Cadillac Ciel Gets A Starring Role in ‘Entourage’ Movie

YAHOO AUTOS

By Jeff Perez                                                             

If you’ve been a fan of Entourage since the beginning, then this has to be pretty exciting. The crew is getting back together for an appearance on the big screen — and they’re doing it in style.

Gone is the classic Lincoln, replaced by the lovely Cadillac Ciel concept that we saw debut back in 2011. Alongside the Ciel you’ll see the new Cadillac Escalade, and even a Corvette Stingray thrown in for good measure. The film is set to hit theaters in June of 2015. For now, you can check out the trailer below:

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788HP Cadillac Coupe de Kill is Absolutely Menacing

YAHOO AUTOS

                    

By Keith Griffin                                

                 

           

Sometimes a car straight up makes me salivate. The 196-mph LSR 1970 Cadillac Coupe de Kill is just that car.

Thanks to a 500-cubic-inch Cadillac engine with MegaSquirt EFI, and a 106mm Precision turbo, it’s estimated the Coupe de Kill has more than 788 horsepower and 770 ft/lb of torque. In your face, Dodge Charger Hellcat!

 

As Brian Lohnes, the genius behind BangShift.com reports, “It makes you smile to see it sitting still, but let us assure you that when the monster is making nearly 180mph and is at full bellow, you’ll burst into the kind of maniacal laughter that only car guys know when they are watching something awesome beyond words.”

This beauty was created by Sean Mote of Ohio. It has a fiberglass hood and front bumper. Mote hand fabricated the turbo plumbing and the Mustang Fox-body adapted front suspension. He found it sitting outside a junkyard where it had sat for years and had been set on fire at one point.

Other performance details include a set of aluminum Potter Performance high port cylinder heads, a blow through carburetor and 90mm precision turbo. When it’s all said and done, this monster can tackle a quarter mile in 10.90 seconds at 127 mph.
But the really interesting part is how he tweaked the Mustang Fox-Boxy suspension. There’s Mustang lower control arms, adjustable circle track upper control arms, RideTech air bags on all four corners, Mustang spindles, a Mustang rack and pinion, and the cappers are the Mustang Cobra 13″ rotors and matching calipers. Mote calls it a “hybrid” system.

At 4,200 lbs, it’s heavy, but it does lose a few hundred pounds from the standard Coupe Deville. So that’s nice. Now we just need to see this thing in action taking on the quarter mile.

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The Full-Size Sedan Segment Is Suffering

AUTO CHEAT SHEET

Post by Sam Becker



Source: Chrysler

 


 “V8, full-size and in a class of one” essentially sums up the current state of affairs in what was once a burgeoning segment of the automotive industry. That’s Autoblog’s Seyth Miersma, introducing the 2015 Chrysler 300S for his recent review of the car — and as he points out, one of the last of its species.

You see, outside of the luxury space, large, V8-powered sedans are becoming increasingly hard to come by. Those willing to through down in excess of $70,000, $80,000, or $90,000 (or more) will have plenty of vehicles to choose from, like a BMW M5, a Mercedes S550, or even a Lexus LS. Or the recently announced Cadillac CTS-V.

But as far as consumer-grade large sedans? They’re seemingly becoming an endangered species. Though a big, comfy four-door car was one a staple of many American households, and even a symbol of success in some regards, consumers have shifted their preferences in other directions in recent years. The result?

A market that is becoming increasingly bare. Though Chrysler has the 300, and its corporate cousin Dodge has the Charger bolstering its lineup, other automakers are headed in a different direction.
Chevy and Ford are still building the Impala and Taurus, but neither has a V8 engine. As for foreign competitors, Toyota’s Avalon is a formidable rival to cars like the 300, but even it is starting to become more of a luxury-style Camry.

Yet, despite industry trends indicating that full-size sedans are falling out of favor with consumers, Chrysler seems to be betting a lot of chips on the 300’s success. It may be on to something, as according to the company’s own sales numbers, the 300 saw a jump of 18% just within the past month. That pales in comparison, however, to the 155% growth of the 200 mid-size car over the the same time period.



