The cast of "Cats" were in a PSA when seat belts were the newest hot button topic in the 80s, and were trying to raise awareness to buckle your child into a car seat. "Cats have nine lives, children only one." "No one wants a child to become a memory."

Public Service Announcement by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A classic car dealership took "active steps" to conceal red flags about the authenticity of an uber-rare 1971 Maserati, and is now being sued by Maroon 5 lead singer, Adam Levine, to undo the $950,000 deal — or get paid enough damages to make it right.

in the lawsuit, Levine's lawyers attest that Burbank dealer Rick Cole convinced the Levine's representatives to trade two classic Ferraris in return for what the dealer claimed was a rare 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 Liter Spyder.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by the Adam Levine Living Trust, alleges that classic car dealer Rick Cole or his agents faked documentation and chassis and engine authentication marks on what was represented as one of only 25 or so 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 Liter Spyders ever manufactured.

But the lawsuit says it later turned out that there are “serious questions” about whether the Maserati (valued at $850,000) is authentic — and that Cole took “active steps” to conceal the red flags.

“It is now readily apparent that Cole was well aware that the vehicle is not the actual [Maserati], and that the vehicle has a substantial cloud over its identity, authenticity, and provenance, crippling its market value to a figure far less than that paid

Cole’s website says he’s spent decades as an “Auctioneer to the Stars,” claiming he’s sold more than 20,000 cars and worked with Frank Sinatra, Robin Williams, Sylvester Stallone and Jay Leno. Levine is listed on the site among the other A-listers.

According to Friday’s lawsuit, Levine’s trust agreed with Cole in early 2021 to swap a 1972 Ferrari and a 1968 Ferrari, valued at a combined $950,000, in return for the Maserati and $100,000 in cash. But the trust’s attorneys say that when the rare car was later put up for resale, it was revealed that an identical Maserati with the same vehicle identification number existed elsewhere

Also mentioned in the lawsuit is “the Real 1241,” the actual car given that VIN, which according to the lawsuit was actually sold several years ago to British luxury car collector Clive Joy and “has been in Switzerland ever since as part of Clive Joy’s collection, under the care of legendary race car driver Christian Trabe.”

The lawsuit says that a deeper investigation then revealed big red flags, including that the disputed Maserati had been withdrawn from a 2015 auction over serious concerns about its authenticity, including incorrectly stamped markings on the chassis. And the trust’s lawyers say they believe that Cole subsequently tried to fix those defects, though he still left “giveaways” that the car was not authentic.

“This demonstrates that, after the questioning of the authenticity of the vehicle at [the 2015 auction], someone tried to make the vehicle appear authentic by reproducing or stamping a new chassis plate to make the writing seem more like that used by Maserati at the time, in an obvious attempt to convince a potential buyer,” the trust’s lawyers wrote. “Upon information and belief, it was Cole and/or his agents who made these changes.”

The lawsuit also claims that Cole “repeatedly discouraged” the resale of the case, since he “obviously feared that if the Trust marketed the Vehicle, it would eventually learn the truth concerning its lack of authenticity and corresponding decrease in market value.”

“The identity of the Vehicle is, at the very least, in serious doubt,” the lawsuit says. “It is not the Real #1241. It may be an original Ghibli Spyder in which someone got a hold of the engine and then stamped the Vehicle to try to match the engine. Or, it could just be a converted Ghibli Coupe, in which the original chassis plate was removed and replaced with plate number AM11549S*1241* in an attempt to make the Vehicle more attractive.

“But either way, the Vehicle is not authentic, has no identity and/or has a very questionable identity, which seriously undermines its value.”

