Proper Auto Detailing

Voodoo Ride Car Care Products

2008-07-02T08:41:00.006-04:00

Voodoo Ride is a hardcore car care and lifestyle products company, co-founded in early 2007 by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
ProperAutoCare.com is proud to be one of the few care care product suppliers in the USA who are authorized to sell this great new line of automotive detailing products.
Voodoo Ride products are designed to impress even the most discriminating auto enthusiast.
The product line includes car washes, polishes, and scratch removers, just to name a few.
ProperAutoCare.com is excited about this new product line and we think you will be too.

Inventory Clearance Sale

2008-06-25T08:05:00.002-04:00

We are getting ready for inventory and in an effort to reduce what we have to count, we are having an Inventory Reduction Sale from now thru June 30th, 2008.
Use coupon code JUNE08 on any order and receive 10% off.
This offer cannot be combined with any other coupon or promotional code.

But wait... there's more! If your order is over $75.00, you automatically get FREE UPS Ground Shipping for orders shipping to continental USA addresses only.

Father's Day Shipping Special

2008-06-06T10:33:00.005-04:00

Father's Day is Sunday, June 15th.
Show Dad how great a guy he is with the gift of detailing accessories from Proper Auto Care.
Now, through midnight June 15th, we are offering free UPS Ground Shipping to the Continental US on all orders $25.00 or higher.
We make placing your order easy with no coupon codes to remember and no need to signup for anything.
Just place your order and you will see the free shipping in the shopping cart.
Locations outside the continental US will incur a minimal charge. International shipping instructions still apply.
Place your order today!

Last Days to Vote in our Sizzling Shine Contest

2008-05-28T09:13:00.002-04:00

Our Sizzling Shine Contest is drawing to an end.

This Saturday, May 31st, will be your last day to vote in the contest.

We will be announcing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, in addition to the Viewer's Choice winner in our June newsletter.

The response and engagement by all of you in the contest has been incredible. We've received entries from the world over.
We are truly thankful for your participation.

Thanks!

A Mother's Day Present Detailing Story

2008-05-14T12:53:00.005-04:00

I'm Michael, the web guy here at Proper Auto Care.
This past weekend, I gave my wife a full detailing on her 1993 Jeep Cherokee as a Mother's Day gift.

This Jeep still has the original paint and we have tried to take the best care of this vehicle as possible.
But, this SUV is used constantly. It takes lots of road trips.
The paint, therefore, has suffered slightly. As you can see from the picture below, the paint on the roof was quite oxidized.
We had thought that we might have to get the top of the Jeep repainted.

This was what we thought until I decided to attack it with an assortment of our products.
The end result, was like giving the Jeep a face lift.
I literally took 5-8 years of of age off the paint.
Needless to say, my wife is a very happy camper.

Here's how I did it:

Since any good detailing starts with a clean vehicle, I gave it a good wash with Menzerna Auto Shampoo.
Menzerna Auto Shampoo gave me tons of suds.
I began with washing the tires and wheels first.
While you may prefer starting from the top and working down, this is just a personal thing with me.
I like to get the brake dust and such off the wheel first.
The Jeep has a basket-weave sort of wheel and I used our E-Z Detail brush to work around the spokes.
The brush was great in getting the tires clean also.

Now, onto the bodywork.
I started from the top down.
Using our Microfiber Chenille Wash Mitt, and our Grit Guard insert in a 5 gal bucket, I had at it.
The Grit Guard worked like a charm.
When I was finished washing, there was no grit on the mitt..all of it was beneath the Guard.

After giving the Jeep one last rinse, with the nozzle set on "Shower" to make the rinse nice and gentle,
I moved her into the garage to dry, polish, etc.

Using our Big Blue Towel III, I dried a four door Jeep Cherokee in about 5 minutes...and with one towel!

Starting with the worst paint first, the roof, I used our Blackfire Scratch Resistant Clear Finishing Polish and
a Porter Cable 7424 polisher with a Lake Country 6.5" CCS Orange pad.
My speed on the machine was set at 3.5.
I worked small areas at a time.
The results were almost immediate.
The color started to come back out before my eyes.
For the roof I made the decision to use two "layers" of the SRC Polish.

