Saturday, April 19, 2014
Jeep is getting funky, and making some unusual models, the Polar Wrangler Unlimited, the Willys Wheeler, the Wrangler Unlimited Dragon Edition, and the Call of Duty
It's been years since I last saw a Prowler...
Oh, how many years has it been since Mopar took chances and made design statements like the Viper, Prowler, etc? 20 years ago?
Taxi driver in New York sneaks through toll gate 4000 times, owes the MTA 28,000 in tolls for crossing the RFK bridge
Taxi driver, 69-year-old Rodolfo Sanchez, has been charged with stealing more than $28,000 from the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) by, “crossing the Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Bridge and entering the Midtown Tunnel without making a toll payment on more than four thousand separate occasions by ‘piggybacking’ on cars directly in front of his cab between 2012 and 2014.”
District Attorney Brown says that Mr. Sanchez would tailgate the a vehicle in front of his cab, “thus allowing both vehicles to pass through the toll lane before the barrier came back down.” The New York Times notes that Mr. Sanchez, a Long Island City, Queens resident, if guilty, wouldn’t be the first person to have committed this crime, but, “no single driver appeared to have ever been caught making quite so many free trips.”
Prosecutors caught Mr. Sanchez when MTA Bridges and Tunnels Director of E-ZPass Maintenance Joseph Gugliero discovered that an expired E-ZPass (an electronic toll-collection device) that had been reported lost was making regular crossings of the RFK Bridge.
Found on http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/taxi-driver-accused-of-tailgating-to-avoid-paying-a-whopping--28k-in-tolls-202911384.html
stolen car is then sold, to a 72 year old for $300, and when the original owner is contacted, lets the old guy keep it. THAT is a good samaritan
Last week, a thief stole a 1993 Chrysler New Yorker from a house in Boonville, Indiana and then sold it to a 72-year-old man for $300, in the rightful owner’s name. The 72-year-old man, however, started to have a nagging feeling that the deal was just too good to be true and so he gave the car’s rightful owner, Derk West, a call after looking him up
Mr. West met up with the 72-year-old who had unwittingly bought his stolen Chrysler and determined the senior citizen needed the vehicle more than he did. As Mr. West told WFIE, “…72-years-old and fixed income. Stuff like that. He was out $300, he was out the money and he was just, really upset. He told us, ‘Too good to be true.’ I just drove the car for several years as a work car…By the time it was over, I worked it out, I just wound up giving him the car. He needed it worse than I did.”
And the bastard that stole the car was captured by cops "was caught because he had signed the receipt using his social security number."
Found on http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/man-allows-72-year-old-who-unwittingly-bought-his-stolen-car-keep-it-171117743.html
Mr. West met up with the 72-year-old who had unwittingly bought his stolen Chrysler and determined the senior citizen needed the vehicle more than he did. As Mr. West told WFIE, “…72-years-old and fixed income. Stuff like that. He was out $300, he was out the money and he was just, really upset. He told us, ‘Too good to be true.’ I just drove the car for several years as a work car…By the time it was over, I worked it out, I just wound up giving him the car. He needed it worse than I did.”
And the bastard that stole the car was captured by cops "was caught because he had signed the receipt using his social security number."
Found on http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/man-allows-72-year-old-who-unwittingly-bought-his-stolen-car-keep-it-171117743.html
SAFETY NEWSFLASH: 2.6 million GM vehicles have been recalled since February, 13 people known dead, in 32 crashes, due to a 1 dollar switch
At least 13 deaths in Saturn Ions, Chevrolet Cobalts and other models have been linked to the faulty ignition switches, which are prone to being bumped or jostled into accessory mode while cars are still moving. That can shut off engines and disable power steering, power brakes and airbags.
The company is facing numerous lawsuits over the vehicles, on behalf of individuals injured or killed in crashes or customers who say their cars lost value as a result of the recall.
Plaintiffs in those cases have accused GM of knowing about the defect for at least a decade, but failing to recall cars until this year.
