CUSTOM - PERFORMANCE - COLLECTABLE

Tracing back to the early 40's and 50's to the era that was all things Hot Rod, James Dean was at the highpoint of his career, starring in movies that today made him a cultural icon. He was a man that lived a short life, who truly embodied what it meant to be custom. This attribute was extended over to his cars that were customised to reflect who he truly was. 56 years on since his tragic death, the thought ponders – Where are the James Deans of today?

Best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, 'Rebel without a cause', his role truly identifies Dean as a character. The film title says it all, as being a 'rebel' is going against the grain, and 'without a cause', can be broken down to doing things for no real reason but maybe for self-deprivation. Both of which are attributes of individualism, which is the key in possessing what we call 'custom'.

Apart from being a Hollywood hit, Dean was an avid car nut, and had a passion for fast cars. Even to the point where he would race professionally between filming movies. Standard cars wouldn't cut it though, and he would have them customised to meet his personal style to get what he wanted out of the car. Let's bring it forward to the 21st century where the James Deans of today exist. Under every large rock, small or large town, there resides an exclusive congregation of Australian car builders, whom live, eat, and sleep the world of automotive design and creation. They may hold 9-5 day jobs or are retired living the dream, all with one thing in common; behind closed doors the art of 'customisation' is produced. For years on end, pay check after pay check, headache after headache, these trials and tribulations are the result of these local car builders who live the 'Dean' life obsessed by their new project car and creating something that is an extension of them. As architects design, and builders build, these car creators conceptualise, innovate, design, build and manufacture a pure masterpiece for their humble man cave; the 'garage'. Maybe it is their weekend love affair or the ultimate life enduring trophy, it is these cars that both these builders and Dean have in common; they have been made custom to suit and reflect their individual style and character, but also are used as the scapegoat to remove themselves from reality.

As James Dean says, "remember life is short, break the rules", and do something that reflects who you are. This is accepting 'custom' into your life. Meguiar's MotorEx is the opportunity to see the 'Rebels without a cause' of today with 'true custom cars' unveiled and on display. Cars that have been built behind closed doors for years will make their debut in front of thousands of people. A special moment and a highlight of the show is the 'House of Kolor' Inauguration, which is the welcoming of these elite custom cars into the world. They will be displayed amongst the 'Superstars' of this country, who are all battling it out to be crowned the 'Best of Breed' Master. Feel the atmosphere of automotive customisation in all its glory, with the Dome of Sydney Olympic Park playing host to these truly unique, one-off creations. As an enthusiast who appreciates the art of 'custom', come to MotorEx and witness this unique art form.

There is a global obsession with 'speed'. Maybe it's the adrenaline, the fear or the risk, that have been imprinted into your word reference of 'speed', or maybe it's simply the fact that you can have control over a vehicle that has more than impressive amounts of horsepower under the bonnet. As many have experienced since a young age, the dream of becoming a race car driver, or the act of clocking up as much speed on your bike as you rode down the hill, was the start of the fascination with speed, and it was then that 'performance' subconsciously entered your life.

In motorsport, generally there are 2 directions that automotive enthusiasts follow; the worldwide phenomena of Formula 1, which tends to attract a brand new, above average sports production car owner. Then there would be the local favorite of the V8 Supercar series, which attracts a cult brand follower with a DIY skill set. Combined they both have one thing in common; 'performance', which brings them together with a mutual acceptance that the thrill of driving a performance car is incomparable to anything else in life.

Since the growth of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) performance standards, the desire to 'go fast' is a trend that continues to grow exponentially year on end and has been part of the automotive game since the beginning. With new vehicles being released 'standard' with more than reasonable power options, there's always the want for more! Don't be mistaken though, performance is not just about making your car go faster, it's an overall strategy to improve the dynamics of the vehicle. A more powerful engine requires a better braking system, a larger and wider wheel and tyre combination etc. and the list goes on. These highly over engineered vehicles are the result of car enthusiasts that want the most out of the car and to improve the overall drivability.

From one extreme to the other, it is general knowledge most of us can only dream about owning or even driving a 'supercar', the pinnacle of a production performance car. The majority of the car fraternities are content with what they have, or in many cases have no interest in them. The obsession with these supercars apart from the prestige status they carry; is that they are in fact the closest thing to driving a race car on the road legally. "It must be very fast, with sporting handling to match" are the foundations supercars are built upon. By applying the same logic to general motor vehicles, the performance industry was formed.

At this year's Meguiar's MotorEx, the inaugural Liqui-Moly Performance Garage has been put together to celebrate the passion of the industry. It is now your chance as spectators to come away with enough information and knowledge to build your next project, fix a problem or just get answers to questions you had always wanted to know but didn't know where to go for the information. In addition the Performance Garage will also host one of the only 'Hypercars' that exist in Australia; the $1.6 million dollar Swedish made 'Koenigsegg', which will put things into perspective for production performance cars. This is Automotive engineering at its absolute best, which you can see in person together with the 'supercars' of the aftermarket industry, all whilst answering the global phenomena of society's obsession with speed.

Has the passion and obsession with collecting things ever really been understood? As generations move from era to era, products evolve and when old skool became cool, the question as to 'why' could not be grasped. Apart from the possible investment associated with 'collecting', the only likely answer to this is the 'nostalgic' connection; ones only way to stay in touch with the 'past'. Collectables driven by nostalgia enable owners to relive their youth, and enjoy the heritage of something they are so passionate about.

This raises the point of being able to enjoy your collectable more so than the occasional glance. What is it that you collect that gives you enjoyment and fulfillment? It is understood and accepted that many collectables are purely of a visual connection, yet there is an entire class in automotive heritage that offers much more than simply a visual.

Vintage and classic muscle cars are a popular collectable item globally. The signature body lines and exposed fenders of a vintage car, or the raw power and aggressive body shape of classic American and Australian muscle cars, it's the immediate feeling of history and passion when you sit and drive that makes your collectable remarkable. The obsession with these vehicles is an automotive enthusiast's sweet tooth. Collectors are everywhere, in which 'all share a certain kinship' says Jay Leno; famous US talk show host and huge collector with approximately 200 vehicles predominately from the vintage era.

Shannon's Auction knows the scene very well, and always hand picks the best. Previously held at the Sydney International Motor Show, the Shannon's 'Collector and Muscle Car' auction has relocated and is now held at Meguiar's MotorEx, which is a more natural fit for the car enthusiast market. Visit this year's show and see cars on offer such as the So-Cal Roadster; a replica of the world's most famous hot rod, amongst a set of highly desirable vehicles.

Also at Meguiar's MotorEx is the Muscle Car Marvel, a classic Australian and American muscle car display, celebrating the era of ambassadors such as Allan Moffat and Peter Brock. These vehicles will get your mouth watering before you make your way to the Shannon's auction where you can actually bid on something similar to own. This is your chance to be a part of real history, something that you can look at, take a seat in, and drive whilst enjoying the overall nostalgic connection of a true automotive collectable.