Posts from ‘Lamborghini’
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Also check out Tom Appel’s “Senior-Year Lust: The 5 Coolest Vehicles of 1983” and Ed Piotrowski’s “Senior-Year Lust: The 5 Coolest Vehicles of 1998.”
By my senior year at Riverside-Brookfield High School outside of Chicago, the auto industry was facing some dark days. Not only was horsepower plummeting due to emissions standards, but it was the first year that federal regulations forced manufacturers to tack on huge, girder-like protruding bumpers both front and rear in order for their wares to (supposedly) withstand five-mph impacts without damage. And they looked just as attractive as they sound.
So 1974 was noteworthy as kind of a double groaner to those of us smitten by the intoxicating appeal of internal combustion. And I suffered a historically longer and substantially deeper smittening than anyone else I knew.
But there were some bright spots.
An immaculately restored Mercedes 300SL is always a breathtaking sight.
Don’t look now, but summer is almost over. Labor Day has passed, and that means the summer cruise night season is soon to be ending in many parts of the country. Did you partake in one yet? If not, you should—either as a spectator or a participant. Most urban areas have weekly informal car gatherings; most are evening cruise nights, and some are early-morning weekend get-togethers (such as the “Cars and Coffee” show series), but all are great ways to enjoy cars without all the formality of an organized car show. The best part about these cruises is that you never know what rare or interesting vehicle might show up. The photos seen here were taken at the last two editions of the Monday Night Car Show, which kicked off this past June at the Westfield Old Orchard Mall in Skokie, Illinois. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jim has a thing for matching cars and guitars of the same model year. Here, he poses with his 1955 Gibson and ’55 Chevy.
Unless you’re a serious rock ’n’ roll aficionado, the name Jim Peterik might not ring a bell. Remember the Survivor song “Eye of the Tiger”? Of course you do . . . and now you’re probably humming it. Well, Jim cowrote that song as a founding member of Survivor. And prior to the success of “Eye of the Tiger,” Jim penned another memorable hit with his first band The Ides of March—the rollicking 1970 tune “Vehicle.” He’s had a hand in many other Top 40 hits over the years as well, working with artists such as .38 Special and Sammy Hagar. These days, Jim remains incredibly active as a musician, songwriter, and producer. He performs regularly with a handful of bands and enjoys working with new talent on his own label, World Stage International.
Turns out that Jim is also a car guy, and Consumer Guide Automotive recently enjoyed an exclusive peek at his, uh, vehicles. We tagged along with our longtime friends (and legendary Chicago radio hosts) Steve King and Johnnie Putman as Jim graciously gave us a tour of his collection and suburban Chicago home.
Guitarist Jim Peterik, former member of the band Survivor and cowriter of the classic song "Eye of the Tiger," is an avid collector of cars and guitars.
Our colleagues Steve King and Johnnie Putman, Chicago radio personalities and car enthusiasts, recently visited with Jim Peterik, best known for his work with the Ides of March (“Vehicle”) and Survivor (“Eye of the Tiger”). In addition to his massive guitar collection, Peterik also collects automobiles.
In this recent interview with Steve & Johnnie, Peterik shows off his 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo. “A certain gentleman I know who plays guitar had it up to 135 miles an hour on the Eisenhower at 3 a.m.,” Peterik said. The rock legend also shows Steve & Johnnie his 2002 Plymouth Prowler, 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, and award-winning 1958 Chevrolet Corvette.
2012 Maserati GranTurismo in Blu Mediterraneo, a super-pricey matte-finish paint
Everything is so darn expensive these days. When I was a kid, Earl Scheib promised to paint our rides for under 40 bucks. “I’ll paint any car, any color for $39.95,” his slogan went. “No ups, no extras.” Nowadays, a decent paint job will run you four figures.
At least when you buy a new car, you likely will find a color that meets your liking. The 2013 Dodge Dart, for example, comes in a dozen colors, including Citrus Peel, Winter Chill, and True Blue. Some automakers charge extra for “special paint,” but it’s usually reasonably priced—$500, for example, if you want your Dodge Challenger painted in Redline 3 Coat Pearl.
But I’m here to tell you one thing: If you’re in the market for an Italian sports car and want to jazz it up with a unique color/finish, expect to pay through the nose. Special paint jobs on Maseratis, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis are among the most expensive options in the automotive industry. To illustrate . . .
2012 Maserati GranTurismo
The GranTurismo S Automatic starts at $123,000, but matte-finish paint is an extra $20,500. Here it is in Grigio Granito.
1962 Pontiac Catalina with pearly satin finish; 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 with matte finish
Over the last few years, I’ve found it interesting to see the emergence of non-glossy paint jobs on some new cars. Mostly appearing on exotic cars these days, matte- or satin-finish paint is something that is very dear to me. I’ve been enamored with the look since I first began to see it in the 1990s on vintage custom cars being built primarily on the West Coast.
Although I’m no expert on paint or the reasoning for why this trend emerged, I speculate that it could be as simple as a customizer admiring the unique presence a car has while it is in the base coat before the clear is applied. As opposed to older single-stage paints in which the color has a gloss to it right out of the gun, modern multi-stage paints consist of a base coat that supplies the color and a protective clear coat that provides the gloss. Many of these color-base coats, especially those that contain pearlescent pigments, have a glow about them that can be very impressive before the clear is applied. The satiny effect (without the clear coat) is dramatic, but an unprotected base coat can be vulnerable to scratches, stains, and fingerprints. Adding a flattening agent to the clear allows for protection for the color as well as maintaining the eerie glow.
New Review!
2014 Kia Sorento
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Classic Cars