The case is Silvas v. General Motors, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, No. 14-89.
found on http://news.yahoo.com/u-judge-declines-order-park-now-notices-gm-165837959--sector.html
GM has reported several things that could cause the ignition switch to fail. If the car goes over a hard bump, or if the steering column or ignition switch is suddenly jilted or jarred, or if the weight of the key ring is significant and causes the ignition switch to loosen over time, then the engine may suddenly turn off and the airbags may become disabled.
Traffic deaths caused by such conditions began being reported many years ago, yet GM did not recall the affected vehicles to fix the problem. GM has admitted that it was tracking and following such cases with interest, but still did nothing.
above two paragraphs from http://www.pulaskimiddleman.com/practice-areas/products-liability/gm-recall-lawsuits/?gclid=CJjtj-Xw7L0CFRSPfgod33YAng
Beginning in January, 2014, GM has recalled the following vehicles:
Buick Enclave – 2008 to 2013
Chevrolet Cobalt – 2005 to 2010
Chevrolet HHM – 2006 to 2011
Chevrolet Traverse – 2009 to 2013
GMC Acadia – 2008 to 2013
Opal GT – 2007 Pontiac G5 – 2007 to 2010
Pontiac Solstice – 2006 to 2010
Saturn Ion – 2003 to 2007
Saturn Outlook – 2008 to 2010
In the wake of further studies it is possible that GM may recall additional models soon. Additionally, it has been reported that the faulty ignition switches could have been repaired for less than $1 each.
“We now know, from Engineering Drawings and Documents submitted to the U.S. Congress by General Motors, the company created two competing designs for the ignition switch on the 2003 Saturn Ion and later models including the Chevrolet Cobalt and other recalled vehicles,” it says. “But GM chose to use the ignition switch that would fail as your customers were driving innocently on the highway.”
The company is facing numerous lawsuits over the vehicles, on behalf of individuals injured or killed in crashes or customers who say their cars lost value as a result of the recall.
Plaintiffs in those cases have accused GM of knowing about the defect for at least a decade, but failing to recall cars until this year.
The case is Silvas v. General Motors, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, No. 14-89.
found on http://news.yahoo.com/u-judge-declines-order-park-now-notices-gm-165837959--sector.html
GM has reported several things that could cause the ignition switch to fail. If the car goes over a hard bump, or if the steering column or ignition switch is suddenly jilted or jarred, or if the weight of the key ring is significant and causes the ignition switch to loosen over time, then the engine may suddenly turn off and the airbags may become disabled.
Traffic deaths caused by such conditions began being reported many years ago, yet GM did not recall the affected vehicles to fix the problem. GM has admitted that it was tracking and following such cases with interest, but still did nothing.
above two paragraphs from http://www.pulaskimiddleman.com/practice-areas/products-liability/gm-recall-lawsuits/?gclid=CJjtj-Xw7L0CFRSPfgod33YAng
GM acknowledges that the faulty ignition switch has been linked to 32 crashes and 13 deaths.
The design GM ended up choosing to install in vehicles starting in 2003 did not meet GM’s own design specifications for torque, as shown by documents released last week.
Beginning in January, 2014, GM has recalled the following vehicles:
Buick Enclave – 2008 to 2013
Chevrolet Cobalt – 2005 to 2010
Chevrolet HHM – 2006 to 2011
Chevrolet Traverse – 2009 to 2013
GMC Acadia – 2008 to 2013
Opal GT – 2007 Pontiac G5 – 2007 to 2010
Pontiac Solstice – 2006 to 2010
Saturn Ion – 2003 to 2007
Saturn Outlook – 2008 to 2010
In the wake of further studies it is possible that GM may recall additional models soon. Additionally, it has been reported that the faulty ignition switches could have been repaired for less than $1 each.
In an interview, Ditlow told NBC News that, based on his 40 years experience in the auto industry reading engineering and cost documents, he can reach no other conclusion other than that GM opted for the shorter part because of the price.
The new allegation against GM came Wednesday morning in a joint letter to GM CEO Mary Barra from Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, and Joan Claybrook, former administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and former executive director of Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization.
