Dracula's Ride

There are cars that are designed to be comfortable. Spacious, well insulated; they surround you in a world all your own. There are cars that exist to give the driver the illusion they are behind the joystick of an F18 fighter, as you are pinned against the seat with a hart-stopping G Force.

There are cars that seem to have been created just to say to the world " I've made it."

But then there those special few that hark back to your childhood fantasies before you were necessarily aware of what cars cost; they were cars of Television or the movies, the cars that Super heroes drove. These were famous, "One-of-a-kind autos where the driver was better known even than the car. These were the cars that were in our Hot-Wheel collection when we were nine years old; and as my wife reminds me, men seldom really grow up, or grow past that nine year stage especially when it comes to cars.

Buy the Black Beauty and you become the Green Hornet. I doubt there are more than a handful of men that have bought an Aston Martin that did not ask for a martini "Shaken- not stirred. While any adult male would recognize the impracticality of trying to make the daily commute to your office in the Batmobile; given the opportunity, it would be a difficult car to turn down.

The Munsters TV show was responsible for producing not one, but two amazing vehicles. The Coach, a cross between a model T, an 18th century funeral coach, and a full out dragster - This was best discribed as the "Family Car". The car show here was GrandPa's personal toy for when he wanted to "Fly by" on four wheels rather than as a bat. This was yet one more of the cars to come out of Barris along with the Coach.

I have to admit, even we would have a tricky time getting Herman SR-22 insurance on this baby.

2009 Ferrari 599 California

Ferrari had built it’s reputation building autos for the racetrack. As any designer of racecars will tell you, weight is your enemy. The idea is to build cars that are light but stiff. The lighter the car; the greater the ratio of horsepower to weight. But if the car is going to remain “True” through the curves, the body needs substantial rigidity.

The story goes that in the 1950s when the West Coast Ferrari distributor, Johnny von Neumann, asked the designers at Ferrari to build a special Ferrari convertible for America, Enzo was at first reluctant. In fact he was quoted as saying,
"Convertibles are for playboys. Hardtops are for serious drivers."

Enzo Ferrari realized that any convertible is inherently less rigid, because of the removal of the hard top. What might surprise many, is that in an attempt to deal with the “Missing roof structure” a builder must strengthen various part of the body, resulting in convertibles actually out weighing their Hard top sibling.

While Ferrari might have had some reluctance to tamper with her hardtop designs; he was more reluctant to miss out on a new revenue source. Ferrari built von Neumann his convertible for the American market and called it the "California" since Enzo seemed convinced California was loaded with movie stars and wealthy playboys.

The New for 2009 599 is an attempt to create a new Spider harking back to the original California. At the risk of being called a “Playboy” mark me down as an admirer.

California Specifications

Engine Type = 4,300 cc /V8
Displacement cu in (cc) 262.4 cu in. 4300.7 cc.
32 valves. 4 valves per cylinder.
Horsepower 460.00 BHP (338.6 KW) @ 7500.00 RPM
HP/Liter 107.0 BHP / Liter
Transmission = 7-speed dual clutch/ Semi-Automatic

Performance
Speed 0 to 100 km/h less than 4.0 seconds
Base Price: 2009 Ferrari 599 California –
Rumored to be just under $200,000

I assume these will fly-off the showroom floors, after all, It's only the worst ressesion since the great depression.

Larry writes for Urban Insurance Agency
If you have a question, please contact us at 1-800-680-0707.

CAMPAGNA MOTORS T-Rex

Download theT-REX Brochure (pdf)
Retail price (M.S.R.P.) T-REX 1400R
$49,995.00

TRANSPORT* $1,000.00
OPTIONS
CARBON KIT $999.00 SOFT COVER $499 SUITCASES BLACK (41 L) $1,199.00 or (52L) $1,399.00
CHROME KIT $3,499.00 TALL KIT $699.00 WIND DEFLECTOR $299.00

CAMPAGNA MOTORS is a young Canadian company that design, manufactures and distributes 3-wheel vehicles. Our mission is to create and provide vehicle that are safe, fun, stylish and perfomant. Both the T-REX and the V-13R were designed by those principles.The T-REX is specifically oriented towards the race car / sports car fan; with performances often surpassing those of supercars that cost multiples of the T-REX. Powered by an Inline four cylinder 1400cc engine designed by Kawasaki and producing over 200 hp, the T-REX will get your attention on the road.
On the other side of the spectrum, the V13R, with its hot-rod styling and relaxed driving position; powered by the Harley-Davidson® Liquid-cooled Revolution® 60° V-Twin engine’s will let you cruise on the boulevard or on the highway with style. Its soul inspiring sound and acceleration will paint a smile on your face for miles and miles. Designed as Hot Rod with sex appeal, the V-13R is a true head-turner.
The two vehicles share some common denominators, fun, style and performance. After several years of development and extensive market feedback, the cofounders of this innovative Canadian company (André Morissette - President and David Neault - Vice-President) have translated their love for recreational vehicles into three-wheel machines that are as exciting to ride and easy to handle as they are affordable to own. Their first model is the road savvy V-13R.