Moment of Musk Archives - Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast

Whether you’re new to the program, or you stumbled into this place for the first time, we’d like to welcome you to the automotive podcast that never forgets a great guest.

Our good friend Regan is back for another episode of Throwin’ Wrenches where he joins us for more in-depth conversation about all things automotive. We also go down a few non-automotive rabbit holes to discuss the virtues of old appliances (like Regan’s 1951 Frigidaire refrigerator) versus new appliances, we learn exactly how creepy the new Tesla robots will be, and we even get a glimpse into Eric’s latest recreational vehicle purchase.

Don’t worry, it’s not the vintage Italian roadster he’s been dreaming about. It’s something much more unique.

Grab a cold beverage and crank the speakers. This is one fun (and long) ride.

Special thanks to our Patreon supporters. Become one today for exclusive pre-show content and other perks! 

Thanks also to:

Eric recalls the past month in automotive adventures, including a few car shows with Daryl and Gabe and covert tours of rare European automobiles squirreled away in tiny towns. Special thanks to Mrs. Stahl for helping to get us the ‘backstage pass’ to the cool car collection of Bo Dannenberger. Should she accompany Eric and Daryl on all of their adventures? Maybe. 

We also learn what Treehugger 1.0 has been up to, and get an important update on Treehugger 2.0.

Oh, and we’ll chat about the mysterious caustic fluid that’s inside of the modern day heated & dimming rear view mirror. Much like Tide Pods, you won’t want to drink it. 

Daryl is happy to report that Oscar the ‘47 Chevy is back on the road. He and the family took it to a Friday Night Lights crseui-in and a small show in Eureka and it’s great to have it back in service. He’s all buffed and had a fresh lube job.  We’re going to roll some miles this fall if everything cooperates. He also received his beautifully re-cored radiator for Minerva the ‘55 Plymouth. That’s going under the knife next and he should have that ready just in time for a fall tour and then it will be time to tuck her away for winter storage. C’est la vie.  

Regan catches us up on his wiring harness project on his Model A hot rod pickup. It’s been a long road, but he’s looking forward to firing it up and putting some miles on it. Or perhaps putting a For Sale sign in the windshield so he can start another kind of project. Perhaps one that involves high horsepower boats. (Stay tuned.)

In case you missed it, Illinois motorists who have their vintage cars registered with Expanded Antique license plates will now be able to drive them longer. Rather than park the classics 25 years or older at the end of October, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law that allows an extra 30 days of cruising at the beginning and end of the season, or March 1 through November 3oth.

The SEMA Action Network reported this great news recently in a Facebook post.

It went something like this:

Which naturally led to some colorful commentary like this:

Sure, we all have political opinions. The Illinois governor isn’t the most popular figure these days, but one thing we can all agree on is laws that help auto enthusiasts enjoy their cars and trucks with less regulation and regulatory hurdles is a good thing.

Now let’s work on some of the other important automotive legislative issues across the country. Learn more by following the SEMA Action Network at semasan.com.

Toyota Refutes Claim of ‘Dragging Its Feet’ on EVs

Source: Adapt Automotive

In a column written for Medium.com,

 Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Scientist GIll Pratt vehemently denied that Toyota has been slow to develop full battery solutions, adding that a significant portion of the $10 billion per year the company spends on R&D goes to scientists working on battery development. 

Pratt says the company is “all in” on the Biden administration’s goal of having 50 percent of all new vehicles sales being some form of EV by 2030. Toyota is expecting around 70 percent of its U.S. vehicle production to be electrified by that time.  

We believe the best approach, as the Biden Administration has proposed, is for policymakers around the world to insist on results, and allow innovators like Toyota and our competitors to create diverse solutions to achieve those results,” Pratt says. “We believe this proven approach of driving innovation by focusing on outcomes — rather than prescribing particular technology solutions — is the best way to reduce carbon emissions. Carbon is the enemy, not a particular drivetrain.”

Source: Reuters

Ford Motor Co said late on Friday it will ask the U.S. Patent Office to rescind trademarks obtained by rival General Motors Co for the terms “Cruise” and “Super Cruise,” escalating a brawl GM began by suing Ford over its use of “Blue Cruise” for an automated driving system.

The legal fight between the two Detroit automakers turns on whether “cruise” is a generic term for technology that allows the car to take over some share of driving tasks from a human motorist.

The clash underscores the intensity of competition among established automakers to be seen as leaders in automated driving technology, competitive with Silicon Valley rivals Tesla Inc, Alphabet Inc ‘s Waymo unit and others.

GM filed a federal suit against Ford https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/gm-cruise-demand-ford-drop-bluecruise-name-hands-free-driving-2021-07-24 on July 24, accusing Ford of violating GM trademarks by using the name “Blue Cruise” for a system that enables hands-free driving.

GM had previously trademarked “Super Cruise” for its hands-free, partially automated driving technology. It also has trademarked “Cruise,” the name of its robo-taxi unit in San Francisco.

Ford reiterated on Friday its position that GM’s suit is frivolous. The effort to nullify GM’s trademarks for the use of the word “cruise” takes the fight to a new level.

“To defend itself, Ford has no choice but to ask the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to rescind both of GM’s “Cruise” and “Super Cruise” trademark registrations that should have never been registered in the first place,” Ford said. “Any number of companies use the word ‘cruise’ in connection with driver assist technology.”

Among the examples Ford cited: “Predictive Cruise,” marketed by Mack Trucks; “Smart Cruise Control” marketed by Hyundai Motor Co, and Autocruise, used by auto supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

GM said Friday that Super Cruise “has had a well established commercial presence since 2017,” and added in a statement that the company “remains committed to vigorously defending our brands and protecting the equity our products and technology have earned over several years in the market and that won’t change.” (Reporting by Joe White; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall and Daniel Wallis)

Question: Who invented cruise control as we know it today? 

Answer: Ralph R. Teetor

Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1988

Distinguished Service Citation Award 1964

First patented as the “Speedostat” in 1954: U.S. Patent number 2916100A

From the Automotive Hall of Fame Website:

In 1945, automotive engineer Ralph Teetor was responsible for creating the technology we now know as Cruise Control – one of the first steps towards autonomous vehicles. He accomplished this and many other innovations without the benefit of sight.

Born in Hagerstown, Indiana, in 1890, Teetor had normal vision until one day, his hand slipped while working with a knife. The blade penetrated his eye and within a year, he was completely blind. However, Teetor never let his condition define him. He quickly developed a highly refined sense of touch; a trait that would benefit him greatly throughout his career.

His father and uncles trained him to be a machinist, and by age 13, Teetor managed to build an automobile of his own design that was capable of traveling 25 mph. Teetor graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1912 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

He eventually joined the family business, Perfect Circle Corporation, as lead engineer. Teetor helped refine and improve the company’s designs, and his sense of touch soon became legendary around the factory. His daughter once recalled a story about him feeling some new castings and remarking that they didn’t vary by more than .002 inch. The castings were measured, proving Teetor was correct.

Teetor’s driver had a habit of varying his speed based on whether or not he was speaking, which caused inconsistencies. In response, Teetor began working on an automotive speed control device. He received a patent for the “Speedostat” in 1945. The device was later renamed “Cruise Control,” and eventually it became a standard feature in nearly all automobiles.

In 1946, he was named president of the company. Under Teetor, Perfect Circle became one of the first automotive suppliers to market its products through motorsports and also became a major defense contractor. Later in life, he also invented a fluid-operated gearshift mechanism that he sold to Bendix Corporation.

Teetor served as president of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and became an influential supporter of automotive education. SAE International recognized Teetor’s contributions by naming one of their most prestigious engineering awards after him. He often said, “You are not handicapped so long as you can think logically,” and was a significant figure in the industry who was able to see innovations that others could not.

Oh, and it’s important to note that Ralph Teetor did not work for GM or Ford!!!

Chicago speed cameras now ticket drivers going 6 mph over. The new rules resulted in about 300,000 citations and $11 million in fines in the first 2 months.

Source: Chicago Tribune

Across the street from a car wash, next to a fenced-off former lumber yard stands one of Chicago’s most prolific park safety speed cameras.

The speed camera at 4831 W. Lawrence Ave. caught the second most speeders in the first two months after Mayor Lori Lightfoot started ticketing motorists driving as little as 6 mph over the speed limit.

And two blocks west on Lawrence Avenue, on the other side of a railway viaduct, sits the small park the camera is ostensibly protecting from speeding cars.

Until last March, that camera and more than 100 like it around the city could ticket drivers going at least 10 mph over the limit. But after Mayor Lori Lightfoot dropped the threshold to 6 mph over in March, the Lawrence Avenue speed monitor — and lots of others — got mighty busy issuing the $35 tickets.

Bloomington Gold Corvette Show Returns to… Bloomington.

Source: WGLT

The “Grandaddy of Corvette Shows” was born in Bloomington in 1973, but has been gone for decades. Now, it’s coming home.

Tuesday it was announced that the 50th annual corvette show will be held on the Illinois State University campus, at Redbird Arena, Horton Field House, the Bone Student Center ballroom and the grounds in between on June 10-11, 2022. It will be open to the public.

Estimates place up to 5,000 Corvettes in Bloomington-Normal for the upcoming event, which will include judging and certifying of the sports cars, along with new and used Corvette sales, and sales of Corvette parts and supplies.

The Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) projects the Corvette show will bring 15,000 visitors and pump more than $1 million into the area economy.

CVB President and CEO Crystal Howard proposed a Corvette parade along Route 66 and Corvette-themed movies at Normal Theater as part of the event.

Howard said the community needs more big indoor events like this as entertainment venues struggle to recover from the pandemic.

Bloomington Gold left Bloomington in the 1990s and had a brief return later that decade. The car show has had several homes since then, including St. Charles, Ill., and the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

Source: WTVO

Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled plans to produce a humanoid robot called the Tesla Bot, which will use the same artificial intelligence that powers the company’s autonomous vehicles.

According to Reuters, Musk said the electric carmaker will likely launch the Tesla Bot next year, which will be designed to do dangerous, repetitive, or “boring” work, such as going to the store for groceries.

The reveal was an unexpected end to Tesla’s “AI Day” presentation on Thursday.

The robot is expected to stand 5′ 8″ and weigh 125lbs, using the same autopilot cameras in its head that are used in Tesla’s vehicles. The face will also be a display screen.

“It’s intended to be friendly, of course, and navigate through a world built for humans,” Musk said. “We’re setting it such that it is, at a mechanical level, at a physical level, you can run away from it and most likely overpower it.”

Tesla CEO added with a chuckle, “Hopefully that doesn’t ever happen, but you never know. Five miles per hour, if you can run faster than that you’ll be fine.”

Eric overheard a great conversation at Home Depot this weekend involving a loud-mouthed gentleman who was browsing at new refrigerators with his wife. He proclaimed loud enough for everyone within earshot to hear him bellyache that “They don’t make anything to last anymore”.

Oh, really? 

We use this as an opportunity to discuss modern-day build quality, the anticipated life cycle of durable goods, and value for the dollars spent by consumers of yesteryear versus and in 2021.

We also make fun of that guy because seriously, dude. Nobody cares.

You want to buy a new fridge? Buy one.

You don’t want to buy a new fridge? Go home and watch Wheel of Fortune.

2022 Riverside Retro 166 

Eric is getting ready to embark on an embarrassedly unabashed attempt at a side-hustle with this little 2500lb camper.  The Stahl’s have been searching for the perfect mix of kitsch, size, and eyeball to capture all the hipsters using apps like Outdoorsy to get their COVID blues relieved by some time in the woods.

Boondocking or camp-grounding?  We don’t care.  We are looking forward to trying this guy out for a night or two during a mound expedition in Ohio or Iowa in the coming months.  (it’s got a heater!)

Sold at a summer closeout price of 17000 and some change.

