Tag Archives: car

Cool Car Pics

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It’s about time for some action in the Motors section.  So here are a couple of photos I took at the recent Wales Comic Con in Wrexham.

First up is a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, which I’m guessing was in attendance due it’s appearance in Smokey and the Bandit.  It’s an iconic car, and an old favourite of mine.  Probably had a Matchbox toy of this one, long ago.

Then we have got Optimus Prime and Bumblebee from Transformers.  Bumblebee is a very nice yellow Chevrolet Camaro.  I’m not a huge Transformers fan, but seeing these vehicles was pretty cool.

Hope you enjoy the pics!

Pontiac Firebird

Pontiac Firebird

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Camaro
Trans Am

Apologies for any inaccuracies in my descriptions!

More Classic American Cars

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Stars and Stripes American Classic Car Show, Tatton Park

The American Classic Car Show is this weekend at Tatton Park – 4th July weekend.  My, how time has flown since my last post about this great event.

In the last article, I shared some photos of classic chrome and fins autos from the 50’s rock’n’roll era.  This time, I thought I’d share some cars from a slightly later period – the muscle cars of the late 60’s/early 70’s.

These are the cars I really love.  They’re the cars on all those classic cop shows like Starsky and Hutch; or brilliant films like Vanishing Point.  These are also the cars that I had Matchbox and Corgi replicas of – they were my favourites then, and they still are now.

Why don’t cars look like this any more, he asks with a tear in his eye…

Enjoy the photos.  And if you can get to Tatton Park this weekend, enjoy the show.

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And I saved the best till last.  There were many great car shows from my childhood, and many iconic cars.  The General Lee from the Dukes of Hazard is my all time favourite, though.  A beautiful Dodge Charger, it makes me weep when I hear how many of these cars they wrecked making that programme.

A word about the flag, too.  I do not generally discuss politics on my blog, but I will declare that I’m no right winger.  In fact my opinions are very much the opposite.  I appreciate, however, that the Confederate flag shown on the top of the General is considered offensive.  However I have decided to show the car here for posterity, as it’s a fine machine.  The flag remains obscured for reasons of sensitivity.  I admire the car, remember the silly television show, but do not advocate prejudice.  Peace.

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The Tatton Park website is here.

Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6QN

01625 374400

American Classic Cars

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Stars and Stripes American Classic Car Show, Tatton Park 

Every year on or around July 4th, there’s a Classic American Car Show at Tatton Park in Cheshire.  I’ve been a few times over the years – weather permitting – and had a great day out.

Obviously there’s plenty of American autos to see; of all ages, varieties, colours and shapes.  Plus you’ll find tons of entertainment, from live bands, food, rides for the little ‘uns and a motorcycle Wall of Death.  Not to mention there’s practically a whole village of market stalls selling everything from car parts, to toys, memorabilia, cowboy hats and cowboy boots – the list is endless.

I thought I’d share a few photos from my last trip to the show in 2014.  To get the motor runnin’, here are a few fine examples of the fin and chrome variety…

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The Tatton Park website is here.

Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6QN

01625 374400

1967 Mercury Cougar

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As promised at the start of the year, I wanted to add a few new sections to my blog.  As I don’t have enough hobbies and interests to cover on here already, you see.  The next new arrival is this – my Motors section.  I should call it Me and Motors actually (for all you people who’ve had Sky a long time…)

You won’t find anything too technical here, as to be honest, I have no idea what horsepower is.  Nor am I impressed with Audi or BMW – so don’t expect any posts relating to cars like that.

What I am interested in is Classic Cars.  In particular, American Classic Cars.  Even more specifically, classic American muscle cars from the late 60’s and early 70’s.  The type of cars that I saw on television shows like Starsky & Hutch and The Dukes of Hazzard when I was a kid.  The type of cars I had Matchbox and Corgi toy versions of.

Cars like this 1967 Mercury Cougar.

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I saw this car in the local area recently and tailed it (just like a 70’s cop show).  When it stopped I had a quick chat with the owner, and got this photo.

A fine looking car.  Bright yellow, with a black top.  Hidden headlights.  The sort of car that makes me glad I’ve got Vanishing Point on DVD.

I did actually have a Matchbox toy of a Mercury Cougar, though it was orange if I remember.  Still got it somewhere.

Stay tuned to Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub for more exciting pics like this!

Bat Mobile and Captain Americar

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As promised, I am introducing some new topics tot the Virtual Hot Tub for 2014.  To begin, an excursion into the world of toys is presented here for you.

For this very first Toy based post, here are some pictures of the Bat Mobile and Captain Americar.  These were produced by Mego in the 1970’s.  Both are from my collection and have been in my possession since the early 80’s.

Mego were one of the leading toy companies of the 1970’s.  Amongst their most popular lines were the World’s Greatest Super Heroes: 8 inch action figures of popular comic book heroes with cloth costumes.  They produced lines of both DC and Marvel characters, meaning you could create epic adventures spanning the properties – such as Thor versus Green Arrow.  Or Hulk versus Batman.  Or anything else you could imagine.

Alas, my Mego super heroes are lost to the mists of time, scattered into broken fragments.  All I have left are these two vehicles, and some great memories.

Bat Mobile

Modelled after the Bat Mobile in the classic Adam West sixties television show, this vehicle can carry both Batman and Robin into action. IMG_2497

Front view of Bat Mobile
Rear view

Captain Americar

Captain America’s car.  See what they did there?  The cool feature on this vehicle is that Cap’s shield on the front of the car is thrust forward with the flick of the switch, to knock bad guys off their feet.  Or your sister’s Barbie dolls, whatever. IMG_2066

As I no longer have the heroes to go with these vehicles, they may well find their way onto Ebay in the future.  We shall see.

Check out the Mego Museum here.

Memorabilia NEC – Film Character Photos

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One more set of photos from my last visit to Memorabilia at Birmingham NEC.  I apologise – what with Christmas and all, I haven’t had chance to post these previously.

Earlier posts have showcased photos of Memorabilia punters dressed up as characters from comic books and television.  This set of shots features film based characters.  There are many more brave people dressed up at Memorabilia, far more than I’ve captured in this series of photos.  Good luck to them, I say.

I thought this was Underworld. Apparently it’s Aeon Flux?
Maleficent
Stormtrooper.
Pete and Hook getting on famously these days.
Transformers sucked. Great car though.
R2 close up.
Evil Queen.
Mrs Platinum Al meets the Terminator.

By the way – there are plenty more Star Wars photos from previous trips to Memorabilia.  Stay tuned!

Thanks to everyone at Birmingham NEC Memorabilia who posed for photos – all were very happy to do so.