Theme Tuesdays: Wheels Are Everything Artistic Interpretations

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Jun 19, 2012

It seems that everyday a new car blog (or fanpage) pops doing the same old song and dance; reposts from the ‘heavy hitters’ with soft core porn intermixed to pump up fanpage numbers.

However every once and awhile I stumble across a new blog that immediately makes it’s way into my reader and Wheels Are Everything is one of those blogs.

The first time I spotted one of Mark’s photos I thought someone was taking a stab at me with the watermark but once I started browsing around I noticed he had a pretty good thing going, and his taste was on point if you are into low American cars on wires, Cragars, Supremes, and white walls (which I am).

One of the things that stuck out instantly were his ‘renders’, a lot of people do renders these days but Mark is one of the few people I have seen do renders with the look and feel of original manufacture brochures.

After a couple emails back and forth I tossed out the idea of doing a Theme Tuesday on his renders and he was game so here it is.

wheels_are_everything_62 — Start things off with a ’62 Impala

wheels_are_everything_chevy — Another Chevy

wheels_are_everything_pool — A little glitter by the pool

wheels_ar_everything_olds — Family hauling never looked so good

wheels_are_everything_pontiac — Pontiac 2+2 check the wording beneath the image too “hydraulic suspension”

wheels_are_everything_plymouth — Perhaps one of the least attractive front ends ever, the low and Truespokes(?) helps though

wheels_are_everything_62_chrysler — Or maybe this is the least attractive, but at the same time oddly appealing, front end

wheels_are_everything_58_olds copy — Stylin’ 58 Olds

wheels_are_everything_ford_b_wagon — Someone should do exactly this, if a female even better

wheels_are_everything_pontiac2 — Oddly enough someone did do almost exactly this

Aside from the roof it’s almost exactly the same exterior wise

Thanks Mark for the permission to run these and if you want to see more check out his blog Wheels Are Everything and leave a comment letting him know who sent you.

If you are into cars like the above and have not seen it yet the Non Traditional, Traditional Lowriders from a few months back might be right up your ally.

Featured Ride: Pfaff Tuning’s 964

By

DaveT

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Jun 18, 2012

5

Remember those days when you were in elementary school staring at the clock waiting for the bell to ring so you could rush home and do something far more exciting? That’s exactly how I felt the day I got to shoot Pfaff Tunning’s project 964.

Having followed the build on their fanpage and seen pictures of it completed only a few weeks prior I was really eager to not only to see the car in the metal but also be one of the first to d a dedicated shoot of it.

Through the window of my office the weather looked great right up until the clock began to creep closer to 5, that’s when dark clouds rolled in and the sky opened up.

By the time I was free of my cubicle it was raining quite hard, and on my walk back to my car I treated to a puddle water shower set in motion by a passing transport truck.

Despite now being less than dry my excitement wasn’t dampened in the slightest because looking in the distance I could see the sun emerging once again through the clouds, and after a quick battle with the 401 I found myself at the Pfaff tuning facility greeted by Erik Morrison, lead Tuning Consultant at Pfaff, who was just as excited to show me the car as I was to see it.

After a brief tour we grabbed a few chamois (in case of more rain) a set out for a drive to no place in particular. As we hunted for a suitable location to shoot the car Erik explained the build in greater detail than Facebook updates allowed.

When the 911 you see today arrived at the Pfaff tuning shop it was in fairly decent shape but beginning to show it’s age both aesthetically and mechanically so almost immediately after Pfaff took possession work began.

The drive train was temporarily removed from it’s home to be resealed, and refreshed, and while it was out the engine bay was cleaned and detailed.

Using the opportunity provided by most of the panels being off the car -in preparation for a body shop visit- maintenance work and upgrades were done including the addition of H&R suspension components including coilovers that provide such a nice ride they make my car feel like piloting a rickety tool chest.

Once back on all fours it was rolled over to the painters where any panels that were too damaged by the tests of time were replaced with more favorable units sourced from vehicles located further south than Toronto.

Pfaff’s meticulous attention to detail lead to two drivers doors being deemed unfit before a third suitable replacement was found and paint was sprayed.

After the car was back at Pfaff headquarters wearing a new coat of BASF paint, a color matched Das Sport Half cage was installed along with RS door panels.

The final piece to the puzzle was the footwork provided by Rotiform who -with help from Erik- speced out three piece 18″ NUE wheels in sizing that suits the car sitting still but also keep clear of the quarters and fenders in corners.

The finished 964 project is a great example of the work Pfaff is capable of, and shows that they are just as at home customizing timeless classics as they are modern exotics, and a true testament to the final product came midway through the shoot when a passer by stopped to admire the car and ask a few questions about it’s history.

Seeing a fellow enthusiast appreciate the car is really what makes all the time, money, and effort, behind a build worth it.

