Since 2004, Cars for the Cure has hosted their annual exotic and luxury car show in Lake Mary, FL to benefit the American Lung Association. Every year, the show has displayed countless exotics not often available to the general public. Free to spectators, this annual fundraiser allows them to get up close and admire the fine craftsmanship of the cars displayed and is any automotive enthusiasts dream.

On display this year were some of the finest supercars the world has to offer. From your standard Ferrari 360 Spyder, to a one-off Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu with a bleu carbon fiber and polished aluminum finish worth over $3 million, these cars made even the nicest Mustang look like a Yugo.  Such a hit, this special edition Veyron seemed to even overshadow the recently debuted Lamborghini Aventador and McLaren MP4-12C displayed only six feet away.

As this show continues to grow year after year, it has become a favorite drawing spectators from all over the state. All we can say is, we can’t wait to see what Cars for the Cure has to offer in 2013.

With the newly formed Cars & Coffee monthly car meets in Sarasota, Florida Exotics & Luxury has become a sponsoring partner for the events. We are helping get the word out to people from surrounding areas in hopes that this new get-together becomes a success. If you are unaware of what a Cars & Coffee event is you might want to check one out sometime. They are monthly automotive get-togethers where car owners and enthusiasts gather in the morning to chat about their cars and enjoy some snacks and refreshments. There are different styles of C&C meets depending on where the location is. Generally they are comprised of more high dollar cars, but every make and model is welcome.

The Sarasota Cars & Coffee asks that guests bring in a few canned food donations as they have partnered up with the local All Faiths Food Bank and all donations will benefit the less fortunate in the community. Suncoast Porsche has been kind enough to open their doors and provide their facility and parking lot as the host location.

Our professional photographer, Peter Tromboni, has his hand in this event as well and will be providing fantastic images for Exotics & Luxury and many other forms of media outlets. If you ever make it to beautiful Sarasota, Florida we suggest that you check out their very own Cars & Coffee. Meets are held on the first Saturday of every month from 8-10am at Suncoast Porsche on US 41, and as you can see from Peter’s photos below they’re all rain or shine.

Exotics & Luxury brings you this exclusive photoshoot from our head photographer, Peter Tromboni, and a beautiful Ferrari 458 Italia. The car is finished in the classic Rosso Corsa exterior over a more modern Couio interior. This Italia’s tail lights and side markers have been “smoked” to give the car a more aggressive look. Please enjoy the photography and the gorgeous scenery down in the Sunshine State.

Location: Sarasota, Florida

Once again our detailing sponsor Street Dreams Detail presents this photo documentary of a full 3 day paint correction, engine, and interior detail of a black Ferrari F430. David Saunders is the owner and paint correction specialist at Street Dreams Detail and he uses meticulous care and precision with every vehicle he touches. For information on how you can have David go to work on your vehicle please contact him via email, David@streetdreamsdetail.com, or by phone, (551) 804 6782. And be sure to check out Street Dreams on the web.

The car arrives for Street Dreams to being the transformation…

David began with the wheels and tires. Wheels were cleaned using regular soap and water with various brushes due to the carbon ceramic brakes.

The was process was as follows:

Foam w/ CG maxi suds
Soak w/ Optimum Power Clean 5:1
Hand wash using Lusso Oro

The car was then brought inside with the heat on full blast. At the time of detail the outside temperature was under 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Claying using ONR as lube…

After claying 2 IPA wipedowns were done before taping. David spent a lot of time masking this car to prevent a messy cleanup after correction. Most importantly the clear film edges on the front bumper, nose and by the side air intakes (upper and lower) were masked very carefully.

The hood’s clear bra line was taped thick enough so that David could run over it with a buffer and still not be onto the clear film as he was using a rotary for correction on the un-filmed upper half of the nose.

Next David took measurements with the PTG. The rear bumper and engine cover area were repainted a few months ago, and David took careful readings and surprisingly they were very close to the factory levels, at most a 40micron difference in thickness. The color match job done was hands down the best he has ever seen.

