Classic Good Humor Ice Cream Truck: One Sweet Ride

At the same show as the Caprice/Nomad hybrid i spotted this commercial truck thats perfect to have round on a hot day in Florida....

This is a 1960s Ford F-Series Good Humor Ice Cream truck. This is a mint condition and operable example of an American icon of neighborhood streets. At the show they actually had ice cream stuff stored in the refrigerated storage areas in the back.

I certainly would love to take this to the beach for the day. I could make a killing and always have something sweet on hand if i get too hot.

1957/90s Alternomad Caprice: Two great bowties put together.

At a car show 2 years ago, I spotted this rare beast, a combination of two of my favorite Chevrolets...

This is known as the Alternomad Caprice, a full size interpretation of the Revell Model kit of the same name. It basically started out as a normal 1990s Caprice Classic Wagon. But with a little metal fabrication and welding and window filling, this car has been transformed into a modern recreation of a 1957 Chevy Nomad Panel.

The back end still has the curved roof of the Caprice wagon but now there are 57 Chevy fins adorning the rear end. The custom pin striping adds to the hod rod look. All it needs is the metal slats in the tailgate.

The interior has been livened up with the padded door panel, and the custom steering wheel. And in this shot you can see the Revell plastic model the car is based off of.This car is a real retro cruiser. I would definitely do something like this with a 1990s Cadillac Fleetwood with 59 fins.

1970s Dodge Sportsman Wheelchair Van

Now working half my shift, in a supermarket parking lot, I see alot of those wheelchair loadable minivans by Braun. There mostly based off of Chrysler, Toyota, and Honda Minivans and called "Braun Entervans". Now I always thought Braun was a relatively new company. But apparently this van proved me wrong.

This is a 1970s Dodge Sportsman Braun Wheelchair lift, minibus. It turns out the company has been around for years, and its lifts can be found in both residential and commercial use. The roof has been raised to allow more room for movement inside the van. Most of the new Entervans feature a channeled floor instead

Inside the seats have been removed as well to allow for extra movement for the wheelchair. You can see the lift mechanism on the right.

It really warms my heart knowing that people like the Braun Company have been championing the right of mobility for for the disabled for years!

1960s VW Type 2 Panel Van: Who needs paint?

I was coming out of the Starbucks in the plaza where i work and was taken aback by this car.

Its a VW Type 2 Panel van whose owner had apparently skipped over an important part of the bodywork repair process; paint. It does look like just a wacky paint job under that deep clear coat. Nope, it really is just unpainted, exposed bondo and old paint immortalised under many layers of clear coat.

It's definitely a unique approach, and I must say, on an old VW van, not really wrong either. I'm pretty sure the owner was going for that custom "rat rod" look, and i must say he definitely pulled it off.

On The Auction Block: 1961 Mini Cooper.

Welcome to the next chapter of "On The Auction Block" where I show you some of the unique rides up for sale at the 2011 Palm Beach County Auction. This time, we have a legendary British classic that's been around for ages, and even in its current BMW owned form, proves that you don't need to go big to go fast.

This of course, is a 1961 Austin Mini Cooper, fully restored to it's former glory. The Cooper was the top-of-the-line, go-fast version of the Mini line up. It's definitely a legendary car that has seen everything from the tight turns of British race tracks to the winding closed off roads of the Monte Carlo Rally.

The handling of the car was excellent as the wheels were placed as close to the front and rear of the car as possible. People who have driven it describe it as being a 4 seat go-kart.
Of course it's the size of the car that most people talk about. Its hard to tell, even in the top picture, how small it is. It's smaller than the newer car by BMW, yet despite being 6 foot 2, i actually fit easily in this car. It is of course still in it's right-hand-drive configuration and was a bit disorientating at first having the gear stick on the left.

I've had a new Cooper S in my family and it was a great car. Hopefully one day I'll get to drive one of these originals......just not on I-95.

On the Auction Block: 1934 Cadillac 355 D 2 Door Town Coupe.

Welcome to another chapter of "On the Auction Block" Where i showcase some of the real head turners at the 2011 Palm Beach County Auction in March. This car I'm showing here was probably the rarest car in the auction...

This Al Capone-ish looking car is a 34 Cadillac 355D Town Coupe. This car was definitely the oldest Cadillac up for auction that weekend.

The car featured the original 335D V8 engine and was fitted with most of the optional extras of the time such as a full chrome grille with red slats as well as a cover for the rear mounted spare.

This was probably the only time I would ever see this car. According to the listing this car was one of only seven made, which could mean that this car is the only one left in existence. Still didn't sell.

