Interview Archives - Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast

Welcome to the automotive podcast that is celebrating 100 episodes!

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…  

Yes, you read that correctly. After 100 episodes of automotive news, project car disasters, and countless hours in the garage, we decided to celebrate our centennial episode of “Throwin’ Wrenches” in style—by inviting the real MVPs onto the show.

Angela Stahl and Sarah Scott join us for a candid conversation about what it’s really like to be married to car enthusiasts who can’t seem to stop bringing home “just one more car” or participating in “just one more road rally.” From their favorite automotive picks to eye-rolling stories about our respective histories of vehicular obsessions, this episode pulls back the curtain on the home lives of your podcast hosts.

We’re incredibly grateful to Angela and Sarah for their good humor, patience, and unwavering support as we’ve built this podcast from the ground-up over the years. Their willingness to put up with oil-stained laundry, parts on the kitchen table, and “quick trips” to car shows that turn into weekend adventures deserves more thanks than we can express.

We would also like to thank our listeners and Patreon family for the continued support. We love hearing from you, and apprecaite all you’ve done to help us keep things rolling down the highway.

Listen to the full episode now on your favorite podcast platform.

The post EP 100: Our Better Halves Take the Wheel appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the automotive podcast that knows Cars and Coffee

This week, we’re shifting gears to spotlight the community builders who make Central Illinois car culture thrive!  We welcome Preston Lutton and Jacob Walker, the driving forces behind Cental Illinois Cars & Coffee.

Welcome Preston Lutton and Jacob Walker!

We discuss their passion for bringing car enthusiasts together and the effort that goes into each monthly meetup. We also hear about their personal journeys and get an exclusive preview of what’s coming for Cars & Coffee in 2025.

Eric also takes us on a surprising detour through Mexico’s streets, where Chinese automotive brands like Chery, VinFast, and BYD are making unexpected inroads, while Daryl updates us on his ongoing adventures with his Plymouth Fury, and Cadillac projects, and how a 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 slipped through his hands.

Whether you’re a regular at Cars & Coffee events or curious about joining the community, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people who turn a simple concept—cars and coffee—into unforgettable gatherings.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Special thanks to our sponsor, Fort’s Toyota for their ongoing support of this show.

The post Episode 99 – Central Illinois Cars & Coffee appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

In the heart of Washington, Illinois, lives a true automotive superhero who has turned childhood dreams into a reality.

John Bisanz isn’t just a car enthusiast—he’s a real-life Batman, complete with a meticulously-crafted 1966 Batmobile that would make George Barris proud. In addition, John was one of the most hospitable guests we’ve ever had, and invited us into his garage/workshop/house combo that any gearhead would be proud to call home.

Bisanz’s Batmobile is more than just a stunning replica of the iconic television show car that everyone knows and loves – it’s a beacon of hope, serving a greater purpose through charitable work with OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. This isn’t just a car—it’s a symbol of joy and inspiration for many across the Midwest. When Bisanz cruises down the street, he doesn’t just turn heads—he creates smiles. Children and adults alike are transported back to the campy, colorful world of the 1960s Batman series.

Starting with a 1977 Lincoln Continental Coupe, Bisanz transformed the vehicle into a near-perfect recreation of the legendary Batmobile. Every panel, every detail carefully modified to capture the essence of the 1960s Batmobile. It’s not just a car—it’s truly a work of art on wheels. We talk about the history of the Barris Batmobiles and it’s glamourous beginning as a Ford concept car from the 1950’s to the Hollywood studio backlot of the 1960s. There’s also some great legal drama thrown in there for good measure.

The unique part about John is that he’s not only a Batman fan, he’s into all things automotive. He owns a supercharged Dodge Viper, a replica of Barney Fife’s Ford Mayberry squad car from The Andy Griffith Show. He also owns a full-blown Dodge Challenger race car and a few other goodies. We sit down for a long chat to learn more about the man behind the myth.

Fans can connect with our guest under his Central Illinois Batman Facebook page, where he lists his upcoming events and has some great photo coverage.

Local journalist Phil Luciano also did a great write-up of John’s work in a 2023 Peoria Magazines article that we highly recommend. Give it a read whenever you have a moment.

