A BUNCH OF OLD CARS

 I have posted another image gallery - this one is some of my car photos!

See it here: CAR GALLERY

Long ago, back before all cars turned into gay lawnmowers, even on the streets of Wellington, there were still some stylish old tanks to be seen. Since around 10 years ago these have become as rare as hens teeth, but here are some photos I took between about 2000 & 2015.

Except for the top photo, which I didn't take (that's teenage me posing in it). That is my old 1967 AP7 Valiant which had the engine upgraded from a 3.7L slant six, to a 4.3L HEMI, with a huge twin barrel carb, six into one extractors, and a race cam. But it still only had the original drum brakes, so it was a real beast.

The gallery includes a bunch of old relics that caught my eye:

(Click on any of them to view in 1000 x 750 px size)

 

 

 

THE SAD DEMISE OF MOTORCYCLES

 

HAVE MOTORBIKES BECOME EXTINCT – LIKE FAX MACHINES?

There is a lot of talk about the decline of the motorcycle industry at the moment. But does anyone even still ride motorbikes, or are they just an old timers fantasy, like knights in amour or horses and carts?

As a teenager I was obsessed with motorbikes, and as well as using them to get around I used to race motor-cross too. I thought motorbikes were awesome.

But the New Zealand government decided that like marijuana, and cures for cancer, motorbikes needed to be outlawed out of existence.

They did it by making it so expensive to register a motorbike that nobody would be left who could afford to do it.

Cars are fairly economical in NZ, because we are a right hand drive country (like England and Australia), but we have no car industry that government needs to protect (unlike England and Australia), so we get all the second hand cars from right hand drive Japan shipped over here and sold nice and cheap.

Back in the old days, it used to be about the same cost for the annual registration on both motorbikes and cars. But in more recent years, motorbikes have gone up. A LOT! Now the annual registration for motorbikes is $538 (so motorcyclists mostly just gave up and bought cars).

Yes, in NZ it costs nearly as much to register a motorbike each year as it does to buy a cheap Japanese car.

Like an intrepid African lion hunter, I went exploring the streets in search of retro two wheeled iron horses – do any still exist?

A few still do, but we are not talking regular A to B transport here – anyone paying $538 a year for a number plate wants two wheeled exotica!

Here are 10 styling motorbikes that got tangled up with my camera:

 

 

JANES ADDICTION - THREE DAYS

It amazes me that this song came out in 1990 and this performance was recorded nearly 34 years ago.

I remember hearing Jane's Addiction for the first time in 1991 and they blew my mind. This 10 minute epic is awesome, at their peak Jane's Addiction were one of the all time great bands, talented musicians & totally original.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Y-v5twoGw

Ritual de lo Habitual served as Jane's Addiction's breakthrough to the mainstream in 1990 (going gold and reaching the Top 20), and remains one of rock's all-time sprawling masterpieces. While its predecessor, 1988's Nothing's Shocking, served as a fine introduction to the group, Ritual de lo Habitual proved to be even more daring; few (if any) alt-rock bands have composed a pair of epics that totaled nearly 20 minutes, let alone put them back to back for full dramatic effect. While the cheerful ditty "Been Caught Stealing" is the album's best-known track, the opening "Stop!" is one of the band's best hard rock numbers, propelled by guitarist Dave Navarro's repetitive, trashy funk riff, while "Ain't No Right" remains explosive in its defiant and vicious nature. Jane's Addiction always had a knack for penning beautiful ballads with a ghostly edge, again proven by the album closer, "Classic Girl." But it's the aforementioned epics that are the album's cornerstone: "Three Days" and "Then She Did...." Although Perry Farrell has never truly admitted what the two songs are about lyrically, they appear to be about an autobiographical romantic tryst between three lovers, as each composition twists and turns musically through every imaginable mood. And while the tracks "No One's Leaving," "Obvious," and "Of Course" may not be as renowned as other selections, they prove integral in the makeup of the album.

ARE THERE ANY GREAT NZ MOVIES?

When I'm asked if there are any great New Zealand movies I don't know where to start. Not because there are so many I don't know which ones to choose first, but because the short answer is "No, not really" There are certainly not many I would call "great".

 

If I pick my favourites from the past 50 years, I can think of three that I really liked.

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls000380472/

 

 Goodbye Pork Pie (1980)

Dumped by his girlfriend, a man joins a reckless youth in a stolen yellow mini and they drive the length of New Zealand, attracting cops and media attention, determined to get to Invercargill.

    Director - Geoff Murphy

    Stars - Tony Barry, Kelly Johnson, Claire Oberman

Bad Taste (1987)

The population of a small town disappears and is replaced by aliens that chase human flesh for their intergalactic fast-food chain.

Director - Peter Jackson 

Stars- Terry Potter, Pete O'Herne, Craig Smith

 

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

 

A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.

