the top gear parts dept. emporium

From bling and zing to muscle and hustle

Why play with blocks when . . .

If you want to get the kids away from their video games for some good fun, check out the toy lineup from Automoblox. The company specializes in assemble-them-yourself wooden cars and trucks. Each one is made from European beech wood along with plastic parts and rubber tires. The neat thing about Automoblox is that all of the pieces are interchangeable with any other Automoblox vehicle, allowing for plenty of design creativity. Kids can also register their cars with the company (each has its own ID number) to receive all sorts of free stuff, such as posters and decals. Automoblox toys are priced from US $12 for the Mini series models to $45 for larger sizes. Check them out at www.automoblox.com.

Give thieves the boot

The makers of The Club are known for their theft-deterring steering-wheel-locking bars. However the company also produced an external locking device that prevents thieves from stealing your car, trailer, or all-terrain vehicle. The Tire Claw XL uses the same principle as those larger “boots” that bylaw enforcement agencies use to immobilize vehicles, only on a somewhat smaller scale. The manufacturer claims the device is easy to install and fits any wheel width up to 30 centimetres. It also comes with three laser-encrypted keys that cannot be copied. The product retails for US $100 plus $27 for the optional lug-nut protector. Order from www.theclub.com.

Load and fetch it

Here’s an item that all pickup owners, or owners of full-size sport utility vehicles for that matter, should keep with them at all times. Having a lightweight aluminum EZ-Retriever II from Agri-Cover Inc. on hand will allow you to reach those items that, whether intentionally or not, are positioned at the far end of the bed. Instead of climbing into the box, the 60-inchlong (152 centimetres) extendible EZ-Retriever II lets you snag those hard-to-reach items and drag them to the gate. And by simply reversing the process, you can push loads to the back of the bed from the tailgate. Get one for US $20 from www.agricover.com/access/ezretriever2.

Sounds good to me

If you’re restoring your dream hot rod or older-model car, you’ll likely want to upgrade the sound system, yet retain that original look. Retro Manufacturing carries a wide range of old-style classic radios that are designed to fit just about any make or model. The company will sell you a basic version or a higher-level unit that will, among other things, allow you to play tunes from your USB device (such as your smart phone). You’ll get chrome knobs and faceplates for that authentic look, along with a modern LCD display for the tuner. Prices start in the US $200 range (plus speakers). Check to see if they have the exact unit for your project at www.retromanufacturing.com.