This is NOT "The Beast"

 I love to watch movies about political intrigue, especially ones that include presidential intrigue.  This usually involves shots of the President going somewhere in his limo.  Except for movies about JFK, this usually involves using a standard stretch limo, complete with opera lights on the side, pulling up.  They may put some flags on the front fenders and a little presidential seal on the door, but it's obvious that it's not a presidential limo.

Volkswagen builds 30-millionth Golf - Autoblog

Volkswagen builds 30-millionth Golf - Autoblog

Interesting Nurburgring Webcam Shot

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I just happened to check out the Nurburgring webcam this morning, and take a gander at what I just happened to catch.  

It seems to be a lousy day to be blasting around the Ring, but the owners of these 4 classic cars didn't seem to mind.  Anyone know what they are?  I think they are older BMWs.  Here's a second shot that I just grabbed.

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Shocking Tesla Video

I'm a huge fan of the Tesla Model S sedan.  I only wish my income would allow me to buy one.  There's nothing not to like.  0-60 in 4.0 seconds, a realistic 260 miles of range.  All the features, luxury and driving performance/handling of a Mercedes S class, Audi A8, BMW 7 series, Porsche Panamera, etc., and a driver interface and features that are right out of The Jetsons.  All for as little as $73K if you can do without the power sunroof and a couple of other things, and as little as $53K if you can make due with the smallest battery pack giving only 160 miles of range. 

Photo from Tesla Motors

Photo from Tesla Motors

There are tons of videos on YouTube of great Tesla Model S reviews and owners singing the praises of their cars, but this one that I ran across this morning really caught my eye.  It's a training video from Tesla showing first responders how to treat Teslas in an accident situation.  My jaw dropped right down to the floor, however, when I hit the 27:30 mark.  Watch the video, it's pretty interesting.   If you're impatient, however, fast forward to the above mentioned point and watch from there to see something pretty shocking.  At least it was for me.  I'm not going to ruin the surprise by telling you what it was...you'll just have to watch it for yourself. 

Ouch!!

Packards - With A Little Help From Our Friends

What if Lincoln, Chrysler, Cadillac, and AMC Had Designed the 1957 Packard?

From "The Daily Drive - Consumer Guide®

1957 Packard Imperious

The year 1956 marked the last hurrah for the “real” Packard. After that, Studebaker tried (somewhat successfully) to turn a Studebaker President into a Packard, but it was too little (literally!) too late.

There are stories of S-P trying to purchase 1956 Lincoln bodies from Ford to turn into Packards, but that idea died on the vine. What if S-P had purchased bodies from Lincoln, Chrysler, Cadillac, or even AMC and then found enough cash to make some sheetmetal and detail changes? Here’s what I think could have been the result.

Be sure to click the "Daily Drive's" link at the top of the page to see more Packards based on Cadillacs, Lincolns, Chryslers and even AMC cars.  

Happy Holidays to CATC Fans!

Happy Holidays to all of you CATC fans out there!  

Have a safe and happy holiday season.

Once buried alive, 1954 Corvette now heads to auction | Hemmings Blog: Classic and collectible cars and parts

Once buried alive, 1954 Corvette now heads to auction | Hemmings Blog: Classic and collectible cars and parts

I've never understood people who do things like this, but I'm glad they exist.  It makes the world so much more interesting.  Click the link above...this is a must-read. 

Ultimate barn (store?) find

Going Nowhere Fast

Baltimore issued speed camera ticket to car stopped at red light - baltimoresun.com

"The Baltimore City speed camera ticket alleged that the four-door Mazda wagon was going 38 miles per hour in a 25-mph zone — and that owner Daniel Doty owed $40 for the infraction.  But the Mazda wasn't speeding.  It wasn't even moving. 

The two photos printed on the citation as evidence of speeding show the car was idling at a red light with its brake lights illuminated. A three-second video clip also offered as evidence shows the car motionless, as traffic flows by on a cross street."

Click on the above link to see the rest of the story, including a video of the alleged infraction. 