In technical terms, the trust is suing Cole for various forms of misrepresentation, breach of contract, and fraudulent concealment; it’s seeking a court order rescinding the sale of the vehicle, or an award of damages of at least $850,000.

https://www.billboard.com/pro/adam-levine-classic-car-dealer-alleged-fake-maserati/

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-02-22/adam-levine-lawsuit-maserati-ferrari-classic-car-dealer?consumer=googlenews

Rick Cole’s was actually the first Monterey collector car auction way back in 1986. He recognized the sales opportunity presented by the throngs of enthusiasts and collectors in town for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Subsequently, a Rick Cole sale was held every year into the ‘90s.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/market-trends/valuation/auction-preview-rick-cole-monterey-2016/

https://www.supercars.net/blog/1969%E2%86%921973-maserati-ghibli-spyder/

https://www.law360.com/articles/1578412

uh oh... they just realized that hurricanes mix salt water, and electric cars - and cause explosive battery fires. Naples Florida alone has had 4 since hurricane Ian

Florida State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis on Twitter wrote, “There’s a ton of EVs disabled from lan. As those batteries corrode, fires start. That’s a new challenge that our firefighters haven’t faced before. At least on this kind of scale."

This has been a known problem for some time, and Florida isn’t the first instance of it happening. In 2018, Italy’s Port of Savona became flooded. Stored there were Maserati hybrids for export. A number of them caught fire when the salt water leaked into the lithium-ion batteries.

“This is an issue many fire departments across southwest Florida are experiencing right now,” North Collier Fire District states. “These vehicles have been submerged in salt water, they have extensive damage and can potentially be serious fire hazards. No one was injured in the fire, traffic interruption was minimal, and the crews remained on scene with the vehicle for hours to ensure it was extinguished.”

To put out these very hot fires can take thousands of gallons of water to put out. Tesla’s emergency response guide says between 3,000 to 8,000 gallons of water are necessary to extinguish an EV fire.

 For gas-powered vehicles, it takes on average around 1,000 gallons of water to put out a fire.

 There have been many instances when after a few days the EV will catch on fire a second time. “It takes special training and understanding of EVs to ensure these fires are put out quickly and safely,” Patronis said. 

 Florida has 95,000 registered EVs according to the Department of Energy. It comes in second for the amount of EVs in each state only to California, with 563,000.

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/flooded-tesla-hurricane-ian-exploding-florida/

when some piece of junk like this gets in traffic ahead of you, back off. Either it is going to try to get you to crash into it for insurance claim on YOUR insurance, or they simply are accident prone

 

PSA, please pass it on

power tool safety rule number 1, don't wear loose clothing. Rule 2, don't be an idiot

 https://ampervadasz.tumblr.com/post/689647633865768960

cleaning the inside of a diff cover this much? Stupid.

just a reminder, that there are some people on the road who aren't concerned about their safety enough to be cautious about their tires... or they can't afford to get tires, even used ones.

from the clutter in the back window, I think this truck owner is living in the truck... and that front tire is blessed by great design and strong materials, as the outer layer of rubber and outermost layer of wires is already worn through.

Be careful out there, because you may need to prevent getting into a collision with someone else that causes a crash through easily prevented problems, like a front tire blow out. 

there are some things you'll want to check for safety... the tightness of the bolt holding your wheels on for one

https://ogdaa.blogspot.com/2021/11/fucking-mondays-gifdump_0953808526.html#more

the handlebar post is another

https://ogdaa.blogspot.com/2021/11/fucking-mondays_0570160523.html#more

a post to remind some of you with big trees, and small garages, that insurance is a good thing, but a stronger roof over your car is better... and you can upgrade that garage anytime you feel you can afford to protect your car better

 

it got lucky that day

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=4714514355238663&set=pcb.4322450134543615

and that is your PSA for the day. Be safe out there

she lived, by the smallest of measurements. Today's PSA

 

I suppose one thing can be learned from this, that can benefit you or anyone driving a car... keeping aware of what's behind you, and how it can ruin your day, can be avoided by the normal moment to moment key advice from safety instructors, PLAN an escape route

https://dailytimewaster.blogspot.com/2021/09/made-it-out-alive.html

Slow down in Yosemite, enjoy the view, and be focused on avoiding hitting the bear cubs. You are there in the park to see the natural beauty and wild creatures... so, why drive so damn fast? Go drive fast on the race track, not in the park

Don't drive fast in the parks, drive slow. Don't kill the bear cubs

cars are a lot quieter now, and drivers are less attentive (an electric tesla on auto drive?) and more critters are getting killed by cars (which there are also, more of) 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2021/07/21/yosemite-national-park-ranger-finds-mother-bear-over-cub/8039306002/

https://www.facebook.com/YosemiteNPS/posts/4194366710611579

and THAT is today's public service announcement

a horrible example of how somethings are unavoidable, because the trailer of that semi had no reflectors, and the damn thing was parked on the road, in the dark.

 https://ampervadasz.tumblr.com/post/650774013289857024

So before you get in your car, make sure your loved ones know you're quite enamored with them, and have your insurance up to the level needed to take care of them. Especially the life insurance. 