On the Auction Block: 1969 Plymouth Road Runner

Welcome to the next installment of my "On The Auction Block" Series, where i showcase the cars that stood out at the 2011 Palm Beach County Auction. For this entry we have a 60s muscle car named after one of the fastest cartoon characters ever....

What we have here is a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner. This particular car is fully restored, and numbers matching with a factory correct configuration. With its shiny Hemi Orange paint and black stripes, it does look like they had just taken the cellophane off.

Under the air grabber hood we have the 426 Hemi which has been dubbed the "Coyote Duster", letting people know just how fast this car would be. The other feature is the signature Road Runner horn which gives off the trademark "Meep Meep" sound went pressed

This is definitely a toony car with its loud paint and cartoon characters motif on it. Hopefully one day someone will buy it.

2011 Wheels Across The Pond Car Show, Coming Soon!

That's right, don your driving scarf and goggles and wave your Union Jack proudly because the 5th annual Wheels Across the Pond British Car and Bike Show is coming one again to Jupiter's Carlin Park!

Wheels Across the Pond is a car show held annually since 2006, usually catering strictly to classic British cars and bikes. Everything from a big Jag to a tiny Mini can be seen at any given time. However since 2009 the car has featured a Euro class which caters to non British cars like Alfa Romeo, Porsche and Bugatti.

The show has also started a tradition of having a "Star Guest" attend the show, with last years star being five time Le Man winner Derek Bell and his 1982 Rothman's Porsche 956 Le Mans winning race car.

This year the event will celebrate the 50th birthday of the Jaguar XKE sports car, otherwise known as the E-Type. The show will take place April 23rd at Carlin Park in Jupiter. Admission for spectators is free and car registration is 25 dollars and $12.50 for bikes

So come to Carlin Park and see the best of British Leyland and the Euro Automotive world at the 5th Annual Wheels Across The Pond.

On the Auction Block: 1933 Ford Roadster

Welcome to another chapter of my "On The Auction Block" Series of entries where i show you some of the cars that stood out at the 2011 Palm Beach County Auction. For this entry were looking at a custom rod that's hot enough to burn your wallet to ashes...

This is a 1933 Ford Roadster completely rodded inside and out. The exterior features shaved components such as emblems, door handles, bumpers and trim, along with custom 17 inch wheels in the front and 20s in the rear, all of them wearing low profile tires. Most noticeable on the car is the PPG black paint job with the true fire flame job on the front.

The interior is also custom with red color everywhere. The flame job also continues to the window sills as well as the dash. A chrome, leather wrapped steering wheel completes the look. The engine is a supercharged GM LS6 crate motor that's also been given the flame treatment

This roadster didn't sell sadly, and honestly I'm not surprised. I would definitely be intimidated to buy a car with a 20,000 dollar paint and flame job, let alone drive it.

On The Auction Block: 1959 Cadillac 62 Convertible

Welcome to another chapter of my "On The Auction Block" series of photos where I showcase some of the classic iron that stood out at the 2011 Palm Beach Auto Auction. For this entry we look at probably the most recognized design ever released by Cadillac...

This is a 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible, one of the models of the most stylish year in Cadillac's history. 1959 is considered to be the plateau of American car designs, and the 59 Cadillac model series was proof of this golden year. For starters, the front end was massive with its double decker grille separated by a horizontal chrome strip, as well as its four headlight, four driving light setup.

The most prominent and well known feature of a 1959 Cadillac was its signature rear end styling, with two enormous tailfins featuring bullet taillights, and a second grille for the back. The aircraft like fins were first implemented on the 1948-49 Cadillac and was inspired by the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter plane of WWII, who’s twin boom fuselage greatly influenced the appearance.
　
　
This car was worth $5,455 in 1959. Im not actually sure if, in today’s money that would be more or less than the $68,000 dollar price range it sold for at the auction. Its worth it though, to be able to drive a car, designed by someone with an art degree rather than an accountant.

On the Auction Block: 2011 Dodge Challenger "Sox & Martin"

Hello and welcome to another feature of my "On the Auction Block" series where i show cars that stood out from the crowd at the 2011 Palm Beach Auction. For this entry we have a brand new muscle car made to evoke the image of a 1/4 mile demon from the 70s.

This is a 2011 Dodge Challenger dressed up in the colors of the well known Sox & Martin drag racing team. It featured a 'Cuda front and rear appearance change, a 5.7 liter Hemi engine, six speed manual with pistol grip shifter, and custom billet wheels.

