Moment of Musk Archives - 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.

The post Episode 62 – Jason Daily Interview appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

The Autopodcast that knows the waiting is the hardest part. (At least that’s what Tom Petty used to say. )

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…

As always, we thank you all for listening.  To 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!

If you don’t know our most frequent guest (yes, he’s now officially earned that title), you may see him motoring through your town in one of his unique trucks, automobiles, or motorcycles. Some have the steering wheel on the right, some on the left. Some have wooden wheels, others have alloys. You may even see him on his newly-acquired 1955 BMW R50 motorcycle, which is probably the coolest thing on wheels to come out of Bavaria since the pretzel. 

Gabe was gracious enough to let us record in his studio and show his vintage bike and his 1983 VW Rabbit Cabrio, which will be a summer cruiser with plenty of Mk1 GTi parts and aftermarket suspension goodies already installed on it. It was quite the score, and it may even make an appearance on an autocross course because one can’t help but toss a first-generation Rabbit into some corners.

Gabe also explains why he’s bullish on Illinois’ own EV manufacturer, Rivian. We talk about the company’s current offering, and why he believes they’re primed for something really big in the coming years. He also likes how much fun the R1T is to drive on a daily basis.

Source: Bloomberg

Used-car retailer Carvana Co. is restructuring a multibillion-dollar junk-bond offering as it struggles to attract investors despite double-digit yields.

The company dropped a $1 billion preferred-equity chunk and increased the debt portion by the same amount to a total of $3.275 billion, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. It also added a bankruptcy make-whole provision, a type of safeguard that pays creditors a fee should the company refinance while in chapter 11.

The move is already fueling angst among the firm’s existing creditors, with Carvana’s Carvana’s shares have plunged more than 70% this year amid a deepening cash burn, fueled in part by surging used-vehicle prices and capital spending.

The company, famous for allowing consumers to pick up used cars in giant vending-machine style towers, also changed how early the eight-year bonds can be paid back, another concession to investors.

Source: Arstechnica

Last February, Ford announced that it was partnering with Google for its infotainment operating system. The automaker had used Blackberry QNX as the underlying OS for Sync 4, but like many other manufacturers, it has found Android Automotive to be a compelling alternative. Unfortunately for Ford, that migration is not going very smoothly. Ford CEO Jim Farley told The Verge that the company is months behind schedule.

“We’re making a lot of progress. I’m very impressed with the team that Google has put in place. They’ve been very accommodating—you can imagine that we don’t want a generic solution for the instrument panel for Mustang. We want, like, line lock to do a burnout. But it is slightly delayed, so that’ll be later in the fall,” Farley told the Verge.

Google’s OS—distinct from Android Auto, which simply casts the phone’s screen and audio to the car’s infotainment system—is quickly finding favor among manufacturers, which can now offer their customers the convenience of Google Maps and the highly capable Google Voice Assistant, as well as the potential for a robust third-party app market.

The first Android Automotive car on sale was the electric Polestar 2, and since then, the OS has also been showing up in new models from General Motors and Stellantis.

Source: Car and Driver

Originally scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. this spring, the Z’s launch has been pushed back due to “unforeseen supply chain issues.”

After the Nissan 370Z’s eleven-year production run, the arrival of its successor—now simply called Z—has been hotly anticipated. Unveiled last fall with a 400-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6, the Z was originally scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. this spring. But after a press release stated that the Z was delayed for the Japanese market, Nissan has confirmed to Car and Driver that the Z’s American release date has also been pushed back to summer 2022.

Source: Car and Driver

In 2017 Honda revealed a slinky Sports EV concept with retro styling and compact proportions. But since then, the Japanese automaker’s promises for the future have revolved around electric crossovers, such as the 2024 Prologue that will employ General Motors’ Ultium batteries. Now Honda has confirmed that its electric expansion will include two sports cars, which it teased in a recent announcement regarding EV plans.

Source: Yahoo Sports

The buzz of electricity—figuratively and literally—has swept through the world’s sports-car makers, and the C8 Corvette is about to feel the jolt. The C8 will soon join the many brands turning to electrons to power their hot cars. GM President Mark Reuss has just gone public with what we’ve known for some time: that a hybrid C8 Corvette will be here next year. What no one knew until Reuss revealed it in the same conversation with CNBC reporter Phil LeBeau it is that GM will build an all-electric ‘Vette EV.

Source: WAND-TV

Rivian’s all-electric R1T truck has been named the winner of the third annual “Makers Madness” contest. 

It was chosen by voters from an initial field of 400 entries as “The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.”

Hosted by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and sponsored by Comcast Business, Makers Madness is a bracket-style tournament that celebrates the manufacturing sector in Illinois. 

More than 200,000 votes were cast during the competition.

Manufactured in Normal, the R1T is the first all-electric truck in production, featuring four motors, with one powering each wheel. It also boasts eight driving modes and up to 400 miles of range. The R1T combines off-road capabilities with the driving style of a sports car, with acceleration from 0-60 mph in as quick as three seconds and a towing capacity of up to 11,000 pounds.

Source: Eletrek

New registration data show that Tesla is still dominating the US electric car market, and it’s not even close. Something is going to have to break for EV adoption to accelerate in the country.

For years now, Tesla has been dominating the electric auto market in its home country. It is expected that Tesla’s hold on the market will erode as more EV options hit and help grow the US market, but for now, the US EV market is still extremely dependent on Tesla.

For the entire year of 2020, 

Now new data has come out for 2021 as part of a new report based on registration data from Experian, and Tesla is a bit down, as expected. But, the company still holds a strong majority of EV market shares in the United States.

According to the report, Tesla still holds 69.95% EV market share in the United States with Nissan coming in at a distant second place with 8.51%:

Tesla is leading EV sales in every state except in Alaska, where the automaker has yet to open a service center, but it recently launched its first Supercharger in the state.

As you can see, all other automakers have a lot of catching up to do.

Fortunately, several of them have new EVs launching in the United States this year, and we expect to see several companies, especially Ford and VW, grow their EV market shares in 2022.

Source: eBay

From the listing: The big red bus company Los Angeles is selling one of our double-decker buses. This is a low-height double-decker bus at 13′ 8″ in height. This bus would make a great 2-level home with a kitchen and dining area downstairs and a nice big bedroom upstairs.

This bus cannot be registered in California as a commercial vehicle.

Source: Craigslist

From the listing: Classic 1976 mgb red convertible ; peppy 1800cc ( 62 horsepower ) 4 speed transmission, 40,801 original miles, front / rear rubber bumpers, dual su carburetors, black leather interior, with sport bucket seats, am fm radio, full tonneau, boot cover, jack and tool kit. *** [ 2021 restoration includes : ( new ) bmc flame red paint, maxtour gt radial tires, chrome wire wheels, convertible top, hood bonnet liner, carpet re-placement set, battery / battery charger. Complete successful evaluation of electrical and mechanical functions. Garage kept and covered with heavy duty california cover. Original owners manual / drivers handbook, and automotive repair manual. Every thing works as it should. The little red classic is in ( must see ) excellent showroom condition … For additional information.

Source: Bring a Trailer

From the listing: This 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo is finished in Blue Caelum Metallic over a two-tone Blue Scylla and Avorio Lilium interior, and power is provided by a mid-mounted 5.0-liter V10 paired with a gated six-speed manual transaxle and all-wheel drive. Equipment includes a front-axle lift system, a transparent engine cover, power-adjustable heated seats, a six-disc CD changer, automatic climate control, and power accessories. The car has spent time in Washington, Vermont, and Illinois, where it was acquired by the selling dealership in 2022. This Gallardo shows 3,600 miles and is offered with manufacturer’s literature, brand brochures, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Illinois title.

Thanks for listening to Episode 61. We’ll be back soon with some autocross talk, summer plans, and the latest automotive news. Meanwhile, follow us on Facebook or hit us up at [email protected] and we’ll talk soon.

The post Episode 61 – Gabe Gets a Motorcycle appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the automotive podcast that’s got us a convoy!

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…  

As always, we appreciate your support. To 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!

PS: There will be some fun Throwin’ Wrenches merchandise available for purchase very soon!

Stay tuned for updates. 

Eric was a featured guest on the premiere episode of Get in Her Lane, a new podcast hosted by Kathleen Kennedy and Shannon Withington. The series centers on women in the automotive industry, including diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Episode one is now streaming, and it features an engaging discussion about diversity and equity in the modern automotive industry.

We highly recommend giving this show a listen today. You can also follow Get in Her Lane on Instagram for the latest show updates.

Eric: 

Daryl:

Source: WWLTV- New Orleans 

After setting it up for weeks, Brendan Batt caught a thief in the act. The suspect broke the window and leaned into the car when a small explosion went off, startling the thief and sending him running. 

“It’s so frustrating and there’s nothing you can do about it,” Batt said. It’s the eighth time since January he’s had to replace the window in his truck.

The glass repair shop near his office knows him so well by now, Batt jokes that he doesn’t even have to introduce himself when he calls.

