Spotted is Globe Drive writer Peter Cheney's weekly feature that takes you behind the scenes of his life as a vehicle and engineering journalist. We also highlight the best of your original photos and short video clips (10 seconds or less), which you should send with a short explanation. E-mail pcheney@globeandmail.com, find him on Twitter @cheneydrive (#spotted), or join him on Facebook (no login required).
The Rolls-Royce of soapbox derby racers
I spent last week traveling through England to see the latest in car manufacturing (you can read the story next week.) One of the highlights of my trip was a visit to Rolls-Royce’s new, state-of-the-art factory in Goodwood. This soapbox derby racer was on display in the foyer – one of the Rolls-Royce designers built it for a race down a local hill.
The toy car as industrial art
As you can see, this isn’t your average soapbox racer. Note the vacuum-bagged, carbon-fiber chassis, beautifully executed wheel brakes, and aerodynamic axle fairings. This is a miniaturized, non-motorized Rolls-Royce.
The old and the new
There’s nothing more beautiful than an artful combination of new and old materials. I loved the way the designer of the Rolls-Royce derby racer finished off the high-tech composite chassis with wooden details and hand-formed aluminum brackets.
A spirit revealed?
The Rolls-Royce wood shop guys specialize in book-matching – they slice pieces of wood into thin sheets, then split it vertically so the grain is reflected from side to side. And once in a while they find a really strange pattern like this one.
Any colour you want
Most manufacturers offer about half a dozen paint colours. But if you’ve got the money, Rolls-Royce offers a virtually unlimited range (one customer had his car matched to the colour of his dog.) This car was painted for a customer in the Middle East. In the flesh, it looked like a cross between candyfloss and mother-of-pearl. As they say: to each his own.
Never say die
There are fair weather motorcyclists. And then there’s this guy. I spotted this Suzuki GSXR in my Toronto neighborhood. Not sure if he’ll be putting on snow tires or not.
Going to the movies?
Reader Paul Becker spotted this unique electric car while attending the 38th Annual Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend, Washington. If I’m not mistaken, that’s a vintage movie projector mounted on the hood.
Where SUVs don't rule the road
I spotted this nice BMW station wagon on the motorway in London, England. I’m fascinated by the radically different vehicle choices of North Americans and Europeans. Over here, the station wagon was pushed aside long ago by the SUV. But they still love wagons in Europe.
The Italian job
And if you prefer smaller station wagons, there’s always something like this classic Fiat 500. My colleague John Sopinski spotted this one in Italy.
No parking spot, no problem
Reader Vinh Yang spotted this neatly-parked electric ride in Victoria B.C., the city that is described as the home of “newly wed and nearly dead.” I don’t think the owner of this vehicle is from the first group.
Like us on Facebook
Add us to your circles.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter.