Product Spotlight: Painted Corvette License Plate Frame
Here's a great product I came across that's available at a great price: Painted Aluminum Corvette License Plate Frames. Trying to keep up with a semi-regular product spotlight series, these seemed--based on their quality, great looks, and affordable price--like a logical next product.
The manufacturing for these is really cool, and, SouthernCarParts--who is one of the major retailers for them and a company that I personally enjoy dealing with (I feel like, as far as Corvette products go, they're like my everyday Cheers-esque bar where everyone knows my name)--provides a lot of information for how they're produced. Beginning with a solid brass, heavy cast mold, the base aluminum plate is formed. Each plate is then CNC machine cut for precision, and given a precise, fast machine engraving. The Engravings on these are of the Corvette lettering, with your choice of either Base Corvette C6, Z06, or ZR1 badging emblem to accompany it. Once engraved, the plates are given a multi-coat paint job using actual GM paints. I questioned this, but, was assured that the paint being used is derived from the GM WPA code, and, I'll be damned if the one I received didn't match perfectly. The paint is applied in a multi-coat process, with a final clear coating, for shine and durability and looks just like the stock Corvette paint job.
The last part of the production process is the one that impresses me the most. The Corvette engravings on these plates are actually hand-filled with an acrylic epoxy. Typically, hand-filling means that a product is prohibitively more costly than machine ones, but these are definitely affordable. The quality of the acrylic epoxy is perfect, there are no imperfections, and the plate looks awesome to be finished off with these emblems. These things are absolutely gorgeous.
As with any license plate frame, this is easy to install. The painted screw caps are a nice touch to help keep the whole thing looking uniform, and once installed, the plate really looks like it belongs on the vehicle. All-in-all, I'm really happy with the product, considering that it cost under $115 and adds more Corvette badging with an OEM (or better) quality finish. That can never be a bad thing, can it?
Charger Connection Adapter for the Vette
The "StealthLink" Charger Connection adapter for the Corvette is a genius solution to charging pains. The Charger Connection adapter is a quick and easy fix for the pains of lifting the hood, or popping the hatch to connect to a battery charger. The Charger Connection adapter takes an aviation grade push/pull connector and utilizes this as the connection point of the charger. This unique installation takes place right next to the rear license plate light leaving no point of entry for any critters or any need to have the hatch or hood open for charging. This adapter even allows you to leave the car cover on if you want. The adapter is a creatively quick way for you to keep the battery tended and the car under wraps if you would rather keep it up under the car cover. The charger end comes with either a 72" SAE 2 pin cord, or a 16" Ctek cord.
Inside each kit:
- Custom designed, precision water-jet cut, .125" T6061 aluminum bracket with black anodizing
- Black anodized aluminum spacer
- Aviation grade push/pull connector with a cycle life in excess of 5,000 mating's
- SAE 2 pin cord at 72" / Ctek cord at 16"
- Watertight plug to seal receptacle when not mated
- Inline fuse holder with an appropriately rated fuse
- Custom embroidered "Remove Before Flight" window reminder
- Sized piece of "VentureShield" clear bra for paint protection (for C6 Corvettes)
- Step by step installation instructions with pictures
I'm sure you noticed the "Remove before Flight" window reminder on there, but yep, it's for you. Just in case you happened to hop in one day and get ready to take the beast out for a spin, this reminder is there to keep you in check.
Overall thoughts on this little guy: impressive. A great solution to the common cord and charger issue. This provides a quick and easy access point for your charger and after installation is almost invisible, and a great addition to the car both from an upkeep point of view and a value point of view. Would we recommend it to a friend? Absolutely.
Blendmount Radar Detector Mount for C6 and C5 Corvette
We're all familiar with our cars, and how fast they CAN go. I'm not saying we all drive well above the posted speed limit but when your right foot feels a little heavy some added precaution goes a long way. There's an old saying in the car world that has sort of a double meaning, "Speed costs money—how fast do you want to go?" This not only applies to the exorbitant amount of money we could spend on our cars to get the results we desire, but it also applies to the risk you run when you drive, shall we say, less than how Johnny Law would like you to in your car. A speeding ticket not only costs you up front, but on the back end as well with higher insurance, etc. So, keeping that risk in mind—you can safely assess that if you speed, chances are you'll get tagged. So, you bought some peace of mind and snagged a top of the line radar detector.
Good call.