The hood was next. The hood's paint was in better shape than the roof, but had swirl marks.
The polish helped reduce those swirls almost immediately.
I worked the the sides and rear and moved on to the next step.

Now, I finished with Blackfire Wet Diamond All-Finish Paint Protection.
This is a sealant. What I'm doing here is enhancing the gloss and the depth of the gloss on the Jeep.
I used three coats of this product. I know....but hey, it's my wife's Jeep!
Nothing is too good for her.
I used a Lake Country CCS 6.5" Red Finishing Pad.
I also used a micro fiber buffing cloth the buff out any residue.

The results were nothing short of stupendous.
Check out the picture below. See the reflection on the roof?
Check out that cloud in the hood.

I dressed the wheels with Wheel Wax to protect them from brake dust and to make my next cleaning of them
much easier.
The tires were dressed with Blackfire Long-Lasting Tire Gel. This gave them a nice matte finish. Not "liquid shoe polish" shiny.
Just a classy finish.

For those of you thinking that your car's finish is just---finished, think again.
We have the technology...you have the ability.
It can be done!

$5.95 Flat Rate Shipping is Back!!

2008-04-25T13:52:00.003-04:00

Now, through midnight April 27th, 2008, we have brought back $5.95 Flat Rate Shipping.
That's right, for less than 6 bucks, you can have your order shipped to you with in the continental USA.
Act now....remember....like Cinderella, you have until midnight!

Spring Cleaning Time for your Car!

2008-04-16T09:22:00.004-04:00

Well, the weather is finally easing up and spring is, at last here. Time to do a Spring cleaning on your vehicle. If you live in an area that uses salt on the roads in winter months, your car will need some special attention now that spring has arrived. Our Spring Clean-Up Kit contains everything you need to remove caked-on salt residues, tiny rust spots and give your ride a bright, spring shine.

Here's the system we recommend to keep those tiny, winter rust spots from developing into a paint nightmare:

1. Pre-clean with P21S Total Auto Wash to remove salt residues.
2. Wash and dry the car.
3. Inspect for rust spots and test for paint contamination.
4. Use a clay bar and lubricant to remove rust spots and contamination.
5. Wipe on a polish to maximize surface gloss and liquidity.
6. Finish with a great wax for shine and protection.

Our Spring Clean-Up Kit allows you to do all of this with a minimum amount of effort and expense. Our kit includes:

1. A 1000 ml. spray bottle of P21S Total Auto Wash.

We've found this to be an absolutely indispensable product for pre-cleaning to remove caked-on grime and salt residues.
Spray Total Auto Wash inside wheel wells and on rocker panels.
Lightly brush if you can or just allow to penetrate for 3 to 5 minutes and rinse off with a garden hose.
Total Auto Wash can also be used as an interior cleaner on carpet and rubber floor mats and vinyl door panels.

2. A BLACKFIRE PolyClay Kit.

After a harsh winter, we can almost guarantee that your car will have some tiny rust spots or a gritty finish.
Blackfire PolyClay and Clay Lubricant allows you to quickly and easily remove paint contamination and winter rust spots before they can penetrate the clear coat.

After claying, your car's paint will be as smooth as glass and ready for polishing and waxing.

3. A P21S Car Care Kit.

This is one of our best values in a car care kit containing a great shampoo, P21S' famous pH-Balanced Wheel Cleaner, an excellent polish and a Pure Carnauba Paste Wax that is a breeze to apply and buff off.

Purchased separately, the items in this kit would cost over $106.00

Car Care Dogs!

2008-04-08T10:39:00.002-04:00

When we founded this company over 21 years ago, it was out of a personal quest to find the best car care products available.
We made an issue of personally testing and evaluating every product we could find.
When we found a product that really offered superior results, we decided to share our findings with fellow enthusiasts.
This was the birth of Proper Auto Care.

Today, it's in vogue for websites to claim they evaluate the products they offer.
Frankly, that's mostly hype. Last month, one of our suppliers introduced a new car wash shampoo.
Within days, this shampoo was on many websites with glowing accolades describing the shampoo's outstanding performance.
When we received this company's press release introducing this new car wash, we ordered a bottle for evaluation.
It was evaluated by one of our staff and he reported his results in a Friday morning product roundtable.
I should disclose here that Jan and I can no longer test every product that comes in for evaluation. There's just too many of them.
We have a system in place where various staff members test new products and report their findings at a weekly meeting.

