retrostoreworld.com Blog

The power of a news headline can be awesome. A really good headline like the one above which appeared on a news billboard can grab your attention,nurture interest,create a desire to find-out more,and encourage you to read-on.

The Elvis referred to needed no amplification,probably still wouldn’t. The short reference to travel would have concerned many an adoring fan.Every fan would have read-on or made further enquiry at what looked like a momentous event. Yes,Elvis Presley was boarding a troop carrier bound for Germany! On the 20th December 1957,Elvis had received his National Service call-up papers to join the US Army.

This news headline which was to send many thousands of fans apoplectic was also the title of an Extended Play (33 rpm) record. Many of those fans rushed to their local record store to buy this latest recording only to find-out that it was not a music track but a recorded interview with the “king” before his imminent departure overseas. Few probably complained, such was the following, hungry for any new information about this iconic performer.

As a matter of interest,I wondered if copies of the Elvis Sails record had survived. And lo, in the marketplace that rarely fails you, I found reproduction copies of the record and sleeve.

Click here for details

The title says it all. I’ve come across these handy-sized USB memory sticks (technology of today) heavily disguised as some of our old Star Wars chums,including, chewie,stormtrooper,Darth Vader,R2-D2 – from a galaxy far away, at what seems an attractive price. The 1GB sticks retail at £29.95 each, the 2GB version (from 4th March 2008) at £39.95. For more information on the Star Wars Mimobots ,you should zoom over to Firebox for the intergalactic experience!

Continuing the Stars theme and fun how about these playful characters?

Sturdy vynyl figures represent some of the favourites from the Star Wars films. This series 1 of collectable limited edition characters made out of 100% recyclable materials, includes Chewbacca,Boba Fett,Luke Skywalker,C-3PO,Darth Maul, and the incorrigible Darth Vader. Standing about 6″ high each figure -suitable for childen over 6 years of age – is priced at less than a tenner at the firebox web site .You can check them all out here at
Firebox

Can it really be over 30 years since the first Star Wars film exploded onto cinema screens around the world? It was,indeed, 1977 when Stars Wars began its amazing journey, and it is reckoned that upto 2007 the films have generated revenues in the region of a whopping $4.3billion.

Perhaps even more surprising is that Mr Potato Head was “born” in 1952, at the Pawtucket,RI-based toy company,Hasbro.Inc. The very first toy,according to Hasbro, to be advertised on television, Mr Potato Head has had a full career having been an ambassador and “spokespud” for many causes and good-will efforts. Apparently, on his 40th birthday,he was given a special award from the President’s Council for Physical Fitness, in a ceremony conducted on the White House lawn!

As befits his Hollywood status -Mr Potato Head played a supporting role in the Disney film “Toy Story” ,and he has had his own program ,”The Mr Potato Head Show” on the Fox Children’s Network – he has met up with some old chums for a bit of fun at the Star Wars set. For more of this much adored, characterful and entertaining toy beloved by many generations of children (and parents,too!),where you can meet-up with the likes of “Darth Tater”,”Spud Trooper”,and “Artoo Potatoo” by entering “Star Wars” in the search box at theFirebox web site click here

Almost speaks for itself. Issue two of this vintage soccer transport of delight.Enables those who enjoyed their soccer many moons ago to view once again those “Blue Remembered Hills” as Backpass Magazine Editor,Mike Berry would call them.But for many of us soccer of the 1960s,1970s and 1980s,which features in the magazine written for retrolivers, isn’t that long ago or long forgotten,if at all.

INSIDE ISSUE 2 – Price £3.20 (inc. postage)

MEMORIES: Terry Conroy, Peter Storey, Willie Johnston and Martin Patching
TV AND FILM: The football scene from cult movie Kes
REMEMBERED: Burslem’s finest – the late Roy Sproson
THE MANAGEMENT: John Barnwell on Brian Clough and Jimmy Hill’s debut
INSIGHT: Don Megson on 1966, George Best and a soccer scandal
FASHION DISASTERS: A purple prank?
FOREIGN FIELDS: Brian Clark on Cardiff City’s European zenith
CUP CLASSICS: Blues battle back in a St. Andrews thriller
SEASON IN FOCUS: 1982-83
and MUCH, MUCH MORE.

To see how you can obtain a copy of this Issue 2 click here now for the Backpass Magazine website.

Priceless original last-of-the-line Audi quattro is stored in secret UK location

It is almost twenty years since the last Audi quattro rolled of the production line.Now its famous again as the star of the BBC TV drama series,’Ashes to Ashes’,set in 1980. Though the actual model to be catapulted to stardom on February 7th,was not made until 1984, nothing will detract from its appeal or performance as an example of the legendary sports car that pioneered four-wheel drive for production road cars.

The TV star car has a strong rival as the ‘most wanted’. Audi has under lock-and-key a quattro as it left the line, unused with no miles on the clock.It is so rare its location is kept a secret. Yes, this pristine car is also probably priceless to a collector, but Audi will never sell it.
Jeremy Hicks,Director of Audi UK says,”We would never be able to replace this car and its value to the brand is inestimable.”

Both cars have the same red colour.

Footnote:Audi has just launched the latest manifestation of the quattro line with the 580PS RS 6 quattro Avant priced from £77,625 on the road. Capable of up to 174mph, the RS6 – the most powerful road Audi ever made – arrives with its first UK customers in May.