Get yours here:  https://www.campliferv.com/

https://www.campliferv.com/New-Inventory-2022-Riverside-RV-Trailer-Retro-166-Riverside-RV-Retro-campliferv-10944534?ref=list

1974 Avco 22 foot Motorhome – $9,000

Source: Facebook Marketplace

Up for sale is a 1974 AVCO 22ft. motor home in excellent condition. 128k miles. Sitting on a Dodge chassis with the famous 440 engine, this 70’s time capsule features a recently-services 5K Onan generator, a new toilet, and an updated furnace. It rolls on Michelin tires the entire set of batteries is also fresh. Check out the interior. It’s a disgusting masterpiece of 70’s fabric. And it’s CLEAN! What more could anyone want in this day and age but a shag-carpeted RV that doesn’t smell like farts?

Will Regan take the plunge? Only time will tell.

We like beef. We also like chicken. Hit us up at [email protected] anytime with feedback.

The post Episode 52 – Summer RV, Camper and Boat fun along with Elon’s Tesla Robot appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the Auto podcast that can Wrangle a new Bronco without a Blazer. 

Follow that?  I say, son, did that stick between your ears? 

In this episode, we follow up on the conversation from Episode 50.1 about how comparable the pricing is between the new Ford Bronco and a Jeep Wrangler.  Specifically, we wanted to see if the base models stacked up and just how cheap can you get these vehicles for?  It was a fun exercise, tune in!

We also talk a little bit about Lordstown Motors.  There are several EV truck makers vying for a spot in your post-2030 garage.  Lordstown promised renewal of a long-defunct industrial town when it planted its flag in Ohio.  It seems all too common that drama also comes with these new startups.

Thanks again to our longtime Sponsors:  

Also, a super big thanks goes out to those PATREON Subscribers. You folks got two… Count that… TWO preshows for this episode!  Once for the bad recording of Episode 51…  And a second one for this episode.  Maybe we will release that bad recording as a Patreon-only ep? Sort of a “blooper reel”  perhaps. Who knows?

Do you even Patreon Bro?  https://www.patreon.com/throwinwrenches

Rachael says we need to “start saying the sponsor’s name right!”  Morons!  She didn’t say the morons part… But we could feel the rage.

None this month?!?!   What’s up, people?  We need those reviews and you need a sticker! Let’s help each other out.

Drop us a review here and hit us up here with your mailing info, and we’ll be happy to toss some swag your way.

2021 Base Bronco

Total Price:  $30,995 with the mats and delivery charges.

Notes

Eric’s Verdict

Getting this stripped-down Betty will be a challenge for most. I would assume that you will rarely see this model in production as it doesn’t pack enough punch on the profit side for dealers.  

2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport 2-door (soft top)

Total Price: $30,395

Notes

Daryl’s Verdict

It looks like the tried-and-true Wrangler remains financially competitive with Ford’s Bronco reboot. If you like naturally aspirated power from 6 cylinders, this is your topless 4×4 today… and the foreseeable future.

It was shared all over the interwebs over the last week…  And we are always ones to keep feeding the media fire.  

5.4 million people have watched this video of a 3D printed carburetor created by Smarter Every Day. Check it out below.

International News

Mercedes to say goodbye to ICE’s

Source: Jalopnik

Mercedes can’t stop talking about EVs. It already said that it is fast-tracking EV development this month, but now the company has attached a dollar figure to that commitment. That would be $47 billion this decade, the company said Thursday. Mercedes will make eight fully electric cars on three continents next year. It’s flanking its EQS with models including the compact EQA and plans to unveil the electric version of its bestselling E-Class sedan at the Munich auto show in September.

Volvo to drop alphanumerics for actual model names

Source: Autoblog

Volvo’s alphanumerical naming system is familiar, straight-forward, but tilted towards the unimaginative side of the scale. The firm will start from scratch in the coming years, and it plans to give its future models an actual name.

“If you look at cars today, they all have XC, T8, AWD, double-overhead-cam — their full specifications on the rear of many cars. Now, we’re talking about new architecture, one that’s born electric and all-electric. I think it’s good and clear to mark that this is a new beginning. That’s why we’re not going to have numbers and letters, an engineering type of name. We’re going to give cars a name as you give a newborn child. We have a very interesting and creative discussion going on about this now,” company boss Håkan Samuelsson said.

General Motors Co. is suing its competitor Ford Motor Co. for violating a trademarked driver-assist technology that’s used for hands-free features, according to a lawsuit. The automaker’s taking action to protect the Cruise and Super-Cruise brands after Ford in April renamed its Co-Pilot360 automated driving system as Blue Cruise, GM said in court documents filed Friday. Talks to resolve the issue had been unsuccessful, the firm said.

For much of the past six months, the news out of Lordstown Motors has been bad — until today. The electric pickup company revealed it secured $400 million in new funding from a hedge fund.  New Jersey-based Yorkville Advisors Global LP, through its YA II PN Ltd fund, not only agreed to infuse $400 million into the much-maligned EV maker, but it also agreed to not engage in any short sales of the stock, nor will it hedge the shares. That said, it can sell the stock in the next three years under certain conditions.

Jun 14, 2021 at 10:12am ET  By: Angel Sergeev @ Motor1

Source: Motor1

With more teasers, renderings, and test prototypes than production vehicles, it’s probably safe to say Lordstown Motors is not delivering on the promises it has made in the last few years. The company’s latest press release even includes the bold claim that Lordstown is “a leader in electric light-duty trucks focused on the commercial fleet market,” though its latest move probably hints at more problems behind the curtains.

The automaker has just announced changes to its executive management team with Steve Burns and Julio Rodriguez resigning from their roles as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively. The two changes are effective immediately, Lordstown says, and it has approached an executive search firm to find permanent replacements for the two executives.

Retailer Lithia Motors Sees New-Vehicle Shortage Ending

Source: Wards Auto

Lithia Motors reports the new-vehicle inventory shortage, resulting from high demand and low supplies of computer chips, could start to improve this month or next, based on allocations it’s got coming in the pipeline. “Generally speaking, we expect inventories to continue to normalize throughout the back half of 2021 and in the first part of 2022,” Chris Holzshu, Lithia chief operating officer, says in an earnings conference call July 21.

Rebounding Mitsubishi Swings Back to Profitability on Hot New Outlander

Source: Automotive News

Rebounding Mitsubishi Motors Corp. bounced back to profitability in the latest quarter and lifted its full-year guidance on a better sales outlook as business picks up in the U.S. The redesigned Outlander crossover fueled a U.S. sales surge, while the global microchip shortage had the positive side effect of crimping production, helping Mitsubishi clear inventories.

Disposal Audits Could Deflate Peoria’s Used Tire Dumping Problem

Source: WCBU Radio

The Peoria City Council is moving one step closer to deflating the cause of Peoria’s used tire buildup.

Community Development Director Ross Black says at least some of these tires can be traced back to tire dealers and repair shops. Although, without a licensing requirement, there is no way to correctly audit businesses.

The new requirements, which are already state laws, would include detailed business records and the use of licensed tire disposal companies.

“This would allow us to audit them so that we can see that train of evidence that the tire came in,” Black said. “The individual paid the state-mandated disposal fee for the tire. And then the tire was turned over to a disposal company, then taken to an appropriate landfill that accepts tires.”

Director Black recommends the license have no cost on affected businesses.

“We are more interested in trying to cut down on the number of discarded tires and not use this as an opportunity for revenue,” Black said.

According to Business Insider (that shady news source that we question the intentions of)  Elon Musk knocked Apple, bemoaned the microchip shortage, and touted self-driving cars on Tesla’s Q2 earnings call.

“You used to have elevator operators with a big switch to move between floors. But they would get tired or maybe drunk or distracted, and every now and again, somebody would be sheared in half between floors. That’s kind of the situation we have with cars. Autonomy will become so safe that it will be unsafe to manually operate the car, relatively speaking. It would be quite alarming if elevators today were operated by a person with a giant switch. That’s how we’ll be with cars.”

GRINDING the GEARS

“You understand, I had to save money so I went somewhere else.”

I’m at the point in my life where I don’t need to have someone tell me to my face that they are going to other places for cheaper repairs, but come to a dealership for their oil changes.  I managed to upset a guy the other day who wanted to bring in his own Toyota TRD lift kit and have us install it because he could save $250.  Not worth my time.  You enjoy our highly trained technicians and our location, so why not pay for it or get used to Jiffy Lube-type service.  Nobody knows who you are. Nobody cares if you come back.  /Rant

Cars of the Weak

1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class SLK 230 Roadster

$2,900!!!!!!!  (sold or removed at time of post)

2.3L 4 cylinder supercharged, 5-speed manual (RARE), RWD

Runs and drives great 

Clean CARFAX!

California car NO RUST!

The convertible top doesn’t work!

185,000 miles

Go to Facebook marketplace and look for older SLK models with the 4  banger.  5G cars all day long!  For a modern Benz 2 door…  they seem like a bargain.  And with a broken roof… you can save some serious dough!

Turbo…  Probably expensive.

Roof…. Probably super expensive

Check engine lights or wheel speed sensor problems…  well…  we don’t want to think about that kind of stuff.  On second thought… Maybe a used Yaris for the same amount is a better deal?  I’ll just pretend it has a retractable roof that is also broken?

1959 Lincoln Continental Mark IV – $7,000

Source: Facebook Marketplace

A fantastic glimpse at yesterday’s tomorrow. 56K original miles on this black beauty, and featuring a giant 430 V8 with gobs of torque. These were kinda frumpy and strange… but had clean interior lines that were carried over into the JFK-era Continentals. I like how jet-age these look though with the vertical headlights and goofy afterburner taillight panel. 

This big spaceship remains one of the largest unibody cars ever built. Many disappeared in demolition derbies along with their rival Imperials.

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

The post Episode 51 – 2022 Ford Bronco vs 2021 Jeep Wrangler appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to another installment of the automotive podcast that can make the most of 60 minutes (and then some). We’re trying to keep the next few episodes a little shorter because we know everyone is busy and only has so much time to devote to ‘infotainment’ on any given day.

We also know that there aren’t too many programs out there that offer a blend of automotive insight, industry news, and humor… so we’re trying to juggle it all in style. If you like what you hear, let us know. If we can dial it in a little more, let us know that, too. Hit us up at [email protected] to get on the soapbox. You won’t offend us either way!

Maybe Daryl, but he’ll get over it.

Eric’s lovely wife tipped him off about a 1997 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 sitting on the side of the road a few miles from the family homestead. She also gave her blessing to bring it home. Eric made a deal and got it for a decent price and it now resides in the barn with dreams of being a farm truck for the remainder of its days. (Or will it be the ultimate stripped-down trail rig in a few years?) 

We also catch up with Eric’s recent trip to the Great Smokey Mountain Trail Ride in Oliver Springs, Tennessee. Treehugger, the Toyota 4Runner handled the rugged trails of Wind Rock Park just fine. There were a lot of other unique trail rigs on display.

Watch the video below for more highlights from this year’s event.

That’s not all! We also get a recap of some of the Central Illinois Region SCCA autocross action with the Fort’s Racing team.

Here’s a hint: It was a great weekend out at the Mossville Tech Center.

Check out the video below for more details.

After losing an axle c-clips on his ’47 Chevy Fleetline, he’s been having tons of fun trying to locate a suitable replacement. Who knew they were so hard to find for the older Chevies with the torque tube style rear end?  

Oh, he’s also waiting on a re-cored radiator for his ’55 Plymouth and performing an entire cooling system refresh while everything’s all apart. 

Someday he may actually DRIVE his old cars instead of work on them. That’s what he gets for letting them sit most of 2020.

VW Turns to 3D Printing at Wolfsburg Plant

Source: WardsAuto

Carsick in an autonomous EV?  It’s a thing

Source: Adapt Automotive

Learn everything you wanted to know about the laws of physics, motion sickness, and why barf bags should be standard equipment on the autonomous cars and trucks of tomorrow.

Rubber Apocolypse Means for the U.S. Economy

Source: CNBC

The global economy now faces a rubber shortage because of multiple supply chain disruptions. “We could be on the cusp of a rubber apocalypse,” Ohio State University professor Katrina Cornish told CNBC. Rubber producers are working against all odds: climate change, disease and the fight for shipping containers. The global rubber market was valued at nearly $40 billion in 2020, but one analysis predicts the natural rubber market could be worth nearly $68.5 billion by 2026.