Now you have to mount that sucker so it stays put. Good luck. Many have tried, and many have failed and felt the pangs of frustration with the use of a suction cup mounting system. It never fails, eventually it will fall off. And if you bought a $300-$500 dollar radar detector, then the last thing you want to have happen is for it to come crashing down onto the dash, and then try and fool with getting it to re stick to your windshield while you're cruising down the road. Not cool. Not surprisingly, more than a few have attempted to come up with a solution. I've seen everything from superglueing the visor mount to the windshield, to drilling the detector into the mirror housing and screwing it in place, to duct-taping visors to roofs, and a hundred other terrible ideas. Your car deserves better and so does your radar detector. Blendmount, out of Cotati, California has come up with a great solution. Their mount has taken the multitude of bad ideas and come up with a combination that solves all of the common woes and mounts the detector cleanly and efficiently.
The Blendmount Corvette C6 detector mount, mounts to the mirror stem itself, and then the detector mounts to the clip stemming from the Blendmount. No wobbling, no falling suction cups, no constant hassle to get it situated just right. Once it's in, it's in—but still quick and easy to remove for security reasons or to transfer the detector to a different vehicle. The other great thing about this mount is it's compatible with an array of different equipment. The mounts are designed for Escort, Valentine One, ScanGauge II, even Bully Dogs for the diesel crowd. The fitment varies from make to make, but these are designed to work with the widest array of vehicle manufacturers possible. Due to the shape of some mirror stems, the Blendmount might not work but most vehicles are covered. For the Corvette however- the team at Blendmount have gone so far as to make sure we V8 loving folk have been well taken care of. The C6 Corvette mirror is shaped slightly differently than a regular rear-view mirror due to the technology (on mirrors equipped with the AutoDim function) inside of the mirror. However, Blendmount has decided that they weren't going to leave out the Corvette crowd due to its awkward mirror shape. In fact, they designed a mount specifically for the C6 Corvette. They have also come up with a Blendmount C5 Corvette solution for the C5 Corvette.
New Lloyd Mat’s Signature Rubber Series Corvette Floor Mats
If you're like me, you love the idea of rubber mats. They're easy to clean (they hose right off), durable, protect your stock carpet better than other options, and efficient. In this way, they're almost ideal. I say almost, because most of the time they're hideous. I use them in my pick-up truck, but I'd never be caught dead putting Rubber mats in my Corvette. At least, not until now.
Lloyd Mats, who make some fantastic car floor mats, have started producing a new line of specialized rubber car floor mats, called their Signature Rubber Series. These mats finally offer up all of the benefits of rubber mats, with a nice, stylish look. I saw them, so, I decided to get myself a pair and check them out personally.
First off, they're heavy. The rubber that Lloyds is using is top notch in quality, and they don't skimp on it. They mats definitely offer a ton of protection. Secondly, they utilize my stock post mat holding system, which is a nice touch. Typically, only carpeted mats have been able to make use of that great OEM touch, and these new Signature Rubber mats change the game. Thirdly, and most importantly, they look good. They're simple in design--all black, deep lip, indented rubber--so that they're not distracting and keep any mess on your feet off the car, and also feature some of the best looking emblems I've seen on any mats, carpeted or rubber. These full color, Corvette flags and Corvette script double emblems look fantastic! They're officially GM licensed, so they're exact replicas of the C6 flags and script, and they look like they belong inside my Corvette. Also, they stand out enough to not draw attention away from the rest of the car, but to also ensure that when someone looks down at their feet they're impressed by what they see.
Admittedly, I'm keeping my Lloyd's carpeted Ultimats as well, for whenever I take my 'Vette somewhere to show it. These look good, and they're high quality, but they're not show mats. That being said, they are -PERFECT- every day mats. Since getting them, I've had less fear than ever taking my son out to play or to a baseball game inside of the Corvette--the car he always asks to ride in, of course. Heck, I don't even mind him wearing his cleats in the car (that much) anymore. The mats are so easy to clean, and offer so much protection since they cover every bit of carpet in that area, that when they get dirty I just take them out, hose them off, and don't worry. Again, too, they look great. I wouldn't use them if they didn't.
All in all, I love these new mats. They're a great product from one of my favorite companies (they've been mentioned on Speed channel, Top Gear, and even featured in Jay Leno's garage multiple times) that meet a lot of the needs and desires I've had for a while. I love having some that's stylish and on par with my Corvette Z06 in style and quality, and as easy and simple to clean as these are.
Smartest Battery Charger In the World?
