Chromjuwelen Motor Öl: About The Background

Due to the tremendous feedback for the package design of our Chromjuwelen Motor Öl, I would like to get one thing straight: It was neither me nor my Chromjuwelen partner Chris who did the design. Ok, I am responsible for squeezing and advancing the idea, but all props regarding the package design go to Donkey. In person: Boris Frommen, Daniel Dondorp and Christian Kandel.

I know Boris for years now and he is doing an amazing job with his agency. But if you visit Donkey's website, you will soon figure out that Donkey's core competence is not exactly … er ... automotive based. It is much more the fashion- and fragrancies-business they are in. But it has been a ongoing complaining from Boris (who is racing Porsche and Ferrari, btw) on a high level that he would love to do something auto-related one day.

When I told Boris about our cooperation with Mathy he was immediately hooked and brought Daniel Dondorp and Christian Kandel into play. Daniel and Christian are both into classic cars as well, and they turned out to be the dream team we were looking for. I take my hat off to both of you, Daniel and Christian — you've created something sheer incredible!

Granted. It took us over a year to bring our first first product, Chromjuwelen Motor Öl (yes, written with "Ö"!), to shape. Of course, we know the needs of the market and our audience – but at the end of the day Chris and I are just two buffoons who are bringing on some geeky automotive interwebs pollution. But in this regard we see ourselves to be our prototype clients: not savvy in engineering — but in search of products who fit to our passion: classic and modified cars. To keep it short: our intention was to create a product which we would buy.

When we thought for the first time about "Chromjuwelen Products" (yeop, there are some more on their way — stay tuned!) it was indisputable for us we can't do that on our own. But with Mathy and Donkey we feel like we hit the jackpot. On the one hand Mathy, who is gutsy enough to realize our neurotic ideas, on the other hand Donkey, who is highly skilled to bring 'em to shape.

As well I would like to thank at this point all media representatives (AUTO BILD KLASSIK, and several journalists), garages, museums and technicians we had the honor to learn from. Guys, without your affirmation we wouldn't feel that secure, as we do today. 

Right now we are working on our Chromjuwelen Online Store (which we will launch end of August) that our products can be ordered worldwide. Btw — this was one of our biggest tasks: to get them shippable. Please don't hesitate to talk to us, if you would like to offer Chromjuwelen Motor Öl in your Vintage Furniture Store, in your Garage our in your Heritage Fashion Shop!

Oh, btw, just one last thing: We will debut September 1./2. at the Oldtimer Park Hamburg and the Hamburger Stadtpark Revival. Safe the date!

From 2006 to Present – All Chromjuwelen Videos (plus a previously unreleased one)

I know I had to do this one day. I kicked it all too long down the road and it has been sitting for too long on my to-do list. But today was the day – I could not stand my unprofessionally way any longer sending people who are interested in our videos and how we act in front of a camera a bunch of loose links via email. 

The problem was not the Sisyphean task to collect all of our Chromjuwelen videos, which are living scattered throughout several video platforms and accounts. To be honest. The reason was much more: Some of our older video are really … er … AWKWARD. I am talking of that kind of videos you rather try to forget. Like this one: "Power Big Meet Västerås 2006". Yeop, that dumpling you can see in the video ... it's me. Sweet.

Anyway. I would like to use this opportunity once again to thank everybody who supported us since the beginning with their time and their video knowledge: Axel Bienert, Tatjana Böcher, Carsten Brix, Tobias Faust, Boris Heimberger, Arthur Heisler, Icke & Er, Kris Karathomas, Dean Malay, Jürgen Pander, Dennis Petermann, P.Y.P. Film, Olli (Redomedia), Christian Suhr, Sven Wiesner, Jan Wigger, Henning Windelband.

So, taking a deep breathe – here we go, follow this link!

Oh wait. While we are on it. We upped a video which has been previously unreleased – our coverage form the Flashman Rallye 2011. Enjoy!

Chromjuwelen Électrique: Are Friends Electric?

Not all that long ago we made a self-attempt: we eBay-ed a 1964 Imperial Crown and drove it from Los Angeles to Las Vegas – and back to Los Angeles. As you can imagine, we had a blast.

Now it is time for another self-attempt. But this time we will change to the other extreme: We will travel in a smart fortwo electric drive from Paris to Le Mans (Classic). Yup. Battery-driven.

Of course – we know this electrified fellow isn't made for long distances. Even worse – we know it will not be easy to find enough charging stations. But hey, that exactly is the challenge.