In this next segment, we’ll discuss the debut of the Ford Bronco, and why famed Camel Trophy legend and off-road racer Bill Burkes has been running with the Ford Bronco and the Rivian crowds over the past few weeks.  Why does his seal of approval matter in the race to get new 4×4 trucks and SUVs in the hands of the American consumer?  Maybe a history of being a competition driver in some of the toughest conditions of Africa is the kind of credibility these manufactures are looking for when you start a war with Jeep.  

For more on Bill Burkes:

Bill Burkes on Facebook

Bill Burkes 4 Wheeling America

Here are a few other Bronco news stories we’re highlighting in this episode: 

The Ford Bronco is finally here and Jeep should be worried

Source: CNN Business

The Jeep Wrangler has cornered a very nice slice of the auto market for a long time. But that appears to be over now that the new full-size Ford Bronco has arrived. Based on test drives on road and off, Jeep should be worried.

We’re not talking about the Bronco Sport, which you may have already seen driving around. That model is smaller, and somewhat related to the Ford Escape and the new Ford Maverick small pickup. This new Bronco is bigger and taller and it’s made to take on far more serious off-road terrain. It’s somewhat related to the Ford Ranger truck.

So while the small Bronco Sport can drive off-road, the Bronco can drive places where “road” shouldn’t even really be part of the word.

The Bronco has just gone into production in Michigan. Prices start at about $28,500, a little higher than the Bronco Sport. Prices for nicer, better-equipped versions start at more than $40,000, though.

2021 Ford Bronco First Drive Review: The Long-Awaited 4×4 SUV Is Absolutely the Real Deal 

Source: MotorTrend

Look out, Jeep Wrangler: The new Bronco is coming for you, and it’s armed to the teeth.

The 2021 Ford Bronco is easily one of the most anticipated vehicles of our fledgling decade, and we won’t keep you in suspense: Our initial impression after driving the new two- and four-door Bronco is that it absolutely lives up to the hype. Driven on-road or off, viewed as a getaway/adventure vehicle, a family truckster, or as a piece of retro automotive art, the Bronco feels like a winner. Indeed, Jeep’s longtime off-road champ, the Wrangler, now has some serious 4×4 SUV competition, as does our 2021 MotorTrend SUV of the Year, Land Rover’s epic Defender.

Ford Bronco Sold Out for Years, Orders Pour in for F-150 Lightning and Maverick

Source: MotorTrend

Ford is having a good inning. It is hitting it out of the park with interest in four new vehicles: The 2021 Ford Bronco SUV, which is finally in production; the electric 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning fullsize pickup truck; the smaller 2022 Ford Maverick hybrid pickup truck; and the electric 2022 Ford E-Transit commercial van.

Reservations are strong, Ford CEO Jim Farley said during the Deutsche Bank Global Auto Industry Conference. Filling them all will take some time. A shortage of semiconductor chips means inventory is not expected to return to normal levels until 2022.

It seems it’s only a matter of time before Tesla releases a new, cheaper, entry-level car.

Source: Inside EVs

Tesla has many upcoming vehicles in the pipeline, but it hasn’t really made much progress on bringing them to market. We’re talking about the popular Tesla Cybertruck, next-gen Roadster, and Tesla Semi. However, there has also been talk about a smaller, cheaper Tesla car, perhaps a compact hatchback that starts at $25,000.

Tesla is already receiving record orders, it’s reportedly sold out in many areas for many months, and it can’t possibly produce enough vehicles to satisfy demand. Clearly, bringing more vehicles to market at this time would just make the situation even more difficult.

Nonetheless, CEO Elon Musk has made it clear he thinks a future Tesla compact car good idea. In fact, the company has already gone so far as to try to recruit folks in China to design the car. More specifically, the car will be designed and produced in China, but sold across the globe.

2020 Daihatsu HiJet (Made by Toyota) – $20,000

Source: US Mini Truck Sales

While there are few, if any $2,000 cars left to sift through in the local classifieds these days, I have decided that the need for a small utility pickup is strong. That’s why I need to find something similar to the Tacoma I just purchased to collect sticks around the house. Only this thing has a killer lift kit and decent rims. Why aren’t there more of these cool Japanese work trucks here in the U.S.?

1990 Oldsmobile Toronado $3,500

Source: Facebook Marketplace

This rare FWD Oldsmobile personal luxury coupe was ordered new by a GM executive in Ohio and managed to survive in excellent original condition for 31 years here in the Midwest. Finished in white exterior paint with a burgundy velour cloth interior, it also has an unusual front bench seat, yet came with a digital dash and full electronic display options. The seller says it runs great, and most everything works. This is a bargain for anyone wanting a peak FWD GM car with all the trimmings. 

As always, thanks for listening, friends. We’ll catch up again real soon.

The post Episode 50 – The Ford Broncos are coming appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome back to the auto podcast that takes care of its Patreon subscribers!  (and even the non-paying ones! Check out the freebies on the Patreon site!)

If you’ve been following along, Eric and the family survived their Mexican road trip, and Daryl and his wife (and their little dog, too) survived South Florida traffic. If you want to learn more about our travels, including Eric’s plantation tour in a vintage Series II Land Rover, small rental car stories, and why you shouldn’t get off thehighway… check out the special free episode of our Patreon Preshow.

Thanks to our Patreon supporters for helping to make this podcast possible.

We think our sponsors are pretty cool folks. We think you’ll agree. Please consider these fine folks the next time you’re in the market for their services.

Eric sold Katy, the faithful 1981 Kubota tractor he had for 12 years. Somehow, the market craziness allowed him to sell it for more money than he paid for it.

He also picked up some new coil-overs and radio for his 1990 MK3 Toyota Supra. Can a local body shop fix the roof after the Flying Targa Circus? Time will tell. He also talks about his lovely Chevy Aveo rental car and asks why all cheap rentals seem to have an issue with the steering and suspension.

Daryl finally broke down and sold his beloved Super Tahoe! After a lot of deep thoughts and gentle prodding (kicking) from family and friends, he decided it was time to pass it along to someone who will give it a good home and install the new 4L60e transmission it had sitting in the back of it for a year or so. It was a good truck but he says he’d rather work on the older stuff he already has… which also needs work.

Vaya con dios, Super Tahoe.

VW Sees ‘Triple-Digit-Millions’ in Sales as It Rolls Out Over-the-Air Upgrades

Source: Automotive News

Buyers of Volkswagen brand’s ID full-electric cars will soon be able to upgrade their vehicles with over-the-air updates and transfer their personal settings between different cars, paving the way for lucrative add-on services. The use of modular software systems in new cars is one aspect of the automaker’s Accelerate digitalization strategy, outlined by executives in an online “Innovation Talk” on Tuesday.

Detroit Becomes ‘Jeep City’ with First New Auto Plant in 30 Years

Source: Reuters

Inside the first new auto assembly plant built in the Motor City since 1991, the smell of hot metal hangs in the air as new Jeep Grand Cherokee L SUVs head down the welding line. For Stellantis NV, that is the smell of money. For the City of Detroit, it means nearly 5,000 jobs. Stellantis opened the doors of its new $1.6 billion Mack Avenue assembly complex on Thursday, showing off parts of a 3 million square foot complex completed and launched into production largely during the pandemic.

Demand Soars for Ford’s Electric F-150 Lightning: 100,000 Pre-Orders Placed

Source: Detroit Free Press

Ford Motor Co. hit another milestone with its all-electric 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. The company has confirmed reaching 100,000 reservations since the Lightning’s global debut three weeks ago at the world headquarters in Dearborn.

Consumers Hit the Road to Find New & Used Cars

Source: Auto Remarketing

Need a car, will travel. That’s been the mindset for many recent and prospective car buyers, who have gone or are willing to go the extra mile (or dozens of miles) to find that vehicle, amid shortages in both new and used cars. According to survey data from Cars.com, 9.8% of recent car buyers went to another state to make their vehicle purchase, with 56.9% of that crowd going used and 43.1% going new.

Peoria Man’s Truck Stolen in Broad Daylight

Source: WMBD

William Van Dusen just wanted to go fishing with his friends on Sunday. Van Dusen, 24, said he left his truck running outside his house on E. Wilcox St. in Peoria when he ran in to grab his fishing poles. Seconds later he came out of the house, but his truck was nowhere to be found.

“At first I couldn’t believe it, because it’s 1:30 in the afternoon in the middle of the day and there are people outside everywhere,” he said. “I felt kinda violated because it’s not the first time that I’ve had my truck broken into. This is definitely one of the more risky ones they pulled off.”

Police officers later found the stolen white GMC truck around 5:30 p.m. behind Big Lots on Sterling Avenue. It was technically in one piece, but very damaged.

“They went for a pretty good joy ride and they also took all the thread off my tires and balded them,” Van Dusen said.

Van Dusen said the estimated damage is between $5-6,000. He said insurance won’t cover anything because the truck wasn’t in the driveway and had keys in it when stolen. For those interested in helping out, Van Dusen’s friend set up a Go-Fund-Me account.

Suspension of officer not enough for woman at center of traffic stop controversy

Source: HOI News

A Eureka woman is calling for the firing of two officers caught on tape making lewd remarks about her bodily appearance following a speeding traffic stop in March. In dashcam video obtained by Heart of Illinois ABC via a Freedom of Information Act request, Eureka Police Officer Andrew Burgess and a Woodford County Sheriff’s Deputy can be heard making lewd comments about Hannah “May” Reliford. A source with the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office says that conversation happened on a private cell phone call after Reliford’s traffic stop ended.

The traffic stop occurred after Reliford was clocked at nearly 40 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone in the early morning hours of March 19. As for Woodford County, the Reliford’s say they were told the situation was dealt with internally regarding the Woodford Deputy. However, no details on the discipline have been released publicly. A source says the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office does not condone the comments made by their Deputy and emphasized the comments were not representative of their office.

Source: Fox News

Bitcoin tops $40,000 after Musk says Tesla could use it again

Bitcoin has gyrated to Musk’s views for months since Tesla announced a $1.5 billion bitcoin purchase in February

“When there’s confirmation of reasonable (~50%) clean energy usage by miners with the positive future trend, Tesla will resume allowing Bitcoin transactions,” Musk said on Twitter on Sunday.

And that…is your moment of cryptocurrency!

2001 Chevy Montana – $35,000 (pesos)

The first… And probably the last Chevrolet you will see Eric buy on Cars of the Weak! This 2001 Montana is a mini-truck or “Ute” vehicle popular in Mexico. According to the internet, the Montana used a 1.4 L “Ecoflex” or 1.8 L 8V flex-fuel I4 engines. In some markets like South Africa where it was sold as the Opel Corsa Utility until June 2010, the vehicle was offered with more engine options. These are cheap, plentiful, and would make for a perfect daily beater for those times you don’t need a $50,000 truck to get stuff done around the house.

Check out that rack in the back!

1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible – $24,500

Source: Gary Miller’s Classic Auto

There’s nothing quite like a classic Cadillac, and this 1976 Eldorado does not disappoint. In an era when bigger was better, this big boy fit right in with it’s long body and wheel base and a 500ci big block motor to push it down the road. One of the last years for the big blocks, this beast has a 500cid V-8 sitting under the hood pushed by an automatic transmission. With a beautiful white paint job, accented by sleek, red pinstripes, it is sure to catch attention.

The white and red interior is in good condition. With a power convertible top, power seats and windows for both driver and passenger, A/C, Self Closing Trunk Mechanism, Power Steering, Tilt-Wheel, and AM/FM radio, this Caddy is fully loaded. Many new parts, including: New brakes all around All new brake lines New brake master cylinder Reconditioned/Re-cored Radiator New water pump Replaced pressure hose from power steering pump to hydro-vac booster New power steering pump and lines Freshly painted valve covers New valve cover gaskets New CV boot

Hit us up at [email protected] for any idle chit-chat and we’ll catch you next time!

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

The post Episode 49 – Feedback, Family Fun & Federales appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the auto podcast that loves a rainy night.

Is that another early 80’s song reference? You bet it is. It’s been raining cats & dogs here in Central Illinois for the past few weeks, and for some reason, this gem of a song just stuck in our head. Don’t worry, we only sing a few bars of it in the intro.