This shampoo was evaluated by Jack Kruer, our Vice President. Jack felt the product was a dud.
The suds evaporated in the bucket after washing the first wheel and he felt the shampoo's cleaning ability was wimpy at best.
When a product gets a bad grade, we always have someone else test the product just to double check the findings.
In this case, I agreed to use the shampoo. This product was from a well respected supplier, had fresh packaging and was being offered at an attractive price.
I did use the shampoo a few days later and confirmed Jack's initial opinion.
I'm sorry but this shampoo was a dog. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, at any price.
At our next product meeting, we agreed not to carry this shampoo.
In time, three weeks had gone by since we first received the press release announcing this new product.
This is one reason we don't immediately jump on the bandwagon and blindly offer every new product that comes to market.

In another example, last summer we received an impressive presentation portfolio for a new car care line out of California.
The line looked fantastic and we requested samples for evaluation. When the samples arrived we tested every product.
We were honestly disappointed. The formulas reminded us of 1980's car care technology.
These products worked but were, in our opinion, sadly behind current technology.
We elected not to offer this line but we do see it on more and more websites.

We've all been burned by purchasing products that don't live up their claims.
We do our best to honestly represent every product we offer.
We really appreciate that you trust our reviews and evaluations and we are not going to change our business plan and become a supermarket for every new product that comes along.
We also recognize that we can't please everyone.
You may try a product we like and have a different opinion.
If that happens, please feel free to return the product, even if it's half empty, and we'll refund the full purchase price.

Thanks for your continued trust!

Flex 3401 VRG Polishers are back in stock again!

2008-04-04T16:44:00.002-04:00

Great news!
The Flex XC 3401 VRG polishers are now back in stock.
For all of you who placed an order early and waited for your delivery, THANK YOU!
We appreciate the patience you granted us while Flex caught up on the huge demand for the polisher.
We are now caught up on all back-orders and have available stock to fulfill your order for this fantastic polisher.
For those of you not familiar with this polisher, please visit the Flex XC 3401 VRG page of our web site to educate yourself on the benefits of owning this "must have" polisher.

We have received a sizeable delivery of these polishers, so please act
while supplies are good!

Flat Rate Shipping Offer Extended!

2008-03-27T09:58:00.003-04:00

If you haven't taken advantage of our Flat Rate Shipping Offer, you now have a second chance!

Our promotion has been so popular that we have extended our Flat Rate Shipping of $5.95 on any order place with us, shipped within the continental USA, until midnight March 31st.
Now minimum amount required!

Come Tuesday, April 1st, it's gone....no Foolin'!
So, act now!

Flat Rate Shipping Now!

2008-03-19T17:01:00.002-04:00

This just in!

We have Flat Rate Shipping of $5.95 on any order place with us, shipped within the continental USA until midnight March 26th.
Now minimum amount required!

Act now!

Flex XC 3401 VRG Polishers back in stock!

2008-03-19T10:53:00.007-04:00

Great news!
The Flex XC 3401 VRG polishers are now back in stock.
For all of you who placed an order early and waited for your delivery, THANK YOU!
We appreciate the patience you granted us while Flex caught up on the huge demand for the polisher.
We are now caught up on all back-orders and have available stock to fulfill your order for this fantastic polisher.
For those of you not familiar with this polisher, please visit the Flex XC 3401 VRG page of our web site to educate yourself on the benefits of owning this "must have" polisher.

UPDATE!!! Due to the enormous demand for this polisher, we must report that we sold-through the stock of polishers that just came in. However, we have a re-supply due in to our warehouse in just a few days.

The Sizzling Shine Contest continues.....

2008-03-17T09:04:00.004-04:00

Many thanks to everyone out there. The response to our Sizzling Shine Contest has been fantastic. The entries and the votes continue to pour in.
We encourage you, if you haven't done so, to enter your vehicle in our contest. Who knows, your baby may win our contest! Click on this link to the Contest Rules page, if you wish to enter. If you wish to vote for your favorite, just follow this link to the Gallery Page and vote for your favorite Sizzling Shine.

