More than three decades after his death from cancer at the young age of 50, actor Steve McQueen is still referred to as The King of Cool.
A big part of what made the man such an icon was the cars he drove and the clothes he wore in such movies as Bullitt and Le Mans. Now, Porsche Design - an offshoot of the Germany-based sportscar maker - has created a vintage-style polyester racing jacket that features McQueen's signature and logo stitched on the front and on the inside lining.
A Porsche logo is on the back. Jackets are available in blue only in sizes small through 3XL.Order yours for $500 directly from the Porsche Design at www.shop1. porsche.com/usa.
PICKUP POWER
The idea of dragging a corded vacuum through an ocean of water after washing the car should make you think twice.
A cordless vacuum would be great, but they just don't have the same grunt, and the batteries don't last, right? The Dyson DC34 portable, on the other hand, is perhaps the next best thing to a corded vac.
Using the company's patented "Root Cyclone" technology, the DC34 really performs, while the lithium-ion battery pack provides 15 minutes of power on "high" and six minutes on "MAX" for tougher jobs. The DC34 weighs in at less than three pounds and can be a little tough to manoeuvre in tight places due to its size, but because it's a handheld, there's no hose chaffing door-sill edges and trim while you work.
Of course it's good for stairs and furniture, too, so you get more use for your buck. Since the dust bin of the DC34 is clear, you can also see when it needs emptying without taking the thing apart. You can read more and order yours for $199 at www.dyson.com.
KEEP COOL FOOD
Most people don't consider the kind of coolers they're packing when camping or picnicking.
They load in some ice and hope its contents stay chilled for a few hours before adding more frozen H2O.
But Pelican Products' line of heavyduty Elite Coolers will retain water in its solid state for between seven to 10 days (depending on conditions), thanks to two inches of thermal insulation surrounding the storage area and a freezer-grade gasket between the lid and the box.
Elite coolers are guaranteed for life. They're available in a wide variety of sizes, from 35-250 quarts, with prices starting at about $250 from various online suppliers.
Get all the product details from www.pelican.com.
- from Top Gear column, via Wheelbase Media,
