Aftermarket action

Rolling into the past

The look and value of your North American classic or muscle car can be ruined with a set of cheap aftermarket wheels, or scuffed-up originals. For more than 30 years Specialty Wheel has produced original-look wheels for older Fords, Chevys, Buicks, Cadillacs and various Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler cars. And for that custom look, many of these recreations are available in sizes that are larger than original. Not only does the company make wheels, but it can also supply customers with the correct-looking center caps, trim rings and lug nuts, all of which are designed to be virtually indistinguishable from the originals. Prices vary according to size and complexity, but start in the $85 range for a basic early Chevrolet Rallye rim, up to more than $450 for a Cadillac wire wheel. For availability and ordering go to www.specialtywheel.com.

Hands-free, of course

Are you still talking on your cell phone while driving, potentially risking an expensive fine and a possible crash? There’s no excuse for doing that, especially with themyriad of hands-free devices on the market. For example, the cordless Steering Wheel Bluetooth Speakerphone attaches to your steering wheel and provides up to five hours of talk time on a full charge. Inbound calls are displayed on the Speakerphone’s display as either numbers or names and are activated by pressing a button. The device can also recall up to 10 recently called numbers and can store up to 600 phone numbers. A number of online resellers offer the Steering Wheel Bluetooth Speakerphone for about $70, including www. hammacher.com (product #83984).

Fix dents at home

Fixing minor dings, chips or holes in your vehicle doesn’t have to a difficult or expensive process. 3M’s Bondo’s Small Dent Repair Kit is formulated to be non-shrinking and permanently durable. Each kit comes with all the necessary items to help give a professional finish to your bodywork. You get six ounces of lightweight body filler, glaze, a spreader, a mixer and one sheet each of 80-, 180- and 320-grit sandpaper. Once the job is completed you’re ready to prime and paint. You can purchase this product at most department or automotive specialty stores, or from a number of online sites such as www.amazon.com for about $15-$18. You can also check out the complete line of 3M/Bondo car care products plus a list of retailers in your area at www.3Mcarcare.com.

A dog’s life is a breeze

If your dog rides with you, chances are Fido likes to stick its head out the window while taking in some fresh air and other intriguing scents. However that isn’t necessarily the safest thing for your pet, whether you’re on the move or parked. The BreezeGuard from Mutt managers LLC will keep your dog safe behind a protective steel screen that securely attaches inside your vehicle’s doorframe. And best of all, you can still roll up/down your windows with the BreezeGuard in place. You can order a single BreezeGuard for $115, but for maximum cross-ventilation a set of two is available for $225. The product is available for most popular makes and models, but the company can make you a custom-fitted unit(s) on request. Get all the details at www.muttmanagers.com.