Sunday, February 22, 2009

We now return you to your regularly-scheduled, non-automobile-related, programming.

Lamborghini Gallardo roadster

I've been a bit absent recently... busy, among other things, editing around a hundred or so shots from the Canadian International Autoshow, which I attended for the first time ever (believe it or not) about a week ago. I'll avoid deluging you with all of them, but in my usual style I'll hand out a few arbitrary and tongue-in-cheek awards.

Nicest presentation
The Lamborghini display. They had their cars up on a low podium, eliminating the need for silly barriers and ropes that get in the way of photography. Here's an LP 640 roadster, staring you down. The white LP 560 roadster at the top of the post was right next to it.
Lamborghini Murcielago (front view)

Biggest surprise
A Ferrari 288 GTO, lurking in the exhibitor booths. Ridiculously fast and very rare. My photos of it aren't terribly good, unfortunately. Twin-turbo V8 goodness, from 1984.
Ferrari 288 GTO

Friendliest owner
The guy at the paintball emporium's booth, who let me under the ropes to photograph his Ferrari 360 Spider. Maybe he was feeling relaxed since a Playboy Bunny was doing all the heavy lifting, talking to prospective clients. There she is in the background, at the strange intersection of exotic sportscars, fantasy warfare, and adult entertainment.
Ferrari 360 Spider

Most photogenic
Not the aforementioned bunny, but this Mercedes-McLaren SLR Roadster 722 S. It might also win for "most unwieldy name", although the Ferrari F430 16M Scuderia Spider gives it a run for its money there. Unreasonably pointy and very expensive, with silly doors.
Mercedes McLaren SLR Roadster 722S

Nicest rims
The Maybach. Just love that logo and the overall shiny goodness of these.
Maybach wheel

Prettiest Corvette in the historic Corvette display
Hard to choose, but I have to go with this 1953 C1 convertible. Just love those red rims and whitewall tires.
1953 C1 Corvette convertible

Best use of a hexagonal design element
The Honda FC ("fuel cell") Sport concept car. Extra points for environmental friendliness, but a penalty for not actually having the powerplant installed.
Honda FC Sport Concept

And finally (for now, anyway):

Nicest car that I actually sat in
Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG Roadster. I'm not usually a big fan of Merc roadsters, but I think I could just about deal with owning this one.
Mercedes SL63 AMG

There you go. Lots more to see in this Flickr set, if, as Mr. Bennett says in Pride and Prejudice, you can bear to.

8 comments:

Zed said...

Why-oh-why did I click on that link.... sob, sob, sob......

Richard Wintle said...

I did warn you, didn't I?

Happy Birthday, once again...

#Debi said...

You are quite the Renaissance man, are you not? Fancy-shmancy sportscars and an Austen reference all in the same post. Impressed, I am...

Richard Wintle said...

Indeed. I'm also constructing a Victorian folly in my back yard, and finishing the first draft of my Briefe Historie of the Worlde In Many Partes.

I can play the bongos, too.*


*real percussionists my be offended by this somewhat inaccurate statement

Anonymous said...

Nice photos! I haven't been to a car show in a very long time. I think I'd like to go again - but without PG, who would probably park himself next to anything Porsche and make some new best friends and ignore me. Can't have that, can we?

#Debi said...

"I can play the bongos, too."

Reminds me of a friend of mine who has an electric guitar displayed in his living room. When I said, "Oh, I didn't know you played guitar!" he replied, "um, I have a guitar..."

Richard Wintle said...

Heh. I have *two* guitars. And play them... probably about as well as your friend.

Pinklea - Porsche decided not to exhibit at Toronto this year. PG would not have been happy I guess.

Blogger's word verification for this comment is "ACKPINIS". I just thought that needed recording.

Unknown said...

Oh, drooool!