Factory reading…

Re-sprayed panel…

Onto paint correction. David played around with the new Flex PE 14-2 which he says is “quite a cool machine.”

The products used were Meguiars M105 and Sonax Perfect Finish (both for light cutting and finishing w/ varied pads).

David then switched to the Griots DA machine in the side skirts to make for easier polishing, these areas get hit the worst with RIDS and scuffs…

Here’s a 50/50 shot, not every defect was able to be removed but the haze did come out into a nice gloss to match the rest of the car after polishing.

After finishing…

The Ferrari’s front nose needed a good bit of work…

Before…

After…

Clear film correction was up next. This was about the worst condition clear film David has dealt with. There were far too many RIDS and scracthes to yield very high levels of correction, so as usual David swicthed to a DA for the correction process on the film.

After the first pass…

After several more passes using Powerfinish with a tangerine cutting pad…

David was having a lot of trouble wiping the film without marring it, he tried several types of microfiber all of which left some light marring behind… mind you he waited until the plastic cooled fully before wiping it.

David ended up using the eurow shag towels which seemed to glide best on the film not causing it to marr.

Top portion of film polished… bottom part untouched.

David had better luck with this part of the nose clear film, and finally was able to get a high level of correction because the defects were not as severe.

Polishing the rear decklid was a little tricky as the decklid sits adjacent to the rear quarter panel and David hates polishing over edges and onto another panel by mistake, so he had to improvise.

Solution:

Decklid defects (re-sprayed area)

50/50 after compounding…

David polishing the F430 with sonax perfect finish…

The 4.3 liter V8 engine took a bit of time to get right. David started with the exhaust, several polishing steps by hand, and a machine (on the can) to bring back the color.

50/50…

After …

50/50 of the intake manifold…

Again 50/50 difference in color with the left side untouched…

Finished…

David cleaned up the trunk area, here’s a 50/50 of the cowl. He also polished up plastic with Z-AIO to remove water spots.

The Ferrari’s interior was generally clean. David’s main focus was cleaning the leather to remove an old dressing’s sheen and restore a more natural matte finish.

Before…

David put 2 coats of Opti seal on the CF trim…

David polished the wheels using Werkstat prime followed by 2 layers of Rejex for protection…

Finished…

Then came the finishing details. Clear bra line had some old wax buildup which needed to be removed before LSP. David used a rather unusual toothpick/mini hotdog holder which he bought for instances just like this. He said it worked great!

It removed the chalked up wax very nicely…

There was old wax on the mirror trim as well.

Before…

After…

The glass was cleaned using some new towels Daivd just got in which are designed for use in hospitals to clean windows. They are made to not leave streaks or residue behind because bacteria can grow in the residual product left on glass (for cars not such a huge deal as we have been using glass towels forever but in a hospital you can see how this would be a concern).

Either way they work great!

Up close…

LSP: Menzerna Powerlock x3

Finished shots…

No outside shots this time, David finished around 9pm…. He could have finished at 5 and it would have still been pitch black outside. That’s when happens when you’re an auto detailer in the Northeast…

The efforts and talents of David Saunders and Street Dreams Detail cannot be understated. If your car needs the tender loving care it deserves don’t hesitate and contact Street Dreams right away.

]]> http://www.exoticsandluxury.com/street-dreams-detail-ferrari-f430-makeover/feed 2 http://www.exoticsandluxury.com/ferrari-superamerica-45 http://www.exoticsandluxury.com/ferrari-superamerica-45#comments Thu, 19 May 2011 21:15:23 +0000 Exotics & Luxury http://www.exoticsandluxury.com/?p=3282

Ferrari have announced a new bespoke supercar created for Peter Kalikow, a New Yorker with an extensive collection of Ferraris. The new Superamerica 45 was engineered and built in-house by Ferrari and was styled by Ferrari Design. It represents Kalikow’s 45 years of Ferrari ownership. The car will be displayed on May 20th at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza.