Source: Formula 1

The Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place on a Saturday in November 2023 and be one of three races in the United States, joining Miami and Austin.

Las Vegas hosted races in 1981 and 1982 but this will be the first time F1 cars will race on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, with the circuit sweeping past famous hotels and casinos. The 14-turn track will run for 3.8 miles with top speeds expected to hit around 212mph.

The design features three straights, a high-speed cornering sequence and a single chicane section, with the Grand Prix to be run over 50 laps.

Source: Marketwatch

New car shoppers know that a global microchip shortage means high car prices, and they don’t expect them to come down even as supplies return to normal. More than ever plan to order their next car, and fewer are willing to pay more than sticker price than were last November.

Those are among the conclusion from Cox Automotive’s Chip Shortage Consumer Impact Study. The study has been tracking consumer behavior and attitudes regarding the chip shortage and its consequences since it began in the summer of 2021.

Cox Automotive is the parent company of Kelley Blue Book.

Among the takeaways:

Source: The Drive

Take a peek at the first-quarter sales results from any automaker this year and you’ll find they all look similar; sales are down, typically by around 20 percent in total. Yes, I’m about to say those two dirty phrases that have been seared into your brain at this point: The chip shortage and supply chain issues are still disrupting auto manufacturing. The prices of cars, used and new, are up, but there is something of a silver lining—at least for hopeful Bronco owners.

In March alone, Ford sold 9,757 Broncos, a number that’s been increasing since 2022 began. In total, the Blue Oval has sold 23,573 through Q1, meaning that the month of March was nearly half of that total figure. Indeed, sales are trending up after a slump in February. January saw 8,101 of Ford’s popular new 4×4 moving off dealer lots followed by just 5,715 units the next month. It’s not the most straightforward trend, then, but it’s climbing regardless.

The Bronco still has work to do in terms of catching the Jeep Wrangler. In total, 45,551 of the stalwart off-roaders were delivered to customers in the first quarter—roughly doubling Bronco sales. That being said, sales of Ford’s SUVs still eclipse the entire Jeep brand, which itself does not produce any cars like sedans or wagons. Ford barely does either, to be fair; however, 13,986 Mustangs and 36 GTs were sold this year, which isn’t nothing. 

The troubadour of truck-driving songs helped add CB radio lingo like “10-4 good buddy” into the national lexicon with his spoken-word smash about big-rig drivers protesting government regulation

Source: Rolling Stone

C.W. McCall, an adman who found fame as a country music singer with songs about 18-wheelers, including the 1976 crossover No. 1 “Convoy,” has died at 93. According to his son Bill Fries III, McCall had been battling cancer and was in hospice care in his Colorado home when he died Friday, April 1.

“Breaker one-nine, this here’s the Rubber Duck,” McCall intoned in the novelty hit “Convoy,” a song that celebrated CB radios and the community of long-haul truck drivers who used them. Released in November 1975, the spoken-word saga would top both the country and pop charts the next year, sell more than 2 million copies, inspire a 1978 movie of the same name starring Kris Kristofferson, and help add jargon like “10-4, good buddy” into the national lexicon. But the song and the CB radio craze it’d help inspire all started in an Omaha, Nebraska, office.

Born Nov. 15, 1928, in Audubon, Iowa, as William Dale Fries Jr., Fries created the character of C.W. McCall in 1974 while working at an Omaha ad agency. The goal then wasn’t to record radio hits but to sell loaves of bread with country-sounding jingles.

“I wanted to name the truck driver something that would be easily remembered. A lot of the truckers wore initials on their shirts,” he told Milwaukee deejay Bob Barry. “We thought it was sort of a country-western sounding track, so that’s where the C.W. came from.”

The first commercial, “Old Home Filler-Up an’ Keep on a-Truckin’ Café,” proved so popular (it won a Clio Award) that Fries began to write a series of truck-driving songs with Chip Davis, who’d go on to form the neo-classical group Mannheim Steamroller. “Old Home Filler-Up an’ Keep on a-Truckin’ Café” appeared on McCall’s debut album, 1975’s Wolf Creek Pass. The title track hit Number 12 on the country charts and Fries — by now fully transformed into the character of C.W. McCall — set about recording the follow-up.

Black Bear Road arrived in September 1975 and its title track stalled at Number 24. But McCall released another song off the album: “Convoy.” The tale of a caravan of big-rig drivers led by “The Rubber Duck” caught the national consciousness with its vivid cross-country imagery and playful lingo — “Smokies” for the cops, “bear in the air” for a police chopper, “What’s your twenty?” for location, and, of course, “10-4” for “affirmative.” The track spent six weeks atop the country charts and hit No. 1 on the pop survey.

While McCall knew how to talk like a trucker, he didn’t drive an 18-wheeler. His daily ride, he told Dick Clark during a 1975 interview on American Bandstand, was a Jeep CJ5.

“The truckers were forming things called convoys and they were talking to each other on CB radios,” McCall said in a 2011 interview. “They had a wonderful jargon. Chip and I bought ourselves a CB radio and went out to hear them talk.”

For all its cinematic adventure, “Convoy” — No. 98 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Country Songs of All-Time — also contained elements of a protest song. The 1973 gas shortage, subsequent price spikes, and long lines at the pumps had Americans roiled. A 55 MPH speed limit particularly rankled truckers, who struggled to make a profit amid high gas prices and government regulation.

“The Rubber Duck” then was a cult hero and his fellow drivers, with handles like “Pig Pen” and “Sodbuster,” were rebels with a cause. On their journey from California to New Jersey, they fought the law — and, this time, the law didn’t win. When the “bears” block a bridge in the Garden State, the convoy barrels right through. “We crashed the gate doing 98/I say, ‘Let them truckers roll, 10-4,’” McCall says at the climactic finish.

McCall’s later singles were met with varying degrees of success. A “Convoy” sequel, of sorts, “Round the World With the Rubber Duck,” peaked at 40 on the country charts, while the melodramatic “Roses for Mama” hit No. 2. (McCall’s fellow truck-driving troubadour Red Sovine would record his own version of the latter.)

Active in music until the early 2000s, McCall also became involved in environmental causes. In 1986, he ventured into politics when he ran and was elected mayor of Ouray, Colorado. He’d go on to serve in the role for six years.

Source: RV Pro

The Federal Trade Commission on Friday announced that North American Automotive Services, which also goes by Napleton Automotive Group, will pay $10 million in a settlement from a lawsuit brought on by the FTC and the state of Illinois.

Nine locations were listed as defendants in the lawsuit, including Napleton’s Ellwood Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Ellwood City, which was filed at the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division.

The lawsuit complaint claimed Napleton snuck illegal junk fees for unwanted “add-ons” onto customers’ bills, and that the company discriminated against Black consumers by charging them more for financing.

The complaint said the fees included payment insurance and paint protection. The illegal junk fees cost consumers hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, according to the document.

A survey cited in the complaint showed 83% of buyers from the dealerships were charged junk fees for add-ons without authorization, or as a result of deception.

Specifically, the complaint states that Napleton’s Ellwood was one of the locations that violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

The complaint also alleges that the Napleton dealerships discriminated against Black consumers in connection with financing vehicle purchases, such as charging approximately $190 more in interest, and Black customers paying $99 more for similar add-ons.

Daryl : 1933 Reo Royale Custom Eight Coupe – $235,000

Source: Dragone Classic Motorcars

Offered here is possibly one of the most outstandingly well preserved and lowest mileage cars of the classic era that exists today; a completely original 1933 Reo Royale Custom Eight 2 passenger coupe with 8,000 original miles from new. 

Retaining all of its original black paint, perfect original upholstery, original pin striping and even the original factory stenciling on the firewall, this car is the definition of a time capsule. It is essentially a new 1933 Reo Royale Custom Eight coupe. 

Eric: 1982 Toyota Hiace Van – SOLD

Source: Cars From Japan

The post Episode 60 – Rubber Ducks and Semi Trucks appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the automotive podcast that’s buying popcorn for the Elon/Vlad arm-wrestling match.

What’s that? You haven’t heard about such a thing?

Don’t worry, we’ll talk about it later in the show.

We’ve got a lot of news packed into this episode, plus a few project updates and Eric picks a Car of the Weak that’s straight out of a late 80’s music video. Hop in and let’s take a drive!

Quick shout-out to our friends below. They help make this podcast possible, so please take a moment to thank them for their support.

Eric recaps his latest nightmare at the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. Learn why you should avoid multiple transactions and/or the Roanoke office at all costs. (Full story in the Patreon Preshow) . He also talks about the importance of functioning brakes on his project Tacoma pickup, and why replacing innertubes on a wagon wheel isn’t for the faint at heart.  

Daryl just bought more old junk. He’s trying to sell some other old junk. This is a new concept since old stuff seldom leaves the Scott Auto Museum of North Peoria, but space is at a premium these days. Anyone need a ’58 Plymouth? 