I don't think there was anything the dash cam vehicle that recorded this video could do, except drive slower all night long, and use the high beams

It's the time of year when cold stray cats climb into cars and trucks to get warm... so bang on your car in the morning before starting it, and prevent a cat from getting hurt please. Thank you.

 

I have got to remember to do this too... I have seen a stray lately. 

I wonder, do rabbits act like cars and climb all over and inside vehicles? If not, why not?

This has been another PSA, Public Service Announcement from your friendly neighborhood car guy

and Nissan https://pictures-of-cats.org/knock-knock-cats-nissan-campaigns-to-remind-drivers-to-knock-on-the-hood.html

Back in 2016, Nissan launched a campaign in Japan to save cats. “Knock knock cats” was created to remind drivers to knock on the hood of their vehicle before starting the engine. While this is an older story, it’s just as important today, especially in the winter months.

There are an estimated 60,000 stray cats in Tokyo alone. Sleeping under the hood of the car and on top of the tires is common when the weather is cold and wet.

2020 ain't done with us yet, still 1/3rd of the year left, so take a moment and check your insurance coverage, and that your car is covered to the right amount

https://www.facebook.com/groups/996045710517424/permalink/3023856857736289/

damn... keep your arms inside the vehicle at all times gif was faked. Tech is so incredibly realistic! Now the original is posted for comparison

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/annabellehectorworldofweird/620184328517861376

I prefer, a lot, to just post happy interesting stuff, but when I think you might benefit from avoiding having a bad experience when I can post something that allows you to know about bad things? That's a PSA (Public Service Announcement)

Ok, life lesson time, be the guy that steps up, and stops women from being taken advantage of. Be that guy. No need to get aggressive with the creep, just help the girl out. Hero of the day. (rarely do I get to post a hero of the day

If you can't see what's going on, a guy noticed a creep who was trying to get pictures under a girls skirt, stood up, and offered her his seat.

He didn't make an issue of what had happened, didn't alarm the girl with what had happened. He just deflected the situation

Someone else who recorded this on their phone saw what was going on on let the creep get photos. Not cool at all. Be the guy that steps up. Maybe kharma will cause someone else to step up and help your sister, your mom, or your daughter.

PSA over, and lets remember this, but carry on with the rest of your day

Clearer version of this video at https://weonsinnombre.tumblr.com/post/624100829934321664

someone is scattering homemade caltrops made of welded rebar in order to blow out tires, in Texsa, on I-20 from US 69 in Smith County to FM 314 in Van Zandt County.

The Sheriff’s Office says that more than 30 spikes have been collected this week.

https://cdllife.com/2020/someones-throwing-stop-spikes-on-texas-highways-causing-flattened-tires/

22 years of safe driving ended by one old asshole in Montana whose caused THREE collisions in 2020, the year of govt ordered staying the fuck at home

This shit pisses me off a lot, and I would prefer to not add it to what I would rather have as upbeat fun content where we all can admire other people's hard work and cool accomplishments

But, I want YOU to be aware of what crazy shit is going on too, so you can prevent it happening to YOU

So far I only can be sure that I have prevented people from being scammed by the Bud Light Car Wrap scam

https://cdllife.com/2020/elderly-motorist-ends-gravel-truck-drivers-22-year-accident-free-streak/

let the damage to these two rare muscle cars serve as a warning to you and everyone you tell about this brain damaged towing guy, check to see that anyone towing YOUR car have more than half a brain, and know WTF they are doing.

yes, that is a brick chocking the passenger side front tire.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/996045710517424/permalink/2894498827338760/