The Superamerica 45 is a one-off creation that features a carbon fiber rotating hardtop, similar to the 575 Superamerica’s folding glass hardtop. The rear of the car had to be redesigned in order to house the roof when in the folded position, which was also made from carbon fiber to reduce drag and increase down force. The famous flying buttresses are body colored and integrated with the rear wheel arches for a more flowing look. The front fenders have been redesigned with two vents and the front grill has a new chromed look specific to the Superamerica 45. The A-pillars, mirrors, and door handles all have a brushed aluminum finish much like the recently announced 599 SA Aperta.

The stunning color that Kalikow chose for the Superamerica 45 pays homage to another one of his most prized possessions - a 1961 400 Superamerica cabriolet. The exclusive color is called Blu Antille and the wheels have been finished in that same color. Other exterior touches include dark blue carbon fiber weaving on the front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser. The interior has been dressed in a combination of Cuoio leather trim and Blu Scuro carbon fiber, and of course the latest and greatest digital touch screen entertainment system.

Source [Ferrari]

This excellent article was sponsored by Gumtree.com.au. Relevant Gumtree.com.au motoring links:

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The 8th Annual Celebration Exotic Car Festival was held during a course of 4 days and raised approximately $180,000 for children with life threatening medical conditions. The weekend’s events include two thrilling days at Sebring International Raceway, where Ferrari Challenge cars take to the track for intense battles, a Concours style exotic car show in Downtown Celebration, Florida, a Jet Port Reception party at a private airport hangar, and a 111 mile Road Rally and lunch at Disney World’s Beach Club Resort.

The Celebration Exotic Car Festival is growing each and every year and since it’s inception in 2004 the event has raised over $600,000 for charity organizations. The event attracts some of the world’s rarest automobiles, movie cars, celebrities and famous chefs, and attendees have the opportunity to get up close and personal with everyone involved.

The two trackdays at Sebring are always fun. It’s very exciting to see “normal” cars out there flying around the corners and the Ferrari Challenge cars trading paint during a high energy 25 minute Ferrari Club Racing Association (FCRA) race around the famous 3.7 mile 12-Hour circuit. Anyone can register to track their car and passengers are even allowed to go out for some fun, so long as they sign a waiver and are wearing the proper equipment. Even our pro photographer Peter Tromboni had the opportunity to ride along for 4 laps in his dream car, a Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale. He told Exotics & Luxury that was the most incredible thing he’s ever done. Way to go, Peter!

Saturday morning is the car show with full judging and an awards ceremony. Over 250 exotic, movie, and race cars are on display for a free-of-charge show open to the public. This year drew over 125 Ferraris and many more smiles from people of all ages. The class winners have the pleasure of driving their cars onto the red carpet in front of thousands of guests and receive award trophies from Chris “Shooter McGavin” McDonald and Carl “Apollo Creed” Weathers.

The Jet Port Reception party on Saturday night, held inside a private airport hangar, is as good as it gets.  Guests are treated to an amazing display of show cars out front and stunning airplanes in the sky. Many of the areas top restaurants and chefs are on hand providing food and drink in a very nice fashion. An aerialist show wows guests with high-flying acts and colorful lights, and the auction raised over $116,000, all for charity.

Sunday morning had participants meet back in Downtown Celebration for a quick breakfast and drivers’ meeting then it was off to the streets for the first half of a 111 mile Road Rally. Passengers were given a directions booklet with clues to look for along the way. A quick halfway break at a small pastry shop was a refreshing pit stop and drivers were then directed to hit the road again for the second half, finishing up at Disney’s Beach Club Resort for a catered lunch overlooking Disney’s BoardWalk and beautiful Crescent Lake.

For more information on how you can enter your car in the 2012 Celebration Exotic Car Festival or how you can make a monetary contribution to the charity organizations associated with the CECF please visit the official Celebration Exotic Car Festival website.