Source: AP News

Pete Davidson is heading to space. The “Saturday Night Live” star will be among the six passengers on the next launch of Jeff Bezos’ space travel venture, Blue Origin.https://t.co/8Q8G6wIU1r

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 14, 2022

Pete Davidson is heading to space.

The “Saturday Night Live” star is among the six passengers on the next launch of Jeff Bezos’ space travel venture Blue Origin, the company announced Monday.

The launch is scheduled for March 23 and Davidson will be the third celebrity on a Blue Origin flight. William Shatner was on a flight in October, blasting off from West Texas and reaching a height of roughly 66 miles above Earth on the 10-minute jaunt.

The other passengers on next week’s flight are CEO and investor Marty Allen; Sharon and Marc Hagle; teacher and entrepreneur Jim Kitchen and George Nield, a former NASA manager who has worked to promote commercial spaceflight.

UPDATE:  3.22.22

Source: QZ.com 

The cargo ship Felicity Ace is aflame from bow to stern with a lithium-ion battery fire that can’t be put out with water alone.

The fire has been burning since Wednesday (Feb. 16), as the ship drifts in the Atlantic about 200 miles southwest of Portugal’s Azores Islands. Its 22-person crew abandoned ship and was rescued on Thursday.

The ship left Germany on Feb. 10 and headed for the US with about 4,000 Porsches, Bentleys and other luxury cars aboard, and some of those were electric vehicles. It’s not clear if the batteries contributed to the fire starting in the first place—a greasy rag in a lubricant-slicked engine room or a fuel leak are the usual suspects in ship fires—but the batteries are keeping the flames going now. A forensic investigation will take months to determine the cause.

UPDATE:  3.1.22

The cargo ship that caught fire in the Atlantic while transporting roughly 4,000 Volkswagen AG vehicles to the U.S. has sunk despite efforts to tow it to safety. The Felicity Ace sank 220 nautical miles off the coast of Portugal’s Azores Islands around 9 a.m. local time on Tuesday after being battered by waves and leaning 45 degrees to its starboard side, the ship’s operator said.

Source: NADA

Recent media coverage about rising new-vehicle prices fails to account for unprecedented market conditions in the retail auto market. The analysis that follows (which is largely based on J.D. Power PIN data drawn from 42% of all consumer transactions for new vehicles) explains key factors driving vehicle pricing.

The widespread microchip shortage has sharply cut vehicle production and reduced dealership inventories to 40-year lows, while consumer demand has remained strong. These market forces drove the average price paid by consumers up 13% in 2021. Even with such an increase, the average price paid by consumers during 2021 was still below the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).

Vehicle inventory levels drive manufacturer decisions on incentives—such as rebates, promotional financing and other incentives. In particular, manufacturer incentive spending historically rises and falls as inventories rise and fall. With such low inventory and such high demand, the OEMs reduced their incentive spending each month last year, with reductions in available OEM incentives effectively raising prices for consumers. Average incentive spending per unit in 2021 fell from $3,482 in January to $1,516 in December. For the year, incentive spending per unit averaged $2,429, a decrease of 39.7% compared with full-year 2020.

And the increase in vehicle prices was not limited to the legacy automotive brands. Direct sellers, such as Tesla, also increased their prices in 2021. According to data from Kelly Blue Book, the average transaction price of a Tesla in December 2021 increased by 20.2% year-over-year. While the MSRP of vehicles sold by franchised dealerships have seen only minor increases, the price increases implemented by Tesla are likely to remain permanent.

Source: GM Authority

Chevrolet’s biggest moment during Super Bowl LVI may not have been its Sopranos’ themed ad for the all-new 2024 Chevy Silverado EV, but the three 1960s-era Chevy Impala lowriders featured during the halftime show as a nod to California car culture. Those beauties were parked in front of a large neighborhood street set that featured open rooms for performers and dancers.

Those performers included hip-hop legends Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, and Eminem in what was hailed as one of the better halftime shows in recent memory.

And some of those dancers took to gyrating on top of the hoods of those classic Chevy droptops. But the cars’ owners, Members of the Public Enemy Car Club of Los Angeles, reassured concerned viewers that the hoods were switched out for reinforced ones.

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The state of Georgia has stepped in to take control of the Rivian site near Covington amid local opposition to the planned $5 billion electric vehicle plant.

Local elected officials had been scheduled to vote next month on whether to rezone the 2,000 acres of rural property east of Atlanta for industrial use. They faced pressure from hundreds or thousands of area residents unhappy with the massive proposed factory.

But now local officials won’t vote, after the state assumed control and withdrew rezoning applications. The state can more easily bypass local zoning laws.

Local residents who oppose the Rivian plant already faced long odds to block the project, which Gov. Brian Kemp hailed as the largest economic development project in state history when it was announced in December. Environmental groups also support the plant, viewing Rivian’s electric vehicles as a way to reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate change.

Rutledge resident Chas Moore, who helped organize a legal fund to challenge the plant, declined Tuesday to comment on opponents’ next steps. The plant is located about 40 miles east of Atlanta, between the small communities of Social Circle and Rutledge.

Source: Reuters

Ford Motor Co (F.N) on Wednesday will announce a reorganization under which its electric vehicle (EV) and internal-combustion engine (ICE) units will be run as separate businesses in a move to fast track growth in EVs, three people familiar with the plan said.

The EV and ICE businesses will have separate names but will remain under the Ford corporate umbrella, in the same way the company operates its Ford Pro commercial business for corporate customers, said the people, who asked not to be identified.

The U.S. automaker will name executives to lead each business and Ford will also outline updated profit margin targets for the company overall, the sources said. The idea is for Ford to eventually report separate financial results for the EV and ICE businesses, one of the sources said.

Ford spokesman T.R. Reid declined to comment on the report. “We’re focused on carrying out our Ford+ plan to transform the company and thrive in this new era of electric and connected vehicles,” he said.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk doubled down on his challenge to duel Vladimir Putin of Russia in “single combat” for the fate of Ukraine Tuesday while ribbing Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a Kremlin ally and fearsome militant who called the world’s richest man “effeminate.”

“You’ll need to pump up those muscles in order to change from the gentle (effeminate) Elona into the brutal Elon you need to be,” Kaydrov wrote on the Russian social media platform Telegram.

In response to Musk’s challenge, Kadyrov invited the SpaceX and Tesla founder to the Chechen Republic for training on firearms, martial arts and how to “monitor and update your social network accounts,” according to a translation of his Telegram post Musk tweeted Tuesday.

Daryl : 1936 Pontiac Business Coupe – $20,000

Source: Facebook Marketplace

From the ad description: “Entertaining offers over 15k, vehicle has always been garaged.  No rust or body repairs known. 100% original at this time, will need some tlc to be perfect. Would make a great street rod. If interested message me with offer. Mileage shown is correct. Vehicle has been in family since 1960.”

Daryl doesn’t need another old car. But he wouldn’t mind shoehorning a 30’s GM coupe somewhere in his garage. Or neighbor’s garage. Or shed. Anywhere.

Source: Facebook Marketplace

From the ad description: “I’ve been cruising this beauty all summer and it’s an absolute blast to drive!. It’s an ‘89 D50 Ram 50 pickup. Custom paint, custom convertible kit. Story I got was the guy bought it and took it straight to the shop to have the custom work done. I got it from the guy’s nephew after he passed. I put brand new wheels and tires on it and had it aligned a couple weeks ago.

Lots of new parts! I have too many toys so this one has to go because I don’t have a mullet and I don’t own a pair of pit vipers. I’m mostly interested in cash but I will entertain trades of higher value.”

Who wouldn’t want to rock something radical like this for Summer of ’22? We think Eric should go for it!

The post Episode 59 – Elon vs Vlad appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/thebeerreport/TW58_Final.mp3

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches: 

As always, we thank you for listening and joining in the fun at [email protected], on Facebook, or post a review on Apple Podcasts and make Eric happy.

We couldn’t do this show without the continued support of our amazing sponsors. Please give them a round of applause.

You can also support this program by becoming a Patreon supporter at any level. Not only will you be super cool, you’ll get random swag shipments and the exclusive Patreon Pre-Show, which is essentially a bonus episode with unscripted shenanigans. And who doesn’t love shenanigans?

With high gas prices and rising inflation, it’s no secret that folks are looking for smaller, fuel-efficient cars.  We’re here to help, so we’ve hand-picked three gas misers from the early 1990s for you to choose from below:

Eric: Daily the Festiva. Race the colt. Kill the Geo.

Eric and Angela recently blazed through the rolling glacial hills of south-central Wisconsin in Treehugger 3.0 recently to participate in the Cheese Freeze rally for the second time. With last year’s event being cancelled due to the pandemic, the Stahl’s were eager to compete in one of the more challenging winter rallies they’ve participated in. Eric recaps the highlights and explains why this event is so much fun for Midwesterners. 

Spoiler alert: The Stahls came in 5th place in a competitive field, which is really good considering they lost some time recovering another participant in a BMW who ended up in a snow bank!