THANK YOU TO THE READERS OF SCORPIO'S GARAGE

It is hard to believe it has been one year that I had started my blog, SCORPIO'S GARAGE. 2014 was an interesting year for the automobile, my blog is testament to that. As this year comes to a close, I want to wish all my readers a very safe and Happy New Year. Allow me to share the stats for 2014 :


Year in review : 29,047 Page views in 115 countries

Most page views in a day : 203 page views on 9.18.14

Most page views in a month : August, 3,921 page views

Most page views for one post : Is there a New 2015 Chevelle in the future ? : - - -

130 page views (yearly total) Posted 2.7.14

Top Ten Countries page views in 2014 :

U.S.A. : 19,007

United Kingdom : 1,756

France : 1,205

Ukraine : 1,058

Turkey : 932

Germany : 805

Canada : 297 

Russia : 267

Moldova : 199

Poland : 131


Thanks again to all my reader for making 2014 A great year for SCORPIO'S GARAGE !!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Bob Yeager

Viper ACR or Corvette Z06: Which Would You Buy?

 

YAHOO AUTOS                    

By Zac Doell                                                            

                            

 

Back in the 1980s, Dodge (and Chrysler) could be found slinging all sorts of sensible K-cars and family haulers, cars that didn’t exactly ruffle your feathers.

 Then in 1989, Dodge rolled out the Viper RT/10 concept at the Detroit auto show – with a firm thumbs up from Carroll Shelby – and it was a sensation. Three years later, Dodge began churning out said Vipers and the fans were pleased. 

So how does Dodge’s sultan of torque fare against crosstown rival Chevrolet and its stalwart Corvette? We’ve found two racy examples from the early 2000s – a ’00 Dodge Viper GTS ACR and a ’01 Chevy Corvette Z06 – and we want to know, if it were your money, which would you buy?

Back in ’89, Dodge was still thinking in terms of 300 horsepower from its burly V10 serpent. By its debut in 1992, the Viper was walloping 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, and by 2000 that number had compounded again to a punchy 460 horsepower in the track-ready GTS ACR.

 Reviewers in its day lauded the raucous Viper ACR for its lairy driving sensation and ridiculous torque in any gear, though it was let down on the track due to its lack of ABS (introduced for 2001).
 

With only 26,500 miles on the clock, this 2000 GTS ACR (see link above) looks the part of a well-kept Viper. The body appears in decent shape overall, save for some bug-splatter or chips on the bumper, and we’ll admit that while we wouldn’t have gone with the custom yellow-on-black interior, it at least matches the go-fast exterior. Inherent of the ACR badge, the Viper dons BBS wheels, Koni shocks, and a K&N air intake.

Throughout the lifespans of both competing nameplates, the Corvette has always been the – ahem – more sensible option. In terms of the C5 Z06, it wasn’t as fast or as visually striking as the Viper, but at around $48,000, it was nearly half the price of the Dodge…and still plenty quick.

 The Z06 reemerged from Corvette history for the 2001 model year and touted Chevrolet’s tuned LS6 engine, good for 385-horsepower and a dash from 0-60 in four seconds.

Underneath, the stiff FE4 suspension helped the ‘Vette put its power down a bit more tactfully than the Viper, as well as its ’90s ZR-1 predecessor, and inside the Corvette offered more in terms of amenities.

 Dressed in black, this 2001 first-year C5 Z06 (see link above) appears to be a good nick. The owner claims to have serviced the car religiously over its years, and has owned the vehicle since it had only 2,700 miles on the odometer (now reads 44,000).

There you have it, Internet. Which early 2000s American sports car gives you a case of the “buys”?

 

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BMW i9 Design Concept Looks Like Something From the Future

YAHOO AUTOS

                    

By Zach Doell                                                            

                            

 

 

 

Rumors of a high-powered BMW supercar, slotted directly above the techy i8, have been floating around for a while now. However, we’ve yet to hear any conclusive evidence as to its arrival. For some Bimmer fans, that “maybe” just isn’t good enough.

3D design artist Carlos Aliaga Pastor is one such fan. For his master’s degree thesis project he took it upon himself to craft what he thinks a next-gen BMW supercar would look like. He built an actual model, named it the i9, and it’s quite the spectacle, wouldn’t you agree?

According to the project details, his proposed i9 pulls its design inspiration from nature, mainly almonds and hammerhead sharks – no, we’re not making that up. The car’s roofline has a distinctive almond-like appearance, and there’s no getting around the aggressive and streamline selachian body.

Up front, the i9′s snouted fascia supports a low-slung diffuser and suspended fender flares. Around back, pronounced air intakes grace its haunches, followed by a tucked and minimalist rear end. Inside, Aliaga’s designs call for an instrument panel and layout similar to the BMW i8.

