Just got back last night from Calif, and the first look at my car since July. Nothing beats the sight of getting picked up at the Airport in a chauffer ( Mark )driven Batmobile....even the traffic cop pulled out his cell phone to snap pics ! We tossed my bag in the back, strapped in, and drove off to get some lunch.
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I see how tough it will be to get parking. Not that there are no spaces available, there were plenty, but you just cant leave a BatCar parked out of view for obvious reasons. We were lucky enough to move it to a front spot near the window and keep an eye on it while eating and watch it attract everyone in sight.
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After lunch it was time to hit the road and head south to Temeculah. Before handing it over, it still needs last minute stuff done, and we were going to a shop familiar with Marks cars. A temp gage gave us a problem enroute so we pulled over to make sure there was no overheating, then pressed on. Mark and Adam replaced that new gage with another new one while the car was waiting for alignment and front wheel balance. We also took a walk to Circuit City to buy Stereo Speakers.
<<>> With all that completed it was time for Wings and Beer, so we drove what felt like a million miles up to Orange County to donate our time and money to a local Hooters. It was a pretty cold drive after sundown in an open top car. After some fun food, beer , and Hooter girl-Batmobile owner photo op, it was getting late and I had a 06:45 flight to catch back to Florida .
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To sum it up:
The car looks wonderful, it's pretty much what I expected. There are a few issues of details here and there ( canopy trim interior, passenger door stripe re-align ) , completing unfinished items ( wheel clearance, trunk lift, needs paint inside hood and trunk lid and frame where visible), and small changes ( replace right tail light lens, install speakers and stereo lines, seal gaps, exchange seat belts for another variety, but KEEP the bright red color !! ) and the car will be COMPLETE. A full head to toe detailing and clean-up is needed, yes, that calif dust is everywhere. All of those issues should be resolved before shipping . Those seem to me a typical "knock out" list of things to do for a project like this.
( Dont tell anyone, but I did see some wood screws on the car )
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When we look at pictures of cars posted here, they give the impression that they are " Pebble Beach" or "Concours" and are flawless and impeccable creations, and thats just not the way it is. These cars are fiberglass shells transformed into our favorite car, yet they are still just donors with an amazing fiberglass facelift . It does not feel like a Rolls Royce when it's driving, you can tell a lot of weight has been removed and replaced with a big fiberglass shell and plastic canopys...just hit some bumps to remind you ! All in all it was great fun in the car....the atention it grabs is greater than I remembered it from last years demos, and I cant wait for it to get shipped here and to start some minor digging and tinkering of my own.
I'll be satisfied with the car after my list of items is completed.
Questions anyone????
<<>>
I see how tough it will be to get parking. Not that there are no spaces available, there were plenty, but you just cant leave a BatCar parked out of view for obvious reasons. We were lucky enough to move it to a front spot near the window and keep an eye on it while eating and watch it attract everyone in sight.
<<>>
After lunch it was time to hit the road and head south to Temeculah. Before handing it over, it still needs last minute stuff done, and we were going to a shop familiar with Marks cars. A temp gage gave us a problem enroute so we pulled over to make sure there was no overheating, then pressed on. Mark and Adam replaced that new gage with another new one while the car was waiting for alignment and front wheel balance. We also took a walk to Circuit City to buy Stereo Speakers.
<<>> With all that completed it was time for Wings and Beer, so we drove what felt like a million miles up to Orange County to donate our time and money to a local Hooters. It was a pretty cold drive after sundown in an open top car. After some fun food, beer , and Hooter girl-Batmobile owner photo op, it was getting late and I had a 06:45 flight to catch back to Florida .
<<>>
To sum it up:
The car looks wonderful, it's pretty much what I expected. There are a few issues of details here and there ( canopy trim interior, passenger door stripe re-align ) , completing unfinished items ( wheel clearance, trunk lift, needs paint inside hood and trunk lid and frame where visible), and small changes ( replace right tail light lens, install speakers and stereo lines, seal gaps, exchange seat belts for another variety, but KEEP the bright red color !! ) and the car will be COMPLETE. A full head to toe detailing and clean-up is needed, yes, that calif dust is everywhere. All of those issues should be resolved before shipping . Those seem to me a typical "knock out" list of things to do for a project like this.
( Dont tell anyone, but I did see some wood screws on the car )
<<>>
When we look at pictures of cars posted here, they give the impression that they are " Pebble Beach" or "Concours" and are flawless and impeccable creations, and thats just not the way it is. These cars are fiberglass shells transformed into our favorite car, yet they are still just donors with an amazing fiberglass facelift . It does not feel like a Rolls Royce when it's driving, you can tell a lot of weight has been removed and replaced with a big fiberglass shell and plastic canopys...just hit some bumps to remind you ! All in all it was great fun in the car....the atention it grabs is greater than I remembered it from last years demos, and I cant wait for it to get shipped here and to start some minor digging and tinkering of my own.
I'll be satisfied with the car after my list of items is completed.
Questions anyone????
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