Well that and enjoying it on the open road of course.

Modification List

Exterior

Disassemble of all exterior trim, glass and pieces for complete refinish in factory Gaurds Red
New exterior seals and trim all put together during refinish
Das Sport half cage painted Guards Red
993 mirrors

Performance Modifications

Front brake cooling duct modifications
Complete rebuild of all 4 calipers with refinish in gloss black
H&R coilovers
H&R adjustable sway bars

Interior Modifications

RS door panels
Porsche floor mats

Wheels/Tires

18” Rotiform NUE wheels
Pirelli Pzero tires

Guest Coverage: Driven Aftermarket & Performance Show 2012

By

DaveT

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Jun 17, 2012

4

Weekend posts on SIE are a rarity (I like to ride my bike) however I do make the odd exception for great content like today’s guest coverage.

It’s not often I get a chance to share what’s going on in Calgary so luckily for all of us previously featured photographer Mike McConnell happened to be at this years Driven aftermarket & performance show in Calgary with a brand new camera he was dying to test out.

According to Mike Driven is a show similar to Toronto’s Importfest and judging by the variety of cars I would say his description is pretty accurate.

Domestics

driven_29 — Cragar wheels, a timeless classic

Imports

driven_7 — For whatever reason the sideskirt vents matching the body vents is the first thing I noticed about this car

driven_5 — I tried to get a little more information on this car but the Autodream site isn’t really working

driven_25 — Judging from other photos I’ve seen of this car it’s a goer

driven_24 — Calgary gets pretty damn crazy weather so there is a chance the owner used those ski’s later that day

driven_31 — I’m sure I am not the only one that has noticed Vossens popping up everywhere?

driven_20 — Not a huge fan of the wheels on this RX-7 myself, but I can appreciate how damn clean it is

driven_18 — Dropped Civic with spotless rear quarters

driven_17 — Judging by the size of the turbo this car is no joke

driven_16 — Highlighter yellow/green is a hot color this year

Euro

driven_11 — Props to the owner of this car for managing to keep his bumper surrounds straight, it’s a bitch.

driven_14 — fifteen52 snowflakes filling those wells nice

driven_22 — Great shot of a great machine

driven_23 — Mike likes the Benz front end obviously

driven_10 — I read over on Illmotion this won best GTI

driven_28 — I’ll end the coverage with this MB which was one of the last photos Mike uploaded

driven_27 — Older Mercedes look so good with nothing other than a drop

All 200+ of Mike’s Driven 2012 photos can be seen on his flickr.

The next show Mike plans to attend is a classic and minitruck show in July and personally I can’t wait to see more of the scene out in Calgary through his lens.

WTF Friday: Twin Engine Echo

By

DaveT

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Jun 15, 2012

7

Pretty well topping my list of ‘things I didn’t expect to see ~~this week~~ ever’ would have to be this twin engine Toyota Echo.

I’m not currently up to date with what goes in on the Echo world but I have reason to believe that this car doesn’t represent the average Echo owner especially when you consider that the car puts down 503hp at 8.5psi.

To each axle.

twinecho2 — Pretty unsuspecting little car, I bet most people wouldn’t even look in it’s direction

twinecho5 — However upfront there is a 4age Blacktop motor with a gt28rs turbo and 6 speed transmission

twinecho6 — And out back there is a 4age Blacktop motor with a gt28rs turbo and 6 speed transmission…

twinecho4 — The car currently isn’t plated, but it does actually have a firewall which was removed for the shoot

twinecho1 — Last time I ever underestimate an Echo…

Crazy, yet intriguing, is probably the best and easiest way to describe this car, and as the video below proves it actually moves which isn’t something I can say I ever saw the last twin engine car from this neck of the woods do.

Hopefully the owner gets it certified, and plated because it would be cool to catch this car at a couple events.

Photo Credit: GJM Photography

Spotted on jdmrides.ca

Site Updates

First of all thank you to everyone who has submitted there car as an Importfest potential, it’s cool to know how many of you are down to help support.

I should be able to make a decision within the next week or so and as much as I hate to be “that guy” some cars will have to wait until next year when I get more space (maybe even my own).

As for this weekend Saturday evening I will be at the Scion FRS Launch gathering at Scarborough Scion (1897 Eglinton Avenue East) which runs from 5pm to 9pm.

Flashback Friday

I mentioned up above that I have never seen or heard from anyone who saw the twin motor GTI run and I was pretty close to assuming the same for the car below had I not found this video.

Come to think of it not sure I have seen that car this year at all.

Guest Coverage: Vanfest 17

By

DaveT

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Jun 14, 2012

6

Those from out of town, or those of you who don’t follow the local truck scene, might be wondering why I keep making reference to a show called ‘Vanfest‘.

