Thursday, August 31, 2023

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The Corvette C8 Z06 was on the cover of Car and Driver of Nov/2022 edition as per the following extract:-



The paraphrased verdict of the C8 Z06 is resounding: it drives like a ferocious beast of sports car on a race track, but can transform seamlessly into a grand-touring cruiser for you to drive cross-country comfortably; makes you wanna put on a racing helmet and feel like Tony Stark in an Iron Man suit.

According to Wikipedia, these are the generations of Z06:

Chevrolet Corvette C2 Z06 (1963)
Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 (2001-2004)
Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06 (2006-2013)
Chevrolet Corvette C7 Z06 (2014-2019)
Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 (2023-) 


Click here for A to Z06: Tracing the History of Chevy's Race-Bred Corvette.

Corvette C7 Z06


Corvette C7 Z06


Click here for Is a used C7 Corvette Z06 the BEST sports car VALUE with supercar performance?

Click here for All NEW 2024 Chevrolet Corvette SHOCKS the Entire Industry

Immortalising Karl Benz and Mercedes Jellinek

In order to understand how things have emerged or evolved such as the brand name "Mercedes-Benz", we need to look at its history for insights on the persons involved as well as the confluence of circumstances.

About Karl Benz

According to Wikipedia:-

"Carl Friedrich Benz; 25 November 1844 – 4 April 1929), also Karl Friedrich Benz with the same pronunciation, was a German engine designer and automotive engineer. His Benz Patent Motorcar from 1885 is considered the first practical modern automobile and first car put into series production. He received a patent for the motorcar in 1886, the same year he first publicly drove the Benz Patent-Motorwagen.

His company Benz & Cie., based in Mannheim, was the world's first automobile plant and largest of its day. In 1926, it merged with Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft to form Daimler-Benz, which produces the Mercedes-Benz among other brands.

Benz is widely regarded as "the father of the car", as well as the "father of the automobile industry".


About Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes Jellinek

As sourced from Wikipedia:-

"Mercedes-Benz traces its origins to Karl Benz's first internal combustion engine in a car, seen in the Benz Patent Motorwagen – financed by Bertha Benz's dowry and patented in January 1886 – and Gottlieb Daimler and their engineer Wilhelm Maybach's conversion of a stagecoach, with the addition of a petrol engine, introduced later that year. The Mercedes automobile was first marketed in 1901 by Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG).

Emil Jellinek-Mercedes, a Jewish-Austrian automobile entrepreneur who worked with DMG, registered the trademark in 1902, naming the 1901 Mercedes 35 hp after his daughter Mercedes Jellinek. Jellinek was a businessman and marketing strategist who promoted "horseless" Daimler automobiles among the highest circles of society. At the time, it was a meeting place for the haute volée of France and Europe, especially in winter. His customers included the Rothschild family and other wealthy clients, but as early as 1901, he was selling Mercedes cars in the "New World" as well, including to billionaires Rockefeller, Astor, Morgan, and Taylor. 

At the Nice race he attended in 1899, Jellinek drove under the pseudonym "Monsieur Mercédès". Many consider that race the birth of Mercedes-Benz as a brand. In 1901, the name "Mercedes" was re-registered by DMG worldwide as a protected trademark. The first Mercedes-Benz branded vehicles were produced in 1926, following the merger of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler's companies into the Daimler-Benz company on 28 June of the same year."

With the above insights as well as other sources of information, we will gain a deeper appreciation of the rich history of Mercedes-Benz and the collective efforts of people and companies who have helped built the brand.

While you are still dwelling on "Mercedes-Benz", here is a sample for your refreshing:


Mercedes-Benz SL 280
Diecast car by ScaleMini
(Limited Edition: 033/299pcs)
 

 
Diecast cars by Hot Wheels from left to right:
                           1) Mercedes-Benz 300 SL
                           2) Sauber-Mercedes C9 
                           3) '16 Mercedes-AMG GT3
                       


Mercedes-Benz S450L 9 G-tronic



Saturday, August 26, 2023

Matchbox Vehicles with Moving Parts

One of the unique feature of some Matchbox diecast cars is that they have moving parts like doors, bonnet (hood) and boot (trunk). 

The downside to this is that the moveable parts are more susceptible to accidental damage when moved frequently. 

The following is a sample which looks great even when the moving parts are kept under wrap.