Catch the full story on this latest episode of Throwin’ Wrenches Podcast!

The post Episode 97 – From Man Cave to Bat Cave appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the automotive podcast that enjoys bringing you a festive yule log. 

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…  

As always, thanks for listening.  To join in on the fun of the show, just email us at [email protected] or post a review and we’ll read it on the air: Good, bad or ugly! 

Eric has nothing new in the projects department, except for the fact that he’s getting back to work after an annual pilgrimage to Italy. He didn’t bring us back any prosciutto or anything, so he’s persona non grata as they say.

We also talked to his travel agent and learned that he’s run out of frequent flyer miles and he can’t take any more vacations until June, 2025. 

Meanwhile, Daryl’s stuff is tucked away for the winter, which is great. Since Illinois antique vehicle license plates are good for 5 years at a time, all of the license renewals came in for the entire fleet of the Scott Auto Museum at once, so he got that ironed out, along with ordering new brake lines for the ‘55 Caddy. Lines and a master cylinder will be the last hurdle before he’s able to drive the thing next year.

And finally, our friend Dustin just bought a new car after an unfortunate incident involving a Nissan CVT transmission and a sound that went something like “ka-boink”. We’re happy that he chose something from the Ford family of fine cars with a conventional transmission. 

We could spend hours describing our guest for this Christmas show. He’s a podcasting legend known throughout the world for his successful shows Drunken Lullabies, Drunken Lullabies Presents: Drunk at the Movies, Dishing Disney, The Importance of Seeing Ernest and most currently, Radio Rewind and Yesterdaze.

If you’ve never heard of any of these shows, make sure to click through the links above and give a few of them a listen. There’s something in there for everybody because Dustin has a great many interests (from craft beer to collecting vinyl and enjoying live music to the appreciation of comedian Jim Varney’s entire catalog.)

It was one of Dustin’s interests that ended up bringing Eric and Daryl together for the first time, and the shared chemistry ended up being the genesis of Throwin’ Wrenches Podcast. We’ll dive into what that first experience was, learn what other projects Dustin has worked on over the years, and why podcasting is such an enjoyable outlet for folks who consume media at an enviable pace.

It’s our tradition to bring you a Christmas-themed show each year. While this episode is a little light on the yuletide celebration, it did bring ‘the family’ together again for a short time. We’ve been wanting to have Dustin on the show for many years, and we were finally able to connect and make it happen in 2024. Even after a few years without doing a show together, we stepped right back into it without missing a beat. We’d like to thank Dustin for being a great friend and inspiration for fellow podcasters everywhere.

As we embark on 2025 and nearly 100 episodes of this goofy little automotive podcast, Eric and I would like to wish all of our friends a very Merry Christmas and safe, enjoyable holiday season. May Santa bring you all the car parts you asked for, and may you and your family have a Happy New Year.

Thanks for your support, and we look forward to bringing you more content in the new year!

The post Episode 95 – “The Voice” of Christmas appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Episode 94

Welcome to the automotive podcast that is talking Fort’s Trail Team

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…  

Thanks for listening.  To join in on the fun of the show, email us at [email protected] or post a review on itunes to be heard worldwide!

Sponsors

PATREON – Thanks to our Patreon supporters. 

Itunes Premium –  people love it!  Full integration into your Apple podcast app. 

NEWS:

Polestar Says Biden Proposal Would ‘Effectively Prohibit’ Sale of Its Cars in US

Polestar said on Monday that a proposed Biden administration rule to bar the use of Chinese vehicle hardware and software would “effectively prohibit” the automaker from selling vehicles in the United States, including cars made in the U.S. The Swedish automaker, a brand of Volvo Cars that is majority-owned by China’s Geely said in comments filed with the Commerce Department that a proposed rule prohibiting Chinese-connected vehicles on American roads due to national security concerns would bar the sale of vehicles that Polestar is building in South Carolina as well as those produced in China.