Daryl’s hibernating over the winter and ordering discounted Rock Auto parts for his various old cars. (Where’s the discount codes, Rock Auto?) He also is cooking up a plan to acquire yet another old 50’s car that doesn’t run, but made a deal to release one of their other classics into the wild if he brings this one home. Car hoarding is real.

Daryl tries to explain a funny meme about NFTs and immobile automobiles, and discovers that memes don’t translate well on a podcast.

Go figure.

Sorry, everyone.

Here it is anyway, though. It’s sorta funny, right?

Right?

Buehler? 

We’ll stick to social media topics and trends next time and skip the visuals in an audio format.

Source: CNN Business

Hyundai and Kia are telling owners of almost 500,000 cars and SUVs in North America to park outside and away from buildings due to a possible defect that can cause the vehicles to spontaneously catch fire even when not running. The problem is that, due to “foreign contaminants,” the anti-lock brake computer control module can short circuit and possibly start a fire in the engine compartment.

Hyundai issued a recall for 2016-2018 model year Santa Fe SUVs, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport SUVs, 2019 Santa Fe XL models and 2014-2015 Tucson SUVs. Kia is recalling 2016-2018 K900 sedans and 2014-2016 Sportage SUVs. In total, Hyundai is recallng 357,830 vehicles while Kia is recalling 126,747.South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are closely related. Hyundai Motor Group,

Hyundai’s parent company, owns a controlling interest in Kia, and the two companies share a lot of engineering in their various models. 

Source: ABC News

Japanese automaker Nissan swung back into the black for the quarter through December, despite shortages of computer chips that have hit the entire industry and many other manufacturers.

Nissan Motor Co., allied with Renault SA of France, reported Tuesday a 32.7 billion yen ($284 million) profit for the fiscal third quarter, a reversal from the 37.8 billion yen loss racked up a year ago.

Strong US demand is noted to have boosted Nissan’s results this year with hefty sales of its Note compact in Japan and Pathfinder sport utility vehicle in the U.S.

Source: CBS News / Moneywatch

An Israeli startup plans to build about one mile of pavement in Michigan that will wirelessly charge electric vehicles as drivers roll past, marking a first-of-its-kind infrastructure project in the U.S. Electreon, based in Beit Yanai, won a contract with the state to build the charging road system near downtown Detroit, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Tuesday. 

Electreon uses special coils embedded in pavement that send magnetic frequencies to a charging pad underneath a vehicle. Whenever an electric car cruises along that pavement or stops on the road, the battery gets charged. The approach is similar to how wireless charging pads send juice to your cell phone. The coils do not react to or harm gas-powered vehicles, according to Electreon.

Source: Adapt Automotive

President Biden has become the first sitting president to give extensive comments supporting the Right to Repair movement, Vice reported.

Biden spoke at a cabinet meeting last Monday and acknowledged the anticompetitive practices that electronics manufacturers and others such as the auto industry have created over the last decade.

“Too many areas, if you own a product, from a smartphone to a tractor, you don’t have the freedom to choose how or where to repair that item you purchased,” Biden said. “It’s broke. Well, what do I do about it if it’s broke, you had to go to the dealer and you had to pay the dealer’s cost, the dealer’s price. If you tried to fix it yourself, some manufacturers actually would void the warranty.”

Biden’s speech comes on the heels of an executive order he signed in 2021 that paved the way for right-to-repair legislation in the U.S. The FTC then formally adopted a pro right-to-repair stance and began to study new enforcement mechanisms. Concerning the auto industry specifically, Massachusetts voters passed legislation in 2020 that would’ve given independent repairers access to more telematic data.

Since that vote, the legislation has been religiously litigated and remains in litigation without it taking effect.

Source: ILGA

Under the REV Illinois program, companies with plans to invest in a new or existing manufacturing facility for the production of EV, EV component parts, or EV power supply equipment have the opportunity to qualify for exemptions on income tax withholding, utilities tax, training, and equipment/capital costs.

Reimagining Electric Vehicles (REV) Illinois Program

​In 2021, Governor JB Pritzker and the General Assembly passed the Reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act (REV Illinois Act) into law. This groundbreaking program is designed to bolster Illinois manufacturing – already a top destination for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing in the United States – and to grow the ecosystem to create new capacity for EV vehicle and component parts production.  This will also support our state’s bold climate change agenda, including putting 1 million EVs on the road by 2030. 

REV Illinois offers competitive incentives to expand in or relocate to Illinois for companies that manufacture EVs and EV parts (batteries, cathodes, anodes) as well as EV charging stations. The program defines EVs as vehicles exclusively powered by electricity and permitted to operate on public roadways – including cars and motorcycles.  

Under the REV Illinois program, companies with plans to invest in a new or existing manufacturing facility for the production of EV, EV component parts, or EV power supply equipment have the opportunity to qualify for exemptions on income tax withholding, utilities tax, training, and equipment/capital costs. While preparing companies to meet competitive demands for electrification – REV Illinois will also prepare Illinois communities to capture growth of the industry, which is expected to create thousands of jobs in the years ahead. 

Moment of Musk

Source: NBC News

The billionaire reportedly blocked the college student, who declined to take down a Twitter bot that keeps track of his flights.

A 19-year-old Florida university student and aviation enthusiast says he rejected a $5,000 offer from Elon Musk to shut down @ElonJet, a Twitter bot he designed that tracks the comings and goings of the Tesla and SpaceX CEO’s private jet.

In an interview Monday, Jack Sweeney, a University of Central Florida freshman, reported that Musk blocked him after he declined the buyout offer — but not before the two had a month-and-a-half-long dialogue.

Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment made through Tesla.

He first reached out to Sweeney on Nov. 30, according to screenshots of Twitter messages reviewed by NBC News, and Musk asked him for details about how the bot worked, remarked that air traffic control is “primitive” and said, “I don’t love the idea of being shot by a nutcase.”DEC. 13, 202103:13

Sweeney later asked Musk to “up” his $5,000 offer to $50,000, about the cost of a Tesla Model 3, which Musk considered for over a month, before Sweeney said he would also consider removing the account for an internship.

Then, some time after Jan. 23, Musk blocked him.

Sweeney said he has been interested in aviation and “everything Elon Musk and Tesla” for years before Musk reached out to him.

“He just ends up messaging me one night at, like, 1 a.m.,” Sweeney said, adding that Musk first said the bot was a security risk but provided no evidence.

Sweeney said he believed Musk “a little bit” about the security risk but that he felt that because he has a security team, any concern was “just worry.”

Source: CarGurus

A light sapphire blue 78K-mile original, this family hauler hails from Tennessee… the land where rust takes longer to vaporize good old American Iron. This final-year ‘box’ style wagon features the last carbureted V8 that GM put in a passenger car (Olds 307 with 140 horse). Largely unchanged from their 1977 downsized body style, this is the last of the breed that shuttled millions to and from work, school, baseball practice and family vacations of yesterday. Loaded with cornering lamps, deluxe wood trim and rally wheels. I LOVE this machine enough to pay the whack asking price. 

Source: Facebook Marketplace

Eric’s got his sights set on another classic VW camper van, but this one is a little different. It’s a 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia that has a 1.6L Turbo Diesel engine that’s not quite ready for the open road. The seller claims it needs minor work such as bleeding the clutch and a few other things… but it supposedly runs good. With ‘over $16,000 invested’  and very little rust, there’s no doubt this project would pay off with a little elbow grease. Think of all of the Rocky Mountain road trips this little Westy could have with a well-sorted drivetrain!

The post Episode 58 – Tracking Elon, Roadway EV Charging & Cheese Freeze 2022 appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the automotive podcast that was full of holiday treats…  and bellies that shake like jelly. We hope you enjoyed our last episode during the holiday break. We truly enjoy your company and we’d like to offer a special thanks to Mike Fort for joining us for a few tales. Speaking of breaks, let’s hope everybody stays safe out on the roads as winter storms move across the U.S..

To 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!

Eric watched True Romance and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood recently and now believes that Quentin has an affection for big-body General Motor cars from the 1960s and 70s. Why not celebrate this with a “Tarantino Edition” of America’s favorite podcast segment, Race/Daily/Kill?

1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado

1966 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

1974 Chevrolet Nova

Eric: Race the Eldo (Just for the FWD tire smoke!). Daily that Deville and hope to look a little like Pitt in the process. Kill the Nova, because the only nova I live is the Novarolla from the 1980’s!

Daryl: Race the Nova. Daily the ‘66 and kill the Eldo.

Eric: The Cheese Freeze Rally is back on for 2022, and Treehugger 1.0 is going to make an appearance! Meanwhile, there are some other projects that will take a back burner for now.

Oh, and I do TV repairs now. More details in the podcast.

Daryl: I did silicone wiper blades on the Tundra. It’s too cold to do anything else because winter sucks. I also need to silicone spray the seals on all windows because my stuff keeps freezing. Arizona is looking better and better these days.

You know that they say about cars with big screens, right?