Since Ronnie Sox & Buddy Martin mostly used Plymouths as platforms for their funny cars, the designers of this commemorative car took it to the next level, fitting custom front and rear clips turning the Challenger into a modern version of  the 1971 'Cuda.

Plans are to make a series of these Sox and Martin-ised Challengers for the public, and what makes this one special is that its the Serial 1 car, the first one of the line. Definitely a great car to have if you cant afford a real Sox and Martin 'Cuda.

On the Auction Block: 2004 Club Car Custom Rolling Bar

Welcome to another chapter of my "On The Auction Block" series where i showcase cars that stood out at the 2011 Palm Beach County Auction. For this entry we have a car, that's not even a car, but is definitely a way to become the life of the party come tee-off time.

What this thing is, is a Club Car golf cart fitted with a custom fiberglass body turning it into a mini 34 Ford Panel truck hot rod. It certainly has the look of a classic hot rod. However its not just the looks that separate this from other golf carts. The features it has definitely adds to its fun factor and include a marine AM/FM radio, wood grain dash, turn signals and tilt steering. However the best features on this cart mostly involve liquid refreshment..

Up front there is a 35 can capacity cooler under the hood with another ice chest in the back. Also in the back you will find the chip racks as well as the liquor bar which can hold 6 bottles upside down on tap, something I'm sure Tiger Woods could use during that frustrating game.

This cart is one of a kind and did sell at the auction for around the $14,000 dollar mark. I really wish i had the money for it. Id definitely make it look better by painting it in FAU Owls colors!.

On the Auction Block: 1978 Chevrolet Blazer "Vic Hickey" Edition

Welcome to another chapter of "On the Auction Block" where i showcase cars that stood out at the 2011 Palm Beach Auction. This time we have a tricked out classic SUV built before vehicles like this became the ride of choice for soccer moms.

What we got here is a 1978 Chevrolet "Trail" Blazer, tricked out with some off road goodies. Now lifted and custom trucks aren't exactly unique down here in South Florida. But what makes this truck unique is that all of the after market off road goodies are just as old as the truck itself, installed during the glory days of custom trucks and vans.

The truck was customised by Vic Hickey, a custom off road vehicle designer who did alot of work on GM vehicles including coming up with the design for the Blazer itself. He also was the leading designer behind the creation of the Lunar Rover as well as what would be known as the Humvee.

This truck is completely original inside and out, and by that i mean original the way its customised. Custom features include a bull bar, billet grille, fog lamps, gold painted spare tire rack and taillight guards as well as a 70s black and gold two tone. The interior is also original, though sharp eyed viewers will note the roll cage behind the seats and fire extinguisher as well as the Lev-O-Meter above the speedometer and tach. Nice feature.

On The Auction Block: Custom 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V.

Welcome to another chapter of my "On the Auction Block" series of entries where i showcase some of the cars that stood out at the 2011 Palm Beach County Auction. This time we have a customized American luxury car which looks like it would be right at home in Issac Hayes's driveway..

Its a 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V, a stylish 2 door coupe version of the larger 2 and 4 door Continental Sedan. This particular car has been slightly customized into a 70s era "pimpmobile". In this picture some of the optional bling is noticeable like the white wall tires, eagle hood ornament, and roof vizor.

Almost every bit of the car was replaced including every exterior part. It also featured all the bells and whistles we take for granted in our modern rides like cruise control, power windows and power brakes.

Built between 1977 and 1979 the Mark V was the fifth generation Continental based on the platform of its Ford cousin, the Thunderbird. It was offered either with a 400 ci V8, or a bigger 460 ci V8. It also featured what Lincoln called a "Miles to Empty" indicator, the precursor to the distance range display in today's car's trip computer and also the first use of LED technology  in a car's instrument panel.

Seeing this car up close, as well as sitting in it, it was hard to tell that it was a 32 year old car. Everything felt fresh and new, like it just left the showroom. It even effortlessly started up when it was moved back into the staging area. Sad to believe this massive car would soon be shrunk overtime into a posh Ford Taurus.

On The Auction Block:1969 Plymouth Mod Top Barracuda.

Welcome to another chapter of my "On the Auction Block" series where i showcase a number of highlighted cars that were up for grabs at the 2011 Palm Beach Collector Car auction March 18, 19, and 20. This time we have a 1960s Mopar muscle car ingrained with the "Flower Power" movement of the decade. A combination of Detroit power, and Woodstock style....