And now, for something completely different:

Thanks to our Patreon supporters, and our loyal sponsors who help make this program possible. Please consider one of our sponsors the next time you’re shopping for services.

Do you consider this podcast an automotive news show, or an automotive entertainment show? After hearing from some listeners, we discover that this program may be more of the latter, which is fine.

Really, it is.

Just don’t tell Eric.

Thanks also to T. Hanlon for dropping us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and giving a shout-out to the #RaceDailyKill segment. You won’t be disappointed with the lineup in this episode, T.

Eric: Does anyone have a Mk3 Supra sunroof laying around? There may have been an unfortunate accident where ours decided to take flight.  We’ll learn all the graphic details of The Flying Targa Circus.

Daryl: Our ‘55 Plymouth gets some fuel system fixes and a wet-sanding party before the first big show of the season. Meanwhile, Oscar, our ‘47 Chevy Fleetline got pulled out of long-term storage and major brake work begins. 

This week’s episode features a very special Bring a Trailer edition of Race, Daily Kill. While this segment isn’t endorsed or sponsored in the least by BaT, we do appreciate this auction site offers the discerning motorist. We’ve decided to line up a few choice vintage sportscars and one very special modern Porsche. All of these choices are live auction items at the time of recording. Let’s light this candle.

Eric: Race the Porsche, Daily the Healy and Kill the 70’s Ferrari.

Daryl: Race the Healy, Daily the Porsche and Kill the Dino. (Sorry about your kid, Enzo.)

Do you have a suggestion for an upcoming installment of #RaceDailyKill? Lay it on us at [email protected].

Empty Lots, Angry Customers: Chip Crisis Throws Wrench into Car Business

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Americans are shopping for cars in near-record numbers, but the world’s computer-chip shortage has left dealers with the fewest offerings in decades. The market mismatch is driving up prices, and many buyers expecting to drive new cars off the lot have to wait weeks or months for their vehicles to arrive. Some showroom models sell for thousands of dollars over the sticker price.

Unfazed by Chip Scarcity, GM Expects to Hit 2021 Profit Goal

Source: Bloomberg

General Motors Co. isn’t fazed by a global chip shortage that has brought many auto plants to a standstill.

The carmaker left its full-year outlook unchanged on Wednesday and said that, if anything, it would hit “the higher end” of its 2021 earnings target. That came as it reported stronger-than-expected profit growth in the first quarter.

Buoyed by robust demand in the U.S. and China, the Detroit-based automaker posted adjusted profit of $2.25 a share, beating a consensus estimate of $1.08. GM attributed the healthy performance to booming sales of full-size and higher-margin sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks.

Stellantis Revenues up 14% to $44.4B in First Three Months of the Year

Source: NADA Automotive News

Stellantis NV on Wednesday said revenue increased 14% to $44.4 billion (27 billion euro) in the first quarter of 2021 as global shipments increased 12% despite a global semiconductor shortage.

The report is the first financial results for the transatlantic automaker since its tie-up between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and French competitor Groupe PSA in January. Unlike its Detroit rivals, Stellantis only will report earnings for the first and second halves of the year. Results for the first half of 2021 are scheduled to be reported in August.

Ford Posts Big April Sales Gain Amid Rebound From Pandemic

Source: The Detroit News

Amid a hot vehicle market and a rebound from the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, Ford Motor Co. posted a nearly 65% sales gain in April compared to a year ago.

The Dearborn automaker reported selling 197,813 vehicles last month, for a 64.8% gain over April 2020 when COVID-19 case numbers were growing and restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of the virus hit factories and showrooms. Retail sales were up 57.1%.

Gas Prices Increased 5 Cents Per Gallon in Last Week in Illinois, AAA Says. Here’s Why

Source: NBC Chicago/Illinois Policy

Gas prices have risen across the nation following the ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline May 7 that forced the fuel distributor to halt operations. The pipeline supplied roughly 45% of the East Coast’s fuel

While the shutdown mainly impacted the East Coast, experts suggest the closure, coupled with growing driver demand in the leadup to Memorial Day weekend, is driving price increases at the pump.

Illinois began its “Bridge Phase” to reopening its economy May 14 and Pritzker has predicted Illinois will “fully reopen” by June 11.

Illinois gas prices are the highest in the Midwest partly because the state tax on gasoline doubled in 2019 to 38 cents per gallon from 19 cents. It is automatically hiked every July 1 for inflation, with this year’s boost hitting $0.392 per gallon.

After the last automatic increase in 2020, Illinois’ average gas taxes ranked third highest in the nation. The hike set for July 1 will see the average driver paying the state $105.67 more per year than in 2018.

Source: MarketWatch

“A day after sparking another selloff in the world’s biggest digital asset, Tesla’s chief executive officer Elon Musk took to Twitter to say his electric-car company hasn’t done any divesting.

“To clarify speculation, Tesla has not sold any bitcoin,” Musk tweeted in the early hours of Monday. He was responding to a tweet from another user who accused him of triggering losses in the cryptocurrency.”

Doge Coin  Doge Coin  Doge Coin

Say it enough times and Elon will pop on twitter and say something flippant about cryptos and make the Bi-nance groupies go crazy.

He has found the excitable group response he has been lacking for the last few years.    

Daryl keeps hearing commercials for Take Five: The 5-Minute oil change. These franchises seem to be popping up all over the Midwest in recent years. Just like the $3 car wash phenomenon, are people really busting their hump to get a 5-minute oil change? We’d rather it take a little longer, to be honest. Their signature line is “You don’t even have to leave your car.” While the drive-through oil & lube place isn’t a new concept, the idea of staying inside your car while someone works on it just inchses below you (usually in a pit) can’t be fun. Who’s the lucky guy who gets to change the oil below a sizzling-hot Elantra with an owner inside it with an itchy trigger finger? Do they have to hold onto the customer’s keys for safety, or is that not ‘contact-free’? These are all of the things that just make us question modern times

Eric:  1991 Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz 300 E 4-M 4WD Sedan 4D

$1,200 OBO

Features

Needs

For a mere 1200 bones, Daddy needs a new hoopty for the autocross track and rally events!

Daryl  1969 Chevrolet Nova SS 396

Source: Barrett-Jackson 

A true SS with not a lot of fanfare. Just a clean, straight original 350 horse big-block 4 speed survivor. Redlines. Rallys. Everything that a small muscle car needs, and nothing it doesn’t.

Come to papa. 

Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] with show ideas, suggestions and bad jokes.

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

The post Episode 48 – The Flying Targa Circus appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome back to the automotive podcast that enjoys a nice bottle of chianti when we aren’t wrenching on a project or searching the internet for the latest automotive news. In fact, several former guests of Throwin’ Wrenches Podcast could be found in Eric’s kitchen in recent weeks, devouring most of an ibérico ham from Costco and drinking fine wine on a warm spring evening. It was a bacchanalian delight that will probably be repeated in the near future.

We hope everyone is also happy and healthy this Spring, and is busy making plans for summer adventures with friends and family. More on some of our adventures in this week’s episode.

Eric’s 1990 Toyota Supra has a clean bill of health after being sidelined by a faulty thermostat last fall. He’s feeling confident enough that he invested in some paintless dent removal and is bringing the finish back to its former glory. It’s only a matter of time before the car hits the Illinois highways (and backroads) for another season. 

He is also searching for anyone in the midwest who is participating in the 24 Hours of LEMONS racing events. He’s considering getting involved and would like to help out a pit crew. We think he’s secretly looking to build his Scion TC into LeMons racer, but that’s just a guess.

Oh, and he wants a plastic welder.

Meanwhile, Daryl has set May 1st as “The Day of Reckoning” for the ‘47 Chevy Fleetline. After this month’s Cars & Coffee, “Oscar” is coming out of cold storage for some brake work. The master cylinder went out, and the goal is to have him up and running for the Morton Car Fest on Saturday, May 8th.

Daryl also bought and received a much nicer rear seat for the Project Plymouth. This one has more metal and isn’t destroyed by mouse whiz. The seats are now complete, so I can sandblast & paint them, then hand things off to an upholsterer to work on. 

The Contenders

3.2L 174-HP V6 (optional)

1.8L 120-hp I4 (optional)

1997 Automobile Magazine Car of the year!

The RAV4 started at $14,948 for a two-door, 2WD version with a five-speed manual transmission, and top out at $18,098 for a four-door, 4WD version with an automatic.

The Verdicts

Eric and Daryl were unanimous in their picks this time. Is that a first?

Wheel: The Isuzu Amigo. Why? Because of the chunky fenders, the big V6, and because their commercials from the 1990s were great parodies of the 70’s Slinky commercials and Ren & Stimpy’s “Log” commercials from our childhood.

Daily: The Toyota RAV4. This is an obvious choice for a couple of Toyota owners due to Toyota’s dependability.

Kill: The Suzuki Sidekick. Riding in these things is like being a gallon of paint in a hardware store paint shaker. Even when they lengthened them and gave them a 4 door version, that platform was awful. Sorry. 

What would you Wheel, Daily, Kill out of these three 90’s soft top 4×4’s? Let us know your picks on Facebook or [email protected] and we’ll share it on the next podcast.

Stellantis Supplier Seeks Court Order to Compel Chip Supply for Jeep Plant

Source: NADA

A federal judge in Michigan will hear arguments on Friday on whether to issue an emergency order forcing NXP Semiconductors to provide chips to a supplier of automaker Stellantis. The global automotive chip crunch started late last year, when automakers and their suppliers failed to understand they needed to put in orders months ahead of time as the consumer electronics industry surged and took up chipmaking capacity.

Toyota Says It Will Introduce 15 BEVs, Expand Electric Lineup by 2025

Source: NADA

Toyota Motor Corp said on Monday it will introduce 15 battery electric vehicle (BEV) models globally by 2025, expanding the automaker’s electric vehicle lineup to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. The company will increase its number of electric models to around 70 from currently offered 55, it said in a statement. The new BEV model Toyota bZ series, which was unveiled at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show on Monday, is aimed for China, the United States and Europe, the carmaker said.

Still No Auto Show, So Detroit Tries Car Crawl

Source: NADA

It’s been more than 800 days since the Motor City has had an auto show, and the next one is still about 500 days away. To fill the void until September 2022, the Detroit Auto Dealers Association is helping to bring a new car-focused event to the city this summer. The Motor City Car Crawl aims to bring some economic activity back to Detroit while also raising money for the children’s charities that would have benefited from the charity preview of the North American International Auto Show had it been held in 2020 and 2021.

Twin Cities Auto Show: An Experiment on Experiential

Source: NADA

Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association President Scott Lambert says the outdoor show, which is set to take place next month at the state fairgrounds, will feature a variety of interactive elements for attendees.

Garage-Built Toyota 4Runner with Nissan EV Drivetrain is First-of-its Kind to Run at “King of Hammers”

Source: CNet

Last week marked the first time an electric vehicle ran in the King of the Hammers off-road event in Johnson Valley, California. Racer Kyle Seggelin and his team finished the Every Man Challenge in truck No. 2277, a Toyota 4Runner with the powertrain from a Nissan Leaf EV.

The 4Runner/Leaf rig was built by Seggelin and his team. It started the race with two 20-kilowatt-hour batteries, enough to get it to the first pit stop some 17.5 miles away. There, the team swapped out those batteries for the 62-kWh pack found in the Leaf Plus — a process that took a mere seven minutes.

The key to quickly swapping batteries? Custom-built sliders. The team divided the battery packs into sections, each weighing roughly 200 pounds. They fit securely into the sliders and connected to the electric motor with a large, high-voltage connection, and one or two smaller Molex connectors, depending on the pack size. All the team had to do was disconnect, slide the packs out and then reverse the process. Easy peasy.

While Seggelin and his co-driver, his sister Dahlia Seggelin, were out on the next 55 miles with the larger 62-kWh battery, the team charged the original, smaller batteries with a 12,000-watt generator.

