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spotted

Spotted is Globe Drive writer Peter Cheney's weekly feature that takes you behind the scenes of his life as a vehicle and engineering journalist. We also highlight the best of your original photos and short video clips (10 seconds or less), which you should send with a short explanation. E-mail pcheney@globeandmail.com, find him on Twitter @cheneydrive (#spotted), or join him on Facebook (no login required).

John Verhey

A $500 Repair For $5

John Verhey spotted this Lincoln in Waterloo. As you can see, the owner has made artful use of duct tape. Who needs a body shop?

John Verhey

Yes, I did it myself…..

Many drivers use duct tape for do-it-yourself repairs. Not many of them paint the tape when they’re done, though.

Bruce Moir

When a motto is more than words

Bruce Moir spotted this Toyota in New Hampshire, where the state motto is “Live Free, Or Die.” As Bruce notes, it seems that this Toyota owner has taken the motto to heart when it comes to automotive style.

Peter Cheney

Secrets of the stock car king

This is Richard Petty, NASCAR legend. (I interviewed him recently at his race shop for some upcoming stories.) Behind him is one of his new special-edition Mustangs. It is, of course, in Petty Blue, the color he made famous. As I learned, it was created decades ago when Richard and his dad mixed two leftover quarts of house paint together - one quart was blue, the other one was white. Some art is accidental.

Peter Cheney

A Mustang fit for a king

Petty’s Garage built 43 of these special-issue Mustangs (43 was Petty’s racing number.) You can buy one for about $90,000. You get a modfied suspension, about 50 per cent more horsepower than a standard five-litre, and an exhaust system that sounds like Wagner played through an artillery weapon. And the colour will be Petty Blue.

Jordan Chittley

Not every Petty Blue machine is fast

Petty Blue paint has been applied to a lot of iconic machines. This Ford Aerostar isn’t one of them. We spotted it near Mooresville, North Carolina.

Kari Feldmann

You don’t see one of these every day

Kari Feldmann spotted this camo-wrapped machine in Munich. I’m pretty sure this a Wiesmann MF5, a German-built roadster that looks like an Austin Healey crossed with a Shelby Cobra crossed with a Morgan Aero 8.

Kari Feldmann

The old-school formula

The Wiesmann adheres to the philosophy that Cobra builder Carroll Shelby lived by: get a small car and stuff in the biggest tires and engine you can.

Peter Cheney

Meanwhile, back in North Carolina…

I spotted this low-rider pickup near the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The owner told me he spent a couple weekends tearing out the standard suspension and replacing it with hydraulic jacks. He had to rebuild the fender wells to make room for the new wheels. Speed bumps are a problem.

Peter Cheney

Donkers delight

If low-riders aren’t your cup of tea, you could always try donking, an automotive style based on fitting gigantic wheels and ultra low-profile tires. Pink paint is also an option. I spotted this donked Ford pickup in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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