Its a 1969 Plymouth Barracuda "Mod Top", one of the select Plymouth and Dodge models cars, which came with a distinctive floral patterned interior as well as, in some cases, a floral patterned soft top roof.

According to the Mopar Mod Top and Interior Registry, in 1969 over 900 Barracudas were given the Mod treatment. The line up also included the later model 1970 'Cuda as well as the Plymouth Satellite, the Dodge Dart, and the Dodge Coronet/Superbee.

Yet another unsold car at the auction. Hope one day it finds an owner, because this is one "groovy" car.

On the Auction Block: Fast and the Furious 69 Dodge Charger and 69 Yenko Camaro SYC.

Welcome to the second chapter of my "On The Auction Block" series, in which i will post some of the highlighted cars featured at the 2011 Palm Beach Collector Car Auction, March 18, 19, and 20. For this entry i have more Hollywood to show. The flipside however is that instead of these cars being owned by stars, these cars were movie stars themselves, being featured in two of the Fast and the Furious car films.

Car number one is the flat black 1969 Dodge Charger R/T which was driven by Vin Diesel in the 4th movie "Fast and Furious", and intended to be the reincaration of the Charger, wrecked in the first film.

From the outside the car looks like they've combined the front end of a 1970 car and the rest from a 69. Those who have seen the movies will notice the differences between the two. The first one looked complete and had the proper chrome grille surround from the 1970 Charger. On this one the grille is replaced with wire mesh and the surround painted in the same flat black as the body.

The interior of the car would make you feel like your in a NASCAR. There is none. There is only one bucket seat, a sheet metal dash, and a roll cage. Thats it. Seems a bit......unfinished.

Car number two is a clone of a 1969 Yenko Camaro. This car is sort of a star but isn't. It wasn't listed as the blue Yenko featured in "2 Fast 2 Furious", but it is, by apperance a perfect replica of the car won and driven by Paul Walker's character in the film.

Exterior wise the car is painted in the same blue paint with the same white Yenko graphics. It even features the SYC lettering on the hood and seats like the movie Yenko did.

Unlike the Charger, the Camaro's interior is definitely all there and all original. It may be a clone of a Yenko but it definitely has got the right looks.

Again, like the LaSalle there was no sale to be had for these two cars. Its a shame because i sure would love to have a piece of movie history.

On the Auction Block: Clark Gable's 1937 LaSalle Speedster

Now those who have been reading my blog entries will note the post i made about a super-car show in Miami called the PanAmerican Concours. Well i had originally planned to attend the event and document it here. However before i could i was told of another event called the 2011 Palm Beach Auto Auction held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center the same weekend but much closer to home.

It was an amasing show, with dozens of classic, muscle, and rare exotic cars being sold at auction. Everything from a Depression era 1930s Pontiac to a late model Maserati Quattroporte, was up for grabs. And because i took lots of pictures, i've decided to run a series of entried titled "On the Auction Block" where i showcase certain cars that stood out among the crowd.

I shall begin the series with a very special car...

This is a 1937 LaSalle Speedster. Its a 2 door, 2 seat roadster which was custom built by Hollywood Coachworks for the actor Clark Gable, as a gift from his wife, Carole Lombard. The car was in immaculate condition, as if ready for delivery.

The design of the car is unique in certain ways, especially in the rear. One may notice the lack of a trunk lid. The back of the body is one piece so as not to interupt the flowing lines of the bodywork. Instead there is a Corvette style storage area behind the seats.

The LaSalle brand was created to be a price gap filler between Buick and Cadillac. It ran from 1927 to 1942, and was powered by Cadillac engines and styled by GM design guru Harley Earl. Though smaller than its Cadillac sister cars the LaSalle was faster and more agile. During a test at GMs Milford track in 1927 a LaSalle achieved an average speed of 92 mph, a speed range usually shared by Indy cars of the period.

The Gable car sadly didn't sell at the auction as the reserve wasn't meant. Can't recall what the reserve was, but it was somewhere in the hundred grand range.

The Sharpie Lamborghini: When Paint Just Wont Cut It.

Normally when you want a car to stand out visually, the idea of a custom paint job comes to mind, often using colors not usually offered in a manufacturers paint brochure. Some paint jobs feature airbrushed designs that look like they'd be more at home on someones forearm. Others feature custom flames or tribal graphics.

But what if your different? What if the idea of using paint comes off as too played out to you? What if you want to go a different route in changing the look, to ensure that no other car will match it? A Miami car dealership owner thought just that, and when his idea was finished......it looked like this...