“No One Was Driving” in Tesla Crash That Killed Two In Texas: Police  The Drive

Source: KPRC2 Huston

Two men died in a fiery Tesla crash this weekend in Texas, one where police claim one occupant was sitting in the passenger seat and another was in the back. The collision happened in the Carlton Woods subdivision in the affluent Houston-area suburb of The Woodlands, and many observers believe misuse of the car’s Autopilot semi-autonomous driver aid system may be to blame. 

“No one was driving,” Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman told KPRC2 Houston. Herman said the investigation showed that there were only two occupants in the car, and neither was found in the driver’s seat. It’s unknown how fast the 2019 Tesla Model S was driving when it crashed into a tree, but deputies claim it was traveling “at a high speed when it failed to negotiate a cul-de-sac turn.”

Texas Will Serve Tesla With Search Warrants

Source: ADAPT Automotive

Texas investigators will serve Tesla with search warrants related to the crash near Houston that killed two occupants. No one was in the driver’s seat of the car, first responders said.

Reuters reports that if Tesla was able to examine data from the crash vehicle, the company hasn’t shared it with investigators. Elon Musk had tweeted that his data showed no autopilot features were online during the crash.

 This is the 28th Tesla crash to be investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Elon Musk, Tesla executives dispute reports that deadly crash in The Woodlands was related to autopilot

Source: KHOU

Tesla says they believe someone was in the driver’s seat during the deadly crash that happened in The Woodlands earlier this week.

TW – We say “stay tuned as this drama unfolds”.

2021: The Summer of Gas Shortages

Source: CNN

Millions of people stuck at home for more than a year are expected to hit the road for much-needed post-pandemic vacations this summer. Good luck finding gas.

Not that there’s a looming shortage of crude oil or gasoline. Rather, it’s the tanker truck drivers needed to deliver the gas to stations who are in short supply.

According to the National Tank Truck Carriers, the industry’s trade group, somewhere between 20% to 25% of tank trucks in the fleet are parked heading into this summer due to a paucity of qualified drivers. At this point in 2019, only 10% of trucks were sitting idle for that reason.

“We’ve been dealing with a driver shortage for a while, but the pandemic took that issue and metastasized it,” said Ryan Streblow, the executive vice president of the NTTC. “It certainly has grown exponentially.”

Domino’s® and Nuro Launch Autonomous Pizza Delivery with On-Road Robot

Source: Domino’s 

Domino’s (NYSE: DPZ), the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, and Nuro, the leading self-driving delivery company, are launching autonomous pizza delivery in Houston. Beginning this week, select customers who place a prepaid order on Dominos.com on certain days and times from Domino’s in Woodland Heights, located at 3209 Houston Ave., can choose to have their pizza delivered by Nuro’s R2 robot. Nuro’s R2 is the first completely autonomous, occupantless on-road delivery vehicle with regulatory approval by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

This collaboration between Domino’s and Nuro will introduce an entirely new delivery experience to pizza lovers. Here’s how it works: select customers who place a prepaid website order from the participating Domino’s store can opt to have their order delivered by R2. Customers who are selected will receive text alerts, which will update them on R2’s location and provide them with a unique PIN to retrieve their order. Customers may also track the vehicle via GPS on their order confirmation page. Once R2 arrives, customers will be prompted to enter their PIN on the bot’s touchscreen. R2’s doors will then gently open upward, revealing the customer’s hot Domino’s order.

Lyft to Offer Vehicle Maintenance, Repair

Source: ADAPT Automotive

Lyft will launch an app-based service for drivers to get service from the company’s own network of mobile techs and shops.

SLive reports that the service, Lyft Auto Care, started as a network for Lyft drivers but is now available to all drivers.

A mobile technician could be ordered for maintenance items like oil changes, tire rotations, and brake checks. A visit to a Lyft “Driver Center” would be needed for collision repair and mechanical repairs.

According to the story, pricing is shown up front when the customer orders service.

https://www.silive.com/news/2021/04/lyft-expanding-into-vehicle-maintenance-with-lyft-auto-care.html 

Elon Musk is hosting SNL on May 8th and the cast hates him. 

Source: CNN.com

In a surprise move over the weekend, Saturday Night Live announced that business mogul Elon Musk would be hosting the NBC variety show on May 8. Some “SNL” cast members didn’t seem too excited about it.

In an Instagram story, cast member Bowen Yang wrote “what the f— does this even mean?” as a caption to Musk’s tweet from over the weekend which read, “Let’s find out just how live Saturday Night Live really is.”

Andrew Dismuke, another cast member, also took to Instagram to apparently address the choice. He wrote “Only CEO I want to do a sketch with is Cher-E Oteri” over a photo of former “SNL” castmember Cheri Oteri.

NBC did not immediately respond to CNN Business’ request for comment.

TW Note: It appears that SNL Cast Member and Squeaky Wheel Bowen Yang’s Twitter account has mysteriously gone bye-bye following his criticism. #Censorship? 

Eric:  1994 Toyota Previa – $3,000 

Source: Facebook Marketplace

Sure, it’s rough and has a few dents… but those limousine seats that swivel and the mega sky roof make up for it. Did I mention this is one of the later supercharged versions of the legendary Toyota minivan? These things were ahead of their time when they debuted in the early 1990s, and owners rarely sell them since they’re super dependable and still function better than the models that followed them. Who else would love to add one of these to their car collection? 

Daryl:  1983 GMC Caballero Amarillo Diesel – $12,000

Source: Jalopnik / Craigslist

This unicorn checks all of the boxes. One of the last of the breed, this ‘83 GMC version of the El Camino was rare to begin with. A fraction of these were built, especially in the later years. Then, top it off with an upscale trim & decor package such as the Amarillo… and stuff an optional Olds 350 Diesel V-8 under the hood. This low-mileage example was for sale in Wichita, Kansas and had to be Grandpa-spec. It even came with a matching blue tonneau cover. 

Loaded, rare and nobody cares. But I care, dammit. I care. 

The song you will never forget at this episode..

Shoot us an email if you like what you hear at [email protected].

The post Episode 47 – Amigos, Anchovies and Autonomous Accidents appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the auto podcast that is not afraid to play some games! Speaking of games, this week we’re basking in the glow of LED computer fans at Arena Esports in beautiful downtown Morton, Illinois. This is a premier gaming experience from Forza to… whatever else folks play these days. They’ve got PC gaming stations, X-box, PlayStation and any other console you need to be competitive. Be sure to check this place out if you’re local, otherwise they’re great on the ‘gram at @309Arena

Do these PC’s ever sleep?

Thanks to everyone who has signed up on Patreon!  Every bit helps and gets us

opportunities to advertise the show and get more fans!

We have chucked a couple hundred dollars into the fading Stock and Field store in Pekin as they close out…  I found a small LED assembly in the car parts for 80% off.  It came with 2 LED strips and a plunger switch.  Also had a battery box for watch batteries.  I think I am going to hardwire it into something.  Ideas?

Road trip this weekend.  I mean why not?  Went to the surprisingly hip little downstate town of Effingham… Or Effington as we kept calling because of the Ben Folds song.  

Dinner at the Firefly Grill, Drinks at the Village Liquors, More drinks at Effing Brew (out of tshirts BTW) Took the movable feast to Decatur (didnt stop at the 2 story outhouse inbetween)  Tap Root brewing.  Then headed to Clinton.  2 Doors down brewing.  

We had a DD!!!

Fixed the sideXside with new plugs and a battery.  I think the centrifugal clutch is smoked..  But might get a new belt first.  

New tractor today?  YanMar   I blame Jacob 

It’s tool time at the Scott ranch. I finally got some decent spark plug crimpers so I can fab up new plug wires for the ‘55 Plymouth. It still has the original wires on it (no joke) and while it runs okay, I think it’s time to upgrade to correct lacquered cloth reproductions. I have to snake them through a wire loom and terminate them correctly. While I’m at it, I’ll toss in a new cap, rotor, points, condenser and vacuum advance setup that I’ve had for like 3 years but never tossed on because I didn’t want to buy the damn crimpers. Turns out nobody has them, so I couldn’t borrow them. 

Moral of the story: Even if you’ll only use it once, buy the damn special tool you need to do the job FIRST. Then loan it out for beer money. 

Return of the HJ61. Starter reinstalled for the 4/5th time, help from an electrical engineer at Autonomous Stuff (Very cool place) reminds us all to chase horses not zebras. I was correct that it was an issue with power delivery and electric in nature but completely overlooked routine tightening of new installed hardware to the maximum. The style of battery terminal connector was also an issue so $7.00 later she lives. Now on to seeing if it can become offroad worthy or to remain a mostly pavement queen drawing comments from drunkards on the street like “ARE YOU FROM LONDON!?” Covid drive-through only = blowing the minds of teenagers working at Taco Bell when you use the drivethrough backwards in your RHD vehicle.

John deere service on an older x324 I picked up last fall. Why don’t more cars have 4 wheel steering?

Tempted to jump into a new project, which Daryl has turned into an opportunity to try to unload “Super Tahoe”.

This week’s lineup features the “also-rans” of the GT hatch era. With stiff competition from Toyota and Nissan, these three elegant cars just couldn’t compete from a sales standpoint. Does that make them less desirable? Let’s find out!

Isuzu Impulse Turbo

Renault Fuego Turbo

Alfa Romeo GTV6

5-speed manual

5-speed manual

5-speed manual

Top Speed: 128 mph

¼ mile: 17.6 sec

Top Speed: 124 mph

¼ mile: 16.8

Top Speed: 139 mph

¼ mile: 16.2 sec

Eric: Race the Alfa, Daily the Impulse and Kill the Fuego with fuego.

Daryl: Race the Fuego, Daily the Impulse, Kill the Alfa. It’s an Alfa… c’mon. It’s either broken or about to break. That Isuzu would be a fun yet substantial daily and the Fuego is super light and has the most potential. Turn up the boost and see what shakes loose. 

Gabe: Are these cars different? Race the Impulse. Best specs, mean looking front end to strike fear into the hearts of your opponents. Daily the Alfa. The interior makes this the pick. It has gorgeous leather seats with netting styled headrests that are very unique and cool. Also being a non-turbo, it is best suited to use 87 octane to save on the premium cost.  Kill the Renault. Have you seen the front end? That’s a face only a mother could love. I wouldn’t want to make anyone else look at that.

Told you so last week…

Buyers Are Snapping Up New Cars, Even If They’re the Wrong Color

Emboldened by signs the Covid-19 crisis may be waning and fearful of potential vehicle shortages, consumers snapped up new autos at pre-pandemic rates in the first quarter as the U.S. car market’s recovery likely gained momentum. U.S. auto sales surged by more than 8% in the first three months of the year, according to analysts’ estimates. The projected gain was powered by higher demand in anticipation of a return to offices and everyday travel as vaccination rates exceeded one-quarter of the population. Greater confidence in the economy spurred purchases as did fear of lower supplies of cars due to chip shortages.

Source: Bloomberg 

Stellantis halts production at Italy plant due to low demand, chip shortage

MILAN — Carmaker Stellantis will halt production at its plant in Melfi, southern Italy, April 2-12 because of low demand triggered by the COVID-19 crisis, the UILM union said on Monday.

Production at the plant, where the world’s fourth largest automaker makes Jeep Renegade and Compass models and the Fiat 500X compact SUV, has been repeatedly disrupted due to weak demand and semiconductor supply shortages.The local automaker’s union said last week the firm was considering permanently closing one of its two production lines at the Melfi plant to address excess capacity in Italy.

European car registrations fell 23% year on year in the first two months of this year, according to industry data, as protracted coronavirus lockdowns and consequent uncertainty keep impacting spending decisions among families and businesses.

Source: AutoBlog

VW “accidentally” leaks new name for its U.S. operations: Voltswagen

Volkswagen accidentally posted a press release on its website a month early on Monday announcing a new name for its U.S. operations, Voltswagen of America, emphasizing the German automaker’s electric vehicle efforts. A spokesman for the company declined to comment on the release, which was dated April 29 and has since been taken down. A person familiar with the company’s plans confirmed the authenticity of the release to CNBC. They asked to remain anonymous because the plans were not meant to be public yet.

Source: CNBC

EV makers oppose delay to automotive emissions penalty increase

Electric vehicle manufacturers are pushing back against a decision to delay penalty increases for automakers who fail to meet fuel efficiency standards.