Source: Reuters 

‘Past Its Peak’: Slowing Jeep Gladiator Sales Raise Concerns at Toledo Factory

In late 2018, then-Jeep boss Tim Kuniskis pledged the brand’s new burly off-roading pickup, the Gladiator, would do battle with other popular midsize truck entries like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma while also setting a “new benchmark” for the segment. For a couple of years, it did. Gladiator sales surged to nearly 90,000 in the United States by 2021, matching the popular Jeep Cherokee SUV that year. But since then, sales have fallen sharply — from 78,855 in 2022, to 55,188 last year, to just 32,670 sold through this year’s third quarter. The slow sales have spurred big discounts on Gladiators.

TRAIL TEAM Talk

Cars of the Weak  

Eric:

2006 STERLING, LT9500, Heavy Duty Trucks – Car Hauler Trucks, MERCEDES-BENZ MBE4000, power windows, differential lock, dump valve, cruise, suspension gauge, air seat, 2006 COTTRELL CAR TRAILER VIN: 6G088410 TRUCK HAS SET A WHILE AND WILL NEED GOOD GOING OVER, SELLING AS IS IN NON-RUNNING CONDITION, 450 Horse Power, Air Ride Suspension, Aluminum Wheels, Wheel Base, 19.5, Axle, 3.58 Ratio, VIN 6AW46627

Daryl:

1987 Renault/AMC Alliance GTA

66,000 Original Miles

2.0 L fuel-injected 4-cylinder

5-Speed Manual

New Timing Belt

New KYB StrutsR11 Turbo Springs from Europe

Needs a New Fuel Level Sending Unit – correct fuel level not displayed, otherwise no driving issues.

Original Low mileage example in incredible shape for its age.q

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/zqWHwJNXW5ujXmep/

The post Episode 94 – Fort’s Trail Team review of 2024 (with Jake Irish) appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the automotive podcast that will not be talking about Justin Timberlake’s DUI. 

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…  

All that and more on This episode of Throwin’ Wrenches. 

Currently working on Aidens RAV4…  Insane to think I picked up 2 factory-fit fog lights with wire… with bulbs for 40 bucks.  Tie Rod was bad…  Was making a hell of a racket!  It’s like new.

The 1996 Celica is leaking oil…  badly!  Time to pull it in the shop and do the maintenance that’s overdue!  

The ’69 Volvo 144 is in the shop ready to get driveline work, but it’s TOO DAMN HOT.

I’m also working on getting the ‘55 Plymouth ready for a little road trip to Western Illinois Saturday. Oil, filter and lube. Something we never hear today. What happened to non-greaseable suspension parts? 

Source: CNN

 A second cyber incident at data provider CDK Global, whose software is used at 15,000 auto dealers, continued to slow operations to a near-standstill Thursday at US and Canada dealerships, the company said in a message sent to dealers.

On Wednesday, CDK spokesperson Lisa Finney said in a statement shared with CNN: “We are actively investigating a cyber incident. Out of an abundance of caution and concern for our customers, we have shut down most of our systems and are working diligently to get everything up and running as quickly as possible.”

Later that day the company announced that most of the critical computer systems were back online. But Thursday morning, the company sent dealerships another message indicating things had a taken a turn for the worse.

CDK operates numerous different products that car dealers use to handle things like keeping records of negotiated deals to scheduling and communicating about service. Not every dealer uses CDK’s products, and even those that do may not use them for everything, but the system shutdown has been a problem for many.

Eric’s note: This is a big deal, even locally.  Our competition is hamstrung by it  

Source: electrek

Rivian’s new high-powered Ascend Quad Max R1T variant will race up Pike’s Peak, one of the longest-running and most difficult races in the world, this weekend.

The Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb is one of the longest-running races in the world, being held 102 times since 1916.

It’s a famously difficult race, starting at an already-high 9,390ft (2,862m) in elevation and finishing at 14,110ft (4,300m), with an average 7.2% vertical grade. Until 2011, the track was largely unpaved on dirt or gravel roads, and it is not uncommon for cars to leave the track and crash into the woods or, worse, end up tumbling down the mountain. The race is also commonly stopped by rain, snow, fog, or other inclement weather of the type you commonly get at the top of mountains.

In particular, the high altitude nature of the race (which earned it the nickname “Race to the Clouds”) has always been difficult, because at high altitudes there is less oxygen, which means less complete combustion of fuel. This means that gas-powered race vehicles need to have incredibly oversized engines to do well.