This great article was sponsored by Gumtree.co.za, South Africa’s premier classifieds

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Held on the beautiful grounds of the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Amelia Island, Florida the 16th Annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was every bit as amazing as previous years. Exotics & Luxury was on hand all weekend where we got to see some of the most rare and exclusive cars in the world. Show stoppers such as the brand new Bugatti Veyron SS, Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, the last production built Shelby Cobra 427, and a collection of Bobby Rahal’s retired race cars had onlookers drooling at the mulit-millions of dollars sitting on the 10th and 18th greens. Our very own Peter Tromboni has provided you with these fantastic images from the 2011 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

Saturday morning saw the cars lining up on the grass of St. Armand’s Circle for the main event. The Concours attracts thousands of spectators from around the Gulf Coast to see some spectacular automobiles. Lamborghini’s legendary test pilot, Mr. Valentino Balboni, was on hand to sign autographs and pose for photos with his fans. Mr. Balboni also assisted in handing out the trophies for the winning cars.

Sunday morning was the final day of the Sarasota Exotic Car Fest but may have been the best day yet. Registered drivers partook in a 97.6 mile Road Rally that had them take their stunning exotic cars east of Interstate 75 for a thrilling ride. The rally concluded with brunch at The Concession Golf Club and a group photo of all the cars parked outside.

For information on the Sarasota Exotic Car Fest and the Child Protection Center, Inc please visit the SECF website here.

And take at look at Peter’s personal website for all his latest photography work: Peter Tromboni Photography

Written by Kerry Stratton

The 2010 inaugural event for Palm Beach Supercar Experience (formerly Supercar Weekend) beat the weather and went off without a hitch. This years collaboration definitely took the Supercar event concept to the next level. Building on the last four years, this event truly brought together the best of the best in rare and exotic vehicles on the beautiful newly restored West Palm Beach waterfront. Read after the break for further coverage and photos!

While the weather didn’t play nice all day (intermittent sunshine and free afternoon carwash), it didn’t stop the crowd from enjoying the show. Well over 100 cars were in attendance…everything from tuned Camaros to a Ferrari F50; which was all boss, but the definite show-stopper was the yet-to-be released Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing.  The first Mercedes designed in-house by AMG is absolutely stunning and pictures do it very little justice. It’s quite deserving of the upcoming Gran Turismo 5 cover. I can’t wait to see it on the road! And with the initial specs, the eventual Black Series will be phenomenal. How do you make a great car better? Simple. Lose some weight.

Another eye-catcher was the all-electric zero-to-sixty in 3.7-seconds Tesla Roadster Sport; I’ve been interested in these cars since they came out and have been patiently awaiting their representation in Florida. Customers who were very patient in taking delivery of their Roadsters made out well; they had the opportunity to upgrade to the much improved Sport. Come to find out, Tesla now has a dealership open not far from Miami that we will most definitely be paying a visit to in the near future. We were one of the lucky few allowed to sit in the car this weekend so I’m thinking a test drive is in order!

Other highlights included multiple Murcielago SVs (a sick Matte Black LP640 spotted @City Place), a Ferrari FXX and a couple Spyker C8s.

If you’ve never been to this event, you really should check it out either at one of the two other dates this year (in New Orleans and the Hamptons) or on the flip side at the 2011 Palm Beach Supercar Experience. With all the new cars expected to drop between now and then, it should definitely be on every enthusiasts’ calendar.

(There are more pictures to come!)

Links:

• Kerry Stratton on Flickr
• Blake Simon on Flickr
• Brian Lee Tull on Flickr
• The Supercar Experience
• Lamborghini Miami

Recent Articles:

• Pictorial: Sebring Winter Testing 2010
• Pictorial: Miami International Boat Show 2010
• Preview: Palm Beach Supercar Experience February 26-28, 2010
• Cars On Fifth – Naples, Florida – Feb. 6, 2010

Written by Kerry Stratton

Our very own Chris Grosser spent last weekend at the winter testing session for the American Le Mans series at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida. Chris is currently on vacation but wanted to share his pictures. Which will be included below the break.

Links:

• American Le Mans Series
• Chris Grosser Photography

Recent Articles:

• Pictorial: Miami International Boat Show 2010
• Preview: Palm Beach Supercar Experience February 26-28, 2010
• Cars On Fifth – Naples, Florida – Feb. 6, 2010
• Introducing the MP4-12C