A lobbying group representing legacy automakers — many of whom are now making substantial investments in zero-emissions vehicles — said the increase would have a significant economic impact during a time when the industry is facing mass disruption from the COVID pandemic. But new EV entrants say the penalty mechanism is a powerful performance incentive to decrease tailpipe emissions and encourage investment in lower- or zero-emissions technology.

The decision, issued in January by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), postpones imposing a penalty increase from the beginning of model year 2019 to model year 2022. Tesla is petitioning the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to review the ruling, saying that the delay “inflicts ongoing, irreparable injury” on the company and creates an “uneven playing field” by reducing the consequences of nonadherence.

The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) penalty has been increased just once — from $5 to $5.50 for every 0.1 mile per gallon that doesn’t meet the standard — since its instatement in 1975. Congress acted to rectify the effects of inflation on the penalty by raising it to $14 in 2015, but NHTSA and the courts have ping-ponged about the increase ever since. A decision from the Second Circuit last August seemed to settle the issue in favor of instating the higher penalty starting with model year 2019, but automakers last October successfully petitioned that the increase be delayed.

Source: Twitter via @Breadfrom

The first 2022 Hummer EV pickup sells for $2.5 million

The first 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup has yet to be built, but it is already sold for a whopping $2.5 million. The buyer — a woman whose name is not public, according to a General Motors spokeswoman —will receive the vehicle with VIN 001 when it rolls off the assembly line at Factory ZERO in Detroit and Hamtramck this fall. Hummer VIN 001 was sold Saturday evening at the 2021 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, with the proceeds going to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit that honors firefighter Stephen Siller, who died on Sept. 11, 2001.

Source: Detroit Free Press

Volvo Leaves U.S. Dealers Confused on Plans

The Swedish automaker this month announced plans to become an all-electric brand globally by 2030. To sell those vehicles, Volvo wants to use an online-only, factory-set price sales model — borrowing aspects of a strategy pioneered by Tesla that has become a template for a wave of electric upstarts. But dealer associations in two states — Virginia and California — have sent letters to Volvo warning it that the strategy might violate the automaker’s dealer agreements or state laws meant to prevent automakers from competing with their franchises. The Texas dealer association is now seeking clarification from Volvo on the plan.

Source: Automotive News

Ford’s turbine-powered concept truck of tomorrow reappears after 40 disappearance

Ford, much like GM and other automakers in the 1960s, messed around with turbine power as a proposed replacement to the tried-and-true piston engine. As a concept truck, “Big Red” used a Ford-engineered turbine engine and did publicity tours leading up to the 1964 World’s Fair. After that, the truck languished around Detroit before moving to North Carolina. It fell off the map sometime in the late 70’s only to be recently rediscovered by the folks at The Drive. 

After pestering Holman-Moody racing and a few Ford employees, the anonymous owner stepped forward but won’t let anyone see new photos of it… or know anything about himself. So that’s cool. Just like the original Bullitt Mustang and Phil Spector’s Sheby Daytona coupe, there’s something about old famous Fords that seem to draw out these mystery men. Why not show off these public treasures to the millions of adoring fans? Whatever. 

Source: TheDrive

Illinois dealers sue Rivian, Lucid Motors and state over direct sales

Illinois car dealers sued electric truck maker Rivian in another salvo against upstart vehicle manufacturers’ direct-to-consumer sales model. 

Two trade groups that are plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed yesterday in Cook County Circuit Court say they acted after the Illinois Secretary of State’s office “turned a blind eye” to their complaints over several years. 

Amazon-backed Rivian, which plans production at a plant near Normal, Ill., had no immediate comment. The Irvine, Calif.-based company has promised that deliveries of its first pickup will begin in June.

Source: Automotive News

Elon Musk tapped to join board of Endeavor Group, owner of UFC and Miss Universe contest

Elon Musk is about to increase his already hefty workload.

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and founder of The Boring Company and Neuralink, has been nominated to join the board at Endeavor Group Holdings, according to a filing by the company on Wednesday.

Endeavor began as a talent agency started by one of Hollywood’s most recognizable agents, Ari Emanuel. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, the company has become a media and entertainment conglomerate that owns and manages live events including UFC, the Miami Open, New York Fashion Week, Frieze art fairs and the Miss Universe international beauty pageant.

When people threaten to scrap old cars if they don’t get the price they want. Give me a break. PRICE IS FIRM. GOES TO SCRAP MONDAY. Who does this? Vintage cars and trucks are always in demand, even if it’s for parts. They aren’t making them anymore… so why not get something for it. Also, scrap values suck now, homies. The days of you getting $1000 for a lump of crap are over. Take the $400 offer and let someone get rid of your failed project.

How people never learn how to park properly. Street and parking lot nonsens that will never end. No training required, just common sense stuff people are incapable of or refuse to do. Amazing.

1977 GMC “Palm Beach Edition” 26-foot motorhome

$22,000 

Source: GMCRVForSale.com

Ever since seeing the movie Stripes and the scene where a GMC Motorhome becomes the EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle, I’ve wanted one of these whales. Made of fiberglass and featuring front-wheel-drive, this oddball RV was an interesting study in mass production of RV’s by the big three. While Chrysler and Ford generally sold frames to folks like Winnebago and Fleetwood, GM wanted to see if they could capture the market with their own design. Essentially this is an Oldsmobile Toronado with a bus body. Worked well, got good mileage, and sold well. This green on green on GREEN edition is super 70s and I absolutely love them. 403 V8 and a TurboHydramatic 3 speed trans propels this one. And with only 84,000 miles it’s ready for a few more trips to Disneyland before the end of the internal combustion engine. I’m in, even if the price is a bit steep. 

1989 Amertex fire truck

$6,000

Source: Facebook Marketplace

1989 Amertex pumper 4X4. Featuring a 92 series Detroit Diesel with automatic transmission. Plenty of storage, 2 deck guns out the front controlled from in the cab, rear hose reel, foam capable. 4300 miles 375 engine hours. 

Imagine modifying the back of this into a camper, or glamper. A repaint in something menacing like Black or gunmetal. It would be a go-anywhere, hope you never have to work on the engine, dream. If only it was a manual and was closer, as I seriously considered buying it. It sold before this podcast in less than a day after the listing went live. Next time I might jump on an opportunity like this. 

The post Episode 46 – Gabe Casey Version 3.0 appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the Automotive podcast that is getting national attention… and it’s not just from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol!

While coming home from a recent camping trip out West, Eric made his way through the Oklahoma Territory. This wild, unsettled land is home to a treacherous tollway with savage characters and unwritten rules. Pressing East with a trusty Toyota FJ Cruiser as his horse, Eric faced challenges and obstacles at every turnpike except one.

Did hero make it home unscathed with a renewed faith in Oklahoma Tollway employees?

Listen to the entire episode to find out…

Our friends at Carly Connected Car reached out to us recently to see if we would be interested in trying out their newest automotive diagnostic tool that uses a Bluetooth OBD2 adapter and their related smartphone app. Of course, we said “yes!”

As well all know, in-depth diagnostic information on any car or truck built after 1996 can help you catch expensive hidden problems. That’s where Carly comes in. Performing regular health checks on your car enables you to identify problems before they become a major headache on the road or cost you a ton of money.

Any gearhead has likely messed with an OBD2 scan tool before, or at least had their car’s computer scanned by a tool at their local auto parts store to see what that pesky “check engine” light on the dash really means. The new reality is that most auto parts stores have stopped offering that service for free, and even when it was a free service in some areas, you likely had to wait a while to get it done. The alternative? Take your car to a dealer or a mechanic’s shop and pay the $50-100 diagnostic fee. Nothing wrong with that, but Carly makes it much more simple for the everyday enthusiast.

To start checking your car’s mechanical health, all you have to do are three easy steps:

Once those steps are completed, follow the on-screen prompts from the Carly app on your phone and you’ll be able to run a full diagnostic scan of your vehicle’s engine, electrical and other systems in just a few seconds.

Want more? With Carly you can access real-time data of valuable data such as transmission fluid temp, engine hours, variable valve timing info, O2 sensor data and so much more. This isn’t just for your car’s computer anymore

You can even do custom tuning of some settings such as locks, seat belt chimes, windows and other systems. There’s a lot of horsepower at your fingertips with Carly.

With most enthusiasts holding onto their cars longer these days, we wanted to put Carly through its paces and see if it could identify a few issues on one of our vehicles for a real-world test. We decided to try out the Carly on Daryl’s wife Sarah’s 2007 Toyota Solara Convertible since it was time to get the car out of storage and see if it needed any mechanical attention than was obvious to the naked eye. As it turns out, it was a great vehicle to test since there were no warning lights on the dash and every other indicator showed the car was in good condition.

After a brief scan of the Solara’s computer, we were surprised to learn there were a pair of faults that appeared:

What this told us was that the spongy brake pedal at the end of last season may be something a little more involved than just some pads and rotors. Carly also notified us that there was a low battery condition, which made sense since Solara sits in storage over the winter months here in Illinois.

With these codes, it’s now possible to search out possible causes and repairs for the car. This wouldn’t have been possible without the Carly device and app, which puts knowledge and power back into the consumer’s hands. It also saves us some coin and keeps a running total of how much money (based on AAA repair cost data figures) that you’ve saved using the device. Pretty nifty!

So it seems Daryl may have to pay some attention to the little ragtop before he and the Mrs. take a summer road trip. All of this information was gleaned by Carly in less than 5 minutes. Not bad!

Overall, we really liked Carly, and we know you will, too. That’s why we’re partnering to offer listeners a 15% discount on the Carly system when you purchase one and use the discount code TWA 15.

Visit Carly Online at https://www.mycarly.com/

Use the Throwin’ Wrenches Discount Code to Save 15%: TWA15

Eric

Eric took another cross-country trip from Arizona to Illinois… he tent camped in the snow and got cold…  and he somehow recovered. There’s a lot more to it than that, but let’s just say he likely won’t be breaking Steve Brown’s Transcontinental Record anytime soon.  

He also can tell you where the only ATM in Tulsa, Oklahoma is. Trust us, you’ll want to listen to his latest adventure in this episode. 

Daryl

Somehow,  Daryl lit a fire under himself and ordered up some stainless pre-bent brake and fuel lines for the ‘58 Plymouth project car he’s kinda-but-not-really working on. He’ll literally have no excuse for not starting in on it when the weather gets nice.

After a brief hiatus, Race/Daily/Kill is back! Since it’s nearly convertible season, we’re going across the pond for a little British (Roadster) Invasion. We have three spring yellow drop-top choices for this installment of the contest where the winners may still be losers.

Yeah, baby. 

1962-66: 1147cc 4 cyl – 63hp 

1967-70: 1296cc 4 cyl – 67hp

1971-80: 1493cc 4 cyl – 75hp

4 speed manual

1962-1980: 1798cc 4 cyl – 95 hp

4 speed manual

1958-1966: 948cc 4 cyl – 46 hp

1966-71: 1,098cc 4 cyl – 96 hp

4 speed manual

 $2,155

 $2,607

$1,795

Eric: Race the MGB, Daily the Sprite and Kill the Triumph. 

Daryl: I actually do fit (barely) in a Sprite, but I’d have to kill it since it’s comically cute. Therefore, I’d daily the Triumph with it’s smaller motor since gas prices are on the rise. I’d Race the MGB since it’s the performer of the bunch.

Trouble in Paradise!

The Chinese military has banned Tesla cars from entering its complexes, citing security concerns over cameras installed on the vehicles, two people who have seen notices of the directive told Reuters. The move is the latest sign of China’s growing scrutiny of the U.S. electric carmaker amid tensions with Washington.18 hours ago

Elon Responds…

Source: Mercury News

1993 Toyota DJ81 Land Cruiser – $7,200 (current bid)

Source: eBay

Eric’s choice this week is a California-clean 80-series Land Cruiser. This one features the inline 6 cylinder with an automatic trans. Sadly, this model didn’t have an option for a locking differential, which would come in handy on the trails.

