RobiNZ Personal Blog

TRAMAROSSA X ABARTH Jeans to match AHBART?

Jeans to match my car? Probably not because... Not available until August 2025 Even their standard jeans are €420! (nz$770 when this was posted) Screenshots assembled from the TRAMAROSSA X ABARTH Announcement Video TRAMAROSSA X ABARTH AN EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION FOR THE MAN WHO EXPERIENCES SPEED AND ELEGANCE. The collaboration between Tramarossa and Abarth celebrates the coming together of two historical brands, combining the sartorial savoir-faire to the passion for performance, creating a collection that goes beyond the fashion: a true tribute to speed and craftsmanship. An alliance that is not just a meeting of brands, but a fusion between the... Read more →

Tribute to Bertone Design

A nice article about Bertone design (photo is mine) Nuccio Bertone: Discovering the Maestro Of Automotive Design | magazine.derivaz-ives.com In the summer of 1977, those wishing to immerse themselves in the panorama of the world's artistic trends went to Kassel, Germany, to visit the sixth edition of Documenta, the international event for contemporary art. Strolling among installations and pavilions in which the likes of Francis Bacon and Balthus’ works were on display, the work conceived by designer Marcello Gandini for Nuccio Bertone, the Italian coachbuilder famous for his futuristic concept cars, could not have gone unnoticed... Read more →

It's simple, when you know how | simplicity living . kiwi

It was great to visit the Simplicity Living Productivity Hub today and learn more about how they are building high quality affordable rental (they'll own), and rent to buy (they'll fund) housing that I own 0.0000[insert many more zeros]001% of via a portion of my Simplicity Kiwisaver (retirement fund) and separate small Simplicity Homes and Income Fund investment %) Two pours today on their Te Reiputa site with 297 new one and two-bedroom apartments in Mt Wellington, Auckland. Introducing Te Reiputa - Simplicity Living's biggest project yet | Simplicity Simplicity Living's Te Reiputa Mt Wellington Site Even better all their... Read more →

Andrew Powell And The Philharmonia Orchestra... A Sony D50, Forty years on...

I saw a Facebook post on an Alan Parsons Project (APP) group wishing Andrew Powell Happy Birthday and remembered a lifetime of entertainment. As an industrial design student in 1983/84 I was fascinated by the brand-new CD technology being launched at the time. Went to look at the first of the Sony & Philips players on display at a hifi store in the Auckland, NZ, CBD. They had a tiny range of imported CDs on sale to support the launch and one was 'Andrew Powell & the Philharmonia Orchestra Plays the Best of the APP". I was already a fan... Read more →

The Lancia Delta, Big Car YouTube and me!

Big Car recently released his comprehensive video on the history of the Lancia Delta and I was happy to give a small hand to the production. As a Patreon supporter, I saw an early cut of it and recognised some concept design images he'd used. Back in the 80s, when I was studying Product Design (at what is now Unitec) I used to cycle around the car dealers in Great North Rd and Newmarket to see the new cars (and still do!). When the Delta arrived in their showroom Continental Cars had some books (more than a brochure) about the... Read more →

The Abarth 500 Esseesse LEGO upgrade

Watching the current Aussie* LEGO Masters TV show prompted me to actually acquire the only full-size LEGO piece that fits (really well) on a real Abarth. Had seen lots of others, mostly in the UK, do this engine bay mod. The official LEGO® 4-stud Storage Brick lid fits perfectly, with a bit of trimming, to tidy up the slightly scruffy battery area. It's entirely appropriate given the 'fun little toy' character of the Abarth too 🙂 I was sceptical it would cope with the engine compartment temperatures but, apparently, it is fine. Time will tell?! * The best of the... Read more →

A bit more gearing up for Time Out 2021-22 | Aeroe Bag and Topeak Fender

With the new full suspension bike, the Giant Trance 'En-Trance Rob', I was after a 'no backpack' solution for day rides. I hate riding with a backpack; the weight high up, straps and 'clammy back' thing annoy. En-Trance has tubeless tyres and, even with the dropper post, the basics of puncture repair (spare tube, CO2 cartridge, plug tool and small bottle of fluid) fit in a small saddle bag, but that doesn't account for other gear. For a day ride I want to carry the following minimum: Warm/Wet Gear Rain shell Arm and Leg warmers for cycling and, if more... Read more →

Simply the best Citroën 2CV advertisement

Remember seeing this in Car Magazine sometime in the early 80s, brilliant. Read more →

The evolution of the Fiat 500

While Frank Stephenson did design the production new generation Fiat 500 it is a pity he did not mention, credit, Roberto Giollito and his Fiat Trepiùno concept car (below) which served as the inspiration. It was named for a unique 1+2 seat configuration where the front passenger seat could be slid forward, under a recessed dashboard, to create two full size passenger spaces beside the driver. Pity that didn't make production! Still getting a concept to production largely intact, past the bean counter cuts and real-world requirements, is no mean feat. Love watching him draw too. I wondered if he'd... Read more →

Austin Maxi Vs Fiat 128, no contest

Love this driventowrite.com series comparing the design and life of the Austin Maxi and Fiat 128. Although they were not direct competitors (the 128 is more 1100 sized) the similarities, of both cars and design history, are remarkable. 128 v. Maxi Part 1 : Last Tango of the Titans 128 vs Maxi Part 2 : Function over Form 128 vs Maxi Part 3 : Spring Song 128 vs Maxi Part 4: The Racehorse and the Donkey Continuing our meditation on the Austin Maxi and Fiat 128 Every Day Is Judgement Day. If you drive a front wheel drive car today... Read more →