This is the "Sharpie Lamborghini", quite possibly the only one of its kind in the world. It was the brain child of Brett David, CEO of Prestige Imports, a Miami based luxury car dealership. David, wanted to create a car that would challenge the established beliefs of the custom car world.

Starting with a silver Lamborghini Gallardo, he commissioned a local graffiti artist, who created a custom design from bumper to bumper, including the windows. What separated this from other custom paint jobs was that it was done, as its name implies, entirely with Sharpie ink.

Since its debut in 2007, the Sharpie Lamborghini has been the official mascot for Brett David's Lamborghini of Miami dealership and has appeared at numerous car shows including the Palm Beach Supercar weekends. Its definitely a one off car, and one that i don't see being duplicated anytime soon.

A Truly one of a Kind Ferrari: Ferrari P4/5.

Now it has been said that there's never been a cheap Ferrari. Whoever says that, is totally right. Ferraris have always been uber expensive super cars only accessible by people who could afford one, mostly playboys or millionaires. However, Ferraris are production cars just like Fords, albiet a bit more limited. As a result you can, if you save enough, buy an Italian drivers car from a company with a legendary racing pedigree.....or can you?

This car, the P4/5 is a Ferrari. It was designed by Ferrari's go to designer Pininfarina to resemble a 1960s Ferrari 330 P4 LM racer from the future. Its a beautiful machine and sadly this is the only picture iver ever taken of it.

The thing is though, this car cannot be bought from Ferrari, nor was it produced by them. It started out as a million dollar Ferrari Enzo supercar. Its owner, a NY car collector took the car and commissioned Pininfarina to make a retro body for the existing chassis. It was completed and unveiled in 2006 at the Pebble Beach Concours. I was able to get this shot at the 2007 Palm Beach Supercar Weekend.  This car is truly one of a kind and is too complex for Ferrari to make into a production car.

Pity, because its heaven on wheels.

2011 Palm Beach Supercar Weekend coming up....but not in Palm Beach.

Yes, for 2011 the Palm Beach Supercar Weekend has been relocated to Miami Dade county. Renamed the Miami PanAmerican Concours, the Supercar Weekend will take place March 19th and 20th

Known as Supercar Experience, the show is considered to be the worlds largest gathering of classic and exotic supercars in one place. Everything from a classic Corvette to a Formula 1 Ferrari can be seen at this event.

Since 2007 the show featured a regular park and show event one day and a track day event at Palm Beach International Raceway on another. The original location of the show and shine was the grounds of the International Polo Club in Wellington. It was then relocated in 2008 to Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach.

This year the event is being held in Miami at the Fairchild Botanical Gardens on Saturday, followed by a members and VIP track day on Sunday at Homestead Raceway.

Ticket prices for the show and shine are $55 per person which may seem steep. But trust me on this one, its worth it. I personally have attended the event over the past four years. In that time I have gotten close to, and inside of, some of the most exclusive cars you can buy today. I’ve even come within inches of the fastest supercars in the world, such as the Bugatti Veyron and the Ultimate Aero SCC.

If you love supercars, this is the chance of a lifetime. Need proof? Check out my photo coverage of the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 events.

AMG Heaven

Now working most of my shifts in a parking lot I often spot really nice cars and sometimes even more than that. On a recent occasion I managed to spot and photograph 3 AMG Mercedes Benzs in the same shift.

Now Mercedes Benzs are pretty common in the area of Palm Beach I live and work in. I see tons of them at work. But very few times are they the AMG versions. For those not in the know, AMG is the in-house race and tuning company for Mercedes Benz that takes their line of luxury cars and gives them a bit more muscle, from the SL convertible to the S Class sedan.

We start with these two SL convertibles. The lead one is a late model SL65 with the AMG engineered 661 horsepower 6.0 liter V12 BiTurbo engine. The car behind it is an earlier SL55 with a 5.4 liter 510 horsepower supercharged V8, the same engine featured in the Mclaren Mercedes SLR Supercar.

These are the Mercs one would expect to get the AMG treatment. However AMG, has been known to tune cars in its line up that people do not expect.

Here is a perfect example. It’s a Mercedes G Class SUV that has the same 5.5 liter V8 from the SL55 AMG. The classic G Series is by far the most noticeable vehicle in Mercedes’s line up, thus making this AMG version extra special. Here is a car that’s makes a Hummer H2 look streamlined and yet can go from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds!

If you want an AMG Merc be prepared to shell out a lot as AMGs are noticeably higher in price than the regular Mercs. The G-Wagon alone set my wallet on fire.