    Director - Taika Waititi
   
Stars - Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata

THE HOT NEW MOTORBIKE TREND

Converting big old 500cc two stroke motocross bikes to road legal

They pull wheelies when power-band kicks in every gear and geared up they do 190kph

With road tyres on wide rims and big discs they are said to really go like stink & blow away road bikes

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ldagIL-Mis

 

HOW MUCH?

There are not many supercars in New Zealand, probably because they are a bit on the expensive side, and our ever deteriorating roads would totally munt them in no time flat. But I started wondering, if I was filthy rich, and in the market for some racy looking bling, how much would a new 2024 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport Red Dragon cost?

It turns out the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport Red Dragon 2024 Price in New Zealand is NZ$ 9,020,000 (US$5,500,000)

 

 "Bugatti has just unwrapped its latest masterpiece, the bespoke Chiron Super Sport named ’Red Dragon,’ and it’s an absolute showstopper. Adorned in a mesmerizing red-hued carbon fiber finish, Bugatti has spared no effort in ensuring that every inch of this hypercar exudes sheer luxury and opulence.

The Red Dragon flaunts subtle Nocturne exterior accents, accompanied by sleek black-painted lightweight five-spoke wheels that seamlessly blend with the understated Super Sport stripes, cleverly concealing vibrant red brake calipers. The exterior is a symphony of design, a testament to Bugatti’s commitment to perfection.

Inside the cockpit, the elegance continues with Blanc (white) seats and door panels harmoniously paired with meticulously handstitched Hot Spur contrasting details and Beluga Black carpets. This meticulous attention to detail extends to the dash and door tops, creating a visually striking and athletically inspired contrast that elevates the interior to a level of unmatched sophistication.

The Red Dragon isn’t Bugatti’s first venture into the world of red-tinted carbon fiber; a similar aesthetic was employed in the Pur Sport Grand Prix unveiled just last year. The integrated headrests boast contrasting ’Chiron Super Sport’ embroidery, and even the rear-view mirror is color-matched to the striking exterior hue. Overall, it stands as one of the most captivating Super Sports to date, a remarkable feat considering the array of jaw-dropping releases from Bugatti in recent months.

Underneath its bespoke exterior, the Red Dragon retains the powerhouse that is the 8.0-liter W16 quad-turbo motor, delivering an astonishing 1,578 horsepower and a tire-shredding 1,180 lb-ft of torque. The elongated rear end, 9.84 inches longer than a regular Chiron, not only contributes to a more graceful aesthetic but also enhances stability at high speeds, achieving a 40% reduction in aerodynamic stall. Consequently, the Super Sport effortlessly reaches a top speed of 273 mph, an impressive feat by any measure.

In the case of the Red Dragon and similar bespoke Bugatti creations, customers collaborate with the Sur Mesure department to tailor every detail to their precise preferences. The exclusivity of Bugatti is highlighted by instances like a wealthy couple commissioning matching Super Sports. However, for those who haven’t secured their Chiron yet, the window has closed, with all units spoken for. Yet, for the less discerning, the secondhand market may still unveil opportunities, such as the recent discovery of a rare Super Sport 300+, expected to fetch a staggering $5.5 million. Bugatti has capped the production of Super Sports at 80 units, while the even more exclusive Super Sport 300+ is limited to just 30 units, ensuring that these automotive masterpieces remain rare gems on the roads." 

 

AWASH WITH EXOTIC CARS

COOL RIDES

Once in a while a really cool looking ride cruises by and I do my best to get a photo of it. New Zealand is not exactly awash with exotic cars. We are a right hand drive country, like England, Australia, India, South Africa and Japan, and most cars in NZ are Japanese. (Approx 34% of the world’s cars are right hand drive, but I’m not sure most people in America realise that)

http://basementgeographer.com/right-hand-traffic-versus-left-hand-traffic/

There is no car industry to protect in NZ, so there is open importing of used Japanese cars. This works brilliantly, because Japan has regulations to encourage the export of all their car fleet when they reach five years old, which means that we get to buy all their mint condition five year old used cars dirt cheap. And that is why cars are cheaper here than in Australia.

When I’m on the look out for cars to take photos of, I’m usually more interested in the non Japanese ones because they are fairly rare. There are some flash European cars here, and even a few Aussie classics, but it’s the American ones that seem really rare and exotic. Especially if the steering wheel is on the wrong side.

Because they are not made by Subaru or Nissan I usually have no idea what they are, but if they sound grunty and look like a pimping ride, I get snapping. Here are a few cars I’ve noticed round the hood.

And now for some English class

Finally, for something totally different, here is a gratuitous shot of some German bling cruising downtown

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AN IMPORTANT QUESTION

 Question for today - Would you wear these sunglasses if they could guarantee to make you 0.000000001% more aerodynamic in the Tour de France, or would you be fearful that they may cause people to laugh uncontrollably and call you a numpty?

 

GOLD GOES UP & DOLLARS GO DOWN

 While the news reports about Gold tend to squawk about every minor rise or fall, when looked at over longer time spans, relative to fiat currencies, it goes steadily up.

The price of 1 oz of gold in US$ over the past 50 years