Just A Car Guy: 2/15/26

operating as a compression-ignition (like a diesel) under low loads, and spark ignition during high loads. If that last part sounds familiar, it's because Mazda employs it on its Skyactiv-X engine

https://www.motortrend.com/news/mazda-patents-supercharged-two-stroke-compression-ignition-engine

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2368697643629174

notice the airboat engine in the back

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1635419244559864

Hydrokopter Amphibian NE 3000

This Finnish vessel was developed and built in the 1970s by Finnish-Swedes Nils Eriksson and his son Raimo, who saw the need for a vessel that could cross water, snow and ice in the Åboland archipelago a few hundred kilometers west of Finnish capital Helsinki.

Amphibian had sprung, retractable wheels, so that if it had to drive a little on solid ground, it could be equipped with skis.

A Ford V6 engine - later Rover V8 - powered the hydrocopter's propeller, giving it a speed of 8 knots in water, 12 knots over young snow and over 50 knots on ice (57 mph - yeehaw!!). On the other hand, the propeller was very noisy, which is why people had to wear ear protection when sitting in it.

Amphibian was a great success: In Finland they were sold to the coast guard, the military, the police, the fire department and the postal service. The Swedish coast guard and a few municipalities in Sweden also purchased some, the latter using it to transport children to school when ordinary boats could not sail.

At ‘Maskinverkstad Niels Eriksson’ in the town of Lileax, around 130 were built over 20 years, of which there are probably 20-30 left. A few years ago, an Amphibian NE 3000 went for $7,570 when it went under the hammer at the Swedish Klaraviks Auctions.

thank you Kim!

Downtown San Angelo Inc. created the Sheeptacular Art project in 2007 as a tribute to the burgeoning sheep industry that has been crucial to the growth of San Angelo over the years. Not only has the sheep industry been an important facet of San Angelo's history, but it is also a key part of West Texas heritage.”

On Monday April 14, 2025, the Goodyear Proving Grounds Texas joined the ranks of over 200 local businesses and organizations and unveiled their coveted sheep statue.

The San Angelo facility covers 7,250 acres and includes 58 miles of roads and track, 14 miles of fence and more than 200 test vehicles. Associates there test approximately 20,000 tires annually. There are 53 different test surfaces, ranging from asphalt and concrete to bricks, blocks, dirt, mud and more.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1201720091740617&set=pb.100057079136090.-2207520000

https://www.tirereview.com/goodyear-75-years-proving-grounds

This would be an epic boutique gift business for Goodyear to get a spin off entity doing.

if you are reading this, back up for burnout

https://moparinsiders.com/emelia-hartfords-1970-plymouth-superbird-soars-past-210-mph/

this one hasn't moved since 2012

It's hard to stand out in Mira Mesa in the Asian car area of San Diego. But this does it.

I have never seen a Celica like this... a GT, with the sticker on top of the flanks

Spotted from a long ways away - so I tried for an artsy photo

Only the one on the right is getting used.

Here's the engine rebuild shop:

it's on the same side of the road, 2 blocks North.

Candy Apple Red, flat-black on the hood, 15" Spyder rims

https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/car-of-the-week-1968-amx-r-prototype

Jeffords’ accomplishments are all the more impressive when considering the drivers he competed against. Dan Gurney, Sterling Moss, Carroll Shelby, Jim Hall, Bob Bondurant, Roger Penske, Ken Miles, and more were all at the top of their game when Jeffords beat them on track.

https://www.scca.com/pages/jim-jeffords

Just A Car Guy

Saturday, February 21, 2026

Mazda has something new, a 2 stroke, 15 to 1 compression, supercharged engine

then there was the time a trucker won a Daytona

I dig it

The unrestored 68 Coronet R/T convertible with a 426 hemi, AA1 silver with a dark red interior and a red longitudinal stripe. It is an automatic.

the way you see the world often depends on your point of view (as long as you're well fed and healthy and have time for introspection)

Olympics fever. ... I hear that curling has been on 12 hours or more, each and every day

exceptional Duster Twister in Osaka Japan, with a 383

what the hell did someone make this for? By coincidence, Kim just wrote an article about it 2 days ago!

period correct antique camping with 1920s cars? At Lake Tahoe, from the very pleasant Antique Overland youtube ch https://www.youtube.com/@AntiqueOverland

it's time for a smile... this guy uses his RC car to sneak a beer to his buddy every day that he's under wife's orders to have a dry January

Alain de Cadenet's son, Aiden, made this cool little video about his dad, and his dad's favorite car

the Goodyear Proving Grounds Ms. Tira Val-ewe-ator. (tire evaluator) specifically designed with local artist Ashley Perales, of Pop of Color, to display the 80 plus years of the Goodyear Proving Grounds, San Angelo, Texas

think your job is nice? Can it compare to being paid to be on the Goodyear team driving the One Lap of America, in a race Porsche?

lol, did you see how they install garland on the christmas tree at the Goodyear Proving Grounds?

the wallpaper inside the office at the Goodyear Proving Grounds in San Angelo, Texas... is awesome

loving this bird, and the love Goodyear showed this owner (Amelia Hartford)... with a souvenir wheel and it's own display case (wow!)

Farrah's Vette

Friday, February 20, 2026

it's rare to see old cool Corvettes walking around... they're usually kept in garages, so they aren't stolen. This guy has a pair, and they are on the driveway, that's nuts!

not sure what this is... 1969 GM?... I think Camaro, Mike thinks Trans Am. It's been there since 2014 according to street view

this is quite rare.... a 1990s left hand drive Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Active Vacation (JDM Camper edition)

seen on tonight's walk

either this proves that this culdesac is safe for kids to play in, or that kids that play here forget their toys in the middle, and the neighbors are too nice to run over them. Either way, very good place to raise kids.

what is this called? Refusing to trade the old beemer in on the new one? Over and over? or waiting to see how mush the old ones depreciate before the won't have any value at all? Just how old can they get before no one will touch a beemer?

while watching this Petrolicious video, I see this page from a magnaflux shop that did some suspension parts testing, and it's only a couple miles from me, and I wondered if it's the engine rebuild place I know of... nope, it's now an El Polo Loco fast food restaurant

this 69 Rebel SST wagon has beennin this guy's family since he was ten and his parents ordered it new

Mike Marett bought a 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super with one plan. Ship it to Canada. Run the Targa Newfoundland.

there are about 4000 miles of city roads in San Diego. About 20% (680 miles) are within 500 feet of a school, and the city management wants to make traffic crawl to a halt around them.... seems no one got the message to stay off the roads unless you're a car

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Jim Jeffords, former Milwaukee-area racer (SCCA B Prod Champion 1958 and 59 in the Purple People Eater Vette) and manager of AMC’s 1968 Javelin Trans Am campaign, partnered with designer Brooks Stevens, also of Milwaukee, to design the custom AMX-R featuring a Ramble Seat.