Monday, August 8, 2011

World’s Most Expensive Calendars

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World’s Most Expensive Calendars

Considering phones, watches, MP3 players and desktop computers are all too happy to tell you today’s date, it seems as if traditional calendars lack a place in the modern world. If your calendar is one of the most expensive calendars in the world, well, the form may be more important to you than the function.

Ginza Tanaka 2011 Gold Miffy Calendar – $655,000

World's Most Expensive Calendars - Ginza Tanaka 2011 Gold Miffy Calendar

Two-thousand eleven is the year of the rabbit, and Japanese jewelry house Ginza Tanaka is celebrating that fact with a solid gold calendar featuring Dutch artist Dick Bruna’s creation, a rabbit called Miffy. The calendar is made with 6 ounces of pure gold and measures 2 feet tall and over 1 foot wide.

Porsche Design Advent Calendar – $1 million

World's Most Expensive Calendars - Porsche Design Advent Calendar

This ultra expensive calendar is truly the gift that keeps on giving. Not only is the calendar itself almost 6 feet tall and made with brushed aluminum with double-coat finished surfaces, it’s also filled with exciting Porsche items. Behind the twenty-four lit windows marking the days leading up to Christmas, Porsche Design has placed an array of goodies including a Porsche Design P’6910 Indicator watch in rosé gold, an individually customizable Porsche Design Kitchen P’7340 and a 27-foot motor yacht.

Only five of these calendars have been created and only one will be sold on any continent.

World’s Most Expensive Golf Carts

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World’s Most Expensive Golf Carts

It shouldn’t be surprising that golfers, numbering doctors and other affluent individuals among their ranks, have some fairly expensive pieces of equipment available to them. From clubs to bags and even ball markers, there seems to be no end to the luxurious versions of standard golf equipment.

Hummer H2 golf cart – $19,999

Based on the military’s HMMWV, or Humvee, Hummer proved popular in the States before General Motors’ bankruptcy forced them to look into selling the brand. This Hummer H2 body kit, licensed by GM, is built over a 3.75 hp aluminum club car chassis. The electric cart is an NEV capable of speeds up to 20 mph and includes headlights, turn signals and brake lights. As for convenience, the cart also includes a cooler under the hood, storage under the seat, a tinted windshield, fog lights, glove boxes, a fold-down tailgate and, of course, drink holders. It’s stamped with H2 logos on the sides and rear bumper and has another pair of bumpers embroidered into the seats. It even has the option of either a carbon fiber or wood grain dashboard.

Garia Edition Soleil de Minuit Golf Car – $52,000

World's Most Expensive Golf Carts - Garia Edition Soleil de Minuit Golf Car

From the Porsche factory in Finland comes a golf car with practically any feature you could ask for. The aesthetically pleasing cart is a limited edition of the standard Garia golf car with custom paint, two-colored hand-stitched seats and a carbon roof lined with alcantara, as well as standard Garia features such as two golf bag carriers, a painted utility box, scratch-resistant side skirts, a scorecard and penholder on the steering wheel. Perhaps the most impressive Garia feature, though, is the optional dashboard refrigerator. You’ll never want for a cold drink on the links again.

Garia LSV – $62,000

World's Most Expensive Golf Carts - Garia LSV

This model of Garia’s expensive golf cart has one significant advantage over its less expensive predecessors–it’s street legal. Equipped with seatbelts, side mirrors, hydraulic brakes and a 4 hp electric motor capable of speeds up to 25 mph, this luxury golf cart has all the safety features necessary to allow it to be classified as a roadworthy low-speed vehicle. Like the Soleil de Minuit, above, the LSV may also be equipped with such amenities as hand-stitched seats, digital instrumentation layout, a stereo and a dashboard refrigerator. If you order directly from Garia, you can even customize the Garia LSV with your choice of over 100 different body, roof and dashboard colors, three different colors of upholstery and 10″ or 12″ wheels.