Sizzling Shine Photo Contest!

2008-03-12T11:12:00.002-04:00

Announcing our 6th annual Sizzling Shine Photo Contest!

Does your vehicle have a Sizzling Shine? If it does, e-mail us a digital photo (360 x 510 pixels or larger) and you could win!
We're looking for some great photos showing SHINE! Be creative! Submit as many different photos as you like. Who knows, your photo may even make it on our home page!

New Viewer's Choice Award

This year we're adding an extra prize we call the Viewer's Choice Award. We're going to post the entries on our website and invite you, our customers and viewers, to vote for your favorite shine photo. If you submit more than one photo, we will post the best one for online voting. Check back for the ink to view the photos.

All entries must be received by May 31st, 2008.

Please visit the official rules page for the 411 on the contest, plus the prizes to be awarded.

Winners will be announced in our June, 2008 Newsletter.

How can I restore faded, oxidized plastic automotive cladding?

2008-02-25T11:13:00.012-05:00

My 2000 Nissan Xterra has been well taken care of, but no matter what I did to protect the plastic bumpers and cladding from fading in the Florida sun, it didn’t work. I knew I didn’t want a shiny painted finish, but a flat black finish with a little texture would be nice. I looked at a lot of different possible solutions: truck bed spray-on and roll-on linings, underbody coatings, texture paint, etc. A local spray-on bed-liner company quoted $650 to do the job and I had to remove all the parts and take them in - $1200 if they did the entire job and I’d be without my vehicle for a “few” days. I thought there had to be a better way, and I was right.

I looked at the Wurth Stone Guard Black. This stuff is designed for use on rocker panels to protect from rock chips and other things thrown up from the road or trail. One of the things I liked about what Wurth says on the can is:

“Permanent flexible rubber-plastic coating…”

I tried it on a sacrificial panel and I found my fix.One thing I didn't want to get into was removing parts and this worked out well. Get an X-acto knife for close trims of the tape.

I used 2000 grit sand paper to rough all the areas and remove any oxidation to insure a good bond with the Stone Guard. The Stone Guard can doesn't mention doing this, but I believe it to be good practice to make sure the paint sticks.

After washing and drying the Xterra thoroughly I started masking off areas I didn't want painted or scratched with blue painters’ tape.

To make sure all the residue was removed I sprayed Wurth Clean-Solve on a microfiber cloth and wiped down all the areas. You want to make sure this doesn't get on the paint. One can of Clean-Solve goes a long way.

The instructions on the Wurth Stone Guard state:

“…spray at least 20” from the vehicle surface…Spray in short, even strokes, usually 1 – 2 coats, until desired texture is obtained.”

This is a must! Too close and you spray on too much causing it to bubble. Shake the can well before using. Before you start painting with a new can spray on a piece of cardboard or something you don't want. It takes a second or 2 to get to the black paint and you don't want this pre-spray on the vehicle. The material comes out of the can really fast so moving the can quickly and spraying in short bursts is best.

I applied 2 coats to the front bumper & grill, rear bumper, fender edging and splash guards for all four wheels. This stuff is quick drying so 2 coats was no problem to do in a short time.
I had small chips in my front bumper from rock hits, and they are completely covered. The texture is very subtle, nothing like a truck-bed spray-on liner I had original set my sites on. The color is a flat black, darker than the original dark gray, but it is really sharp. It took all of a Saturday afternoon to do and I didn’t have to remove one single part. It took me 4 cans of Wurth Stone Guard to complete the job, and the results are phenomenal!

If you have plastic cladding on your car or truck that is looking dull or has faded from the sun, you should really consider the Wurth Stone Guard Black.

Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours on the Avenue

2008-02-14T11:39:00.006-05:00

The first ever, Concours on the Avenue was held at Carmel-by-the-Sea, California in August of 2007.
This event was 6 years in the making. Through the efforts of Atlanta-based Doug Freeman and his wife, this event was a total success.
The show featured 18 classes of vehicles, totaling 135 cars and motorcycles from 1946-1971.

Two of the cars that really impressed us were the 1946 Ford Woodie Wagon and the 1953 MGA-TD.
To say that these cars are immaculate is the understatement of the year.

