Miniature sports car models costlier than real cars

UK-based company Amalgam specialises in miniature models of iconic sports cars with all the features of their full-size inspiration down to the tiniest elements and have a price tag to match. By maintaining close relationships with top manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Aston Martin, Amalgam has access to the original CAD data and engineering drawings of the vehicles they replicate, including paint codes and colour samples. Each 1:8 scale replica takes between 250 and 450 hours of painstaking work to complete, hence the price tags can reach $30,000, depending on the model.

Amalgam will be adding the iconic Lamborghini Countach LP400 and the upcoming Lamborghini Revuelto to their collection of 1:8 replicas, with all the tiniest elements of the original car, including functional scissor doors and pop-up headlights.

Amalgam’s creations aren’t simple toys, but collectible works of art aimed at owners of luxury cars. At the moment, Amalgam’s most expensive 1:8 replica is the Ferrari 250 GTO, priced at $29,760. But the most expensive models are a couple of 1:4 replicas of two Mercedes Formula 1 vehicles, each costing $41,145.

Baby white rhino gets a name, Kifaru

The Toronto Zoo announced a white rhino calf born in late December finally has an official name: Kifaru.

The zoo said in a Facebook post that the calf, known only as “TZTankPuppy” since his birth at the end of 2023, has been dubbed Kifaru, which means both “tank” and “rhino” in Swahili.

“While the wildlife care team is always protective of new baby animals at your zoo while they bond with their mothers, the team feels he is ready to meet a small number of guests and were keen to get this experience up and running since a portion of the proceeds are being used to help conservation efforts for white rhinos in the wild,” officials wrote.

Polish mint creates world’s first levitating coin

UFO MP-1766 is the world’s first levitating legal tender, commissioned by the Cameroon National Bank and created by Mennica Polska, the Polish Mint.

The innovative coin has likeness to a flying saucer and the ability to slowly rotate in the air like an alien spacecraft. The number 1766 reflects the founding date of the Polish Mint as well as the coin’s denomination, 1,766 Cameroonian francs ($2.91). While it can be used in Cameroon as a legal tender, its value is considerably higher than its official denomination — pre-order price of over $1,000 for the limited 510 units minted. It will be available this spring.

Apparently, the coin has a small motor embedded in it, which is activated by a magnetic field generated between the coin and the special base it comes with, allowing the silver coin to levitate and slowly rotate like a flying saucer. The UFO MP-1766 also has fluorescent elements that glow in the dark, adding to the dramatic effect.

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 30th, 2024