World’s Most Expensive Porsches

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World’s Most Expensive Porsches

According to New York’s Luxury Institute, who surveyed 500 households with incomes over $200,000 in 2006, Porsche is the most prestigious brand of automobiles. While some may argue in favor of Bugatti or Rolls-Royce, that is still high praise indeed.

Porsche Carrera GT

The most expensive new Porsche currently avaialable is the Porsche Carrera GT at $440,000. With a top speed of 205+ mph and the capability to accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds, it’s certainly fast enough to justify its price.

Porsche 918 Spyder

Their new concept car, the Porsche 918 Spyder, will be the German company’s next most expensive production car. The 918 Spyder is a two-seater convertible with a 500 hp V8 engine. It has a top speed of 199 mph and can accelerates from 0 to 60 in under 3.2 seconds. Its electric drive-systems allow it to run 15 miles on electric power and it consumes fuel at a rate of 78 miles per gallon.

This fantastic new Porsche is likely to have an MSRP around $650,000.

If you’re looking for the most expensive Porsche in history, however, look no further than this Porsche 917, chassis no. 031/026.

World's Most Expensive Porsches - Chassis no. 031/026

This Porsche, originally a 1970 Gulf-JWA Le Mans 917K Coupe numbered 026, made history when it was driven by David Hobbs and Mike Hailwood in the 1970 Le Mans. In the middle of a downpour in the 50th lap, Hailwood cruised past the pit stop where rain tires were readied and crashed into a parked car. What was left of the vehicle was repaired with the 031 chassis, but swapped numbering with the original 026 chassis to avoid complications.

The original 026 chassis, now numbered 031, was repaired and re-issued as a 1972-73 Porsche 917 Interserie Spyder. It was driven by Ernst Kraus in the 1972 European InterSerie Championship and by Jurgen Barth in the 1973 series.

This storied Porsche is equipped with a 5.4 liter, flat-12 cylinder, 630 horsepower engine and weighs approximately 1,600 lbs. It was sold at an August 2010 Bonhams & Butterfields auction at Quail Lodge in Monterey, where it achieved a staggering $3.9 million price.

Most Expensive Bicycle

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Most Expensive Bicycle

Of the four most expensive bikes in the world, three were created in honor of Lance Armstrong, whose victory over cancer is as legendary as his ongoing career. The Lance Armstrong Foundation, founded in 1997 after Armstrong was diagnosed with the disease, raises funds and awareness to support cancer research and help cancer sufferers.

7-Diamond – $75,000

World's Most expensive bicycles - 7-Diamond

This expensive bike was sold to an anonymous buyer at the Lance Armstrong Foundation Gala in 2005. Studded with seven 1-carat Gemesis man-made diamonds and 300 white diamonds, the gold-plated bike commemorated Armstrong’s victory over seven Tour de France events. The expensive bike was a joint effort between Trek Bikes, Nike, jeweler Alan Friedman and artist Lenny Futura.

Aurumania’s Gold Bike Crystal edition – $114,000

World's Most Expensive Bicycles - Aurumania's Gold Bike Crystal edition

Aurumania’s Gold Bike Crystal edition is almost entirely plated with 24 karat gold—even the spokes. The seat is a Brooks saddle made of the finest leather, while the handlebars have grips made with hand-sewn, chocolate brown leather. Even the numbered badge is made of leather. Of course, the bike isn’t called “Crystal edition” for nothing. It’s decorated with over 600 Swarovski crystals—including the Aurmania name written in Braille along the crossbar. Only ten of these spectacular bicycles were produced.