After years of boasts over the expanding size of their infotainment screens, automakers seem to have collectively moved on to a new measuring contest with which to extol their own virtues: third-row real estate. Across the industry, there’s now a growing list of growing crossovers and SUVs — vehicles that either had three rows and are now adding inches specifically for their third-row seating, or long-standing two-row vehicles that are growing to seven-seaters from five.

Chrysler to Go All-EV by 2028

The future of the Chrysler brand was murky when Fiat Chrysler Automobiles merged with France’s PSA Group in 2021 to form Stellantis. One year later, the vision is much sharper: The product-starved brand plans to debut its first battery-electric model by 2025 and will eliminate internal-combustion engines by 2028. Stellantis is providing a glimpse of the road ahead with an electric crossover concept called the Chrysler Airflow being revealed Wednesday at CES in Las Vegas.

Sony announces Vision-S electric SUV in challenge to Tesla

At CES 2022, Sony shows off its latest prototype electric vehicle. Sony caused quite a splash at CES two years ago by rolling out a prototype car onto the stage of its press conference. For CES 2022, an updated version of the car returned, along with some surprising news — Sony could soon get into the car business.

Specifically, Sony says it’s forming a new company called Sony Mobility this spring with the goal of helping bring Sony’s technological flair to the automotive world. In theory, that means Sony would work with automakers to incorporate some of the mobility advances the company is experimenting with on its prototype cars, but ultimately, Sony Kenichiro Yoshida CEO said, Sony might explore the commercial launch of its own electric vehicle.

I-95 in Va. reopens as motorists battle bailout traffic jam on Route 1

Interstate 95 in Virginia fully reopened Tuesday night after more than a day of blockage, which caused havoc for thousands of commuters who were trapped on to the roadway for hours.

To clear the roads and evacuate motorists, northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 95 from exit 152 (Dumfries Road) to exit 104 (Carmel Church) were closed to travel. Crews continued work to remove stopped trucks, treat the roads for icing and remove snow. Motorists were also encouraged to avoid the area, or use local routes to reach their destinations.

Ford to Double F-150 Lightning Production

Ford Motor Co. will double annual production of the F-150 Lightning in Dearborn once again, the automaker said Tuesday ahead of the first group of reservation holders being invited to begin placing orders for the electric pickup truck Thursday. Increasing production will bring the output to 150,000 vehicles per year at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in the Blue Oval’s hometown after deliveries begin in the spring.

Pinky Randall, aka “Mister Chevrolet” Passes Away at 94

Murl “Pinky” G. Randall, a lifelong resident of Houghton Lake, Mich., passed away in Pensacola, Fla., on Jan. 9, 2022. In the old-car hobby, he was best known as M.G. “Pinky” Randall, as well as “Mr. Chevrolet.” Over his 94-year lifespan, Pinky Randall owned just under 200 cars, of which 180 were Chevrolet models from the earliest to latest models. Randall was a veteran of World War II and Korean War military service, and a grocery industry professional. Randall and his wife, Joyce, started collecting “everything Chevrolet,” he would say. The items ranged from license plate topper to toys. “I’d watch the newspapers and if I saw a Chevrolet item, whether it be a yardstick or cap or pencil or what, I had to have it,” Randall often said. Before long, the basement of his home was essentially a Chevrolet museum.

Peoria’s growing car theft problem and how to avoid becoming a victim

Peoria resident Fredrick Leathers’ black Chevy was stolen from his home early Monday morning, just off Sterling Avenue.

“Came back to pour my coffee and I’m seeing someone pull out the driveway in my vehicle,” he said.

Leathers said he’s left feeling stunned and deprived. He bought the car just a year and half ago.

“It kind of shocked me because no one never walks around this neighborhood, nobody’s ever in this neighborhood,” Leathers said. “Something was taken from me, something that I worked hard to pay for.”

Auto theft investigator Brian Terry said almost 600 cars have been stolen in Peoria just this year alone. That’s 250 more than last year.

“It’s completely at random. It could range anything from a 10 to15 year old car that’s left running to a brand new car that’s left running,” he said.

Terry said its not an organized group, but the same 20 teenagers who have taught others how to steal cars. He said the teens “drive them until they wreck them,” often resulting in a totaled vehicle.

“The suspects are walking around, they see a vehicle that’s running. It takes them literally 15 seconds to run up, jump in the car and just drive off,” he said.

When he’s not capturing carbon or snatching starships at the launch pad…  Elon can be found hiring with the 2 hands method???

Elon Musk’s Brilliant Hiring Strategy Uses the 2-Hands Test–Instead of Degrees

Elon Musk famously discredits traditional education as means to fielding and finding top talent, saying that “college is basically for fun and not for learning.” And while businesses across the nation rely on academic degrees as a tool for finding talent, Musk holds to his conviction that skills matter more than degrees.

Eric highlights (or lights up) a Customer of the Week. This time, the feature is a 2011 Toyota 4Runner with a wiper problem that turned into a nightmare to diagnose, repair, and then adjust the final bill because the customer thought it was a “great learning experience” for the Technician?!?!?

Source: Facebook Marketplace

A true survivor. All original, it even has the original front floor mat. Auto trans,8 cyl and drives well. Beautiful green metallic paint that looks great in the sunlight. Original seats still have plastic covers.very large trunk. Chrome all looks good. Radio even works. This is a nice unrestored car about 79,000 miles. Recent fuel pump,water pump repaired, carb repaired. This car is in excellent shape,a real head turner. Rides very nice you won’t be disappointed with this car.

Source: Facebook Marketplace

2008 Saturn Sky with a Chevy Colorado Bed and roof.  This car was built for endurance racing, we have ran several Lemon’s races with it.  No expense was spared in building this car, I am wanting to move on to something else is the only reason for selling.  The car is built to a very high standard, and it gets a ton of attention.  The following is a list of some of the stuff that has been done to the car. The car itself came from Las Vegas, NV so there is zero rust or corrosion.

Specs

Interior

Suspension/Brakes

As always, thanks for listening, and we’ll catch up again soon!

Let us know what you think of the show at any time at [email protected].

The post Episode 57 – Sony EV, Tarantino RDK and how to get hired by Elon at Tesla appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the automotive podcast that did not buy stock in Rivian at 100 bucks! Also, our last episode featuring the car from the film Love Story apparently struck some nerves. Thankfully, we kept the obscure references to the pre-show and only sprinkled them in sparingly. Speaking of pre-shows, if you support this podcast via Patreon, you can get fresh, unfiltered automotive (and pop culture) content with every new episode. To be honest, it’s pretty good stuff. Our regular show isn’t anything to sneeze at, either.

Thanks for listening.  To join in on the fun of the show, just email us at [email protected] or post a review on Apple Podcasts to be heard around the world!

Be sure to subscribe on iTunes to keep up with our latest releases…  like our Christmas Show!

Who’s ready to play? 

Eric: Race the WRX, Daily the IS, Kill the BMW 

Daryl: Race the IS, Daily the Beemer, and Kill the WRX.

If you’re on any automotive enthusiast group on Facebook, this meme has been making the rounds:

We love stuff like this. Here’s our picks:

Eric:  2022 GR Corolla

Daryl: 2020 BMW M8

Eric: An old MazdaMiata

Daryl: Z32 Nissan 300ZX TT

Eric: 2016 Mercedes AMG GT 

Daryl: 1960 Chrylser 300F

Eric:  Something 50’s & Italian

Daryl: 1968 Lamborghini 400 GT

Eric: A Toyota 4Runner!

Daryl: I’ll keep my Tundra

What are your picks? Let us know at [email protected]

Tesla Ranked Near Bottom of Automaker Reliability List, Toyota, Lexus at Top

Source: Newsweek  

A Consumer Reports survey found that electric SUVs are among the least reliable vehicles, pushing companies like Tesla to the bottom of their reliability list.

Consumer Reports recently conducted their annual auto reliability survey. According to the Associated Press, subscribers to the magazine and website participated, representing over 300,000 car owners.

The survey found that electric SUVs like Tesla’s Models X and Y, the Audi E-Tron and Volkswagen ID.4 were singled out as being unreliable, though not because of their electric power source. The newest electric vehicles are more prone to glitches in their electronics like climate controls.

85% of Consumers Support Repair Shops Receiving Vehicle Data

Source: ADAPT Staff Reporters

A new survey from the CAR Coalition reveals there is strong support for action on federal right to repair legislation, like the bipartisan Save Money on Auto Repair Transportation (SMART) Act.

The survey also found 85 percent of voters support vehicle data being made available to consumers and any repair shop they choose and 92 percent believe consumers should be able to choose between OEM and aftermarket parts.

“Repair restrictions on automobiles are driving prices higher at a time when many Americans can least afford it,” Justin Rzepka, executive director of the CAR Coalition, said in a statement. “It’s time for Congress to get serious about solutions, including the SMART Act, to ensure consumers have options for quality, safe, affordable auto repairs and more control over their data.”

Did you buy Rivian Stock?