It’s doubtful that a production BMW i9 would ever go to such extravagant lengths – we’re thinking BMW i8 meets BAC Mono – though it’s nice to see the boundaries being pushed.

Reports around the industry hint that a BMW i9 supercar is in fact in the works for 2016, with the UK’s Autocar recently suggesting that it will utilize the i8′s carbon fiber tub, equipped with a larger 3.0-liter engine and a more powerful electric motor. The current i8 summons 357 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque from its 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder and electric motor.

If the i9 does happen, expect it to have more – perhaps McLaren P1, Porsche 918, and Ferrari LaFerrari levels of more.

 

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Buy One of the World’s Fastest Pickup Trucks

YAHOO AUTOS

                    

By Nicole Wakelin                                

                

 

 

 

You don’t think of pickups when you think about fast cars. They’re not really in the same league and someone out there just cringed that I dared even consider a truck in the same breath as cars. They are different species, but this 1991 GMC Scylone has a lot more car performance under the hood than you would expect.

It was the fastest production truck back when it was built in 1991. There was a turbocharged 4.3-liter V6 engine mated to a 4-speed automatic that gave you 280 horsepower and 350 lb-ft with a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds. Yup, this truck moved.

It will be going up for bid in January through Mecum Auctions as one of only 2,995 Syclones that were ever produced by GMC. It’s a good bet there are few on the road today, especially in this condition.

This GMC Syclone looks to be in beautiful shape inside and out so whoever owned it took good care of the truck. They also didn’t drive it around very much as it only has 7,436 miles on the odometer.

 It’s being sold with no reserve next month and could be yours if you’ve got the cash. Make that a lot of cash. Models with a lot more miles on the odometer sell for $20,000 or more. Expect this pristine Syclone to go much higher.

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These Classic American Cars Could Fetch Millions At Auction

BUSINESS INSIDER

 

 

Sheila Gibson Stoodley, Robb Report

                                   

    

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Robb Report A classic Buick Roadmaster.

Craig Jackson, of the Barrett-Jackson auction house, is experiencing a serious (and lucrative) case of déjà vu.
One of the auction house’s top customers, Ron Pratte, recently consigned his peerless collection of more than 140 vehicles and more than 1,400 pieces of automobilia, which will be offered at Barrett-Jackson’s annual Scottsdale auction from January 10 through 18.
 
Among the most remarkable lots are Carroll Shelby’s personal Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake (which last sold for $5 million in 2007); an emerald-green 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special Motorama Concept car designed by Harley Earl (which fetched a hammer price of $2.8 million in 2006);

 and a 1950 GM Futurliner Parade of Progress tour bus (the proceeds from the bus will benefit the Armed Forces Foundation; Pratte bought it in 2006 for a hammer price of $4 million). All three were sold to Pratte at previous Barrett-Jackson auctions in Scottsdale.

Robb ReportA Pontiac concept car.

 

 

“It’s going to be pretty interesting to watch them go all at once,” says Jackson, who serves as chairman and CEO of the auction house. “He bought a lot of our best cars over the last 10 years. This is an opportunity to pick up a lot of crown jewels.”
The choicest of those cars, including the ones named here, will reach the auction block on the evening of Saturday, January 17.

 

Robb ReportCarroll Shelby's Personal Cobra 427 Super Snake.

Puritalia Reveals 427 Roadster In Production Trim, Teases New Hybrid GT

YAHOO AUTOS

                    

By Viknesh Vijayenthiran                                                            

                

Over the past couple of years there have been quite a few entrants in the premium sports car scene. One that manages to stand out from the crowd is Puritalia’s 427 roadster, which was revealed in its final form at a special event in Milan last week.

 Puritalia is a sports car startup based in Napoli, Italy, and the 427, its first model, will be hand-built using traditional Italian coachbuilding methods. Power, though, will come from a 5.0-liter V-8 sourced from the Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F], making the car a tribute to the legendary Shelby Cobra, albeit with an Italian twist.

The chassis is a lightweight aluminum structure, to which carbon fiber panels and other composites are attached. This has allowed designers to keep weight of the car down, with Puritalia quoting a curb weight of just 2,535 pounds, split 50/50 front to rear. Meanwhile, the suspension is fully independent and utilizes adjustable Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs.