Listed by the seller as a clean title truck with a recent repaint, this timeless SUV also has managed to rack up some 380,233 miles in its lifetime. That may be enough to keep folks away, but Eric may be willing to take a chance on this one.

Virtually, at least.

1938 Chrysler Royal C-18 4 door – $12,000

Source: Facebook Marketplace

This is the entire ad: “Or best offer willing to trade for mid 70’s Corvette.”

Come on, dude! Give us a little more than that!

A nice car with a reliable 241 flathead 6, 3-speed trans and built the year before Chrysler’s Fluid Drive debuted so parts and service are easier. A bulletproof old Mopar that you just don’t see.

Johnny Carson’s first car was a similar-era Chrysler Royal and he loved it. NBC actually found his old car back in Nebraska and gave it back to him in the 80’s.

The post Episode 45 – War and Peace on the Oklahoma Tollway appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the automotive podcast that can really “yuck some yums.”

Is that even a phrase? As heard in Episode 43, Daryl seems to think it is. Eric’s still on the fence.

Regardless of the weekly catchphrase, we’re glad you’re here!

In this episode, we’ve prepared an all-new interview with a familiar voice, and a topical conversation about something we’ve been hearing a lot about in recent weeks: The chip shortage.

We’re not talking about Lay’s, Ruffles or Tostitos disappearing from the snack aisle at Kroger. While a lack of salty snacks may be a serious inconvenience, the very real shortage of silicon chips is a huge problem for most of modern civilization.

Think about all of the items that use chipsets in 2021. Your car. Your phone. Your toaster oven. Even your robot vacuum cleaner that whirs around the floor and scares your cats on a daily basis… that’s got ’em. The fact that they’re in short supply has caused the production lines to come to a screeching halt around the world. Everything from Fords to Frigidares now sits in limbo. Unlike Doritos Cool Ranch, we can’t simply “just make more.” Our special guest explains why.

In this episode, we let the (silicon) chips fall where they may and welcome Dean Plumadore back to the show. If you recall, Dean was a guest on one of our early episodes to discuss his role as President of the Champaign County Sports Car Club, as well as his love of Corvettes.

Something else that Dean is also passionate about is technology. After retiring from Illinois State University in 2019 as Student Affairs Information Technology Project Manager, he quickly returned to the classroom to continue sharing his wealth of knowledge with younger generations.

We asked Dean to drop by to help the everyday automotive enthusiast understand why the recent global chipset shortage is wreaking havoc on a multitude of industries, including the automotive industry. We learned a TON about the history of processors and how they’ve seemingly crept into everything from your car stereo to the very computer that makes it run. Trust us, you’ll enjoy this lively discussion.

Thanks to Dean Plumadore for dropping some knowledge on us, and for making time to return to the studio.

Get In Touch

Feel free to connect with Dean or the Champaign County Sports Car Club at any time.

Email |Website | Instagram| Facebook | YouTube

We value and appreciate the support of our local sponsors. They both help keep the show running smoothly, and we couldn’t do this without their support.

Thank you to our Patreon sponsors, as well. We can’t say enough good things about you. Especially the ones who cut us some slack when we mess up their name… or the country they live in. Thanks for putting up with us!

Some things never go out of style. Oooga horns aren’t one of those things. Eric’s son, Aiden asked for his father’s help installing a classic horn from the Model A-era in his Toyota 4 Runner. He’ll be guaranteed to be the only high-schooler with one of those! His 4 Runner is also in the shop getting a new harmonic balancer installed since the original one wanted to start wobbling around. Glad he caught this as soon as he did. It should be good-as-new soon.

Meanwhile, Eric is working to prepare the family horse trailer ready for the season. His first order of business will be to air up the tires since he seems to be the only one who will do it.  Speaking of trailers, he also recently fixed part of a fence that he backed into with the trailer last year.

Eric is also busy planning his off-road and autocross season. He’s officially registered for the 2021 Great Smoky Mountain Trail Ride. This is the first event of 2021 and he’s super-stoked to bring the OG Treehugger 4 Runner back down south. 

Zip. Zilch. Zero. Nada. Daryl has slacked off and done nothing on any of his cars this past month. It’s been cold, but also… he’s just not feeling it. In typical form, he’ll likely start violently thrashing on stuff a week before the first Central Illinois Cars and Coffee on April 3rd.

As President of the Champaign County Sports Car Club, Dean has been actively planning out the 2021 race season with his fellow club members. The group, which typically calls the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois its home venue, put on a successful 2020 season. (We’ll dive into their upcoming season a lot more in a follow-up episode)

With all of the club business and a busy teaching schedule, Dean hasn’t had much time to work on his C7 Corvette, but something tells us he’ll make the time before the CCSCC kicks off the season on March 27th. Keep us posted, Dean!

Why We’re in the Midst of a Global Semiconductor Shortage

Source: Harvard Business Review 

With the U.S. economy expected to gather steam this year as more and more Americans are vaccinated, one of the biggest cautions to consider is whether supply chains will be able to keep up with growing demand. Indeed, concerns about disruptions to supply chains and shortages that have occurred during the pandemic sparked the Biden administration to order a review of critical areas.

A major example is semiconductors. Lead times for many semiconductors are one year out right now, and these devices are in just about everything we use. Business and financial media have detailed how the shortage of semiconductors has caused production cutbacks in the automotive industry:

Ford, Toyota, Nissan, VW, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now a part of Stellantis) are among global carmakers that have scaled back output. Other carmakers have announced they’ll likely miss their 2021 targets. And it’s not just carmakers that are in trouble. The chip shortages are expected to cause widespread shortages of everything, from electronics to medical devices to technology and networking equipment.

As recently reported by Reuters, automakers and medical device manufacturers have asked the Biden administration to subsidize construction of newa U.S. semiconductor manufacturing capacity. And in response to the shortages, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, has increased its 2021 capital spending budget to $28 billion. But funding and building a new semiconductor fab is at least a five-year process.

To a great extent, the chip shortage has been a ticking time bomb, building since late last year due to a few (unrelated) supply-chain disruptions. When the Covid-19 pandemic caused a precipitous drop in vehicle sales in spring 2020, automakers cut their orders of all parts and materials — including the chips needed for functions ranging from touchscreen displays to collision-avoidance systems. Then in the third quarter, when demand for passenger vehicles rebounded, chip manufacturers were already committed to supplying their big customers in consumer electronics and IT.

How Hyundai Avoided The Chip Shortage Plaguing Tesla, Other Automakers

Source: Yahoo Finance 

What Happened: The South Korean automaker managed to avoid the shortage by stockpiling semiconductors last year and even purchasing more towards the end of 2020, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Like its peers, Hyundai too planned to cut production at the beginning of 2021 because of COVID-19. “But procurement read the trend of the semiconductor industry cutting auto chips production and said, ‘if we don’t buy them as well, we’ll be in trouble later on,” according to one of the people

Hyundai still purchased fewer chips last year than it did in 2020, but reportedly sharply increased purchases in the quarter ended December.

There’s A ‘Chip’ Shortage: And TSMC Holds All The Cards

Source: Forbes

Did you hear about the latest shortage?

Japanese carmaker Toyota shut its factory in San Antonio last month. GM, Volkswagen, Ford, Honda and Fiat Chrysler were forced to idle their plants too. In fact, GM said assembly lines won’t restart until late March.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM). And it’s ground zero for the chip shortage. Nvidia, Qualcomm QCOM +0.5%, and AMD are often referred to as “chipmakers,” but that’s a misnomer. These companies don’t actually make semiconductors. They’re more like architects, crafting blueprints and intricate designs for the chips.

When it comes to physically manufacturing the chips, they hand the reins to Taiwan’s TSMC. TSMC is the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer. Today, over 70% of top-shelf chips pass through its factories.

Remember, the whole world runs on chips these days. But TSMC is one of the only chipmakers capable of making the cutting-edge chips Apple and automakers need.

Trump’s China Tech War Contributed to the Chip Shortage

Source: Autoblog

In at least one case, the shortage ties back to President Donald Trump’s policies aimed at curtailing technology transfers to China.

One automaker moved chip production from China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International, or SMIC, which was hit with U.S. government restrictions in December, to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co in Taiwan, which in turn was overbooked, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

An auto supplier confirmed TSMC has been unable to keep up with demand.

Growing Computer-Chip Shortage Alarms Biden and Congress

Source: Washington Post 

President Biden will meet Wednesday (3/3/2021) with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to confront growing concern about a global shortage of semiconductors that is hobbling automakers and other manufacturers and has led to production cutbacks.

News of the meeting, confirmed by people familiar with the matter, came as Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for Congress to appropriate funds it previously had authorized for domestic semiconductor manufacturing, calling the current lack of production capacity “a dangerous weak spot in our economy and in our national security.”

Porsche Taycan vs Model 3

Source: Teslarati

While the Porsche Taycan Turbo S and the Tesla Model 3 Performance are very different vehicles, both electric sedans are capable of handling the demands of track driving. The Turbo S far exceeds the Model 3 Performance in terms of price, however, with the German-made super-sedan starting at a price roughly equal to three Model 3 Performance units. 

The wide gap between the Model 3 and the Taycan Turbo S’ price encouraged racing enthusiast and EV owner Rex Raikkonen to see just how far he could push his Tesla on the track. Going into the 2020 SCCA Time Trial Nationals, Raikkonen tried to see if his Model 3 Performance could catch the lap set by the Porsche Taycan Turbo S at the National Corvette Museum (NCM) track. 

Raikkonen’s Model 3 Performance did have suspension upgrades from EV tuning house Mountain Pass Performance, but the all-electric sedan was still running on street tires. The Tesla owner’s goal for the lap was ambitious, seeing as the Taycan Turbo S ran a 2:15.3 lap with professional driver Andy Pilgrim behind the wheel. The Taycan’s run, featured on Automobile Magazine’s Pro Racers show on YouTube, showed just how well-tuned the electric super-sedan was for the circuit. 

On Raikkonen run, he pushed his Model 3 Performance hard around the NCM track,. The Tesla Model 3 Performance was ultimately able to complete a lap around the NCM track in 2:15.8, just half a second behind the Porsche Taycan Turbo S. 

Comments about the run posted on the r/TeslaMotors subreddit mentioned that the Model 3 could have actually matched or even beat the Taycan Turbo S’ 2:15.3 time if Raikkonen had driven a bit more aggressively during his hot lap. With a set of better tires and a more aggressive driving style, the reasonably affordable Model 3 could have exhibited an even more impressive lap.

While he fell 0.5 seconds short of the Taycan Turbo S, Raikkonen remarked that he was not disappointed with his Model 3 at all. The vehicle, after all, only cost about $70,000 including its Mountain Pass Performance upgrades. That’s just a fraction of the Taycan Turbo S’ premium price, which usually reaches well into the $200,000s when spec’d. 

While we are talking about misspeaking, The Drive reminded us of this tweet from back in Sept 2019:

Twitter users, however, immediately reminded Musk of his own and Tesla’s lax attitude toward dictionary definitions. They pointed out that Tesla uses “Supercharger” to describe high-wattage DC charge stations rather than belt-driven air compressors that increase the power density of combustion engines. And also that Musk’s proclamation of “funding secured” didn’t survive a round of fact-checking by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Each week at this time, we pretend to have unlimited funds and we go hypothetical, “Mental” car-shopping-spree on our favorite websites to find the next project, dream car, or long-lost-love from our past.

2001 Toyota Land Cruiser 70 4.2 Pickup

$21,126 US  / 17,500 €

Source: speurders.nl

What’s better than a 70-series Land Cruiser? A 70-series Land Cruiser truck, of course! This go-anywhere, do-anything truck features classic Toyota lines, a 4.2-liter diesel 6 cylinder engine and a manual transmission like God intended.

Since the United States never saw these trucks, Eric located this 116,000 kilometer example in the Netherlands. If it wasn’t for the whole Atlantic Ocean being in the way, I’m sure he would fly in and drive it home. A cool little rig that would be right at home on the Stahl family ranch.