Source: CNBC

Ford Motor and Rivian no longer plan to co-develop an electric vehicle, the companies confirmed Friday.

The two companies initially announced the development of a joint vehicle when the automaker invested $500 million in Rivian in 2019. They later said it would be for Ford’s luxury Lincoln brand, before canceling those plans last year. Ford, at the time, said the automakers would still seek other opportunities to collaborate with one another.

Those plans also have now been scrapped, according to Ford spokesman Ian Thibodeau. He said the company retains ties with Rivian, including a 12% stake in the start-up, which at the company’s IPO last week reached a value of more than $10 billion.

Source: CNBC

On Oct. 4, the company lost a big case in a San Francisco federal court when a jury decided Tesla must pay a former worker, Owen Diaz, about $137 million after he endured a racially hostile work environment during his time at Tesla’s car plant in Fremont, California.

CNBC has also reviewed other emails Musk sent in recent months, including words of encouragement for employees working on the company’s new factory near Berlin, and agreeing with a bullish analyst call in September suggesting that Tesla stock can go to $3,000 per share — if the company executes well.

Folks, meet the Edison. Are you sensing a familiar formula here?

Eric takes the hypothetically robust and modern multi-purpose EV truck to task, along with the folks who created it.

He also asks the question “Who will still be around in three years?” when it comes to these fly-by-night electric vehicle manufacturers.

Daryl: 1962 Pontiac Catalina – $8000 

Source: Facebook Marketplace

This is a big ‘ol Pontiac with a fair amount of work already done. This blue beauty features a new interior and a fresh 389 V-8 under the hood, which was the same motor as the later Pontiac GTO. Seeing this old sedan reminds me of my ‘64 Chevy Bel Air sedan, which was basic, blue and big. Gimme, gimme, gimme.

Eric:  1987 Toyota Van – $9,500 

Source: Facebook Marketplace  

This unique 4-wheel-drive Toyota van, (technically not a Previa as the ad says), has been driven a hefty 250,000 miles. For a Toyota of this vintage, those are merely break-in miles.   

Equipped with a manual transmission and manual locking front hubs, this little bruiser also features a custom rear bumper/tire carrier. The engine is a 4YE that has been rebuilt by a previous owner, drives great, has no problem maintaining highway speeds, way better than a VW Vanagon. It’s converted into a camper with a home-built bench/bed combo and a rear storage drawer/compartment. 

The only question is, would Eric trade the MK3 Supra for it? 

That’s why this segment is our favorite… because there are no wrong answers here. We’ll catch you next time.

Thanks for listening, and be sure to like, follow, share and subscribe.

The post Episode 56 – Rivian Blasts off, an Edison Truck and Flamemail from Elon appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the automotive podcast that crosses boundaries. Some of those boundaries are subjective, others happen to be international.  Also, welcome all the SEMA 2022 travelers looking for an automotive podcast that’s worth a damn!

Did you know that we’re the #1 Automotive Podcast in Burkina Faso? Neither did we until recently. Maybe we’ll do a remote show there one day. Maybe not.

In other news, we’ve just finished putting the second coat of wax on Episode 55, and we hope you enjoy it!

To 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!  

Fort’s Toyota of Pekin

Casey Law Office

Arena eSports

Eric & Daryl actually agree on this one: Race the Ghia, Daily the Corvair, and Kill the 2CV. 

Eric

Daryl

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Porsche is one of a handful of automakers that have teamed up with telecom carriers to build small, local 5G networks to try out the technology as they develop new car models. High-speed networks are so new that automakers still need to test, or in some cases design, the equipment they need. But they have big ambitions for the technology: Manufacturers aim to use the high-speed networks to do a host of things, including downloading crucial software updates on the go, updating digital maps with greater speed, and sounding alerts about road conditions. The cars might also communicate with smart infrastructure such as traffic lights and buildings so that a self-driving taxi would know that the stoplight at the next intersection is red.

Source: Autoblog

Source: Fox News

The Chevrolet Performance division has revealed the biggest and most-powerful naturally aspirated V8 engine it has ever built, even as General Motors accelerates its transition toward electric power.

The 632-cubic-inch ZZ632/1000 crate engine was designed for drag racing builds and not meant to be used on the street. The 10-liter mill is rated at 1004 hp and 876 lb-ft of torque on pump gas without the use of any supercharging.

Chevy’s current top offering is the ZZ572/740R Deluxe, which is rated at 727 hp and 680 lb-ft.

The iron-block ZZ632/1000 was designed with a redline of 7,000 rpm and features electronic port injection fed through symmetrical ports built into its CNC-machined aluminum head, forged aluminum pistons along with a forged steel crank and connecting rods. Chevrolet said a single engine was subjected to 200 simulated runs during development without issues.

Pricing for the ZZ632/1000 has not yet been announced, but it will make its public debut at the SEMA show in Las Vegas this November ahead of the start of deliveries in early 2022.

Source: Reuters

Ford Motor Co sees a robust market for electric trucks and vans by 2030, but it is facing some early pushback from commercial customers that are a key audience for the automaker’s new F-150 Lightning and E-Transit, a top executive said on Thursday.

The Lightning pickup and E-Transit van “are targeted at real people doing real work,” said Ted Cannis, chief executive of Ford Pro, at the Reuters Events Automotive Summit.

But some of those potential fleet buyers are taking a “wait and see” attitude, partly from a lack of experience with electric vehicles and partly from a lack of clarity on government policy and regulations around EVs.

“In the U.S., we see 70% of the full-size bus and van industry going electric by 2030. That’s more than 300,000 vehicles annually,” Cannis said. “And we expect a third of the full-size pickup (market) to go all-electric by 2030, which is more than 800,000 vehicles annually.”

With electric work trucks and vans, Cannis said, fleet customers can save money on fuel, maintenance and repairs, “but there is still a fear of the unknown” about EVs among both employees and managers.

Source: Business Insider

In one day, Elon Musk made $37 billion and slammed Democrats’ plan to tax billionaires.

Elon Musk this week critiqued Democrats’ latest plans to tax billionaires to pay for their social spending plans, saying on Twitter:

Eventually, they run out of other people’s money and then they come for you.

Exactly. Eventually, they run out of other people’s money and then they come for you.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 26, 2021

Musk’s Monday stock windfall would still be worth more than most Americans make in their lives. A 23.8% tax on the jump would turn the $37 billion profit into a $28.2 billion gain.

If that sum made up Musk’s entire net worth, he’d still be wealthier than 99.5% of Americans.

1972 Honda N600 – $3,950

Source: Facebook Marketplace

This is a prime, rust-free example of an early Honda Microcar that started the big import takeover right after the OPEC crisis a year later. A trendsetter. We never see these anywhere, especially in the midwest. This one is in Missouri. 

From the ad: 

1972 Honda N600 manual transmission, overall decent shape other than the left fender. Have quite a few extra parts that go with the car. Was last running about a year ago. 999.   (Have messed with it some and have gotten it started) 

This is Japan’s version of the Mini.. and was 400 lbs lighter than a VW Beetle of the same time. It set the tone for economy cars for decades to come. 598cc two-cylinder air-cooled motorcycle engine puts out 46 horsepower, and is shifted through a 4-speed manual. I’d love to own it as an example of early Japanese design. 

I just watched Love Story on Amazon prime (God help me). In case you don’t remember, Ryan O’Neil is called preppy or something by Ali MacGraw with her fully natural eyebrows in 1971.  A piano ballad plays a song called the theme from Love Story over and over … and over.  Ali dies in the end and every woman who is 60 to 70 believes that Ryan O’Neil is a saint because he loved her to the end.  He probably became a priest and never loved again.

Thus, every piano recital that I have been to over my lifetime has a young lady playing “Theme from Love Story” somewhere in the program.  OMG!  

Anyway, I believe the car that gets a lot of play in the movie as well as a 1950’s MG TC. 

They drive this sucker all over the most elite territory of the North East with the top down. Weather be damned! The car sounds good They rock the convertible.  It’s a noble fight that Chet and Muffy fight as they pretend to be fighting their destiny of stuffy elites.  

Because of this dedication, I hereby dedicate this car of the weak to Ryan and Ali. 

1952 TC  MG Convertible original -$15,000

Source: Facebook Marketplace

A brief search for this ride on Facebook marketplace finds this listing, rich with information.  

Good Solid Car for Restoration 

The engine runs fine.

Located in Newaygo, MI

All that’s left is to buy it and bring it home, only to wait for the coldest day to arrive so we can take a drive in an uncomfortable British sportscar!

As always, thank you for liking and sharing this show on your favorite social media sites. Rock that iTunes review and we’ll drop some stickers in the mail for you. Hit us up anytime at [email protected].

The post Episode 55 – Trillionaire Elon, A Giant SEMA Chevy Crate Motor and Ali MacGraw’s Eyebrows appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

The Autopodcast that was completely right about Lordstown Motors!

