Author: Tabitha
To keep the kids — and possibly you — occupied on long road trips, try turning off your various electronic devices in favour of Auto Bingo from Regal Games. Each reusable game card requires the player to spot different things they might see on the journey, such as road signs, vehicle types (police car, fire truck, bus, etc.), buildings, animals and so on. And there’s no need for tokens or messy markers to keep score as you simply slide a tinted plastic cover over the image. Choose from traffic safety, interstate and general-interest themes. A set of four Auto Bingo…
In the 1960s, the Ford Motor Company spent millions of dollars to develop a car that would beat perennial winner Ferrari in the yearly 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. In 1966, New Zealanders Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon finished first in the Ford GT40 Mk II. In fact, teams driving GT40s took first, second and third. To honour that milestone, Exoto created the GT40 Sports Chronograph watch. Features include a large 44-millimeter face along with a double-stitched leather strap. There are six face styles to choose from, although only 24 of each for sale. The tribute watch sells…
Pricing for the Wilderness starts at $44,400, including destination fees. That’s obviously more than the base Outback ($33,600), but it’s less than the top-level Premier XT trim that lists for $46,600.
Standard Wilderness equipment includes the usual convenience features as well as safety technology such as forward emergency braking and blind-spot warning with cross-traffic backup alert. There’s also an 11.6-inch touch-screen, 180-degree front-view monitor, power moonroof and hands-free power-operated hatch.
Compared with the RAV4, the Corolla Cross is 14 centimetres shorter, 2.5 centimetres narrower and the roofline is more than 5.0 centimetres lower. The wheelbase — the distance between the front and rear wheels — is 5.0 centimetres less. The cargo area behind the split-folding rear seat is about 20 per cent less than the RAV4’s and the maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms) is also 2,000 pounds (910 kilograms) less.
The Corolla Cross’s interior is mainly conservative and is closely similar in style to the Corolla sedan and the Hatchback. The 7.0- or available 8.0-inch tablet-style touch-screen dominates the dashboard’s landscape and is positioned in plain sight of front- and rear-seat passengers.
For fans of the Fast and Furious movie franchise, Nevada-based Inscriptagraphs offers a framed collage featuring actor Paul Walker who died in 2013. Front and center is a full-size replica of the licence plate attached to the 1995 Toyota Supra he drove in the initial “The Fast & the Furious” film from 2001. There are also two eight- by- 10-inch photos plus a laser-engraved nameplate. There’s black matting and a glass cover, and the framed size is 17 by 26 inches. Check out this and similar movie/star-car memorabilia, available for $400 each (plus shipping), at www.inscriptagraphs.com (1.844.474.4633).
Sometimes the vehicle you’re working on has to be moved around the garage or shop while one (or more) of its wheels is missing. Maybe it’s being repaired or painted, or a tire is being mounted. Maybe you have a project vehicle with no wheels at all. This is when the Guniwheel comes in handy. The Georgia-based company (www.guniwheel.com) states the product is compatible with most four- and five-bolt patterns and that the narrow width and hard rubber (airless) compound tire makes it easy to move the vehicle around. The Guniwheel is also useful for avoiding flat-spotting your regular tires…
Before you know it, your clean garage floor or driveway can quickly become a magnet for oil spills and stains. The problem could require the assistance of Oil Eater Cleaner/Degreaser. According to the manufacturer, it’s a non-toxic, biodegradable formula that breaks down oil and grease deposits, allowing them to be rinsed away without leaving a residue. Oil Eater is marketed as water-based, non-flammable and containing no petroleum-based solvents or acids. This means it can be safely deployed on almost any surface, including carpets, floor mats and upholstery. Oil Eater can even be used on clothing. Purchase a 32-ounce spray-bottle at…
F1 Authentics of England sells racing memorabilia made mostly made from retired Formula One racing parts. One of the cool items available is the Pirelli P Zero racing Tyre (which is how the British spell tire). Actually, it’s the 1:2-scale wheel-and-tyre combo designed for wind-tunnel testing. Each tyre displays Pirelli’s unique logo in celebration of the company’s 150th anniversary. It also comes with a stand and carrying bag. Choose from red, yellow, or white sidewall markings, which indicate soft, medium, or rubber compounds, respectively. The wind-tunnel tire sells for about $1,200 from www.f1authentics.com.
Campers and tailgaters can keep their food fresh and edible with a portable solar fridge/freezer from LIONcooler. The unit’s battery can function for up to 10 hours on a full charge. It can also be connected to a standard wall outlet, your vehicle’s 12-volt port, or to the foldable 90-watt solar panels that can be ordered with the fridge/freezer. A smartphone app lets you remotely adjust the temperature level to as low as -4 F. The attached handle and the six-inch wheels will help you move the 33-pound LIONcooler to the desired spot. Prices start at $1,000 for the 32-quart…
A coffee-table-sized hardcover book called Carchitecture: Houses with Horsepower showcases the best of classic-car and unique architectural design. Written by Belgian lifestyle journalists Bert Voet and Thijs Demeulemeester (with assistance from numerous photographers) this 192-page homage to style features rolling eye candy backdropped by equally interesting homes and other structures throughout the world. Some of the featured automobile brands are Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Jaguar, Porsche, Ferrari and — as shown on the cover — Cadillac. You can order your copy for $40 plus shipping from www.uncrate.com.