The 1946 Ford Woodie took home the Silver in the 40's American Family Favorites Group, and was definitely a crowd favorite. The custom surfboard and carrier are a great finishing touch!

By the way, the owner of the Woodie uses our Blackfire products to detail this car!

The 1953 MG is absolutely beautiful.
We love the luggage rack on the back.
This car looks as though it should be driving down a winding English road.

Here is a link to station KSBW's web site and their video report of the show.
Enjoy!

Meguiars new G-110 Dual Action Polisher is a winner!

2008-02-08T14:37:00.000-05:00

This is a new product introduction, not a true review, because Meguiars has just released these machines and I have not had a chance to actually use one (except briefly at SEMA). I will do a full review of this machine in the very near future. That said, I held this machine at SEMA and was thoroughly impressed with it. I think it's going to be the hottest thing to hit the US since Harry Potter!

There's actually quite a story behind this machine. A little over a year ago, Classic Motoring Accessories, Meguiars and a few other distributors were approached by an Asian manufacturer offering a dual-action machine for the same price as the Porter Cable 7424. For those of you new to machine polishing, the Porter Cable 7424 is an orbital polisher. The pads do not rotate, they "jiggle" in a random motion. This reduces the machine's cutting power (the ability to remove swirls, scratches & paint defects) but eliminates the possibility of the machine creating swirls. On a Dual-Action polisher, like the Flex XC3401VRG, the pads still "jiggle" but there is a forced circular motion. Dual-Action polishers have more cutting power making them more capable of removing scratches, spots and paint defects while still being basically "idiot-proof". Dual-Action machines always cost more than orbital machines so if this Asian company could offer a true dual-action machine for the price of an orbital machine it would be a great value. The problem was, this machine had some problems. We questioned the construction quality, the motor quality and the power switch/speed control. (One of our samples actually burned up during our testing!) Both Classic Motoring and Meguiars passed on this machine although it was picked-up by other web retailers and is still being touted in the marketplace.

Meguiars, to their credit, went back to the manufacturer with a list of improvements they wanted and the result is this Meguiars G-110 Dual-Action Polisher. The machine I held at SEMA was a real sweetheart. It was beefier than the original model we evaluated, came with an adjustable, bail handle and was packaged in a molded carry case. A six inch backing plate was included but there was no foam pad included with the model displayed at SEMA.

The bail handle is a winner. It allows the operator to use the proper front and back grip for maximum control. Meguiars told me they had the entire motor assembly and counterweight assembly redesigned. The unit I held at SEMA felt very well balanced and exhibited no more vibration than my Porter Cable 7424.

As soon as our inventory arrives and we fill customer orders, I'm going to do a full head-to-head comparison of the G-110 with both the Porter Cable 7424 and the Flex XC3401VRG. In the meantime, you can get your name on the waiting list and be the first to get what I feel will be THE bargain in a machine polisher. We have a fairly substantial inventory coming but I have a feeling this machine is going to be so hot that Meguiars will quickly be in a backorder situation. If you order the machine below, we will ship on a first come basis. Your credit card will not be charged until we actually ship your machine.

2008-02-05T08:57:00.000-05:00

Take care of your sweetie this Valentines whether it be your spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, significant other, or your car. From now until midnight, Wednesday, February 13th, 2008, take 10% off & get FREE GROUND SHIPPING within the continental USA on any order $50.00 or more. Just enter the code HEART08 in the Coupon / Promotion Code box at checkout.

Need it fast? Three Day Air is only $10.00 & 2nd Day Air is only $20.00 for orders over $50.00. This promotion cannot be combined with any other coupon code offer.

New Mother's Product -- Mothers PowerBall 4 Paint

2008-01-30T16:23:00.000-05:00

Mothers PowerBall 4Paint quickly applies liquid waxes and sealants using your cordless drill.

I flipped over the standard Mothers PowerBall and the PowerBall Mini for polishing so it was with a great deal of anticipation that I tried Mothers new PowerBall 4Paint. Made from a brand new, super-soft, finishing foam, this larger, six inch diameter, patent-pending, foam-fingered ball is designed to quickly apply your favorite liquid wax or sealant using a cordless drill. This new foam is so soft that Mothers claims it will not introduce any swirls, even when used on black and red finishes.