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…  Blue Cruise News, Rivian has fat stacks of cash to burn, Bezo’s and Elon are in a measuring contest, and somebody bought the Porsche from risky business…  I’m not sure I would have paid that much unless it came with Rebecca De Mornay!  

Thanks for listening.  To 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!

Sponsors:  

Fort’s Toyota of Pekin

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Feedback

NONE – Except for Marina Elizabeth.  She is hot on Daryl based on repeated emails to that effect.

RACE DAILY KILL is back for another fun round of spirited debate!  1990 Golf GTI vs a 2005 and a 2020!  Who comes up with this stuff?

Projects:

Eric: 

I think I had a panic attack on Saturday before racing… I tell the story of a racing heart on Saturday during AutoX in Pekin.

No Southern Cruiser Crawl this year for Eric…  Homecoming for his senior!  

Bought a camper!  Riverside Retro 166 in teal blue.   It’s a cutie and needs a name!  

Daryl:

Got the ‘55 Plymouth back on the road. The new radiator is perfect, fuel pump works great.

Took it to Cars & Coffee just in time to make sure the wipers still worked. Great to have it back in action. 

Next up: Winterizing and then digging into the windows & inner doors on the ‘58 Plymouth. 

TWISM  This week in social media

International News:

National News:

LOCAL:

We did the math so you don’t have to…  That’s 5.5 million a day…  for 182 days this year.  228,000 and hour.  3800 a minute and 63.00 a second.  I mean really… To have a factory and lots of people walking around working on a new car company…  63.00 a second is not bad? I could pay for a couple of seconds of owning a company like that!

Elon Musk, having edged once again past Jeff Bezos on the world’s-wealthiest-human list, wants to send his space and riches rival a keepsake.

“I’m sending a giant statue of the digit ‘2′ to Jeffrey B., along with a silver medal,” Musk told Forbes upon being asked for comment on becoming the third person ever to amass a $200 billion fortune.

And there you have it…  Rich dorks.  I wonder if the ego strokes were the same for folks during the industrial revolution.  Vanderbilts and Rothschild send each other childish western unions whenever one had an accomplishment? 

GRINDING the GEARS

CARS OF THE WEAK

Daryl: 1984 Ford Thunderbird Elan – $6,700

Source: Facebook Marketplace

Super clean piece of nostalgia. 302 V-8 with fuel injection, zero rust on a dark steel blue body with charcoal velour interior, everything works, and documentation of service records. Runs strong and drives well and is in nearby Galesburg. This is the second year of the “Aero” T-bird/Cougar designs by Ford designer Jack Telnack, which also included the Tempo and the Taurus. There weren’t may other US cars in 1984 that looked this good. Pull up an 84 Monte Carlo or a 1984 Dodge Mirada… not even close. A good buy for the money. 

Eric:  1996 Toyota HiAce Van

This beauty is online and still for sale in Chicago…  The HiAce has underpinnings of a Toyota Truck underneath…  But can hold 3 or 4 rows of passengers.  It’s got me written all over it!  Oh, it’s probably a scam…  The owner is in Kansas City… and this van is covered in Japanese decals.

Buy it from under me here:  https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/175366021337110/

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The post Episode 54 – Risky Business Porsche, GTI showdown and AirBNB Vanlife appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

The automotive podcast that’s going to spend way too much time talking EV’s and autonomous vehicles on this episode.  Thanks Joe Biden!  Not really, it’s a well-known fact that all politicians suck and EVs will likely become a legislative mandate at some point here in the U.S., but that’s another show.

We appreciate you listening to our podcast.  To join in on the fun, just email us at [email protected] or post a review on iTunes to be heard around the world! We’ll also send you a sticker for your time.

Patreon

Thanks to everyone who has signed up and helped support the show via Patreon. Every little bit helps and gets us opportunities to advertise the show and grow the audience a bit. We truly appreciate the support.

Also, we’d like to say welcome back to “The Dude from Kokomo”. You know who you are. We appreciate you.

We also heard some good remarks from a customer who used Bessler Welding for a frame repair on an FJ Cruiser

For the triumphant return of our #RaceDailyKill segment, we picked some of the most radical domestic sport sedans of the mid-to-late 90’s.

Have these aged well? You make the call.

Engine: 3.4-liter 32v V8 (235hp)

Trans: 4-speed auto w/OD

0-60mph: 9.4 sec

¼ mile ET: 16.9 sec @ 84.1 mph

Engine: 4.0 liter 32v V8 (250hp)

Trans: 4-speed auto w/OD

0-60mph: 9.5 sec

¼ mile ET: 17.5 sec @ 85 mph

Engine: 3.5 liter 24v V6 (253hp)

Trans: 4-speed auto w/OD

0-60mph: 7.3 sec

¼ mile ET: 16.1 sec @ 84.1 mph

Eric: Race the Ford, Daily the Chrysler. Kill the GM.

Daryl: Race the Aurora, Daily the 300M and kill the screwball SHO. 

What would your picks be with this #RaceDailyKill lineup? Let us know at [email protected]

Treehugger 2.0, the Toyota 4Runner trail rig that suffered an untimely demise, was purchased at auction by Fort’s Toyota and the pieces will be used to bring another 4Runner up to snuff. More on that in the very near future.

Eric and Mr. Stahl’s camper purchase was delayed due to a wet floor. Could this be considered a rain delay?   

The Mk3 Supra needs to be sold and the Celica got a new radiator. Winter is coming.

Eric also finished up some light work on the recently-purchased ’96 Toyota Tacoma. It’s ready for more yard work. Is Eric? 

Speaking of trucks, Eric is still looking for a tailgate for his Tundra… Car-Part.com might be the ticket.

It was a pleasure working on Gabe’s ‘27 Chrysler 60-Series roadster. After a steep learning curve and some patience, we got it fired up after a long slumber.

Half the fun is learning about how things were assembled back in the day, and how each automaker did things differently. Now I need to work on my own broken stuff. 

Tesla Camera Captures Man Faking Accident, Would-be Scammer Gets Arrested

Source: CarScoops

Dashcams have become vital due to scammers, who claim drivers hit them and then demand payment for their ‘injuries’.

While these types of incidents are commonly associated with countries overseas, one such attempt was recently caught on camera in Slidell, Louisiana.

In a Facebook post, the city’s police department said they were called to a gas station parking lot on September 3rd by 47-year-old Arthur Bates Jr., who claimed he was hit by a Tesla. When police arrived on the scene, the man allegedly told officers the driver of the Tesla backed into him and knocked him to the ground, causing back, leg and neck injuries. An ambulance was called and Bates went on to claim the driver fled the scene following the accident.

Officers eventually tracked down the driver, who said Bates was trying to pull a scam. Luckily for them, the entire incident was caught on video and police quickly determined “Bates was lying and staged the entire event.”

As you can see in the clip, Bates approaches the Tesla from the side and apparently stands next to its bumper. As soon as the driver begins backing out, Bates jumps in front of the moving car.

Thankfully, the driver manages to stop before hitting Bates. Undeterred, Bates appears to slam his knee into the car before falling to the ground and casually resting his foot on the vehicle. The driver then gets out to talk to Bates, who is still laying on the ground, before leaving.

Given the video evidence, police confronted Bates who allegedly “admitted to fabricating the entire event.” He was subsequently arrested for False Swearing with the Intent to Cause an Emergency Response, which means he could now be on the hook for a fine of between $100-$1000 and up to five years of imprisonment.

Apple… Cars?

Apple’s self-driving car fleet has experienced two accidents within a week of each other.

As reported by MacRumors, two of Apple’s self-driving cars have been in minor accidents this month. The California DMV posted reports of each accident this week showing that, in both cases, someone rear-ended Apple’s cars while they were idle in traffic.

The first incident [PDF] occurred in San Diego, California in the Hillcrest area on August 19. The Lexus RX 450h was stopped in traffic and was hit by a Hyundai. The accident was described as minor with no injuries.

The second accident [PDF] occurred on August 23 in Cupertino, California, right near the Apple Park campus. The vehicle with Apple’s self-driving equipment was in manual mode and it was stopped in traffic when it was rear-ended by a Subaru Outback.

Thankfully each accident was minor and in neither case was it the fault of Apple’s self-driving cars. This is great news as, if it went the other way, it would be quite worrisome for anyone who is interested in eventually purchasing the company’s rumored electric Apple Car

Sony Vision-S electric sedan: Is Sony going to build a car, or what?

Sony surprised us all when it unveiled a concept car named Vision-S at CES 2020. The electric sedan runs and drives, and it looks nearly ready for production, but the Japanese firm still hasn’t decided what to do with it.

“We don’t have a concrete plan at this time because our current phase is a research and development phase. We have to investigate what is our purpose in contributing to mobility service. That is our basic idea, and we have to continue the R&D phase,” Sony executive vice president Izumi Kawanishi explained to Automotive News.

