Automobilia refers to any kind of collectibles related to cars and motorbikes. Automobilia includes books, magazines, sales brochures, catalogues, hood ornaments, badges and even radiator caps.

While collecting automobilia, keep in mind that all collectibles that belong to the period before the First World War are called ‘classics’. Since automobiles have been around for almost 100 years now, you can easily come across automobilia that are antiques in their own right.

One popular category of automobilia consists of travel books. Travel books contain stories about motoring adventures in Europe around the time that people had just started driving around. Collectors of this type of automobilia try to look for first editions of these books.

Car magazines are another popular category with automobilia collectors. You can come across motoring magazines printed as far back as 1910. The earliest examples of such automobilia are “Motoring Illustrated” and “The Car Illustrated”. Bound magazines have greater value as automobilia especially if the covers are intact.

As a collector of automobilia, you could also specialize in collecting posters. Posters could depict particular makes of cars or belong to a particular company like Esso or British Petroleum. Posters made by famous graphic artists like Rene Vincent are very sought after as automobilia and will get you a good value at an auction if they carry the artist’s signature.

Hood ornaments are an automobilia collector’s delight and can be of two types: factory ornaments and accessory ornaments. Factory ornaments were manufactured by the car manufacturer. The most well-known example of such automobilia is the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’, which was designed in 1911 by Charles Sykes for Rolls Royce. Hood ornaments can be made of bronze, chrome or even glass. The most famous glass ornaments were those designed by the French designer, Rene Lalique in the form of glass radiator caps. These automobilia fetch huge prices at auctions.

Many motoring associations in the early days used to issue metal badges to their members. Many automobilia collectors specialize in these badges that are usually made of metal. While collecting such automobilia, take care to see that the enamel on them is not chipped or broken.

Automobilia collectors even collect motoring goggles and clothing, oil pumps, dashboard instruments and maps. Automobilia offers a mind-boggling array of items to collect – you can decide to collect a little of each type of automobilia if you so wish. As a collector, you are sure to find hundreds of specimens to choose from.

Do you wish to exchange your new car? Or do you wish to buy a new car? Whatever be the answer it is necessary that you understand what type of car you need to buy and above all determine your budget. The most important thing is keeping your budget in mind. You need to understand what is the maximum amount that you can spend on buying your asset. If you are small in your budget do not get overboard by trying to extend your limitation. It would be possible to buy a new expensive car by availing a loan facility but this could harm your finances in the long run if you are not able to pay your premiums on time. You car could get impounded or you would need to pay heavy interest both of which would burn a hole in your pocket.

If you look into the market you may find very options of second hand cars for sale. Some of these cars are repossessed or impounded by the government authorities and are sold at very cheap rates. You can search for these auction sites in your area to buy these cheap cars. You will notice that there are many used cars dealers who attend these auctions and buy these cars and refurbish them by changing a few car parts and sell them off at higher rates. You can visit these auctions directly and buy used cars. Car parts are easily available in the market and you can hire a mechanic who would revamp the whole car. This entire procedure would be tiresome but the end result is exemplary. You will be able to buy used cars at cheap rates and which offer good quality.

If you are truly serious of finding a used car you can check out the newspapers who advertise for the sale of these cars along with the venue and date of the auction. If you feel that you are not able to locate any such advertisement in the car magazines or local newspaper you can call the government agencies and banks. If you are fortunate enough you will be able to get information about the cars that are going to be put up for sale along with the date and timing of the venue. Reaching at the right time and contacting the right person is the key to buy such cheap cars.

The next most important and reliable source of information is online services. These days advertising on the internet has become very acceptable and popular. You can visit these websites and get up to date information about the car sales and auctions. You can check out the models that are available for sale in your area. Information from the internet is very reliable accurate and very fast.

You can collect information about these car auctions if you put in a little effort. Once you visit these auctions you are sure to come across many such good quality cheap used cars for sale which could be possessed by you.

Not too many automobiles have the distinction of being both a supercar and a cult car, but the Lamborghini Countach is one. Referred to by Forbes Magazine as “the poster child for cult cars”, the Countach featured the exotic design and high performance criteria for supercars. Yet it also has the ‘cult car’ charisma.

The word countach itself implies exotic. In the native Piedmontese language it is used by men when they encounter an amazingly beautiful woman. The word is not translatable into English but expresses the same idea as a wolf whistle.

Marcello Gandini of the Bertone Design Studio designed the Countach. The Bertone Studio was also responsible for the Lamborghini Miura. The Miura is among the first if not the first of the super cars. British motor journalist used the phrase to describe the Miura in an article in CAR Magazine published during the 1960′s. CAR magazine then claimed the credit for ‘coining the phrase.’

A single prototype, the LP500, painted sunflower yellow, made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 1971. However the design needed considerable modification before it could be put into production.

The first production model was the LP400. It was a 2-door sports coupe with a rear mid-engine and rear-wheel drive.

Several modifications had to be made to the prototype. The air intake valves on the prototype were found to be inadequate for cooling the engine. So large air box scoops were added on the rear shoulders and large NACA ducts were added on the sides. The original futuristic light clusters were also replaced by conventional lights.

A total of 157 LP400′s were produced. The first recorded delivery was made to D. Milne of the Australian Defence Force Transport Corps.

Then in 1978, Lamborghini brought out the LP400S. This was manufactured in a series of three. While the interior modifications were limited to an upgrade in the engine, the exterior changes were extensive. Lamborghini added fiberglass arch extension and replaced the tires with Pirelli P7 units, a much wider tire than was mounted on the LP400.

In 1982, the LP500S was introduced. The engine was upgraded to a more powerful 5-liter model but no changes were made to the exterior.

In 1985 additional improvements were made to the engine. Other changes were made to conform to US federal standards so the car could now be sold in the United States. This model was priced at $99,5000.

The year 1988 marked the 25th anniversary of the company. They celebrated by introducing the 25th anniversary Countach. This model had undergone considerable changes in styling that proved to be unpopular with many Lamborghini followers.

Then in 1975, Walter Wolf, an extremely wealthy Canadian businessman and owner of the Wolf Racing Team, purchased a LP400. However, he didn’t like the engine. He, therefore, contacted Lamborghini’s chief engineer and requested that the company custom build a special high-powered engine.

The result was an engine capable of reaching 315 kilometers per hour and producing 447 hp/7900 rpm. This model was also equipped with the upgraded wheels, Pirelli P tires, large fender flares and rear spoilers as had been installed on the LP400S. It was painted red with black fender flares.

The company produced 2,042 cars from 1974 to 1989 when they retired the design. Although its popularity has declined somewhat, it continues to be a collectible with a loyal following.