That difficulty does not apply to electric vehicles since EVs don’t need oxygen for combustion, so for years EVs have overperformed in the race. Currently the all-time record for the 12.42-mile hillclimb is 7:57.148, set by the Volkswagen ID.R in 2018. And this year, an EV (Acura ZDX) will be the pace car for the first time, and Hyundai is bringing its fun Ioniq 5N, hoping for a record among EV crossovers.

Rivian’s entry is a little less wild than those, consisting of what seems to be a stock R1T – but with Rivian’s new upgraded “Ascend Quad Max” trim,. This ups the torque and horsepower to 1,198lb-ft and 1,025hp respectively, much higher than the previous 835hp top-spec.

Source: Autocar

Lexus is set to launch a new V8-engined supercar as a rival to the likes of the Aston Martin Vantage and Mercedes-AMG GT and a spiritual successor to the legendary LFA.

Parent company Toyota’s hardcore GT3 GR concept car, revealed in 2022, has now evolved into a prototype that has been spotted running at Spa-Francorchamps, and its Gazoo Racing motorsport division is expected to have it ready for top-flight competition – including the Le Mans 24 Hours – in 2026.

FIA homologation rules dictate that any GT3 racer shares its basic body design with a related road car, so a toned-down version of the GT3 GR is expected in showrooms within the next two years.

Source: NY Post

“Two homicidal maniacs” have threatened to kill Elon Musk in the past seven months, the Tesla CEO claimed at a recent shareholder meeting, while comparing himself to the slain Beatles legend John Lennon.

During the question and answer portion of the electric vehicle company’s annual shareholders meeting last week, Musk said his high profile has put a target on his back — just like Lennon.

An anonymous shareholder asked Musk what he’s doing to make sure he stays healthy and safe, to which Musk acknowledged he should maybe start working out to avoid being “assassinated.”

Musk then revealed that Tesla “ actually did have two homicidal maniacs in the last roughly seven months come to aspirationally try to kill me, and a bunch of other people — so it’s not just me. 

“And then there wasn’t like an actual issue that they articulated, they were just in the homicidal maniac career, so I do need to be kind of careful,” Musk said

Musk said he’s been forced to “be a bit more standoffish” as a result and has stopped signing things for fans who come up to him in public.

Musk then compared himself to Lennon — who was notoriously shot and killed outside the Dakota Apartments in Manhattan in 1980 by Beatles superfan Mark David Chapman moments after Lennon signed an album for him.

“I will endeavor to stay alive,” Musk said.

Seller’s Description

Ever since the Bradley Car show a few years ago I have been intrigued by the Vanderhall.  There was a tan one there with some antiqued accents and it gave that British roadster vibe.

I have been smitten ever since!

I totally want to drive one of these sometime.  WHY ARE THESE ALL AUTOMATICS?!?!?!?!?

Source: Kraft Auctions

The post Episode 90 – CARSTAR North Peoria with Jack Allison appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the auto podcast that is talking stainless… and we’re not talking cutlery.

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches:

Thanks to Fort’s Toyota for their continued sponsorship. We could not do this show without their support, so please consider supporting them if you’re in the market for a new or used Toyota. Their service department is pretty amazing, too!

Owner/Fabricator at Brockett Built

Eric first met Marcus at an SCCA racing event in Pekin. He pulled up with a Lexus IS wagon that was a little chopped and appeared to be one of those dudes who would be an amazing addition to the “regulars”. Since then, they have been chatting at Fort’s Toyota over the years as he has been trying to get us to do a Supra exhaust.  All the while Brockett Built, formerly known as Shade 12 Fab, continues to show off his technical and artistic skills with custom exhaust work on anything with 4 wheels.

A post shared by Brockett_Built (@brockett_built)

We’d like to pay our respects to the late George Beres, a central Illinois automotive legend. We had the pleasure of interviewing him in 2019 and learned a great deal about the automotive sales business.

George was a pioneer, a masterful businessman, and a wealth of knowledge about how to sell a quality product to the everyday consumer. We wish his family peace and comfort in the days ahead.

Source: Reuters

Volkswagen’s voice assistant integrating ChatGPT into its cars will be able to converse with users in a back-and-forth dialogue by the middle of the year, the carmaker said on Monday as it presented the technology in Las Vegas. Volkswagen presented its first vehicles featuring ChatGPT, to be available for customers in North America and Europe from early in the second quarter of this year, at the CES electronics trade fair.

