BMW Art Cars

BMW was founded early in the twentieth century as an engine builder. Within a decade the company was building vehicles for enthusiasts seeking the “Ultimate Driving Experience”.  Dodging bankruptcy several times in post WWII Europe,…

Frank Lockhart- America’s Speed King

“From Boy Wonder to National Hero to Obscurity” For a brief twenty three month period from 1926 to 1928 a brilliant star came into view and then disappeared just as quickly. Frank Lockhart shocked the…

Structural Plastics Processes

Nitrogen assisted alternatives to high pressure injection molding of large pieces are explored- Structural Foam, Counterpressure, Gas Assist, and External Gas Molding. Plastic flow and resin shrinkage are considered. There is something about bubbles of…

China Clipper

In 1935 a very special airplane was commissioned by Pan American Airlines. On its first commercial flight it became the first trans-pacific airmail and passenger service. She was the China Clipper, the first of three…

Cashiers Plastic Corporation

Cashiers Plastic was a leading custom molding manufacturer from 1969 to 2006. Located in an unlikely resort town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it provided a unique background for excellence. One Man’s Vision- Fifty Years…

Highlands Motoring Festival

  On the second Saturday of June, the Town of Highlands hosts an annual charity car show known as Highlands Motoring Festival. “Gearheads”, from far and wide, take over the town for the week. After…

KiteHouse

Modernist architect Jim Fox designed masterpiece sits on the crest of Cowee Ridge at 4,500 feet. The design was created to emphasize the incredible view of Whiteside Mountain. Fox was given two criteria. First was…

Chrysler 300

The Chrysler Letter Series Cars The glory years for the high performance automobile has to be the years after WWII. In Europe, the great marques emerged- Ferrari, Porsche, Jaguar, Mercedes, Maserati, and Aston-Martin. In America…

Bugatti Masterpieces

Ettore Bugatti, coming from a family of successful artist, brought automotive craftmanship to a higher level with the design and manufacture of cars baring his name. Many describe these cars as rolling art and the…