Well, despite it’s name Vanfest isn’t just a refuge for ‘vanners’ who like heart shaped windows and velour interiors, it’s also a haven for minitruckers who enjoy a good party.

Dubbed as Canada’s largest custom truck event and, being a person who likes mini trucks (and the occasional refreshing beverage), Vanfest seems like an awesome time and every year I don’t attend I feel like I’ve missed out on something awesome.

One day I’m sure the stars will align and I will be able to make it out to Aylmer to take the show in first hand but until then I’ll just have to continue to live vicariously through the photos and videos of others.

Today’s coverage comes courtesy of Kristina Doyle who you might remember as the person behind the lens of the Taylor’d 57 feature.

Hearses, Trucks, and Vans

Might as well start this with the reason you are all here, to see sweet, sweet vans.

ecto1 — Oddly enough I was watching an interview with Bill Murray about Ghostbusters 3 yesterday

ram — Just a different shaped RV from the looks of it

hugevan — The Cosmic Cruiser, over 36 feet of van built by Ivan Benic

van2 — I would like to see this van go up a steep hill, but I would not want to be behind it when it does

highenoug — Off Road capability for the whole family

Trucks

I’m a big first gen s-truck guy so forgive me if I selected a lot of them from Kristina’s coverage.

first_gen_1 — So close to what was my dream s-10 Blazer

first_gen_3 — Jeff's Tiki truck has one of the longest build threads on s10forum I've ever read, look for it in the next build thread Theme Tuesday

first_gen_5 — Pretty sure I remember this truck from my days on the Low Class forums

first_gen_4 — Jay's truck has one of the most unique paint jobs in the area

chevy_extreme — After not having a heck of a lot of luck looking for a first gen I began to consider and like Xtreme's

second_gen_1 — Street Outlawz second gen

gmc — Steve's laid out GMC, look for a photo of it in the next Performance In Motion magazine

nissan_Caddys — Hardbody on Escalade wheels, always liked this look

ford_ranger_2 — Kristina's own Ranger, recently Z'd at Taylor'd customs so it lays out flat

ford_ranger_1 — Another badass lookin' Ranger

dodge — This Dodge is pretty long but I bet if you put it beside the Caravan up top it looks like a reg cab/box truck

taylor'd — They Taylor'd 57 which later doubled as a tow truck for the vehicle below

toyota — Nothing but love for this truck, very nice build

donthate — Hard to see here but I have always loved the tilted plate in the front of this truck, the eyebrows are a unique touch too

bronco2 — The Bronco II known as Bronc-Obama

broncobaba — Such a unique build, hope to see it this year

I’ve been saying it for 3 years now but maybe next year I can keep my schedule clear and head out to Aylmer…

Thanks again Kristina for the photos!

Stance Is Everything x Importfest

By

DaveT

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Jun 13, 2012

6

For those of you who may not already know this years Importfest takes place Saturday August 25th, and once again the IF staff have included Stance Is Everything in the festivities.

Similar to previous years a trophy will be awarded for best stance but unlike last year static rides will have their own trophy and bagged rides will have their own trophy in attempts to even the playing field.

This year the Importfest staff have given me some floorspace and I want to show off a few readers’ rides that represent what SIE is all about: Clean vehicles built with quality and style.

This is your chance to show off what you got so anybody is welcome to apply, but please keep in mind this is Importfest (“Canada’s biggest and baddest car show”), so your car, truck, or van must be show-worthy and must meet the Importfest requirements.

Space is extremely limited. I will review everyone that applies and select those who I think would be a good fit and those selected will get SIE swag and discounted competitors fee.

If you think your car would be a good fit please send me an email at stanceiseverythingATgmail.com (with ‘AT’ being replaced with @), I’d really like the chance to showcase some unique platforms/builds so all varieties are welcome not just imports.

Finally for those attending as spectators look forward to several ticket giveaways throughout July and August both here and on the fanpage.

More Importfest/Stance Is Everything details to come so stay tuned.

Note: if you are emailing to submit a car don’t be offended if I don’t respond instantly, being the first year the site will have any floor space I have to go over all possible cars very carefully.

CSCS through the lens of Charles Spivak

By

DaveT

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Jun 13, 2012

1

I’ve been a fan of Charles Spivak’s work since he first sent in Guest Coverage of a Drift Ops event at Shannonville in 2011.

After the 2012 CSCS opener came and went, and photos began to surface online, I noticed one of his photos on the Circuit Soul fan page and honestly couldn’t believe it was from the same event I was at.

When the full set of photos dropped I was only further impressed, and after sharing one of those photos on the fan page I noticed a lot of you were too so I asked Charles if I could run a few more of his shots and these are the ones he sent over.