Source: Bring a Trailer

This 1979 Plymouth Volare Custom sedan retains its new-car sale and rustproofing paperwork from Crowley Chrysler Jeep Plymouth of Forestville, Connecticut, and remained with its first owner until December 2023, after which the selling dealer acquired it. Medium Cashmere Metallic paint is accented by stainless trim and a color-coordinated full vinyl roof, while tan vinyl upholstery lines the front and rear bench seats. A 225ci Super Six sends power to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission, and the car is further equipped with 14″ steel wheels, new narrow-whitewall tires, power steering, power-assisted front disc brakes, air conditioning, and an AM radio. This Volare shows 2,400 miles and is offered by the selling dealer with the manufacturer’s literature, receipts, and a clean South Carolina title.

Source: Bring a Trailer

This 1994 Lexus LS400 is one of 1,800 Anniversary Editions produced and is finished in Midnight Indigo Pearl over gray leather upholstery. It is powered by a 4.0-liter V8 paired with a four-speed automatic transmission and equipment includes 16″ Anniversary Edition wheels, Traction Control, fog lights, heated power-adjustable front seats, a power-operated sunroof, cruise control, automatic climate control, a Nakamichi Premium sound system, and a cassette stereo with a remote CD changer. The car was acquired by the seller in 2022 and it now has 87k miles. This LS400 is now offered at no reserve with a clean Carfax report and a clean California title in the seller’s name.

Source: Bring a Trailer

This 1985 Toyota Pickup XtraCab SR5 is a 4×4 example that has been registered in California since 1990 and was acquired by the current owner in 2020. The truck was repainted white with black graphics under previous ownership, and it is powered by a 2.4-liter inline-four linked to a five-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. Additional equipment includes 15″ steel wheels, a suspension lift, front disc brakes, a spray-on bedliner, air conditioning, and an AM/FM stereo. Braking and power steering components along with the water pump, timing chain, valve cover gasket, and front main seal were replaced in preparation for the sale. This Toyota pickup is offered by the seller on behalf of the current owner at no reserve with an accident-free Carfax report and a clean California title in the owner’s name.

The post Episode 85 – Brockett Built appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

On the first Sunday in October of 2023, Eric & Angela, Daryl and Gabe grabbed a bag of gas station beef jerky and headed East to that giant corn maze known as Indiana to pay our respects to motorsports and see the only hill in the Hoosier State.

Okay, so that’s not entirely true. There’s more than one hill in Indiana, and we finally got to see the Newport Hillclimb. What is the Newport Hillclimb, you ask?

The Newport Hillclimb is a traditional hillclimb event open to vintage automobiles from 1942 and earlier, and so-called “orphan car” makes up until 1955 (as long as they didn’t continue production past 1970, such as Plymouth, Mercury, etc.)

The race, which began in 1909 as a durability test of the new-fangled horseless carriage, soldiered on until 1915 before fizzling out. The reason for the lack of interest? Something about a brickyard in Indianapolis and another, faster form of racing.

Fast-forward to the mid-1960s when the Newport Volunteer Fire Department decided to pay tribute with an antique automobile hillclimb event and the rest is history. Since then, every first Sunday in October has been “race day” for the hillclimb, where classics chug, huff and puff their way up a deceivingly steep hill in search of a trophy.

For us, it was a real treat to see these old machines get a workout. Most of the time, we only see Packards, Studebakers or any other old car sitting in a show field or a local cruise night parking lot. This event proved that the old stuff still enjoys being driven to the limit now and then. There are plenty of other festivities that accompany the hillclimb, including a vintage car raffle, flea market, car show, and some food vendors that put the average county fair to shame. It’s fun for the entire family, and it’s all FREE save for a modest parking fee that goes to the local volunteer fire department.

We discuss our impressions from the Newport Hillclimb, and describe what it was like to be spectators with a bird’s-eye-view of the action from just behind the barricades. We also plot out our trip for the following year, where Gabe definitely has the advantage of having two qualifying cars that could certainly give some of these old Model T’s a run for their money.

