Aftermarket action
A Mustang motor in miniature
Makerhaus specializes in various auto and electronic products and sells a 1:3 scale model of the high-performance 289-cubicinch V-8 that Ford installed in the early Mustang. This one moves with the help of three AA batteries (not included). The cooling fan spins, the crankshaft turns, the pistons move up and down and the spark plugs fire (or appear to fire) using red-tipped LEDs. An electric sound module produces a simulated engine growl. A collector’s manual covering the history of the Mustang V-8 is also included with the 200-piece kit. Purchase for $186 at www.makerhaus.biz.
Spray-on vinyl adds new life
Changing the colors of your alloy wheels or other hard plastic or metal surfaces usually entails painstaking prep work
— even stripping the old finish — and then expensive repainting. And if you don’t like the look, you’re stuck. However Superwrap lets you spray on your choice of gloss or matte colors, and it peels off when you’ve decided you’ve had enough. Each coat dries in about five minutes (a six- to- 10-coat application is recommended) with a cure time of about four hours. The base kit provides enough material to cover four average 17-inch wheels. Kits are available for larger sizes, too. The coating will last for up to three years, according to the manufacturer. Check out the color palette and purchase at www. getsuperwrap.com.
Fastest egg in town
Racing and Emotion offers custombuilt chairs that really are works of art. The company’s focus is on the Porsche 917, which is one of the most famous of all Porsche racing cars and the vehicular star of the 1971 movie “Le Mans” that actor Steve McQueen produced and starred in. R&E makes what it calls egg chairs, since they are inspired by Arne Jacobsen’s 1958 design. There are two distinct shapes produced from molded fiberglass, and they feature cloth, or optional leather seats. The Egg series starts at $6,000 per chair, while the smaller ball-type chairs sell for upward of $5,800, plus shipping. The company can also provide any color scheme you like at extra cost. See the entire collection at www.racing-emotionusa.com.
The Cadillac of jackets
Clothing and apparel made from recycled materials is an environmentally and financially responsible alternative to buying new. California-based Platinum Dirt takes the concept in a unique direction with a variety of products sourced from the leather seat covers of decommissioned automobiles. For example, the company’s line of VIN Jackets — so called because the plate with the Vehicle Identification Number of the car is attached to the product — is made from the stuff. No two items are exactly alike, but all are painstakingly tailored and many come with stitched-in silk linings. Prices range from $125 for a small tote bag, to $1,500 for a jacket. View the complete inventory at www. platinumdirt.com.