8 Customized 2010 Ford Mustangs Premiering at SEMA

This week at the annual SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show held in Las Vegas, Ford will unveil a multitude of custom version 2010 Mustangs. The automaker recently launched the 2010 Mustang Customizer at www.the2010Mustang.com. It has received an overwhelming response from the public and if you haven’t tried it, it really is a lot of fun! You can choose from a variety of hoods, scoops, spoilers, grilles, wheels and even choose the size of your burnout. In just two months, more than 1 million custom Mustangs have been built on the site. The response prompted Ford to get together with a few customizers such as 3dCarbon, Steeda Autosports, Paul’s High Performance, Vaughn Gitten Jr, Galpin Auto Sports, Street Scene Equipment, H&R Special Springs and Ford Vehicle Personalization group to customize 8 rides. All project Mustangs at the show will look dramatically different since self expression is what the brand is all about. Mustang is the most customized car in the $31.8 billion aftermarket industry.

Tell us how your Mustang stands apart

Philadelphia Ride for Kids®

The fifth annual Philadelphia Ride for Kids attracted over 500 participants and $121,725 in donations on a sunny Sunday.

The riders gathered at the IMAX theatre at King of Prussia Mall before following a police escort on a scenic route to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square.

At the end point, 12 local brain tumor survivors told the fundraisers about their lives. These Ride for Kids “stars” included small children such as Althea and Angelina, both 6, as well as PBTF college scholarship recipients Annie, Jason and Laura.

Two 12-year-old survivors said they were thankful for the emotional support the ride offers. “The amount you give goes far, and you give [more than] money,” said Emily. Added Pearce, “Thank you very much for taking the time out to make us feel so special.”

The children were joined on stage by Dr. Leslie Sutton, chief of neuro-oncology at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital, who also rode in the event.

The first-place fundraisers were:

Individuals: Neil and Jill Bookman, $35,701
Chapter/Club: Team Tyler, powered by American Collectors Insurance, $37,161
Motorcycle Business: Planet Honda, $21,379
Neil Bookman won the Honda motorcycle drawing.

The Philadelphia Ride for Kids task force and volunteers, led by Lee and Mitzi Krauss, Joel Samick, and Rex and Lisa Alfes, deserve thanks for all their hard work.

Save or Skip?

Have you ever bought collectibles and later found out they weren’t worth your while?  Do you wish you knew how to determine whether something is a smart buy?

Now you can find out.  Take a peek at the following article, What to Save, What to Skip, by MainStreet.com and learn to gauge whether a collectible is worth buying.  The author provides helpful hints about collectibles that are trendy, limited edition, or contain mistakes or misprints.  Then the next time you are in the position to add to your collection, you will be able to make a better buying decision.

Do you know any helpful hints to share with other collectors?  Leave us a comment and let us know!

Playing With Cars – The Audi Front 225 Model

Take a peek at the following Playing with Cars review from The Car Room magazine. Joe Kelly, Jr. got a hold of the first three hand samples of the Audi Front 225 diecast that CFC designed for the Audi’s 100th anniversary. He discusses their hand built, exclusive feel and their level of detail and workmanship. Get ready for an extensive review with this 1600 piece model, including its castings, cables, hoses, nuts, and bolts. When you’re done, leave us a comment and let us know what you think. If you like what you see, be sure to check out their website at http://www.thecarroom.com/showroom.html.

Racer Reunion at Corvettes at Carlisle

We had a great time at Corvettes in Carlisle and met a lot of nice people despite the dismal weather. The theme this year was “A Corvette Race Car Reunion” and there were many race cars from each generation of C1 to C6 Corvettes on display. Racing icon Mario Andretti was there signing autographs as well. We also had the opportunity to stop by the Hospitality tent and wish our good friends from the Original Garden State Corvette Club a safe and fun trip. They organized a 10-day Caravan trip from Carlisle PA to Bowling Green KY and will be posting pictures each day on their website http://www.zorpia.com/blue70ray. Be sure to follow them along their exciting journey!

The Car Room

The Car Room Magazine has the ability to keep every diecast collector entertained and enlightened about the diecast world. It details a wide array of diecast with exquisite photos and page after page of detailed reviews and recommendations. The magazine is composed by a group of people that are incredibly enthusiastic about the hobby, which makes it even more fun to read.

