me ask you, where else are you going to find something like this metal contorted "art"(?) car? If you have answered the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction this past week in Scottsdale, Arizona, well, give yourself a high five or a pat on the back. Now, let's get really knowledgeable and see who knows the kind of car this started out as? Because your car guy blogger watched this monstrosity cross the block, he knows, otherwise, that info would be lost for all time. The answer is a 1971 Ford Torino. The look of this poor thing is not the worst part. Oh no, that would be that it lacks an interior, a motor, cannot be driven and still sold for $5000 USD. A good reason why alcohol and a bidder's paddle should never be combined.

Just an example of if you desire it, it will probably cross the block at one of this past week's auctions in Scottsdale. Sure, the big kuhuna is BJ and with its size, it is a wonder that any other auction can exist in this timeframe. This pic gives you an idea of just how huge the BJ CCA actually is.......

More than just an auction, this thing is an automotive event, always attracting the best and the inane (stand up art car). Going from the typical '50's nostalgia.........

......to the unusual.........

.......to the famous, like Justin Bieber's custom Ferrari.......

 The Bieb himself was there to help raise the bidding on this matte blue beauty. Acting like a conservative Canadian kid, rather shy, respecting his elders and seemingly in awe of the crowds, so out of character. He supposedly wanted to sell this unique ride before committing to another exotic. Add in a Floyd Mayweather Bugatti and you have car and personage royalty (or whatever you care to call this guy).

But, few venues can beat BJ for some wonderfully historic pieces. When was the last time or the first time you saw a Cheeta?

No, I can't think of one either. Expecting big $, this famous Chevy powered ride from the '60's, failed to meet its reserve. Maybe the one person with the big bucks to buy this ride was in the bathroom, as it went across the block. Sometimes, one just can't wait.

Looking for an old Austin Princess hearse, that John Lennon had converted into a, shall we say, unusual ride? If so, then Barrett-Jackson was the place to be.......

If one believes in ghosts, maybe the buyer will actually get to meet John one day.

But, as I lust after the long past 1960's, one of my favorites from last week was this beautifully, simple 1961 Olds custom.............

Simple and inexpensive in terms of what some other cars were hammered down at last week. But, for all those vehicles that captured the bidders eyes at BJ, there were also several other auctions running simultaneously, not with the same number of cars or bidders, but with cars whose pedigrees were outstanding. Auction houses like Bonham's, Russo & Steele, Silver or Canada's RM Sotheby's.......

And note the various currencies, showing one the international aspect of these auctions. Hey, it's only money.

Auctions that attracted cars like this famous light weight racing Jaguar XKE.......

.........that topped the world record for an XKE at $7.37 million USD. Bidders who know their stuff, know quality and know unique. Where is the next time you'll see one? But, maybe you lien towards the practical in your unusual, well, then Bonham's had your ride....... 

Yes, I know, this one will never hit the open road, but at least you have it, if the need arises to leave town quickly before the dreaded apocalypse.

Name your car and open your wallet and head to Scottsdale in January. Avoid the flush of the TV cameras and the crowds, forget your ego and just bid as much as you can afford, to get the vehicle of your dreams. Park it or (hopefully) drive it, who cares, it's now yours.

And if you are like me and don't have a place for a full size car (I know, I've tried it in the past - it didn't work), then maybe Scottsdale has a nice scale replica, that is more in line with your space......

This nice Duesenberg by modeler Tom Miller, could be yours for only about $25k USD. Now, don't tell me you lack the room for this beaut.

Yes, Scottsdale has something for everyone, even for those who have more $ than they know how to reasonably spend and who have questionable taste. Yes, even those folks can step up and bid.........

......and maybe even get that useless art car for which they have been longing. And maybe they can even come up with a good explanation to their wife of why they brought this thing home. 

Yes sir, the Scottsdale auctions have something for everyone.

Until next time......