Who you gonna call?

It's one my favorite movies back in the 80's. So when I started to collect die-cast cars, the Ecto 1 was a must have for me. Fortunately, this model was released by ERTL in 1:21 scale at around 2004-05.

It's my all time favorite piece in my die-cast Movie/TV Themed Collection because of it's accurate and detailed features.

Here are photos of my Ghostbusters Ecto 1 collection. I'm hoping to bag the HotWheels SDCC exclusive soon.

ERTL 1/21










Johnny Lightning 1/64
Tenth Anniversary Release




Johnny Lightning 1/64
Attack of Mr Stay Puft Diorama




Assorted Loose 1/64 HotWheels, Johnny Lightning & Columbia Pictures Release (no brand at the base, anybody knows the brand?)


Thanks for viewing & see you at the movies! =)

New Lancia Stratos Review

Resurrection of the legendary rally car, Lancia Stratos seemed not just a rumor. New Lancia Stratos has now been officially introduced.

New Lancia Stratos is a unique-shaped compact car with a mid-engine sports the short wheelbase.

Stratos is the initiation of the resurrection of a personal project Stoschek Michael, a successful businessman who heads the fifth largest supplier of automotive components in Germany.

In terms of appearance, New Stratos was designed to truly be a prototype of Lancia Startos. Although the overall color carbon black, unlike the legends who dominated the red and white Marlboro.

New Stratos based off the Ferrari F430 and body made entirely of carbon fiber, allowing the power-to-weight ratio was less than five pounds per dk and 50:50 weight distribution.

Stratos tested in the circuit. However, not yet known whether this car is really only going to produce one unit only, or at least be a limited edition with a small production, there is going to depend on the demand and production cost.

New Stratos body completely made of carbon fiber.


Stratos new (black) side by side with old Stratos.

More Info on the 2011 Honda Civic Sedan Lineup for Canada

"What's New" for 2011 Sedan
-SE trim replaces Sport trim
-DX(AT), DX-A(AT,MT) and EX-L(MT) trims discontinued

New Sedan Trim Lineup will look as follows;

DX Manual Transmission ONLY
DX-G Automatic and Manual Transmission
SE Automatic and Manual Transmission
EX-L Automatic Transmission ONLY
Si 6-Speed Manual Transmission only

No Colour Changes from 2010 and the SE, which replaces the SPORT uses the same Black interior as the SPORT did.

No heated cloth seats on the SE trim like I thought they'd do, as far as I can tell, the SE has replaced the SPORT in name only.

Source;
Honda Canada

Lotus Esprit cars

In 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me featuring Roger Moore, the Lotus Esprit became one of Q’s most impressive sportscar mods. In a long chase scene between 007 and the infamous Bond-villain Jaws, Bond’s Lotus Esprit makes a cunning escape by transforming into a fully-diveable submarine. While a submersible version featuring that bikini blonde above are not available today, a similar Lotus Esprit could be originally purchased for around $16,800 at the dealer in 1977.



Last but certainly not least– the original Bond-mobile, the 1963 Aston Martin DB5. In the 1964 film Goldfinger, 007 was provided with a weaponized DB5 by Q Branch himself. Aston Martin, however, wasn’t so keen on the deal. After much negotiating, Aston Martin finally agreed to a product placement deal that made automotive history for the brand. The DB5 was the latest-and-greatest sportscar to be produced in the UK, initially selling for $13,000.

Unsold Cars Due To Global Recession

Automakers are facing trouble across the world due to global recession. Thousands of unsold cars are parked in factories and wharehouses waiting for delivery to customers and dealers.

Sales of new cars in the UK have slumped to a 12-year-low and production of cars at Honda in Swindon has been halted for a unprecedented four-month period because of the collapse in global sales and represents the longest continuous halt in production at any UK car plant. The announcement comes on a day when the EU’s Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen warned the outlook for the European car industry was ‘brutal’ and predicted not all European manufacturers would survive the crisis.

Unsold cars at Avonmouth Docks near Bristol

Paintings Cars Photos

Paintings Cars

Cars

Cars pantin photo

Paintings Cars

Honda takes green commitment to RP

Honda has undertaken worldwide efforts in protecting the environment and Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) carries the same green commitment.

In marking its 20th year of operations in the country this October, HCPI is celebrating 20 years of providing fun-to-drive and environment friendly vehicles.

Voltaire Gonzales, Vehicle Sales and Corporate Communications Head of HCPI, said there are over 239,200 Honda patrons in the country today.

HCPI recently staged a four-day exhibition during the 3rd Philippine international Motor Show held at the World Trade Center to highlight is commitment to preserve the environment. The exhibit theme was "Blue Skies for our Children."

