Moving pictures… literally.
Published: 10 February, 2009, 11:02
TAGS: Russia, Thrills&Spills
If you have a monstrous amount of cash and the desire to own an individually designed car – then Moscow's air brush studios are for you. And who knows – the creativity may actually protect your vehicle from thieves.
To spend double the value of a car by modifying it might seem to some a waste of money – but not to Russians. Turning one cruiser into a monster can cost its owner an equally monstrous sum of cash – roughly $US100,000.
Some car modifications have paid off as they have got tongues wagging on the Internet, and one car has already appeared in several movies.
“The idea was to turn the car into the anti-hero from the film ‘Alien’. This car looks like it's from another world, but the technology is well-known to everyone. We used a technique similar to making papier-mache – but using different substances,” says Sergey Lizunov from International Auto Sound Challenge Association.
The upkeep on a custom-painted car in Moscow is by no means cheap. Insurance companies are not willing to take on costly repairs and traffic police might find a loophole to fine you on the road.
Oddly enough, there is one big benefit. With a car stolen in Moscow every 45 minutes, a lick of paint and a little fine-tuning can be a rather ingenious way to protect cars from thieves, as Moscow’s eagle-eyed road police would surely notice such an otherworldly creation.
Masha believes that the two fierce tigers adorning her Audi will protect the car better than any satellite system. And she was very picky when choosing the canvas.
“I had different cars, but I when I was looking for a car to customise, I picked up one without moldings. They spoil the impression of the picture. It was the main criteria for me that the doors of the car are smooth,” said Masha.
Those trying to make money on turning cars into Christmas cards say that it’s in the blood of Russians to stand out on the road.
“I talked to people in different countries. They can’t accept investing in a car which has already cost them a pretty penny. Plus the car, they say, loses value with a painting on it. They think they won’t get their money back. Russians might spend amounts equal to the value of the car on alloy wheels, new leather seats and spray painting. They feel great afterwards but still sell the car at market prices,” says Andrey Kartuzov, Aerograph magazine publisher.
Women under 30 are the main customers at the city’s air brush studios. In most cases they act as designers. Yulia Kim came up with the thought of painting the computer game characters from Rayman Raving Rabbids on her Mini Cooper. She claims her idea was stolen for mass production.
“I was very upset when I found that out that such Rabbids were painted on another car as well. Of course the picture was not the same. Anyway, I was kind of jealous of it,” Yulia says.
It’s a pity that if you drive in Moscow, such Rabbids or Van Gogh landscapes can only be seen on your car in summer. The rest of the year they are most likely to be covered with dust or snow.
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