1963 Chrysler Turbine: Ultimate Edition - Jay Leno's Garage

Check out what is probably my all-time favorite car.  Fifty of these Ghia bodied 1963-4 Chrysler Turbine cars were given to 203 people to be used as a normal car for three months.  Logs were kept, impressions recorded, and then at the end of the trial period, these beautiful cars were destroyed. 

Chrysler didn't want to pay the import taxes and tariffs on the Italian-made bodies.  All but 10 were burned then crushed.  Of the remaining cars, Chrysler has three, two are in private hands, and the rest are in museums.

How sad.  

Big Tex, 60, destroyed by fire.

Big Tex fire State Fair destroyed - Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

R.I.P. Big Tex

In Autonomous Cars, Intersections Aren't For The Faint of Heart

Autonomous cars are coming.  Make no mistake about it.  Nevada has already approved autonomous cars and California is close to doing has done the same thing.  The video below is a computer simulation of how a mix of driverless cars and human drivers will handle future intersections that have NO traffic signals.  Should make for an interesting ride to work!

Ladies and gentlemen: the new VW Golf - BBC Top Gear

Ladies and gentlemen: the new VW Golf - BBC Top Gear

Do you know that VW has sold more than 29 million Golfs since 1974?

Richard Jones, Tucker Club Co-Founder, Dies.

Richard Jones, Tucker Club co-founder, dies | Hemmings Blog: Classic and collectible cars and parts

This is indeed sad. Mr. Jones was the “go to guy” for all things Tucker. His knowledge of them was encyclopedic to say the least. I’ve followed him for many years on the Tucker club’s website, and this is a tremendous loss for the entire Tucker community. 

RIP Richard, and thanks...

What Could You Have Bought When You Started Driving?

I was going through some old newspaper articles on Google News Search today, and it occurred to me to check and see what used cars were around when I got my driver's license, and how much they would have cost.  

The paper is from Eugene, OR, because that just happened to be the paper I was looking at.  For the date, I picked one in July, 1970 which is the month and year I got my license.  

Just look at some of the stuff that's rare and expensive now, and how much I could have paid for it back then (if I actually lived in Eugene, OR).  

Click the jump link to see more.

You NEED this Jeep

Doesn't everyone need an 8-wheeled, Chevy 327 powered Jeep?  Check out this one found on eBay to see lots more pictures and details. 

via Jalopnik. 

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The Best Mars Curosity Rover Trivia You'll See All Day

I was cruising Jesse's Just A Car Guy Blog today, and saw something that I just had to steal borrow to share with my dozens of regular readers. Did you know that as the Mars Curiosity Rover travels across the surface of the red planet, it will be leaving the letters "JPL" on the surface in Morse Code? Check out the picture of the tire treads.

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As both a car guy, and a geek (I hold a Tech Plus amateur radio license), this is something that put a big smile on my face.

Here is another Morse code Easter Egg for those of you in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area.  If you find yourself in the North Dallas area some night, take a look towards the Texas Instruments headquarters site near LBJ and US 75 (Central Expressway) and look for TI's radio antenna.  You'll see it because it flashes the letters "TI" in Morse Code (one long flash, then two short ones).  I wonder how many other Morse Code Easter eggs there are out there?

Just A Car Guy
The ARRL website about the tire tread code.  

Boogie Woogie House Party

Why post another Marcia Ball music video? Because it's my blog and I want to, that's why! Besides, who doesn't like a little Boogie Woogie in their day?

This is Marcia Ball and Floyd Domino entertaining guests at a private house party. How come I never get invited to parties like this? Enjoy!

Here's bonus video of Marcia performing "Louella". Enjoy!

SIA Flashback – GM’s Far-Out ’59s: When Imagination Ran Rampant, Part II | Hemmings Blog: Classic and collectible cars and parts

SIA Flashback – GM’s Far-Out ’59s: When Imagination Ran Rampant, Part II | Hemmings Blog: Classic and collectible cars and parts

Click the link above to see Part 2 of what your 1959 GM car almost looked like! 

