http://www.realitysense.com Reality Sense Real Estate Market and Luxury news blog Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:41:25 +0000 en hourly 1 http://www.realitysense.com/wacky-racers-head-for-valencia-in-the-ramshackle-rally/ http://www.realitysense.com/wacky-racers-head-for-valencia-in-the-ramshackle-rally/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 07:33:00 +0000 Michel Cruz http://www.realitysense.com/?p=4478 Connoisseurs of 1960s cartoons will probably react enthusiastically when Wacky Races is mentioned. This supremely silly story (and its equally popular offshoots, Dick Dastardly and Mutley in Their Flying Machines and The Perils of Penelope Pitstop) revolved around a race in which the contestants in an ongoing race pit their wits against each other – and cheat frequently! Much of the humour emerged from the absurdity of the racers’ customised cars, so fans of Wacky Races will be amused to hear that there is a real life equivalent. The Ramshackle Rally is open to anyone with a spirit of adventure and an elderly vehicle. The rules are remarkably similar to those in the classic cartoon: all contestants are advised to choose a nickname, customise their car and adopt matching dress to conform to that theme. However there is one proviso; the vehicle must be a bona fide old banger, at least 15 years old and costing £150 or less. ]]> http://www.realitysense.com/wacky-racers-head-for-valencia-in-the-ramshackle-rally/feed/ 0 http://www.realitysense.com/new-luxury-car-armortech-mercedes-maybach-57s-coupe/ http://www.realitysense.com/new-luxury-car-armortech-mercedes-maybach-57s-coupe/#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:05:03 +0000 Michel Cruz http://www.realitysense.com/?p=4363 In an exciting new collaboration Armor Tech and Maybach recently announced the ArmorTech Maybach 57S Coupe. Officially launched this year, the new car is the product of the coming together of Armor Tech, a Russian company specialising in the armouring and bullet proofing of luxury and performance cars, and Maybach, the luxury limousine division of Mercedes Benz.]]> http://www.realitysense.com/new-luxury-car-armortech-mercedes-maybach-57s-coupe/feed/ 0 http://www.realitysense.com/an-empire-built-on-wheels/ http://www.realitysense.com/an-empire-built-on-wheels/#comments Fri, 14 May 2010 07:05:45 +0000 Michel Cruz http://www.realitysense.com/?p=3483 In many ways Antonio Hernández Herrero is a pioneer of the Spanish tourist industry. Through innovation and adaptation to changing times the fledgling car rental company he set up in 1974 has since become the country’s largest independent service provider of its kind in Spain. You might say it’s a classic success story. Founded by a husband and wife team back in the early days of Spanish mass tourism, Solmar is a firm that has grown from very humble beginnings into a leading concern with almost 14,000 cars and a presence at airports and tourist centres throughout the country. We began with a potpourri of second-hand cars, smiles Don Antonio, most of them borrowed from friends.]]> http://www.realitysense.com/an-empire-built-on-wheels/feed/ 0 http://www.realitysense.com/gorgeous-delahaye-135-ms-joins-monaco-line-up/ http://www.realitysense.com/gorgeous-delahaye-135-ms-joins-monaco-line-up/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:55:38 +0000 Michel Cruz http://www.realitysense.com/?p=3065 A highly desirable 1938 Delahaye 135 MS Competition Cabriolet is one of the lots to be auctioned at RM Auction’s inaugural Sporting Classics of Monaco event, held at the beginning of May. Featuring stunning, one-off cabriolet coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi and an exquisite Hermes interior, this unique Delahaye offers an attractive blend of the best in late 1930s French custom body design with some of the highest specification mechanicals ever offered by the company – a powerful combination that saw the car participate in both concours d’elegance and motor racing events. Beautifully restored to concours-quality condition, it boasts an impeccable provenance and ownership history including French racing driver Marcel Contet and, later, a former President of the Delahaye Owners' Club, who carefully maintained the car for over 42 years]]> http://www.realitysense.com/gorgeous-delahaye-135-ms-joins-monaco-line-up/feed/ 0 http://www.realitysense.com/valencia-to-enter-ferrari-world/ http://www.realitysense.com/valencia-to-enter-ferrari-world/#comments Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:41:21 +0000 Michel Cruz http://www.realitysense.com/?p=1774 Ferrari has already stated its intention to open more theme parks and rumours are rife that Valencia is one of the cities most likely to be benefiting from their own Ferrari World. Officials from the Sign of the Prancing Horse have confirmed that Europe is at the top of their list and, since Valencia is currently enjoying pole position as a Formula 1 venue, it is likely to be one of the preferred locations.]]> http://www.realitysense.com/valencia-to-enter-ferrari-world/feed/ 0 http://www.realitysense.com/2010-formula-one-season-to-launch-in-valencia/ http://www.realitysense.com/2010-formula-one-season-to-launch-in-valencia/#comments Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:49:21 +0000 Michel Cruz http://www.realitysense.com/?p=1581 The concept of cost-cutting and the world’s most expensive sport seems an uneasy match, yet the gossip around the F1 circuit at the moment is that the 13 teams competing in the 2010 season will be taking part in a special launch in Valencia at the end of January. In the past, teams have either held pre-season previews at their own factories or unveiled their new cars at one of the tests. Mercedes-Benz GP’s chief executive, Nick Fry, revealed that this new initiative was an attempt to engage with fans, who seemed to have been less than enthused by the new technologies, originally developed with the attention of capturing an even larger audience for this very high maintenance sport.]]> http://www.realitysense.com/2010-formula-one-season-to-launch-in-valencia/feed/ 0 http://www.realitysense.com/porcelain-ferrari-599-gtb-fiorano-sells-for-2-million/ http://www.realitysense.com/porcelain-ferrari-599-gtb-fiorano-sells-for-2-million/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:03:36 +0000 Michel Cruz http://www.realitysense.com/?p=1419 This limited edition car represents the few hundred pieces of Ge Kiln porcelain still in existence today and which are regarded as priceless treasures. The cracked glaze pattern has the same type of lustre as jade and, in Chinese culture, is often used to evoke the qualities of a true gentleman. Artist Lu Hao was asked to recreate the effect of Ge Kiln for Ferrari’s China Limited Edition Model. As well as its opulent exterior, this beautiful vehicle also has a few internal modifications. For instance, the traditional Ferrari ‘Start’ button on the steering wheel is jade encrusted and the numbers on the rev counter have been written in ancient Chinese Xiao-Zhuan script.]]> http://www.realitysense.com/porcelain-ferrari-599-gtb-fiorano-sells-for-2-million/feed/ 0