You can discover more about the Newport Hillclimb on their website (which appears to be down right now) at newporthillclimb.com.

They’re also on Facebook.

They’ve also set the dates for 2024’s race:

An entire history of the Newport Hill Climb can be found on good ‘ol Wikipedia.

Gabe and Daryl share their respective garage & house remodel progress and the best/worst DIY drywall tips in the Patreon preshow. Learn more by becoming a sponsor.

The post Episode 82 – Newport Hillclimb appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Download

Welcome to the automotive podcast that always buys the extended warranty.

All that, plus we welcome our friend Regan back for a special 4-time appearance!

Join in on the fun of the show, just email us at [email protected] or post a review on iTunes to be heard around the world!

You may hear him rumbling down the road in his “new” model A hot rod pickup, What drives this man? Clearly to take the title or the most frequent guest on the Throwin Wrenches, as he is now tied with Mr. Casey at 4. Soon to be the king of both the podcast, boats, and Toyota knowledge, Mr. Regan.

We’re hearing lots of support for Eric and the Stahl family. As you know, they are walking through some heavy stuff right now, but your kind comments and encouragement mean so much.

Bottom line: Keep it coming, it’s working! 

You can learn more about their current battle at PlanetStahl.com and support them here if you’re so inclined. Thank you, and we all wish the Stahls continued good vibes and the very best in the coming weeks.

Ford Scaling Back Production This Summer

Source: The Detroit Bureau

Ford is preparing to trim production at four big assembly plants this summer in Chicago, Missouri, Louisville, Kentucky and Kansas City, according to a memo circulated to hourly employees at the company’s Chicago Stamping plant, which feeds part to all four plants.

“Chicago stamping will be implementing a week-to-week temporary starting Monday, June 20. The temporary layoff will continue Sunday, September 11 with the plan to return to full-scale production on Monday, September 12,” according to copy of the memo reviewed by thedetroitbureau.com.

The memo offers employees the opportunity to volunteer for temporary layoffs, which could extend through the summer months. The temporary layoff is likely to appeal to employees with school-age children who are off from school.

These layoffs come as part of the company’s Ford + Turnaround restructuring Plan. The plan aims to gradually restructure to phase into the EV world and bring the workforce in line with upcoming consumer demands for less ICEs. 

GM Dropping Four-Year Degree Requirement for Many Jobs

Source: GM Authority

GM has dropped the four-year college degree requirement for many jobs and will instead transition to skills-based hiring practices for certain roles, Tammy Golden, GM’s executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion, told Automotive News in a recent interview. 

Golden, who is also the Detroit-based automaker’s head of workforce strategy, explained to AN how the automaker has implemented a new three-pronged approach to its hiring practices. The first step involves a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, which is part of GM’s vision to become the most inclusive company in the world, while the second focuses on workplace innovation and removing biases that may impact an employee’s experience on the job. The third step is workforce design, which focuses on creating clear pathways for employees to join the company that may not have four-year degrees, but have relevant real-world experience.

“From a soft skills perspective, we really needed people who can connect with people,” Golden told AN. “When you focus on what’s required of the job versus, say, a four-year degree, as your ticket in, it allows you the opportunity to open the aperture to another pool of talent.”

Scout Electric SUV and Pickup Teased by VW Speculatively Rendered

Source: InsideEVs

The Scout brand is coming back with these two electric vehicles specifically designed to boost VW’s US presence in the segments. 

Volkswagen is bringing back the Scout brand, known for the International Harvester Scout off-roader, and plans to launch two brand new electric models, one SUV, One pickup that should debut in the United States around the year 2026. The German giant wants to build both of them in the US, possibly at a new (second) manufacturing location that it may build next to its existing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The vehicles will have all the features that we’ve already seen on rival models, like rear-wheel steering, adjustable suspension, solar charging, and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, and according to one report from Germany, the planned annual production target is 600,000 units. Even though this will be a VW company, the goal is to make Scout an American-designed and American-built product on top of borrowing retro design cues from the original.