As mentioned above, power comes from a 5.0-liter V-8, and this delivers a peak 445 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque in standard trim. Add an optional supercharger and these figures leap to 605 hp and 472 lb-ft. Drive is to the rear wheels only, via a six-speed manual transmission and standard limited-slip differential (multiple final ratios are offered).

Helping to stop the 427 is a set of beefy Brembo brakes: 15-inch discs with six-piston calipers up front and 13.6 inch discs with four-piston calipers in the rear. Staggered wheels measuring 19 inches up front and 20 inches in the rear are used, and these come shod with grippy Pirelli P Zeros measuring 275/35 front and 335/30 rear. Unfortunately, no performance figures have been released.

 Puritalia says the 427 has been in development for the past 30 months and that more work needs to be done before production can finally get underway, with the current aim being sometime in 2016. Still on the list is getting regulatory approval for the car in Europe as well as presentations at auto shows in other potential markets such as the Middle East and the U.S.

Just 427 examples are destined for production, with the first 35 examples to be special ‘Launch Edition’ cars. The expected price tag is 180,000 euros (approximately $220,000) before taxes. Once all the 427s are built, Puritalia will focus on its next model, a new GT sports car with a hybrid drivetrain. This second model will be called the GTQ and is expected on the market around 2018.

Like the 427, the GTQ will take inspiration from sports cars of yesteryear but utilize thoroughly modern internals. A mid-mounted V-8 will power the rear wheels while an electric motor will be used to power the front pair, creating a ‘through-the-road’ hybrid all-wheel-drive setup. Puritalia says the GTQ is being designed to deliver the highest driving experience both on the street and on the track, all while maintaining the brand’s distinct Italian flavor.

Teaser for Puritalia GTQ

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Ferrari Could See Much Higher Production Numbers

YAHOO AUTOS

                    

By Keith Griffin                                                            

                

 

 

 

 

Ferrari sales are hurting in certain areas around the globe, yet Sergio Marchione still wants to boost production. He’s shooting for the right balance of exclusivity while increasing production more than 40 percent.

According to the Wall Street Journal, (subscription required) Marchionne has hinted that yearly production could go to 10,000 vehicles without denting the $250,000 average sale price for Ferrari cars or the company’s bottom line. Last year the company sold 6,922 cars.

What purists fear is Marchione, who is chairman of Ferrari, as well as as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, will push for a sports utility vehicle. It did wonders for Porsche’s bottom line while still ticking off Porschefiles.

Why is it likely we might see unusual Ferraris? The automaker is in the early days of a five-year product overhaul that is expected to cost $60 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. Fiat Chrysler, which owns 90 percent of Ferrari, is also planning an IPO of 10 percent of the company to suck some cash from it.

The really unusual news in all of this? Apparently wait times are non-existent right now in the U.S. for a Ferrari. It used to be five years. Now, assuming you had the bucks, you could walk into a dealership and buy one off the floor.

The good news is your used Ferrari might still have some value. Nine of the top 10 most expensive cars sold at auction in the past year were Ferraris, including a 1962 250 GTO that in August went for a record $38 million, according to the article.

This Daytona-Winning Firebird Was Actually a Camaro

YAHOO AUTOS

                    

By Zach Doell

                            

 

 

 

 

This Daytona-Winning Firebird Was Actually a Camaro

When is a Pontiac Firebird not actually a Firebird? Answer: when it’s really a 1968 Chevrolet Camaro. This pedigreed pony car, which competed in the SCCA’s Trans-Am series, started life as a ’68 Camaro and wound up a class winner at the 24 Hours of Daytona as a Pontiac – not your typical racing story.

 You can make it yours when it goes up for sale at Russo and Steele’s Scottsdale auction in January. Jerry Titus – engineer, automotive journalist, and professionally-trained trumpet player – had made a name for himself in SCCA racing during the 1960s. He won both SCCA B and D-Production Championships in 1965 and ’66, respectively, driving for Carroll Shelby, and performed well in the Trans American Sedan series, also for Shelby, in ’66 and ’67.

But late in 1968, Titus departed Ford to form a new team, TG Racing, with backing from Pontiac, which would provide Firebirds, Titus would hold multiple roles as builder, mechanic, team manager, and driver.
 The Pontiac support didn’t come soon enough, though, and Titus needed a car to compete in the ’68 season’s final race. So he recruited Jon Ward, a former sprint car driver, and struck a deal to convert his self-prepared Camaro into the team’s first ‘Firebird.’