I have seen this ball on other websites that recommended using a 120 volt electric drill. The good folks at Mothers told me the optimum application speed for this ball is 500 rpm. It works best with a cordless drill in the low speed setting. Most 120 volt, AC drills run to 1200 rpm. If you were to run this ball at that speed, you would splatter product over yourself, the vehicle and the entire garage. If you use a 120 volt, electric drill, be sure you can limit the maximum rpm's.

Another claim being made for this PowerBall (on other websites) is that it can polish away swirls, remove oxidation and restore surface gloss on older vehicles. Yes, the PowerBall 4Paint can be used to apply a polish but the foam has very little, if any, cutting action. You might be able to remove some holograms and very light washing swirls but I seriously doubt if this ball could remove oxidation or restore gloss to older vehicles. It is not a replacement for having a polisher like the Porter Cable 7424 which can be fitted with a variety of aggressive pads.

So, how did the PowerBall 4Paint perform?

Actually, very well. I tested the ball on a neighbor's black, Lexus, SUV and it surprised me with the speed with which I could wax the vehicle. I used a 14 volt cordless drill set in the low speed setting and was able to wax the entire vehicle on one battery charge. True to Mothers word, I could not detect any trace of swirls or lines that I could attribute to the PowerBall or the cordless drill.

Bottom line:

Being brutally honest, the PowerBall 4Paint got mixed reviews from our staff. Our senior staff members either preferred an orbital machine like the 7424 or preferred to wax their vehicle by hand. The PowerBall 4Paint was a hit with our younger staff members who felt it waxed a vehicle faster than could be accomplished by hand and actually did a better job than hand waxing. From my experience, I would have to side with our younger staff members. It absolutely allowed me to wax a vehicle faster than I could do by hand and I do feel the extra rotation of the drill produced a better finish than could be achieved by hand. My advice, if you can afford a Porter Cable 7424 and an assortment of pads, you'll be able to accomplish significantly more in the way of removing swirls, spots and minor paint defects. On the other hand, If you have a cordless drill and want a great shine in half the time it would take by hand, this is the perfect answer.

Mothers PowerBall 4Paint comes with a FREE 4 oz. sample of Mothers FX Synwax.

The Top Priced Car at the Barrett-Jackson Car Auction

2008-01-22T12:54:00.000-05:00

We know everyone is anxious to know what THE most expensive car auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson auction was.
Well, here it is. The only existing, they only built ONE, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette "Rondine" Edition.
Below is the car's description from the Barrett-Jackson site.
This car is amazing in it's design for it's time....remember, this was from 1963!

As you will read below, it was built and then stored in the Pininfarina Museum.
If you are doing the math, this car has been stored for over 40 years.
A car could not be in any more mint condition than this.
This car sold at the Barrett-Jackson show for $1.6 Million!

The one and only 1963 Chevrolet Corvette "Rondine" Edition.
Built for the 1963 Paris Auto Show by world renowned design house Pininfarina, and commissioned by Chevrolet.
Features a 327cid/360hp V8 with a 4-speed and power brakes. This historically significant prototype motorcar has been stored and preserved at the Pininfarina Museum since new, and is being offered for the first, and most likely last time ever.
On the well-known Chevrolet Corvette chassis, Pininfarina has realized this special coupe displaying sports characteristics.
The body style is based upon the idea of maximum simplicity and functionality, and features a remarkable outline owing to the lightness of its sections.
The limited use of chrome stresses sober elegance of design and harmony of the whole. The front part, designed to obtain an outstanding penetration into air, slopes forward along a smooth curve, from where the fenders originate, slightly projecting with respect to hood configuration.
Centrally in the front end, an opening is provided, acting as air intake, decorated by means of a thin chrome horizontal bars grille.
The fixed front double headlights provided with removable shielding built into the body, grants perfect continuity in the car front part and excellent night visibility. The front bumper, made of chromed steel with extremely thin section, consists of two especially designed elements, limiting the radiator grille at both sides.
The side panel features a sharp angle originating from the radiator grille, running along the front fender, the side and finally dying into the crest of the rear fender, thus giving the car a peculiar slender appearance.
The rear end features a new and interesting "swallow tail" arrangement.
Rear fenders, in fact, project with respect to the car main central structure. The turnout is a broken line plan view, resulting in a remarkable lightness of tail appearance.
Built in the rear fenders are the horizontal, specially designed, stoplights. The petrol filler box lid has been replaced by a quick release cap.
The roof, originating from a wide double curved windshield, is quite thin and light and rests on a typical rear element, having "roll bar" shape and function.
Side windows can be lowered completely.
The luggage compartment is located inside and below the rear window.
The car interior, habitability and comfort of the original model has remained unchanged and is made out of elastic leather.
The seats, comfortable and wrap-around, are provided in the back with an opening assuring continuous aeration.