Elon Musk could become the world’s first Trillioniare by 2024

Source: Chron

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose recent business ventures include continued negotiations to purchase Twitter for $44 billion and opening a Tesla gigafactory in Austin, could become the world’s first trillionaire as early as 2024, according to a report from software company Tipalti Approve. The company predicted Musk’s wealth will exceed the $1 trillion mark by comparing his current net worth, which is $263 billion, with his year-over-year income growth since 2017. 

Musk’s net worth is currently about equal to the entire GDP of the Czech Republic, the central European country with a population of 10.7 million, according to data from the World Bank. Were Musk, or any other billionaire, to reach the $1 trillion mark, their wealth would be more than the GDP of the Netherlands, a country with 17.4 million people and home to popular tourist destination Amsterdam. 

With the current world GDP valued at $84.75 trillion according to the World Bank, anyone reaching trillionaire status would have a net worth that is 1.17% of the entire world’s GDP.

Meanwhile on Twitter, the soon-to-be Trillionare was busy creating this gem of a Tweet:

Words certainly hit hard, Elon.

Gabe: Old people who decide in their mid 60’s that rules no longer apply to them. I recently had a lady drive against the arrow and parking slants at Ace hardware for no reason and made me get over and wait for her. Lovely.

Daryl: Whenever I see the carnage from the roads or barely miss running over a crater on the way to work, all I can think of is where is all the money from the marijuana sales going? 

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – Though COVID-19 created obstacles for many local businesses, one industry soared. Illinois cannabis sales nearly doubled in 2021, bringing in $1.4 billion in revenue. Many of those sales came from local dispensaries.

$1.4 Billion. Huh. Well, that money isn’t really going to the roads:

In fact, the only U.S. state with legal recreational marijuana that directly appropriates revenues to the Transportation Fund is Michigan, at 35%. 

With people driving less, and with more fuel-efficient cars or EV’s, it’s time to change the funding formula for how we maintain these 70-year-old pieces of concrete. Everyone just goes on a monthly subscription.

For $50 a month, you get to enjoy the GOOD lane. The left lane on the interstate, or the newly repaved section of the cross-town highway. 

Make road travel tiered as we do with everything else in this country… it will either raise more revenue OR get the average person mad enough to write their elected officials to get something done! 

Daryl: 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega   – $19,900 Buy it Now Price

From the description: These cars are incredibly rare with only 2,061 leaving the factory in 1975. This particular Cosworth is car number 615! It still wears its original Tuxedo Black Paint and Gold Pinstripe! All the factory Decals are present, as well as many items such as Visor Sleeves with Ignition and EFI Operation Instructions and quite a bit of original Documentation. Among that Documentation is its original COPO Registration. Service manuals bearing the signature of Bill Howell. Bill Howell is known by some as the Father of the Chevrolet Big Block engine. In the Early 1970’s Bill Howell was tapped to assist in research and design of a High Performance Vega Engine equipped with a Cosworth Cylinder head. As part of this R&D Process Bill participated in Racing Cosworth Powered Quarter Midgets with Marion Tucker. Tucker would eventually come to own this exact Cosworth Vega after Bill saw to it that it was special ordered for Marion. This is a very special car, from its original paint, to is entirely original interior. It has lived its life stored indoors after Bill promised Marion that “One day it will be worth more than you paid for it” Now immortalized in one of the signatures you see below. Little did they realize how true that statement would become. Magazines of the time lauded praise onto the Cosworth Vega. Its first for a GM Passenger car Electronic Fuel injection, cutting edge Twin Cam cylinder head, great performance and handling. And it still met emissions, and provided excellent fuel economy. The Cosworth would end Production in 1976 with only a little over 3500 total being produced. This has made the Cosworth Vega a rare, fun, and interesting piece of Chevrolet history. This particular example runs and drives well, and is incredibly clean throughout. This Cosworth survives untouched, even down to the factory Bendix Fuel Injection and Emissions equipment.

Gabe: 1995 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo 5-Speed

Modifications consist of adjustable KYB AGX shocks, AMS Upper Control Arms, Eibach springs, aftermarket bushings, a Jim Wolf Technology ECU, and a Sebring exhaust system.

Sure, we love a good MkIV Supra, but these Nissans are underappreciated and undervalued.

That means we should all try to buy one now.

Regan: 1967 Chevrolet Camaro  

Stock photo.

Knowing Regan, this car won’t stay stock for long.