Sony’s position is a little enigmatic and not all that regular. Rewind to January 2021: it said that it had “no plans to mass-produce or sell [the Vision-S],” though it didn’t rule out moving into the automotive sector later on. And yet, for a company that publicly plans to steer clear of the car industry, it has spent what sounds like a substantial amount of money to build and test its first prototype. It enlisted the help of contract manufacturer Magna-Steyr to make the car a reality, the project began in 2018, and it is putting the prototype through its paces on European roads, so it even went through the trouble of getting it registered. On paper, it sounds like Sony is much further along than Apple.

One possibility that has often been floated is that Sony merely wants a fully functional platform in which to test in-car entertainment solutions. Autonomous cars, shuttles, and trucks are ostensibly around the corner, and drivers will need to find ways to pass the time once they become passengers. While this sector remains at the embryonic stage, it could be worth billions of dollars if optimistic predictions about self-driving technology merging into the mainstream in the near future are accurate. Who better than Sony to grab a slice of it? It invented the Walkman, launched the PlayStation, and sells a full range of televisions. It’s intricately linked to the entertainment industry.

“We have a lot of content — movies, music, and gaming — and we have to utilize that content and technology in the vehicle. In order to build such entertainment space in the vehicle, we need to understand the opportunity and build the right cabin system,” Kawanishi noted during the same interview. Wouldn’t a simulator have been cheaper?

As it stands, Sony is cautiously watching the automotive industry from a distance. Whether you’ll one day be able to commute in a Sony or merely enjoy the latest PlayStation game on your way to work still remains to be seen.

An airborne Tesla that plowed through a house in Florida and killed 2 people reportedly did not have Autopilot engaged

Grace Kay @ business insider

The accident caused two fatalities and left three other people seriously injured, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The car was fully airborne when it crashed through the house, leaving a gaping hole in the middle of a Palm Harbor home, video footage of the scene shows.

The Tampa Bay Times reported that officials had said the Tesla had not been using its Autopilot function at the time of the crash.

The software, while controversial, offers access to add-on features that can help prevent accidents like this.

GM invests in Oculii, radar software maker for self-driving cars

Source: Automotive News

General Motors’ venture capital arm has invested millions of dollars in Oculii, a U.S. startup maker of software for radar sensors used in self-driving cars, Oculii co-founder Steven Hong said.

GM can use Oculii’s low-cost software to boost the resolution of radars and scale up its partially automated vehicles and full self-driving cars, he told Reuters in an interview.

The investment is a “fantastic signal they’re serious about the technology and bullish about radar in general,” said the Stanford University graduate who founded Oculii with his father, Lang Hong, an engineering professor at Wright State University.

He declined to disclose the financial details.

Tesla Inc. eliminated radar sensors from its volume models this year, rekindling questions about the safety and performance of its advanced driver assistant system.

Radars, which measure the distance between objects, enable a car to accelerate or brake to match its speed with that of the vehicle in front. Radars also work well in adverse lighting and weather conditions.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has called additional sensors like lidars and radars “crutches,” doubling down on cheaper cameras and artificial intelligence for its driving automation system.

Saturday night car accident caused by street race, one suspect arrested

Source: WEEK

PEORIA (WEEK) – One man has been arrested after a late-night accident in Peoria Saturday.

At approximately 11:03 p.m., Peoria Police responded to the area of Sterling and Reservoir regarding a two-vehicle accident. Preliminary information indicated a black sedan was racing another vehicle, possibly a white sedan, northbound on Sterling when a third vehicle was struck by the black sedan.

The driver of the black sedan, 31-year old Darien D. Davis, was arrested for Reckless Driving, Street Racing, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident, and No Seatbelt. The suspected white sedan fled the area.

All three occupants of the victim vehicle were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, including one individual with life-threatening injuries.

Peoria Police Traffic Investigators are seeking anyone with information regarding this accident

including the identity and whereabouts of the white sedan and its driver.

The accident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Officer Jared Moore of the PPD

First Customer Vehicle Rolls Off The Rivian Production Line

Source: WEEK

Rivian’s first customer vehicle has rolled off the production line Tuesday morning.

Founder and CEO RJ Scaringe tweeted a series of photos of an R1T surrounded by employees.

“Our team’s collective efforts have made this moment possible,” he tweeted. “Can’t wait to get these into the hands of our customers!”

Rivian has faced multiple delays in recent months.

Deliveries were supposed to begin in June, but that was pushed back to July.

In July, rollout was delayed again, this time until September.

Last month, Rivian also announced its intention to become a publicly traded company, hoping for an IPO around Thanksgiving.

Deliveries of the R1T are scheduled to begin this month, with Rivian just waiting for government approval to start putting trucks on the road. Rivian says that “all configurations will be available for delivery starting January 2022.”

Rivian also plans to offer a smaller “250+ mile pack” for both vehicles, though the company has not yet announced the timing on availability for that configuration.

Oddly, the ratings between the two vehicles are almost identical but the SUV has a slightly higher range (<1%) and slightly lower efficiency (~1.4%). The differences are small enough, though, that it could just be a quirk in the testing process or a rounding error.

These numbers make the R1T and R1S among the least-efficient electric vehicles available (just a tad better than the Porsche Taycan Turbo S), but to be fair, they are also the largest electric vehicles. So this was to be expected. At 70mpge, they are still above three times more efficient than gas-powered pickup trucks and large SUVs.

As the first electric truck to get an EPA rating, this gives us an idea of where future electric trucks will land in terms of efficiency. If the R1T consumes approximately 480Wh/mile, we can project similar consumption from the Tesla Cybertruck, Ford F-150 Lightning, GM Hummer EV, and so on. Thus, in order to get a ~400 mile range, those trucks will need a battery pack approaching a whopping ~200kWh. The largest EV battery packs on the road currently are around 100kWh.

Musk tweets again, this time calling foul on proposed tax credit expansions that exclude Tesla.

Source: Jalopnik

The proposed expansion could increase EV credits by quite a bit, in an effort to offset the cost of electric cars by up to $12,500. That’s a lot of money, and it might help drive the adoption of EVs. So, this should be a win for electric carmakers and drivers alike, but criticism of the expansion claims that it gives an unfair advantage to electric cars from Ford, GM, and Chrysler … union-made ones that is.

Of course, that rules out Tesla’s cars since the carmaker has resisted efforts to unionize its production plants. It also rules out EVs from Toyota and Honda, which have both also taken exception to the proposed EV credits, per Electrek.

*Includes Bonus Rabbit Hole Segment

Inspired by “The Barefoot Contessa”.  Ava Gardner drives a 1950’s Fiat 1400 convertible when she becomes the wife of the Duke.  Her friend and mentor, Humphrey Bogart didn’t have a cool car.  

I then went on a quest to find this car and find that you can buy a few 1400’s in the states, but you will never find a convertible. Apparently, this little car, known for its reliability and chassis made it a great candidate for secondary companies to make convertibles and special editions.  

Like this one:  1953 Ghia Transformable (Convertible) 

I then went on a quest to find a cool old Italian convertible for my virtual collection.  If I could find one that still smelled like a dirty-footed, gypsy-dancing Ava Gardner… well, that would be a bonus.  I will be taking that dirt on the floorboards to forensics for scanning later!

Oh, one last vision of the car.  Check out this car at the Petersen Museum.  

This dramatic 1952 Fiat 1400 by Vignale was so highly-regarded that it was selected to appear on the cover of the February 1953 issue of Motor Trend magazine and was later driven on screen by Kirk Douglas in The Racers. What automobile would you like to see on the cover of Motor Trend today?

I hereby present my Car of the Weak. 

1968 Lancia 2800 3c Flaminia Touring Convertible – Price on request

Source: Autobelle

At the Frankfurt Motor Show in ’63, Lancia presented all the versions of the Flaminia with an engine boosted to 2.8 liters which, in the case of the Touring versions , reaches 150 hp.

This decidedly more elastic engine gives the Flaminia Convertible an evident improvement in recovery and a top speed of 193 km.

The 3C name derives from the 3 carburetors it was equipped with starting from the production of 1961.

Technically, the Convertible undergoes the same changes that affect the Coupé and also the bodywork does not undergo any changes, so much so that the new 2800 differs from its sister minor only due to the addition of the “2.8” specification on the trunk lid.

The Flaminia Convertible 2.8, produced until 1964, remained available until October 1968 to dispose of part of the unsold units produced.

Even today, the Flaminia Convertible remains a car much appreciated by fans of the brand and today more than ever expresses its entire original class.

The car is on display at our showroom in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

1915 Buick C25 Touring Car – $29,998

Source: Volo Museum Auto Sales

This car is 106 years old, and looks like a really nice older restoration. Costing $950 when new, the C25 touring was a premium motorcar but not to the level of a Cadillac or Packard. Solid construction with a 28-horsepower 4 cylinder engine. 

Leather seats, a gear-driven speedo and 33-inch tall white walls seal the deal.

Hit us up at [email protected] with any feedback and share with other gearheads who may like this sort of thing.

Find us on Itunes!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/throwin-wrenches-automotive-podcast/id1398126760

The post Episode 53 – Autonomous Accidents and Apple Cars appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.