Barrett-Jackson Sales Update, Take 2

2008-01-21T14:15:00.000-05:00

Here's a follow up to our Friday posting of sales results from the Barrettt-Jackson Auto Show.
We hope you tuned into Speed TV on Saturday night. Speed TV always covers the B-J show and came through with another great broadcast of the event.
Below are nine more vehicles sold at the show.
Stay tuned, we will continue to update you with more sales figures from the show. We understand that some extra special vehicles sold for some extra special prices.

1963 Heinkel $29,000. Didn't Cousin It drive this in the Addamms Family movie?

1966 Pontiac GTO, $50,000. Little GTOOOOOO!

1967 Amphibicar, $32,000. Who needs a bridge?

Custom Baver Craft, $51,000

1969 Jaguar XKE Coupe, $47,000

1976 Alfa-Romero Convertible, $9.000. A bargain!

1958 Nash Metropolitan, $15,000

1955 Porsche Speedster Replica, $20,000

1968 American Motors AMX, $27,5000

Barrett-Jackson sales update

2008-01-18T14:49:00.001-05:00

As mentioned in our earlier post, we're attending the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.
If you love cars, this is the place to be.
Here's an update on some of the cars that have passed through the Barrett-Jackson auction.
We have listed the final price on each vehicle.
Makes you wish you would have
held on to that car you had when you were in high school, doesn't it?
If you click on each picture, you will get a larger picture to view.

1966 Ford Thunderbird $12,000

1971 Chevy El Camino $28,000

1961 Custom Ford Thunderbird $36,000

1962 Citroen $11,500

1960 Morgan Convertible $16,000

1958 BMX 600 $30,000

>1974 Triumph Convertible $14,500

1961 Austin Healey $21,000

1979 Dodge Lil Red Truck $19,000

The Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event

2008-01-17T14:13:00.001-05:00

As promised, here is our pictoral report, the first of many, from the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event.

If you have Speed TV from your satellite or cable provider, this Saturday they will be covering some of the goings-on at the event.

For those of you not familiar with B-J, theirs are the premier collector car auctions in the world. Cars auctioned at a B-J event are VERY special cars. One-of-a-kind, one-offs, and cars that are extra, extra rare are sold here at prices not for the faint of heart.

Below are just some of the vehicles up for auction.

What's your guess on what they'll be sold for? See how close you come to guessing the final price. Please use the comments link below this post to let us know your guess-timate.

2000 Bentley

2004 Pontiac GTO Custom

2008 Dodge Challenger

2008 Mercedes SLR Roadster

Tomorrow......the "car guy" cars.

Proper Auto Care is going to Barrett-Jackson

2008-01-14T12:17:00.000-05:00

We'll be attending the Barrett-Jackson auction this week.
Stay tuned to this blog for pictures and reports from the floor.
We hope to have some great pics of some great rides to whet your appetite for great cars.

The DiMora Natalia SLS 2 sport luxury sedan, the world's first $2 million production automobile

2007-12-26T16:49:00.000-05:00

This has to be the most amazing luxury car we've seen.
The list of amenities and features of this sedan is just jaw-dropping!
Check out the features on this incredible automobile, courtesy of the DiMora website.

The Natalia SLS 2 sport luxury sedan, the world's first $2 million production automobile, will be completely distinctive from bumper to bumper. It will be the world's fastest, most technologically-advanced, and finest four-door sport luxury sedan in transportation history.

The Natalia promises to feature dozens of innovations never seen before in any production automobile. Here are just a few of the planned, advanced features.

