I'd like to store some information about some items, where each item has a set of attributes. Something like: 
Car
   Wheels=4
   Doors=4
   Color=Blue
Bike
   Wheels=2
   Color=Red

[download]
In the actual data, there'll be between 20-30 attributes for each item. Some items don't use certain attributes, those would either be left out entirely or just set to a null value.

I could use a hash for each attribute and access it with $Color{"Car"}, or use a hash of hashes, but is there a really nice neat way to do stuff like this? Am I treading so close to OOP that I just need to take the plunge now?

---
A fair fight is a sign of poor planning.

In reply to When hashes aren't enough by Sprad

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