Trek Yoshitomo Nara Speed Concept – $200,000

World's Most Expensive Bicycles - Trek Yoshitomo Nara Speed Concept

Yoshitomo Nara created this work of art, a Trek Speed Concept bike embellished with his signature angry, childlike figures and his own take on the Livestrong logo, as a custom time trial bike to commemorate Armstrong’s renewed cycling career in 2009. The bike was displayed at the Stages event organized by The Lance Armstrong Foundation and Nike to raise cancer awareness. It was sold at the Bikes of Stages auction at Sotheby’s, which raised $1,125,000 for The Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Trek “Butterfly” Madone – $500,000

World's Most Expensive Bicycles - Trek Butterfly Madone

Like the Speed Concept above, this Trek Madone was decorated in honor of Armstrong’s return to cycling. When Damien Hirst got his hands on the bike, he coated it with hundreds of wings taken from butterflies. While PETA were predictably angry at Hirst’s chosen medium, the “Butterfly” Madone became the most expensive bicycle in the world at the Bikes of Stages auction.

World’s Most Expensive Model Car

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World’s Most Expensive Model Car

To a collector of model cars, a model of the Bugatti Veyron might be the centerpiece of their collection. It is, after all, the world’s most expensive car. Of course, for the truly dedicated—and well off—collector, the only option is the world’s most expensive model car.

The Bugatti Veyron Diamond Limited Edition, a collaboration between luxury designer Stuart Hughes and Swiss model car engineer Robert Gülpen, is a 1:18 scale replica of the ultimate luxury car, rendered in 24k gold, platinum and 7.2 carats of single cut flawless diamonds. The hoods and steering are functional and the engine is highly detailed. This fantastic model car weighs in at 15 pounds and took two months to produce.

Only three of the most expensive model car in the world have been created, each accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, glass house, aluminum case and photographic documentation of its manufacture. Even more phenomenal, the Bugatti Veyron Diamond Limited Edition costs twice as much as the car on which it is based—US $3 million.

World’s Most Expensive ATV

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World’s Most Expensive ATV

by JEREMY on MAY 26, 2010 · COMMENTS (0)

All-terrain vehicles, also known as three- or four-wheelers and quad bikes, may not be entirely street legal in most states but they still find use in agriculture, competitions and off-road excursions.

The original ATV was a six-wheeled, amphibious vehicle called the Jiger, produced in 1961. It wasn’t until 1970 that the first three-wheeler was made by Honda. The vehicle gained popularity when it was featured in the James Bond Film, Diamonds Are Forever, and a number of television shows. In 1982, the four-wheeler was introduced by Suzuki in the form of their QuadRunner recreational vehicle.

The most expensive ATV in the world is the GG Quadster customizable four-wheeler. The 167 horsepower vehicle is powered by a 1,157 cc BMW engine and is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.5 seconds. The ATV’s chassis is constructed from billet aluminum, bringing its weight to a total of 825 lbs.

The most expensive ATV can be purchased for around $65,500, but options like additional storage, heated grips or a unique paint job will, of course, increase that price.

World’s Most Expensive Car Key

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World’s Most Expensive Car Key

Bugatti may have one over on Aston Martin as the Bugatti Veyron is the world’s most expensive car, but owners of the Aston Martin DBS and the Aston Martin Rapide will have the option to buy another top-priced item—the most expensive car key in the world.

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s AMVOX2 DBS and Rapide Transponders marry the cutting edge technology of the AMVOX2 Chronograph with the extravagance of Aston Martin automobiles. Already a collaboration between the two, the origin AMVOX2 Chronograph featured a groundbreaking vertical-trigger chronograph. The stopwatch function of the watch could be stopped, started and reset by pressing the watch’s crystal sapphire surface. In the AMVOX2 Transponders, however, that same surface controls the transponder that locks and unlocks an Aston Martin luxury car. Pressing both the open and close areas of the surface at the same time will even cause the headlamps to light up briefly, allowing the owner to find their car with ease.

This optional feature can be had for just over $34,000. Compared to the prices of the Rapide and DBS—$199,950 and $269,000, respectively—that doesn’t seem like so much.

Aston Martin Rapide

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Monday, August 8, 2011