Engine failure spoiled what looked to be a race win, so Ward and Titus gave the Firebird one last go … at the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona no less. That February, somewhat astonishingly, the duo of Titus and Ward scythed through the competition to finish first in the Trans-Am class and finish third overall.

The ’69 Pontiac Firebirds arrived soon after, and this car was sold back to Ward. It eventually made the trip to Mexico and was campaigned successfully in the country’s Trans-Am series. In 1988, the historic Firebird/Camaro was rediscovered in Mexico, restored by Bill Elliot Racing, and now wears its race-winning ’69 Daytona livery.

Listen to the Beautiful Sound of a Lamborghini V-12 Powered Motorcycle

YAHOO AUTOS

 

 

 

By Joel Patel                                

Just like any other logical person, Chuck Beck – legendary builder and fabricator – had a Lamborghini V-12 sitting around and decided to place it into a motorcycle frame.

The Lamborghini-powered motorcycle made an appearance at a Caffeine and Octane event in Alpharetta, Georgia. earlier this month. Lucky for us, someone had his camera out when the V-12 fired up, allowing us to enjoy the glorious sound.

 

The engine came from a friend of Beck's who lost his Lambo due to a fire. Luckily the engine was saved in great shape and Beck was able to custom build a frame around the V-12. The wheelbase is ridiculously long and Beck was able to machine a linkage so the handlebars could be mounted towards the back of the engine, where the rider sits.


 

We're curious as to how the transmission works, but it looks beautiful with the exposeded chains and gears on the right side.

While the video leaves a lot of questions unanswered – why and how – it showcases something utterly insane that obviously took a lot of work and love to complete.
It may have taken a while, but Beck has finally one-upped the Dodge Tomahawk. Watch the videos below to listen to the one-off machine in action.

                                                                                                 

           

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                

Ariel Gets Off-Roady With this 200HP Nomad

YAHOO AUTOS

                    

By Zach Doell

           

 

 

 

In the past, if you were to take one of Ariel Motor Company’s products off-road, you’d end up with one very mangled track car and a repair bill about as steep as the Atom is speedy.

 And that’s to say – very. But next year that’s all about to change. Ariel is putting the finishing touches on this, the Nomad, a two-wheel drive off-roader described by Ariel boss Simon Saunders as the “Atom’s mucky brother.” 

And apparently we won’t have to wait long to see one. The UK’s Autocar revealed that the Nomad will break cover on Jan. 6, just ahead of the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, England.

According to Autocar, the Nomad retains many of the features that have made the Atom such a revolutionary design. The lightweight two seater is claimed to weigh in around 1500 pounds, a mere fraction of the weight of today’s hefty off-road vehicles.

 It will carry over a modified exoskeletal chassis as well as the standard instrumentation, pedals, wiring, and switches from the current Atom. However, in order to deal with rough off-road terrain, the Nomad tacks on bespoke long-travel suspension, an increased ride height, knobby tires, and a heavy duty roll cage.

“We’ve done quite a bit of testing on forest tracks and rally stages,” commented Saunders’ son Henry to Autocar, “and results have been extremely encouraging.”

An alleged 200 horsepower will flow from a 2.4-liter Honda four-cylinder (perhaps a similar unit to the US-spec Atom 3) to the rear wheels through a Honda six-speed manual gearbox, aided by a mechanical limited slip differential.

 Prototypes have been testing on 15-inch alloy wheels and 235/70 tires, though a number of wheel and rubber combinations will likely be available later.

So what will the rough and tumble Ariel cost? One can expect to pay around $46,000 (£30,000) for a base model Nomad. But if there’s anything we know about Ariel, it’s that there’s always a more powerful, faster (and expectedly more expensive) version on the way. 

Watch Mazda’s LM55 Concept Scream onto Gran Turismo

YAHOO AUTOS

                    

By Zach Doell      

 

 

                      

           

On June 23, 1991, the world echoed to the sound of rotary power as Mazda finished the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans in its now legendary 787B screamer. It was the first-ever win for a Japanese manufacturer at the event, and the first for a rotary-powered car. 

It’s a rather inspiring underdog story and now Mazda is giving its iconic 787B a 21^st Century rebirth in the form of the LM55, a digital race car for Gran Turismo 6′s Vision GT series. Want one? Simply download and install the Holiday Season Update for GT6, and give it a spin.