Honda has taken conservation measures as early as 1960s. In 1966, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Founder, Soichiro Honda once said, "Leave blue skies for our children." This has been Honda’s longstanding commitment for more than four decades now.

The display put up Honda’s ecologically sound technologies that remain true to its promise. It featured the latest in Honda’s roster of cars: the Honda City, Jazz, Civic, CR-V and Accord.
All powered by the ingenious i-VTEC engine, Honda vehicles make the most out of every drop of fuel by adjusting valve timing and valve opening combination to pump in fuel as needed only.

Apart from fuel efficiency, Honda vehicles are also engineered to release less harmful emissions.

Honda is the only local manufacturer that reaches EURO 4 levels for all its model line-up, even if Philippine regulations only mandate EURO 2 compliance. EURO 4 standards translate to approximately 56 percent reduction in harmful emissions as compared to EURO 2 standards.
To date, almost 82,000 Honda units with EURO 4 levels have already been sold and ply Philippine roads.

Lessons learned from the CVCC (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion) engine technology, the first engine to meet the almost then impossible emission standards of the 1970 US Clean Air Act, have paved the way in the development of Honda’s new products and technologies which set the standard in mobility and environmental conservation.

In improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon footprint, Honda recognizes hybrid as the most practical technology at the moment. Honda’s original Insight introduced in 1999 was the first gasoline-electric car sold in the US.

Using Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology, the gasoline engine serves as the main power source of the vehicle while the electric motor provides additional power as needed. Thereafter, other gasoline-electric powered models soon emerged like the Civic Hybrid and Accord Hybrid.

Last year, Honda introduced the all-new Insight. Boasting excellent fuel economy at an affordable price, the Insight is designed to pass on hybrid technology to the mass market. A year after, the CR-Z model was launched in Japan.

Source;
http://www.malaya.com.ph/08312010/auto2.html

Feeling lucky today?

I visited a local hobby shop last week and was surprised to find an opened Tomica Mini Cooper Selection Lottery Set. As far as I know from our local distributor, this Lottery set was sold out.
I remember getting the whole box set a few years ago since I prefer to have the complete set of the Mini Coopers. In fact, I got 2 sets but passed-on the extra set to a friend.

There were only around 7-8pcs left in the shop and all individual boxes were still sealed. I wanted to have extras of the Red with #177 Tampo & Green with British Flag on Roof so I decided to check my luck.

Tomica Mini Cooper Selection
Lottery Set
Actual item I bought still sealed in original plastic...




Let's cut the plastic...


Take a peek inside...


Was I lucky that day? Oooops!




I wasn't! Nevertheless, I still got the Gold with Australian Flag on roof and not the plain Gold. I was still lucky!


More photos...












Nothing beats the feeling of suspense that I got, might go back to the hobby shop again this week and try my luck. =)

Mercedes Arrow Is A Lightweight Two-Seater Vehicle Gives You The Feeling Of Sliding With A Bobsleigh

Mercedes Arrow has been designed to draw a comparison with other recreational vehicles such as motorcycles, jetskis or personalized aircraft. This stunning vehicle gives its passengers the ride of their life. The bobsleigh shaped body, the lightweight materials and the sporty look enable it to shoot through heavy traffic like an arrow from a bow. This experience can only be enjoyed by two passengers, their seats are placed one in front of another. One of the stunning features this futuristic car has, is that it combines TANDEM with MAGLEV technology to take sharp corners. This innovative feature allows the body of the car to tilt left and right when the car is taking corners, thus minimizing the wheels tilt angle. There is an almost non-existing chance for the vehicle to slide out of control. Due to the slim body, the wheels cover the same space of tarmac, just as a contemporary car, eliminating the risk of the car flipping over. The designer, Felipe Palermo, found inspiration in the old Silver Arrows, the SLR McLaren and the 1954 Gull-Wing.

Designer : Felipe Nogueria Palermo

The whole design and idea put this concept automotive in a near future, where people won’t be using cars anymore. A future where the whole transport itself will be based on rail systems. Felipe’s Arrow vehicle is designed for fun in the weekends, a recreational vehicle. The air intake placed in the rear of the car, over the last passenger, reminds us that the whole vehicle is based on Mercedes’ racing history and its super-cars. The airintake is also a starting point for the side bars, which strengthens the body and hold between them a small wind shield in front of the driver. Mercedes Arrow will be equipped with the next generation tire technology. They will have the ability to never wear out, the driver will be able to re-inject them with rubber and take the car for a spin, again. Felipe Palermo has applied everything he has learned at the IED, where he graduated in Car Design in 2007. He also has a post degree in Transportation Design and Industrial Design at FAAP, and is currently working at Mercedes-Benz Design Studio in Brazil.