Most of Charles work goes over to the guys at Circuit Soul but as the season goes on I hope to be able to twist his arm now and again to let me run a little bit here as well, currently you can view the rest of his work at flickr.com/photos/cspivakphoto

Theme Tuesdays: Duallys Part II

By

DaveT

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Jun 12, 2012

8

After a cottage bachelor party weekend a little recovery time was in order (hence the lack of Monday post), so this weeks Theme Tuesday gets lead off honors and as such I might as well go with something big.

The last dually Theme Tuesday went over very well so I had started pulling together a second almost immediately after.

Something about a big laid out truck that can still pull a trailer (and more slammed trucks) is just so appealing.

dually_rear_fender — Looks like the bed side is in between the tires... sorta like a VW

dually_1 — Square body crew cabs are probably the ones that hit the floor the most often

dually_2tone — Love it when people preserve the original paint

dually_17 — S10 crew cab dually? Pretty interesting

dually_18 — Another s10 but regular cab, also missing a bed which leads me to believe that it might be hard to make it look 'right' with the bed

dually_13 — I love how the rear wheels fit on slammed duallys, it is not all the time trucks get dish

dually_trailer_1 — Hauling capability retained

dually_6 — Wouldn't want to be the one to put one of these on a trailer

dually_22 — Reg Cab dually, incredible looking truck

dually_16 — I was pretty shocked I didn't include this in part one

dually_10 — I really wish I could find more (bigger) photos of it on these wheels

dually_9 — This was found in the same thread as the truck above

dually_12 — Nicholas H posted this up in the comments of part 1

dually_spark1 — Still want to shoot some of this myself

dually_21 — Last thing I expected to find on a generally Honda focused blog

dually_2 — Like the striping and red guts in this this

dually_4 — Same truck (I believe) from the front

dually_20 — The frame on it is pretty damn ridiculous as well

dually_nis_chev — End with this Nissan with a Chevy bed that might cause a stir

This post may have been influenced by the amount of Vanfest photos currently popping into my personal Facebook feed.

Still not sure which spelling is correct and it seems I am not alone.

WTF Friday: God Bless America?

By

DaveT

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Jun 8, 2012

3

With the past two weeks being full of event coverage and photos to go through I was a little glad to not have had not had to look far for some oddities to post today.

Both of these gems were spotted during my semi monthly lap of s10 forum. Both started as standard pickups but are now so much more, or so much less depending on how you take the following.

First up is this beauty of a 6×6 that used to be an s10, questions regarding the drive train and suspension setup on this truck I only wish I could answer.

The rats nest under the hood suggests that the motor isn’t stock at least.

godbless1 — The eagle inspired the title of this post, and the rest convinced me to have a liquid lunch

godbless2 — This is the first time I have seen a six wheeler with a wheel base only slightly longer than a 4

This second truck is probably the biggest mis-mash of vehicles I’ve posted since this Corvette and that is saying quite a bit.

godbless4 — This second beast is much more disturbing

godbless5 — The body work does look surprisingly straight however

godbless8 — Anyone want to take bets on if this was ever finished?

godbless7 — I'm willing to bet not... but this front end makes me think there is a faint possibility... nah

As much as I hate to say it if anyone has anymore info on the second I would be interested, if nothing more than to find out where that front end came from.

Site Updates

No events this weekend as I am going somewhere my car can’t (a cottage) but there will be no shortage in content next week as I have not one but two sets of photos to edit and get posted in the near future.

Three if you count a set of my car.

Flashback Friday

Posted up Carson’s latest project (White IS300) to the fanpage yesterday but here’s a quick look at what he drove prior to that.

According to this thread on jdmrides this is300 is just a temporary car because he is actually moving out of country very soon.

Damn.

Guest Coverage: Spring Fling 2012

By

DaveT

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Jun 8, 2012

3

There are a few shows in the area that for one reason or another I am never able to attend, Vanfest being one and Spring Fling being another.

Taking place practically around the corner from my house at the Canadian Club Hansa Haus this almost 10 year show is known for bringing out some of the best euro cars in the area, which makes missing it year after year a real bummer.

This year instead of having no coverage on the site I reached out to Scott Holmes once again for some guest coverage. Scott said no problem and while I was at CSCS my girlfriend also swung by Spring Fling (unbeknownst to me) to see what all the fuss was about which has given me the unique opportunity to present to you coverage of an event from two perspectives.

Scott’s Coverage

Scott showed up around 10 and left about 1 when the weather took a turn for the worst but in that time he manged to catch quite a few of the quality cars in attendance.

He also managed to catch the raffle of products by show sponsors (Euroline, Durham dent removal, Burling, and Autoglym to name a few) and witness a girl who doesn’t have her license win an exotic car test drive.

Scott is probably correct in his assumption that her father is about to receive an awesome fathers day gift.