Details for the LM55 are fairly null, but the video below establishes that the LM55 hasn’t lost what made the 787B such a legend – its noise. Given that guttural howl, the LM55 could very well pack a high-spinning rotary engine, and what a noise it is. However, the car dons the company’s Skyactiv badging, which does hint at a gas or diesel-sipping four-pot underneath its flanks.

On the surface, the LM55 evokes similar lines as its Le Mans winning forefather. A longer front, tucked rear with almost no overhang, and edgy wheel arches create aggressive sports car looks, melded with Mazda’s current Kodo “Soul of Motion” design language, quite noticeable in the front fascia. Mazda says its lightweight monocoque chassis construction extensively utilizes carbon fiber and other weight-saving components.

 

Is this a hint from Mazda at a return to Le Mans? Perhaps. The automaker fielded a pair of Skyactiv-D powered racers in this year’s Tudor United Sportscar Championship. Similar models and powertrains could very well find their way out to la Sarthe within the next two years.

The Man Who Turns Car Parts into Animal Art

YAHOO AUTOS

                    

By Zach Doell

 

A few days ago, we showed you some of the work of British artist Ptolemy Elrington. If you hadn’t seen it – and you really, really should – Elrington takes disused hubcaps, shopping carts, car bumpers and whatever else he can find, and turns them into striking pieces of animal artwork. Fish, birds, insects, wolves – he’s done the lot. 

Frankly, we were stunned, and once we picked our jaws up off the floor, we wanted to know more about Ptolemy and his amazing craft. So we rang him up, and here’s what he had to say.

What drew you to working with recycled media?
I had a go when I was at college and it appealed to me. I like finding shapes within the materials that I find, and reinterpreting them. It’s a stimulating process and doesn’t get boring because of the variety. There’s the thrill of finding new things with new potential, there’s the delight I feel when a friend or even a stranger donates something that they think I can use.
Then there’s the eco angle – I was brought up in a thrifty environment and it stuck. I hate waste and litter. Carelessness drives me nuts. So my work is acting as a reminder that maybe something that’s come to the end of it’s original life may have more potential.
Hubcaps are plentiful, often beautiful, and usually destined for a landfill or incinerator. I find them easy to work with and love they way they look once they’re chopped and changed. Bumpers are a relatively recent discovery, and it’s similar to the hubcaps in that the shapes within are exciting to me.

What process do you use to shape the hubcaps? Heat?
No heat. I’d probably set fire to my studio or asphyxiate myself with melting plastic. I just drill holes and make staple shapes with wire to hold the bits together. Some hubcaps are bendy, and I hold them in the position I want by guitar stringing a bit of wire across – nice and simple.

I do use a battery drill, but otherwise it’s no power tools – just a hacksaw, craft knife and pliers. I’m not keen on too much noise if I can help it, cutting and welding up shopping trolleys or scrap cars is another story…

Anything that works really well in the build process?

Most things work providing you apply yourself correctly. Being lazy or careless doesn’t work at all, and looking lots is the answer. I was taught that lesson at college, and I’m grateful because it’s the answer when creating art that makes you feel satisfied and fulfilled – but never 100% because then that would be the time to give up!

When did Hubcap Creatures become your focus?
I started as a hobby a year or two before the turn of the millennium. The first thing I made was a creature, a fish type thing, but I had originally collected the hubcaps in order to make a suit of armor. It’s just I haven’t gotten round to it yet…
Any favorite designs so far?

I had two fish that I kept in my personal collection. The Mirror Carp (seen above) is my favorite and the Rockfish is my second favorite. The Rockfish was stolen from an eco show display on the grounds of St. James’s Palace on The Mall in London, which is Prince Charles’ home when he’s in London. There were armed guards with machine guns dotted around the place, including next to my fish. He didn’t see anybody take it…

How long does it take to put together a creature from beginning to end?
That’s a piece of string question. I spent three months on one piece and one day on a different one. On average, expect about one working week.

Any creatures you’re itching to create?

Oooh loads. I want to make a life-size great white shark. I made one in the past but I want to produce a new and improved version. I also want to make some Egyptian gods, loads of different types of fish, a grizzly bear, a hubcap horse – I’ve made a full-size horse out of steel and I think the hubcaps would look pretty fine – and lots of other things too! The trouble with making big stuff is storage. I’m running out of space.