1960 Buick LeSabre 4 door hardtop

Reserve not met at $5,600

Source: eBay

A prime example of a Space-Age sedan, this Buick would look right at-home in the Scott museum. With a 364 ‘nailhead’ V-8 and smooth 2-speed automatic, this pillarless hardtop has room for the entire family. Even the in-laws. The flat roofline and curved back glass are a mid-century delight, along with those swept quarters and rear decklid that culminate in tasteful afterburner taillights. The reserve on this one didn’t get met, so maybe there’s a chance that Daryl could take this one home. Probably not. But maybe.

Dean

2021 Jeep Wrangler 392 

$77,000 (Estimated, available late spring)

Source: Jeep

Dean appreciates a good SUV. Dean also appreciates horsepower. Why not marry the two with a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and a 6.4 liter 470-horsepower V-8? Say what you will about Fiat Chrysler / Stellantis / Whatever-They’re-Called-Now, their formula for making something instantly cool is to drop in a massive Hemi motor and make lots of noise. Dean is 100% okay with this and so are we. Happy trails, Dean. Just be sure to budget for a few sets of tires.

Don’t forget to hit us up at [email protected] with feedback, jokes or automotive news. We’ll see you next time, friends.

The post Episode 44 – The Return of Dino appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the auto podcast that can’t have Steve Brown on two shows in a row… but we probably should because he’s a great interview and a cool dude overall. If you haven’t listened to the last episode, you’ll certainly want to take it for a spin around the block. Winter is in full effect here in the Midwest, but the days are longer. In a month or so, we’ll dig the summer cars out of hibernation and prep for an exciting season of autocross, trail-running, and car shows. Until that time we have some fresh podcast content for you.

In this episode, we bring everyone up-to-speed on President Biden’s plan to electrify the federal vehicle fleet, catch up with Carlos Ghosn’s soldier of fortune, and discuss why you should always leave your car in PARK while you’re paying for parking. All that and more in Episode 43.

Enjoy!

Eric recaps the tragic death of Eric’s beloved daily driver and trail rig, Treehugger 2.0, which met its fate one afternoon while running errands. We discuss the accident, how it happened and why it’s a good to have extra Treehuggers on hand so you can dust them off and put them right back into daily service. RIP, 2.0… you will be missed.  

Daryl purchased a crapload of parts from RockAuto for the ‘58 Plymouth, including ball joints (closeout) and wheel cylinders and wheel bearings. With the new master cylinder, he should be set to have working brakes as soon as it gets warm enough. That also means he’ll have a total of three cars that need brake work this spring. He also ‘waxes poetic’ about Jax Wax ceramic wax, which he put on his 2017 Tundra before winter set in. The ice and snow glide off the Tundra, which is another reason to keep your un-garaged daily drivers clean and protected before the snow flies.

In a previous show, Eric talked about how 3D BotMaker’s YouTube channel helped rekindle his interest in Hot Wheels cars. Like any red-blooded American gearhead, we both love model cars and trucks of yesteryear.

They’re also way easier to bring home than actual cars.

Our good friend and lister Jake Irish took things a bit further by offering us a wonderful suggestion: Explain whether you were a Hot Wheels kid or a Matchbox kid. Great idea, Jake!

You’ve heard of Ford vs Ferrari. Well, this is Hot Wheels vs Matchbox.

Top three most valuable vintage Hot Wheels* cars

Top three most valuable vintage Matchbox cars*

*Value data from the Detroit Free Press

The Verdicts

Eric: We have a Matchbox display at the local soda fountain in Fairbury, called Bellot’s.  You could spin the cars around and pick your number, and they’d pull up a small box and sell you the car you picked. I distinctly remember buying this camper truck model. Maybe it was foreshadowing my future.  So wild when I think back. 

Daryl: I was definitely a Matchbox fan as a kid, and still am today. I thought they were more realistic than Hot Wheels, which I always appreciated. I collected their  “World Class” series with painted headlights and taillights and real rubber tires!  I even had the display stand for them and had them on my dresser for way too long. They’re in a closet now covered in dust. 

What about you? Are you #TeamHotWheels or #TeamMatchbox?

Let us know at [email protected] and we’ll give you a shout-out on the next episode. Special thanks to Jake Irish for letting us run with this segment.

Man Wanted in Carlos Ghosn’s Escape Accuses US of ‘Betrayal’

Source: Associated Press

A U.S. Army Special Forces veteran accused, along with his son, of smuggling former Nissan Motor Co. Chair Carlos Ghosn out of Japan in a box is imploring U.S. officials to block their extradition

BOSTON — A U.S. Army Special Forces veteran accused, along with his son, of smuggling former Nissan Motor Co. Chair Carlos Ghosn out of Japan in a box is imploring U.S. officials to block their extradition.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, days after a judge cleared the way for the pair to be handed over to Japan, Michael Taylor said he fears they will be treated unfairly in the Japanese legal system. Taylor, a former Green Beret and private security specialist from Massachusetts, said he feels betrayed that the U.S. would try to turn him over to Japan after his service to the country.

You dedicate your time in the military and you serve in combat and you do a whole bunch of other things,” Taylor said from the suburban Boston jail where he and his son, Peter Taylor, have been locked up since May. “And now they volunteer to extradite me and my son to Japan for something like this? Yeah, you feel a great sense of betrayal.

Legendary Auto Parts Manufacturer Edelbrock is Shutting its California Headquarters

Source: The Drive

According to a January filing with California’s Economic Development Department, longtime parts-maker Edelbrock announced it would be permanently closing its Torrance base, affecting the facility’s 270 employees with an unconfirmed number of layoffs. This includes workers in the company’s office-based divisions like sales and advertising, as well as employees in the research and development, testing, and manufacturing areas. It did not list a reason for the closure. Edelbrock has been headquartered in Torrance since its inception in 1938. As the story goes, Kansas-born Vic Edelbrock Sr. moved to California in the early 1930s and fell in love with hot rod culture. Edelbrock has been owned by Industrial Opportunity Partners (IOP), a private equity firm, since 2010. IOP also acquired COMP Performance Group in February 2020.

President Biden to Make Entire 645k Federal Vehicle Fleet Electric

Source: Eletrek.co

President Joe Biden has just announced that he will replace the entire US federal fleet with electric vehicles made in the US.

The US federal fleet consists of over 645,000 vehicles, according to the latest Federal Fleet Report. This includes 245k civilian vehicles, 173k military vehicles, and 225k post office vehicles.

Dealers Call on Nissan to Revive Xterra

Source: Automotive News

Stoked by the market frenzy now greeting the return of long-dormant SUVs such as the Ford Bronco and Land Rover Defender, some wishful Nissan dealers are calling for the return of their own long-absent model — the funky Xterra SUV. And according to dealers, the automaker is now listening. The pickup-based sport-ute, once referred to as “the car that saved Nissan” for bringing an infusion of sales to the then-struggling brand in 1999, was discontinued after the 2015 model year, a casualty of new safety regulations and a consumer pivot from truck-based utility vehicles to lighter unibody crossovers.

“Other than the Z car in 1970, the Xterra was the best launch we’ve ever had. It would be great if Nissan would recognize that the Xterra should come back.”

– Scott Smith, Smith Automotive Group President and Nissan National Dealer Advisory Board Chairman, Automotive News, Jan. 25

EVs Don’t Like Winter Weather

Source: WardsAuto

In News of the obvious…

The barriers to EV ownership are coming down. Battery costs are dropping and will reach parity with Internal combustion engine powertrains in just a few years. Range anxiety is becoming less of an issue as more public charging stations get built. And consumers soon will have a rich choice of models to choose from in almost every showroom. But the auto industry faces a major development challenge with EVs: They don’t like winter weather. Or, more properly stated, EV batteries don’t like cold temperatures.

Tundra V6 News

Source: Torque News

Things are evolving and about to change in the Toyota truck world. You see, a next-generation Tundra is coming for the 2022 model year. And we really do not know much about specifics yet. We expect an official announcement within the next month or so, but time will tell where this timeline ends up falling.

But what about the new engine (or engines)? People have associated Tundra with its trusty 5.7-liter engine for what seems like a lifetime. It produces 381 horsepower and 401 lb.-ft. torque. 

Rumors are circling. We may see a twin-turbo Toyota Tundra engine. There could be a hybrid option. Maybe even keeping the 5.7 as an alternative – or a different V8.  (insider scoop… no go!)

3,500 Signed Petitions may Save Small Peoria Businesses From Relocating

Source: CIProud.com

Glen Haven shopping center on the corner of Glen Ave. and University St. in Peoria is home to 7 small businesses, and Club Car Wash intends to build its third facility in Peoria at the shopping center. In efforts to save the shopping center, Erica Pamson created the petition on Monday and currently has over 3,500 signatures. During Tuesday’s Peoria City Council meeting, the city decided to postpone taking any further action on the site for another 30 days.

Illinois Rate Cap Bill Would Impact Auto Lending

Source: Automotive News

An Illinois Senate bill that would place a 36 percent cap on interest charged on all loans extended in the state below $40,000 is drawing concern from dealership and auto finance leaders. The Illinois Legislature passed SB 1792 on Jan. 13, which includes a provision titled the Predatory Loan Prevention Act, which some experts say limits credit access to consumers who fail to qualify for lower interest rate terms. It now goes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his signature. The bill illustrates the tightrope regulators and government bodies walk-in crafting rules that expand credit access for high-risk populations without burying those borrowers under insurmountable debt.

Elon Musk Loses Round One Vs Indian American Student Who Sued Him

Source: news.google.com

A California state judge rejected Musk’s argument that the suit filed by Randeep Hothi was baseless and should be thrown out as an attempt to silence the billionaire’s free speech.

Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk failed to turn the tables on a critic of the company who sued him for defamation.

A California state judge rejected Musk’s argument that the suit filed by Randeep Hothi was baseless and should be thrown out as an attempt to silence the billionaire’s free speech.

Hothi, a University of Michigan graduate student known as “@skabooshka” on Twitter, drew Musk’s wrath two years ago after two incidents, both of which Hothi claims were harmless.

In the first, in February 2019, Hothi was confronted by a security guard when he showed up — to do research, he says — at the Tesla sales center in Fremont, California. In the second, in April 2019, Hothi said he was driving when he spotted a Tesla test car and took photos of it, which he later posted online.

Musk complained about Hothi in an email to an online tech editor, describing him as a liar and accusing him of “almost” killing Tesla employees when he was trying to drive away from the sales center.

Hothi claimed that Musk triggered an online hate campaign against him in the complaint he filed in August in Alameda County Superior Court.

Ford Mach-E Easter Egg Found!

Source: Mach-E Forum.com 

The rear axle in Ford’s new 346 horsepower Mach-e has an Easter egg in the rear differential casting that says “Electric Ponies Live Here”. How cute. How lame. Real performance cars don’t have to advertise they’re powerful. They just bark and everyone listens. 

 We think it’s safe to say this is #NotMyMustang.

Eric:  1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider 1600

Bring a Trailer listing

$56,000 

Eric’s pick this week is a very sleek Italian roadster. More specifically, a 1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider in a non-traditional blue with a black convertible top. Powered comes from a 1,570cc twin-cam aluminum four-cylinder shifted through a five-speed manual transmission. The seller claims this car was sold new in Milan, Italy, and is only a two-owner car hailing from the San Francisco area since 1980. Eric likes the smaller chrome bumpers, 15-inch Borrani wheels, Veglia gauges, and the newer black leather with red piping. This would be a lovely addition to Eric’s virtual garage.

Daryl: 1950 Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe 2 Door Sedan

Vintage Chevrolet Club of America listing.

$12,500

Daryl’s friend John is selling his ‘50 Chevy after enjoying it a few years. It’s a 61,000-mile cream puff that still sports its original paint and interior – Just how Daryl likes them! Mechanically the car has been gone through and the 235 and first-year Powerglide 2-speed trans go like new. While in Florida in 2016, Daryl and his Dad stopped by to visit John and spent an afternoon driving this beautiful Styleline through the backroads of horse country in Ocala. It was such a sweet old car if you’re not in a hurry since it’s slow as molasses… but even still, he wouldn’t mind owning it. 

Thanks for listening, everyone!

Feel free to share this episode with another person who ‘gets it’ and we’ll catch you on the next episode!

The post Episode 43 – Hot Wheels vs Matchbox appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.