Cars have an uncanny ability to ignite obsessions in people, fueling passions that range from endearing quirks to full-blown dedications bordering on…well, let’s just say intense.
Think sourcing a specific door card for your vintage Fiat X1/9. Seems niche, right? But within the world of petrolheads, it’s almost expected. The real enthusiasts, however, dive deeper. Imagine meticulously researching period-correct Blaupunkt head units for a car you don’t even own. Or spending countless hours fine-tuning damper settings on modern coilovers to achieve the perfect winter grip for a Cadwell Park drive – a quest that could very well lead down a path of automotive madness.
These are mere appetizers in the grand buffet of car obsession. Take Ernie Adams, affectionately known as “Mr Dwarf Car,” who crafts meticulous 1/12th to 1/16th scale replicas of classic Lincolns, Chevrolets, and Dodges from the interwar and mid-century eras. But these aren’t mere display models; Adams hand-beats every panel on an English wheel, ensuring each miniature masterpiece is fully functional.
Then there’s Richard Porter, a former Top Gear script editor who champions car trivia as gospel. His books – yes, books – become treasured resources for automotive enthusiasts eager to devour arcane facts like the fact that the 1993 special-edition Colorado was the only Mk3 Vauxhall Cavalier to offer a CD player as standard equipment.
And let’s not forget Mark Torok, guardian of the “Skoda orphanage.” This dedicated soul rescues transition-era Skodas from the scrapyard, ensuring these iconic models of the 1990s live on.
These are individuals who have transformed their passion for cars into a full-blown lifestyle. While most people bounce between various automotive obsessions, keeping a few active and revisiting old flames periodically, the fact remains: Planet Car offers an alluring, almost inescapable labyrinth of intrigue. It’s easy to get lost in the endless details and intricacies that make up the automotive world – even if it sometimes veers into the realm of endearing lunacy.