When it comes to Corvette Parts, just about every Corvette owner gets a battery charger. Battery Chargers have come a long way in the last few years and CTEK is certainly leading the charge. They have recently released a line of battery chargers that they coin "the smartest Battery Chargers in the world". I have always associated a Battery Charger as something fairly and clunky, nothing that I would want permanently mounted in my car nor would I feel comfortable leaving it connected to my car, boat, or Motorcycle without supervision. The CTEK Battery Charger will completely change the way you look at battery chargers, guaranteed! The CTEK is rugged, outdoor safe, dust and water proof while still maintaining the sleekest and sexiest look I have ever seen in a battery charger.
It can be mounted in the engine compartment as a permanent addition to your car or just used as a temporary solution during the winter months. Either way, you can leave it connected to your battery all the time without the worry of overcharging or damaging the battery. Unlike other battery chargers, the CTEK Charger does not require the car battery to be disconnected from the car prior to use. The CTEK 3300 Battery Charger is perfectly safe to use with your car battery connected to the car. The charger will not damage your vehicles computer or electrical equipment. Once the charger harness is connected to your battery it has quick release clips that allow you to remove and install the charger easily at any time. The charger is spark proof and reverse polarity proof so that you do not have to worry about accidently connecting it backwards, try that with a traditional battery charger.
The CTEK Battery Charger is 100% automatic, just hook it up and turn it on….It does everything else. You can leave it connected for months and months without any concerns. All CTEK chargers come with a 5 year guarantee and are shock proof, weather proof, dust proof, and certified for outdoor use. For the money (less than $100 bucks) it is the best darn charger I have ever seen and would recommend it for just about any application. I was so impressed with the CTEK charger that I installed the CTEK US3300 in my C6 Corvette Z06 permanently.
The CTEK 3300 is the charger I recommend for all Auto's, Motorcycles, and ATV's. It charges them all, with the simplicity of hooking it to the battery and plugging it in, that is it, very simple. CTEK also offer a CTEK lighter adapter, which allows you to use the CTEK3300 charger to charge the battery through the cigarette lighter plug.
People sometimes ask, why should you buy a CTEK battery charger instead of one that costs half as much and looks virtually the same (even the product description is the same)? But this is not the whole truth. CTEK products have a unique system (patented functions) not available in other legal battery chargers that can therefore not offer the same performance. As for "copy cats" or forgeries, it is guaranteed that they will not maintain the same standards as a CTEK charger. It is impossible to use the quality materials, hire qualified engineers that produce the right product composition, maintain an even and fine level of quality control while at the same time keeping the price down. The "copy cat" battery chargers do not meet the standards that CTEK enforces and do not guarantee to be non sparking, reverse-polarity proof, and electronics safe.
Coverking Satin Stretch Car Cover for the Corvette
Whether you live in Boston or Miami, San Diego or Calgary, when it comes to keeping your Corvette clean, a Corvette Car Cover goes a long way. There are few things more frustrating than washing your car, waxing it, giving it a good chamois job, rolling around for the day, then parking it in the garage only to come out the next morning and find that sometime that afternoon your neighbor's cat decided that your car would make an excellent dance floor. While feline companions make kind of cool house guests, they more often than not, are less welcome on the top of your $XX,000 Corvette.
While most of us prefer to store the beast (the one with wheels, not paws) inside, the garage door might be open from time to time while you're mowing the lawn, or taking in the groceries, or a myriad of other times. Basically the point I'm trying to get across is the fact that whether you know it or not- light, dust, cat hair etc are all contributing to wearing down the finish on your car. The only way to keep that showroom shine on your 'vette, is to keep it covered when it's not in use. Think of it this way- when you were little, Mom kept the "nice dishes" (you know - the ones you weren't allowed to use for hot dogs, cartoon macaroni, and grape drink) for guests in a special cabinet, out of reach from your grubby little fingers, much the same way that your Corvette should be treated.
What the crew at Coverking has done, is make a car cover out of the softest fleece available inside the cover that not only protects your paint and clear coat, but is specifically designed NOT to rub off onto convertible tops. They also implement their own "Fewest Seams" design that limits the amount of seams that the cover has overall-while maintaining their unique contour following car cover style. The material implemented in the construction of the outer shell of the cover is Lycra, the same material used in form fitting lingerie, bathing suits, and other applications where stretching is needed in both directions from the material. Most of the time the covers are limited to only three seams on the entire cover, all the while using the blind stitch on all seams to hide any thread used to bind the panels together.
All in all, the Coverking Satin Stretch car cover is just what the doctor ordered for keeping the beast clean in the garage, all the while protecting it from all the nicks and kitty paws that find their way to our cars like magnets.
Keep it clean,
-CN