1959 Oldsmobile....almost

SIA Flashback – GM’s Far-Out ’59s: When Imagination Ran Rampant, Part I | Hemmings Blog: Classic and collectible cars and parts

SIA Flashback – GM’s Far-Out ’59s: When Imagination Ran Rampant, Part I | Hemmings Blog: Classic and collectible cars and parts

 Click the link above to see what the 1959 GM cars almost looked like!

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Volkswagen's Fabulous Ads, Pt. 4

Here are some more great ads from Volkswagen.  These are from 1962.  Enjoy!

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How Will You BBQ This Fourth?

As far as I'm concerned, this is the ultimate BBQ setup.
I wonder if they use KingsFORD charcoal?  

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Click to enlarge

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From I Have Seen The Whole Internet 

Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson Needs New Furniture.

My second favorite presenter of our favorite television show of any kind, Top Gear, needs some new dining room chairs.  Today was the second time that his plexiglass chairs have failed him.  It may be the chair's fault, or maybe the good life is taking a toll on his waist line.  He's turning into an American!  Thanks to his daughter, Em, for the insight.  

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Jezza on 6-5-2012

Jezza on 6-23-2012

Curb Your Calf

I love cruising Google Earth and Google Street View, so I thought I'd start posting stuff I've seen on there.  

Both of these images I caught within a block of each other while surfing through Tel Aviv, Israel.  I've seen dogs tied up outside of restaurants and coffee houses, but never a calf.  Things are different in the Middle East I guess.  

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And just a block down the street was this guy who doesn't like Google Street View cars.  This guy held up his "salute" for a series of several photos over about a half a block distance. 

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From 1958 - The Magic Highway

Disney's 1958 vision of the future of transportation, The Magic Highway USA.

Optimistic, weren't they?

Mystery Movie Car?

While going through StreetViewFun the other day, I saw a picture of a really cool car.  I went onto Google Earth StreetView and found it, capturing a few more angles.  The location was in Turin (Torino), Italy. 

I confess that I'm not up on supercars, but I don't think it's a production car.  Also, if you'll notice, it's being followed by a movie industry camera truck (with the cameras pointed the wrong way!).  It may be a custom car for whatever it was they were shooting.  Any ideas?  More pictures after the jump.

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UPDATE:  Mystery solved thanks to a Jalopnik reader named Raphael.  It's the Giugiaro Quaranta Concept car from 2008.  This is a quote from the Jalopnik article:  

"The Italian design house used Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive to power their idea of a futuristic super car employing state-of-the-art F1 technology. Giugiaro claims: "It is an "extreme", ecological, 4WD super-sportscar, the first hybrid car with mid-engine and driving position and a roomy cabin able to accommodate three adults plus a baby in complete comfort." 

What it was doing on the street with a camera truck following it, I have no idea, but apparently it's also been used as at taxi!!  Go figure.    

Diesel Engines from 1905

The following is an article from the Sept 1905 issue of Popular Mechanics concerning diesel engines.  I've been a fan of diesels ever since buying my 2001 Golf TDI and found this interesting.  Maybe you will too.

Clem Goes Drag Racing

If some old farmer or kid wants to drag race you with his beat up old truck, you might want to think twice before putting any money on it.  

From Hooniverse.
 

Texas Highway Patrol Gun Boats

Check out the gunboats Texas State Troopers are using now!

From CNN.

Nevada Approves Regulations For Self-Driving Cars « CBS Las Vegas

Nevada Approves Regulations For Self-Driving Cars « CBS Las Vegas

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada is envisioning a day when taxicabs might shuttle fares without a driver, or people with medical conditions that make them ineligible for a license could get around with a virtual chauffeur.
The concept took a big step when Nevada became the first state to approve regulations that spell out requirements for companies to test driverless cars on state roads.

Click on the link above to read the rest of the story...

Vehicles At The Start Of WWII

From the pages of Life Magazine, Dec. 15, 1942, comes this illustrated list of the vehicles available at the very start of the U.S. involvement in World War 2.  Enjoy!

Click on the pages to enlarge them.

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