Kevin Six says that before he takes his car in to have it fixed, he's inviting artists to help him paint the outside of the vehicle with messages and imagery meant to communicate their disappointment in the slow and slimy way he says General Motors handled the recall.
http://deathtrapartcar.com/?utm_source=2007CobaltDeathtrapArtCar+E-Mail+List&utm_campaign=4d40606625-Open_Car_4_22_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_95470e913d-4d40606625-147363865
Friday, April 18, 2014
the high school present car, that was taken away, and stored til the dad died... with only 5000 miles on it
Purchased by a North Dakota farmer for his daughter as a high school graduation present, it was taken away when the girl’s underwhelming academic performance returned her to the family farm after a brief stint in college. Carefully stored in the farmer’s barn, and forever off limits to his daughter, the car sat untouched until the man’s death in 1970. Then, the car had a mere 5,000 miles on the odometer; today, it’s racked up just 36,000 miles and is described as “entirely original,” down to the wood, chrome and carpeting.
found on http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2014/04/18/colorado-collector-parting-with-25-years-of-memories/
How Mexico break a teachers strike... but don't feel bad for the teachers, it seems that they are the problem
The teachers' demonstrations have slowed passage of Pena Nieto's education reform and the pace of his wider agenda of structural reforms, which seeks to reengineer some of Mexico's worst-run institutions, including the weak tax-collection system and underperforming state oil company.
The teachers are now trying to maintain pressure to protect their rights and privileges as the government puts the labor reforms into effect and reduce union control over teacher hiring and assignment. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/09/2013913221252883327.html
Just like the UAW in the USA, unions have outlived their purpose, and become as corrupt as the corporations and companies that used to abuse workers.
Found on http://karakullake.blogspot.com/2013/09/mexican-riot-truck.html
interchangeable parts are very cool... here's a transmission that is used in 11 different car brands, the Aisin AW55-50SN
2006-- Pontiac Torrent
2004-- Chevrolet Equinox
2004 Saturn Ion
2003--2005 Volvo
2002--2008 Lancia Thesis
2002--2008 Opel Vectra
2002--2003 Saturn Vue V6
2003-2007 Saab 9-3
2004-2006 Nissan
2001-2007 Renault Laguna V6
2007-2008 Suzuki XL7
Found on http://karakullake.blogspot.com/2013/09/transmission-manufacturers.html
2004-- Chevrolet Equinox
2004 Saturn Ion
2003--2005 Volvo
2002--2008 Lancia Thesis
2002--2008 Opel Vectra
2002--2003 Saturn Vue V6
2003-2007 Saab 9-3
2004-2006 Nissan
2001-2007 Renault Laguna V6
2007-2008 Suzuki XL7
Found on http://karakullake.blogspot.com/2013/09/transmission-manufacturers.html
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Australia to England in a Fiat Multipla in color photos from an epic adventure in 1969.
the link at the bottom of this post is one to a website with a couple dozen photos of this trip across Asia and the middle east... very cool to see the sights from 45 years ago, before the tourists and scammers made it all so ugly
From
http://theamazoeffect.blogspot.hu/2013/09/two-men-fiat-multipla-14500-mile-journey.html via http://karakullake.blogspot.com/2013/10/australia-to-england-in-fiat-multipla.html
Colombo Port, Sri Lanka (1969) and I found this photo by accident!
San Diego historical photos
the above is a Fageol, in Balboa Park
Above, Adams Ave Trolley Barn at Park Ave
Below, a maintenance trolley
above Del Mar train stop
Above downtown San Diego around 1886
Above, the Mission Beach Special
Above, the famous Mission Cliffs park
Above, and below, Pacific Beach
Above, Mission Valley looking West, between 1958 and 1967 (Thanks Chris!)
Above, 30th at El Cahon
Above, Alabama at El Cahon blvd
Above, Down Town San Diego, 1890s
Above, looking North from above Adams Ave into Mission Valley in the 1940s.. the loop of a road is Panorama Dr. In the upper left is Texas and what will become Interstate 8
All found on http://www.johnfry.com/pages/PhotoSanDiego042.html
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