The post Episode 64 – Regan Rebooted appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

The Autopodcast that is always bringing you new guests! In fairness, we also bring you old guests… but that’s not the point. 

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches:

As always, thanks for listening to this show. If you’d like to join in on the fun or tell us what you think of this episode, email us at [email protected] or post a review on iTunes to be heard around the world and make Eric a happy camper.

Just like Catlin did this past week.

Thanks, Catlin! We’re happy to help enable folks to add more cars and trucks to their collection.

Sales: (866) 984-0593

Gabe’s Garage

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Jason’s mild manners and chill demeanor hide the fact that he’s an ice-cold, corner-carving competitor when it comes to motorsports. And he has the hardware to back it up.

Feel free to reach out if you’re interested in getting involved with the CIR SCCA as a volunteer or participant in some of the local events. You’ll be glad you did!

Source: KGTV San Diego

An ad going around online appears to show Coca-Cola being poured into a car’s gas tank with the caption “Simple trick to lower car fuel consumption by 55%.”

So should you take a stab at pouring Coke into your car?

Definitely not.

The website Snopes clicked on the ad, which did lead to a page advertising EcoPlus which is a technical device that connects to your car.

But in an email, the company said the ad is not theirs and Coke is not related to their product.

Experts agree putting Coca-Cola in a gas tank can ruin your car.

Reboot llinois put together a fantastic list of 16 things that are made in Illinois. Guess what? Rivian didn’t make the list, even though they were voted the “coolest thing made in Illinois”.  We didn’t want to short-change our fellow Illinois manufacturers, so we combed through the list and were fairly surprised by what they found right here in the Land of Lincoln.

Did you know that these 16 things are made in Illinois?

What’s your vote for the coolest thing made in Illinois? Let us know at [email protected].

I finally found it… my dream convertible Dodge Dakota pickup. And the best part is it’s in nearby Bloomington, Illinois! 

What’s up with that? 

In all honesty, it’s a project truck that will never be caught dead in my garage… but a man can dream, can’t he? 

I know what you’re thinking. This is a car that should have been crushed 20+ years ago. Why are you even considering this for a Car of the Weak? I like to consider myself a preservationist. I keep things around to ensure future generations can appreciate their historical significance. That extends to this final-year GM X-body model that happens to wear the tarnished Citation nameplate.

After a splashy debut as “GM’s Front Runners for the 80s”, the shininess wore off after steering racks that leaked and bound up, carburetors that fell out of adjustment, and exhaust systems rusted out in a year or two. Several other quirky design features didn’t go over so well. It was so bad that they revised these the year before to be the Citation II (Think Coke II). It was new and improved with fuel injection, a digital AM/FM stereo radio in that awful double-DIN style to replace the VERICAL radio from the previous generation. Lots of fixes after it was too late. That’s GM’s way. They did it with the Corvair, and the Fiero.

By 1985, anyone buying a Citation that wasn’t a fleet or rental car was a sucker. I want to make sure we learn from our FWD mistakes. That’s why this should come home with me. 83,000 mile car from MO that was owned by the guy’s grandma. AC, automatic and a gutless Iron Duke 2.5 four-cylinder. It’s checking all of my boxes.

From the BaT listing: This 2014 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 is one of approximately 100 examples built in Graz, Austria, by Magna Steyr between 2013 and 2015. It was subsequently modified with the Brabus B63S-700 package, which consists of the Brabus 700 engine upgrade as well as carbon-fiber body elements, LED lighting, and quilted leather upholstery. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 that sends power to all six wheels through an AMG Speedshift 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission, a dual-range transfer case, and five electronic differential locks.

Equipment includes a central tire inflation system, Öhlins suspension, 18″ Hutchinson beadlock wheels, a wood-paneled bed, heated and ventilated seats, and navigation. The truck was imported to the US under a “show or display” exemption, and it was previously listed on BaT in December 2021 and was subsequently acquired by the selling dealer. The differential lock intensifiers, front brake pads, brake fluid, and a propellor shaft were replaced in 2021, and the battery was replaced in 2022. This G63 AMG 6×6 has 8k miles and is offered with NHTSA “show or display” paperwork, service records, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Arizona title.

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