Aftermarket action

Sit your seat in a classic seat

With the increasing popularity of auto-themed rec rooms and garages, demand for the appropriate furniture and accessories is booming. Among its other items, Car Furniture Inc. sells an assortment of sofas and loveseats that are made using the rear ends of actual classic and sports cars. These are not fiberglass copies. For example, the trunk portion of this 1955 Chevrolet stands 36 inches tall and 74 inches wide and will fit through a standard 32-inch doorway. Available standard body colors include red, black, pink and turquoise, while the upholstery comes in red, black, tan, or white. Note that the sofa weighs about 500 pounds so you’ll need plenty of hands to move into your basement. Order one for $9,550 (including shipping within the United States) at www.carfurniture.com.

It’s race time

For the past 25 years, B.R.M. (the initials stand for Bernard Richards Manufacture and not the British Racing Motors team from the mid 1950s) has been producing watches with a focus on racing. From its factory in France, the company makes about 2,000 timepieces a year. One of its limitedproduction models ( just 100 pieces) is the BRM BT6-46 Gulf watch. Made using mostly titanium, the 46-millimeter watch features the colors of the Gulf Oil Company that was the primary sponsor of the GT-40-based Mirage and Porsche’s 917 racing teams from the 1960s and ’70s. That theme carries through to the watchstrap that’s made from seat-belt material. The BRM Gulf watch sells for $4,545 at www.exquisitetimepieces.com.

Spray-on traction control

For those wintry times when maximum traction is required for short distances on icy roads, consider keeping a can of TyreGrip in your vehicle. Spraying the product, which has been described as “pine sap in a can,” on your tires will, according to the manufacturer, give you up to 300 percent more traction while at the same time preventing snow, mud and gravel from adhering to the tread. Each application will last for up to 50 miles. You can buy a 16-ounce spray can of Tyre-Grip (good for several applications) for $20 from the manufacturer at www.tyre-grip.com.

Cars mesh with dogs

For safety’s sake, it’s best to keep your pet secure in back. However, some lonely and/or excitable dogs will try to join you by scrambling between the front seats — often at the most inopportune time — or move forward while your vehicle is unoccupied. The Kurgo Backseat Barrier will prevent that from happening while providing protection for your dog in the event of a sudden stop. The cloth-andnylon-mesh soft wall attaches to the bottom of the front seats and the headrest supports with velcro strips, which makes intallation and removal a simple task. The product (SKU # 00006) is available for $45 at www.kurgo.com.