Our aim is to shoot another "Chromjuwelen En Route" video. This is why we are accompanied by our friends faust & heisler. If anybody of us speaks fluent French? Er ... no.

Our first appointments will be with our French soulmates from the Blenheim Gang – since we are in France, we have to learn more about "Français Moteur Culture". And if you do not follow the Blenheim Gang yet – do it now.

Btw, "follow" – stay in contact with us via Twitter, Instagram (Chromjuwelen), Tumblr or the time-waster social network!

(Image borrowed from Mercedes-Fans.de)

Faust & Heisler: Herr Fischer bittet zu Tisch

For more then two years photographer Jo Fischer is touring Germany with his project "Herr Fischer bittet zu Tisch". He invites people to take a seat at his table, arranging characteristic pictures of people within seconds - and with one shot only. Already more than 1.800 guests sat at the always same wooden table in front of plain backcloth. Since the beginning, the setting (table & background) has been arranged in more than 20 cities in Germany and Switzerland. This project is an ongoing process, and is planned to visit many other places and possibly countries in the future. From housewifes to kids, rockers & burlesque dancers, blue- or white-collar workers: Everybody is invited to bring their own personality to the table. The results are a a cross section through society as portraits in black & white. On April 28, 2012 "Herr Fischer bittet zu Tisch" was arranged at the Hamburger Deichtorhallen as part of the "Lange Nacht der Museen" ("Night of the Museums"), and while thousands of people visited this event, between 8 p.m. and midnight over 150 of them took the opportunity and sat down at Jo's table, getting their photo taken - and taking a printout with them right away. faust&heisler accompanied Jo the whole day long, documenting a busy and crazy day in the life of "Herr Fischer bittet zu Tisch". http://www.jofischer.com http://www.heliumcowboy.com Music by szdl "batteries", "glass" taken from the slow EP http://soundcloud.com/szdl

Jo Fischer // Photographer and Rock´n Roller! He invited us to sit at his table for his project "Herr Fischer bittet zu Tisch" We couldn´t resist to follow the invitation and make a film about this event which is about to come soon. While shooting he showed his true rock´n rollers soul and sang this song for us which we just have to share with you. http://jofischer.com/herr-fischer-bittet-zu-tisch http://heliumcowboy.squarespace.com/

It is a major honor for me to have friends like Jo Fischer, Jörg Heikhaus, Arthur Heisler and Tobias Faust. Guys, I am not sure you really know how much your work inspires me. Mr. Heisler, Mr. Faust: Awesome video portrait – can't wait to work a lot more with you. Mr. Fischer: Get yourself some kneepads. 

Please visit their websites as well: jofischer.com, heliumcowboy.com, vimeo.com/faustheisler.

Alex Diamond: Magazine Drawings

One of my personal long-term objectives was to mix Motorkultur and Art. I had some discussions about giving my Poncho (which is white at the moment) as a canvas to an artist, another thought was to do some kind of Motorkultur-/Chromjuwelen-exhibition with galleries. But you know how it is — those soul projects always take some time. And time is money. Unfortunately.

Some days ago my favorite art dealer, Heliumcowboy Artspace, contacted me and asked if I could donate some car magazines to one of his artists, Alex Diamond. Alex Diamond is just producing a side kick — he is doing some artsy magazine rip offs (2007-2008; 2012). His work is drawn straight into the magazines with fine ink pens. On-the-road, instant artworks. I have seen some of them, and they are simply gorgeous.

So I gave it a try and donated an old issue of Carl*s Cars (oups – website broken?) which I had twice. Today Alex offered his fist set of drawings on Etsy (just hit one of the images above), which are stunning. It has never been easier to get some unique Motorkultur art.

Luke, we definetely have to talk soon. About a special Fuel Magazine edition. What do you think?

Note to self: Get a Benzo Rod

I think it is obvious we have tremendous respect for the hot rod spirit. There is a simple reason for that: We are living in Germany. Well, on the one hand Deutschland has all its fingers in every pie regarding all worldwide highest desirable automotive brands – Audi, BMW (MINI, Rolls Royce), Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volkswagen (Bugatti, Bentley, Lamborghini) –, but if you think about a unique culture which is driven by passion and individuals … there is none. At least not if you compare it to the American hot rod culture, which started in the late 1930s.

Maybe we Germans are overall too square to respect people who modify their vehicles by themselves, maybe the creativity which is needed to build a car to one's wishes is not valuated that high. Not to mention the fact that the whole trailer-queen adoring and producing tuner society in Germany gets seriously derided for their work. For a good reason, btw, if you ask me – they should rather prove their competence by building street legal race cars instead of distorted plastic funfair sculptures. 