Pagani Huayra Roadster


Lamborghini Centenario


1955 Porsche 550 Spyder 


2020 BMW M4 Cabriolet


'80 Porsche 911 Turbo


1982 Datsun 280 ZX


Click here for 40 Basic Parts Of A Car Explain With Name & Diagram


Car sighting: Jeep Wrangler Sahara

 





Click here for further exciting Jeep SUVs and Crossovers.


Friday, August 25, 2023

Hot Wheels and Matchbox in Local Supermarket

Unlike in some countries where Hot Wheels are usually found in supermarkets, it is not the case in Singapore. Over here, you could find them in toy stores, children stores, gift shops and collectibles hives.

Recently, I saw a few racks of Hot Wheels in an NTUC Fairprice Xtra outlet, which consists of a supermarket as its mainstay plus a limited range of other goods like electrical appliances, bedding stuffs, clothing, stationery, toys, crockery, cutlery, utensils and travel luggage. 

While those few displays of rudimentary cars were nothing to shout about, it was nevertheless a welcome sight for anyone who has an eye for diecast cars. 

Within the month though, I was pleasantly surprised that the inventory of cars has been expanded to include more Hot Wheels and other makes such as Matchbox and I am more than happy to be able to collect the following:

Set of '23 Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5 + Aero Lift





MBX European Highways:
1) 2007 Audi R8
2) 2011 Mini Countryman
3) DS 21 Pallas
4) Range Rover Evoque
5) Scania P 360



Blue Highways II:
1) 1963 Austin Healey Roadster
2) 1957 Ford Thunderbird
3) '16 Chevy Camaro Convertible'
4) 1956 Aston Martin DBR1
5) '56 Jaguar Xk140 Roadster




Sunday, August 20, 2023

Motorsports Model Collectibles Pte Ltd

Motorsports Model Collectibles Pte. Ltd. is a good place for you to widen your reach for bigger sizes (1:18 and 1:43) diecast cars, including Formula 1 cars, in addition to their selective range of 1:64 model cars.

Click here for their online store. 









Saturday, August 19, 2023

Car sighting: Rolls-Royce

 


D'Hive by Korei Pte. Ltd.

D'Hive by Korei Pte. Ltd. has a wide collection of mainly 1:64 model diecast cars as well as diecast model display products to suit your budget and taste. "Korei Pte. Ltd. is the main of ERA Cars (Hong Kong Brand) for Singapore and Malaysia market. Korei Pte Ltd also carries the premier diecast model display products called Coval Display."

Click here for their online store.

















Ferrari F355 Spider by Hot Wheels

While Hot Wheels no longer has the licence to produce Ferraris, the following exhibit of a red Ferrari F355 Spider (scale 1:18) produced in 2012 is a fine sample of the high quality and detailed workmanship done by Hot Wheels.









Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Lamborghini and Fighting Bull

Without the inspiration of the fighting bull, it would be hard to imagine Lamborghinis where their models are named after fighting bulls or associated with bull fighting.


Click here for CNA Luxury's How Lamborghini became one of the most sought-after supercar brands in the world written by Jamie Nonis for a well-written coverage on the creation and development of this brand of supercar and their various 'fighting bulls' produced.





Car Spotting: Tesla

Not too long ago, it was rare to sight a Tesla in Singapore. 

Nowadays, the novelty might still be lingering on, but it would likely wear off fairly quickly soon as more and more Teslas hit the roads.







Saturday, August 12, 2023

Leverage on AI to Complement Your Diecast Cars

An AI image generator is a quick way for you to generate your desired car (be as descriptive and concise as possible). Sit back and let AI unleashes its potential to produce several interpretations for you to shortlist.

The following sample generated using Craiyon (if you can hold on to your horses for 60 seconds) is a primer for you to see the possibilities of using AI for your adventure with cars.

A) Red Ferrari 512 M (photograph format) 





B) Orange Porsche Carrera (oil painting format) 





At the time of this writing, Craiyon does not require sign-in. The trick is to be as detailed as possible with your description so that the image will stand a good chance of exceeding your expectation of your desired outcome.

Click here for Craiyon and have fun exploring.


Car Spotting: Rolls-Royce

While I was taking photographs of this silver Rolls-Royce, the owner came around. He looked just like your neighbour next door and graciously offered to let me have a look inside before driving off.















Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) Kaido Works V4

The salient features of this Nissan Motorsports International (Nismo) R34 include metal body + chasis, alloy wheels, opening hood and design...