GEARBOX

CLOCK’S GONE BACK. IT’S NEARLY CHRISTMAS

1 LASER QUEST

This is something a bit special. The guys at Engraved Blueprint Art will create custom laser-etched blueprints of cars, planes, boats, weaponry - almost anything mechanical in fact. They’ll print onto aluminium, acrylic and even cherry hardwood which makes for an altogether classier personalised wall hanging. Pro tip: to avoid any errors in the specs box, it might be worth submitting your proofed specs and spelling of ‘litre’ to them. Check their website out at engravedblueprintart.com

2 BUFF IT OUT

Psst. Wanna know a secret? One of the very best light scratch removal products is Farecla 7164 G3. It routinely wins product review tests in Europe and, if you hunt around a bit, you can find the odd enterprising Aussie resaler stocking 500ml bottles. The diminishing abrasive particles in G3 Scratch Remover break down consistently and reduce in size as you remove the scratch or scuff, finally turning into a smooth wax polishing fluid. Just lightly dampen and apply the scratch remover to a waffle pad, and evenly apply to the bodywork. Check it out at bit.ly/farecla

3 ROLL WITH IT

One of the most maddening things about working with old cars is that as your knowledge and expertise grows, your physical abilities tend to slide. Therefore anything that makes life in the garage that bit easier gets the big thumbs up from us. Supercheap Auto has a deal at the moment that caught our attention. Buy an SCA garage creeper and you can also get a roller seat for a combined price of just $67.98. The creeper’s made of tough ABS so it won’t cold shock you like metal ones on a fresh morning. bit.ly/ scacombodeal

4 CLOCK THIS

We don’t often feature watches in the pages of Unique Cars but this one is a bit different. It’s a Kickstarter project that builds watches out of recycled air-cooled Porsche 911 steel. The REC 901 Collection offers three designs (we’ve pictured the 901-01) and features a 44mm case diameter, a transparent caseback that resembles a Fuchs wheel design plus Porsche-style fonts, a VIN plate and a crown wheel like the horn cap of early 911s. Powered by a Miyota 9100 movement, check them out at bit.ly/aircooledtime

5 THROWING SOME SHADE

If you’re going to model your style on anybody, ‘The King of Cool’, Steve McQueen isn’t a bad place to start. One of his staple accessories was a little leather pouch containing his Persol 714 foldable sunglasses. He wore these on the set of The Thomas Crown Affair and The Getaway, but they weren’t props. They were his own shades. Persol launched a 714 SM edition back in 2011 but they’re extremely rare. The standard 714 is more widely available and these ones can be yours for $230. They won’t make you as cool as Steve McQueen but every little helps, eh? bit. ly/stevesshades

6 MEATBALLS W/. EVERYTHING

There aren’t too many upsides to being dragged through IKEA of a weekend. After half and hour your mind wanders to ways to kill a man with a 4cm Allen key and there’s only the sweet salvation of hotdogs and cinnamon buns to keep you trudging through the labyrinth of fibreboard tat. Imagine chancing upon this sweet picture of a Fiat 500 among the hackneyed shots of 1930s New York city and boring rope bridges in the mist. It measures 70x100cm and only costs $39.99. It’s by artist Phil Handsley, so if you like it, scoot on over to www.ikea.com.au