On top of putting together an excellent magazine, The Car Room also offers reviews on their website. We recommend you check out the Playing With Cars videos, where Joe Kelly, Jr. gives you comprehensive reviews of numerous diecast.

Over time, we will be hosting some of their videos on our blog so you can see for yourself why we’re enthused about The Car Room. If you would like to learn more, be sure to check out their website at http://www.thecarroom.com/showroom.html.

Love the Beast – One man’s touching love affair with his first car

Eric Bana directs and stars in this personal documentary about his 25-year, deep-rooted love for his first car “The Beast” – a 1974 Ford XB Falcon Coupe. This film begins in Eric’s family’s garage in Australia when he decides to restore and race the car. Bana, along with the help of his 3 closest friends, enter “The Beast” into the Targa Tasmania Rally, a notorious, dangerous 5-day off-track motor race. On the fourth day of the race, misfortune strikes and Eric has to struggle with what he has done. This real life drama explores Bana’s relationship with the car he admires, tragedy and a lifetime of friendship. Also included are testimonials from Jeremy Clarkson, Jay Leno and Dr. Phil. Watch the trailer and look for it in a theater soon.

Fun Times at the Syracuse Nationals

We had a wonderful time meeting many car enthusiasts at the Syracuse Nationals at the New York State fairgrounds last week! The 3-day event featured over 7,000 street rods, hot rods and muscle cars and drew more than 80,000 people. Some of the attractions were the Designer’s Dozen Award, Pin Stripes Panel Jam, snowmobile drag races, live entertainment, drive-in movies and fireworks at night. But the real star of the show was the Batmobile from the 1960’s television series. Continuous streams of spectators were inside the Center of Progress building throughout the event to snap a photo and sit inside the car. Adam West, who stared as the Caped Crusader and Julie Newmar, who was one of the actresses who played Catwoman, were also there to sign autographs. The Nationals was a fun time for all and we can’t wait to go back next year!

Jolly Old Partnerships

It is Christmas in July for American Collectors Insurance, as we are proud to announce two new partnerships! We are now working alongside Prizm, Inc. and Kurt S. Adler, Inc., two well-known companies in the holiday collectibles world.

Prizm, Inc. owns the Pipka Santas line of figurines, which are a heartwarming touch to get people into the holiday spirit. Their intricate detail makes them a beautiful addition to homes during the holiday season.

Kurt S. Adler imports Steinbach Nutcrackers, which are wonderfully handcrafted wooden pieces. From Disney characters to nutcrackers with various occupations, Steinbach has completely reinvented the nutcracker to fit any personality.

The summer is flying by, and before we know it Christmas will be here. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled for these incredible products in just a few short months – they make great gifts! Do you own some Pipka Santas or Steinbach Nutcrackers? Let us know!

Celebrating 45 Years of Muscle with 45 Stunning Cars

Forty-five years after he introduced the original Ford Mustang, Lee Iacocca is about to launch a new edition of the famous muscle car – the Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang. Only 45 of the collector Mustangs will be built and they will all be painted a special “Iacocca” chosen silver color. The first one is expected to go on sale in late July and will be sold through Galpin Ford in suburban Los Angeles, the biggest Ford dealer in the world. The price is yet to be announced.

The original mustang was launched on April 27, 1964 and landed Iacocca on the covers of Time and Newsweek magazines. Ford nicknamed it a “1964½” model because it arrived later in the model year. The Iacocca Silver Anniversary Mustang will also be nicknamed a “2009½” model.

The Iacocca Silver Edition Mustang is a result of collaboration between Iacocca, designer Michael Leone and Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters, the world-class coachbuilding and Design Company in Fountain Valley, Calif. The new business venture is called I Legacy.

The car is a standard 2009 Ford Mustang underneath, however it is fitted with an extensive Metalcrafters body and modified interior trim. There is also a dashboard plaque with the serial number and Iacocca’s signature. It has a standard 4.6-liter V-8 rated 320 horsepower Ford engine and has a five-speed manual transmission. There is an optional supercharged V-8 rated 400 hp engine available as well.

For more information, photos and videos about the Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Mustang, log onto www.ilegacy.com.