DiMora Motorcar V16 Volcano Engine

At the heart of every great motorcar is a great engine. The DiMora Volcano V16 engine will produce 1200 horsepower, yet will offer excellent gas mileage by using variable-cylinder technology and an unusually lightweight engine block. The design, casting, and materials will set it apart from all prior engine technology.

Fuel System

The fuel system will use cutting-edge technology that we anticipate will yield a dramatic increase in gas mileage, while boosting performance and decreasing emissions to the point that a catalytic converter should not be needed.

Aerospace Body Construction

The chassis and body will use advanced aerospace materials and construction techniques to give superior strength at a weight easily 1,500 pounds less than luxury vehicles its same size. This weight advantage will further improve gas mileage and performance. The strength will add to the driver's and passengers' safety.

More than 60 Onboard Computer Systems

The Natalia technology will be driven by the most sophisticated computer systems ever used in an automobile. They will be tightly integrated to control the vehicle's performance, safety, comfort, communications, and entertainment.

Four-wheel Drive and Four-wheel Steering

The drive train and steering systems will afford superior maneuverability, handling, and safety.

Variable Suspension

The unique suspension system will provide a smoother ride than in any luxury sedan with the performance characteristics of the finest sports cars.

Paint

The Natalia will use revolutionary paint technology. One optional feature of the paint will be to allow the automobile to change from black or blue when it's cool outside to white when it's hot.

Bumpers

The Natalia will be the first production automobile to use a patented new design and material technology for its bumpers. Low speed impacts will result in minimal damage beyond a paint scratch. At higher speeds, the bumper will perform its most important function: minimizing harm to the passengers.

Vision Enhancement

The Natalia will incorporate night vision into the head-up windshield display. Additionally, external cameras throughout the automobile will feed the head-up display to eliminate all blind spots.

Headlights

The headlights will house small video screens and a video projector. These will display any Natalia video stream: movies from the automobile's DVD player, satellite TV broadcasts, live video coming from any of the automobile's cameras, or a professional video about the automobile and our sponsors. Thus, the automobile will be able to tell the viewer about Natalia and our sponsors while parked.

Next-generation Lighting Systems

The Natalia will make use of sophisticated LED and fiber-optic lighting inside and out to give effects normally reserved for Hollywood productions. Among its many uses, lighting will be adjusted through the biofeedback system to help keep the driver alert.

Handicapped-assisting Front Passenger Seat

The front passenger seat will glide forward, rotate 90 degrees, and transport the passenger to the sidewalk or a wheelchair. No other production automobile offers this as a standard feature.

NASA Foam Technology

The interior will feature NASA foam technology combined with a newly-created gel lining and newly-created leather. This will provide unparalleled interior comfort.

115v or 230v AC Outlets

Since we all carry many electronic devices, how nice it will be to have normal electric outlets to plug them into. This is the kind of attention to detail that helps make the Natalia unique.

Wireless Personal Computer

There will be a full-function, hand-held Windows personal computer that is 4.9" x 3.4" x 0.9" and weighs 14 ounces. It will have one gigabyte of memory, a 100 gigabyte hard drive, its own keyboard, and a full complement of ports. It will wirelessly connect to an external monitor, full-size keyboard, the Internet, and a portable printer, while in or out of the automobile.

Retractable TV Screens and Bar

The back-seat passengers will enjoy remote-controlled, retractable TV screens and bar. The large-screen TVs will use directed-sound technology so each person can watch different programming without the sound disturbing others without the use of headphones.

Thermally-controlled Cup Holders

Enhanced design blends the cup holders with the luxurious interior while keeping your drinks hot or cold at the touch of a switch. A fiber-optic ring will glow dimly, either red or blue, as it heats or cools the drink.

A Woman's Touch

We will create an elegantly-stated, limited-production purse, a $12,000 value that will be included with each Natalia SLS 2.

Additional Luxury Items

* State-of-the-art computerized rear seat massage is guaranteed to relax you.
* Italian walnut, hand-inlaid burlwood will give the dash and bar a lustrous feel.
* English wool carpeting and lamb's wool mats will enhance the interior.
* Lighted Waterford crystal ashtrays will beautify the interior.
* Only a demonstration of a Natalia wine bottle can do justice to its amazing, patented, self-uncorking system. Suffice it to say, this is the world's only wine bottle with the corkscrew built in.