Ok. I run off the track. In the early days of Chromjuwelen.com we featured a 1952 Mercedes-Benz W 191 170 Sb, which got rodded by Heiko Sude. At the Race 61 in Finowfurt we ran into Niko Kahn's chopped and channeled Mercedes-Benz W 189 300 d "Adenauer". In the meantime Ingo Recktenwald debuted with his 1939 Mercedes-Benz W 136 170 V. And a few days ago our friends form the excellent Stipistop presented us another Mercedes-Benz 170 S hot rod.

Enough already. I am hooked. I want a Mercedes-Benz hot rod. With a supercharged AMG M113 5.4 L "Hammer" V8. Or – even better – with a 7.3 L V12 SL 73 AMG V12. You think this would is blasphemy? No. It would not. This would be the perfect German Engineered hot rod. 

(Please hit the images for additional information)

Continental Extreme: Chromjuwelen En Route Road Movie

And finally — here it is. Our "Continental Extreme" video. The latest Chromjuwelen En Route road movie starring five German blokes on a Motorkultur-expedition. Intention: To draw an analogy between Las Vegas (SEMA) and Dubai (Motor Show).

Co-starring among others not only our 1964 Imperial Crown, but also family and friends like Klaus Rasch (race-dezert.com), Mike Musto (ridelust.com), Ryan Friedlinghaus (West Coast Customs), Sven Gramm (BRABUS), Bear Garcia (Hooligan Customz), Frederik Faidhi (Select Nano), Sam Badawi (1000 Dunes), David Mitri (1000 Dunes) and Phil McGovern (crankandpiston.com).

Thanks to everyone who joined our film premiere at the EAST Hotel in Hamburg. We had a blast!  

The Most Amazing Location Ever For A Birthday Celebration

Actually, I should have been at the 82nd International Motor Show in Geneva today. But I could not accompany my partner Chris, so he had to go alone. The reason for not going "Hunting the new A-Class" with Mercedes-Benz was I was invited to a birthhday celebration which I did not want to miss. 

The party was held at the Prototyp Museum Hamburg. Of course — I know the Prototyp Museum Hamburg from different events. But being seated in the middle of the exhibition was simply stunning. My seat was just next to Otto Mathé's "Fetzenflieger", a car I got bond with especially in the last months ...  

Deichkraft: Tri-Axle Two-Stroke Diesel Godzilla

"Diamond T" "980 M20" GM-Diesel "Detroit-Diesel" "6-71" "Hot Rod" "old style" "old school" Truck 1940 diesel-power tank car real-rod Herrenrod cooldstart "cold start" www.deichkraft.com

Eine neue Operater-Centrale bietet nunmehr höchsten Fahrkomfort bei minimalem körperlichen Einsatz...

real men dont need instructions Wintertime in the north of Germany lifesaver saves lifessaver

I am not quite sure when I first have had heard of "Deichkraft", but it must be some years ago. A good friend of mine sent me a shaky video of a tri-axle Dimond T 980 N20 truck, which has been converted into a roadster. But it was not only the fact the basis of Deichkraft is a tri-axle truck which is for that reason alone kinda odd — the steampunked hot rod comes with a GM two-stroke diesel.  

From that day on I wanted to meet Carsten Plötner, who is one of the blokes behind that project. Last weekend the moment has finally arrived — we met each other at a birthday celebration. I am sure all others guests were a little unhinged by us, because we chatted the entire time about cars, the narrowmindedness of some German hot rodders and possible Deichkraft destinations.

Carsten, what about bringing your little Chromjuwel to the Race 61 and Rust 'N' Roll? But before you do that I will pop in to have a ride! 

1964 Imperial Crown: The Eagle Has Landed

Our 1964 Imperial Crown, which we bought during our "Continental Extreme" trip last year, has meanwhile arrived in Hamburg, Germany. Good to welcome our old fellow, which is one of the main actors in our upcoming "Continental Extreme" video, in our hometown! 

I know: Having something is better than needing something. But with the Imperial I have too many projects in my garage. So — anybody interested in a 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 W108 or a 1972 Pontiac "LeSupra" LeMans Project? Just shoot me an email if you are looking for a perfect familiy Chromjuwel or — if you have got the guts — a Pearl Harbour Muscle Car.

BTW — we are on the home stretch with our 70 minutes video (Los Angeles - Las Vegas - Dubai). We will showcase the video next week in Hamburg, so it is time to put on your dancing shoes and celebrate the online roll out with us!