a 1967-68 Ford Mustang had four different factory steel wheels. A four bump four lug and a three bump four lug 14 inch x 5 inch wheel. Plus a four bump five lug and a three bump five lug wheel.

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10217148882669924&set=pcb.10217148884029958

when filming of Mad Max wrapped, ilmmaker George Miller was completely out of money by the end of production. He shot the classic on a shoestring budget, which he partially funded by working extra shifts as an emergency room doctor

They slapped a $7,500 price tag on the Interceptor, got zero interest, and handed it to mechanic Murray Smith as payment for months of unpaid work. Murray lasted six months before the daily ten-dollar fuel bill broke him.

Warner Bros bought it back for Mad Max 2, built a sacrifice double for the explosion, and kept the original. Later restored by fan Bob Fursenko and confirmed authentic by Murray's initials scratched behind the door trim, it crossed oceans, sat in a UK museum, and finally landed in an Orlando museum where an offer rumored at $2 million was refused. The car everyone once paid in trades is now worth more than the movie's entire budget, several times over.

Because they couldn't afford traditional wages for background talent, the production hired a real-life Australian biker gang called The Vigilantes to play the villainous Toecutter’s gang. They, along with several other extras and on-set security, were paid entirely in slabs of beer

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122227871420369193&set=a.122116205678369193

Mad Max went on to gross over $100 million worldwide, setting a Guinness World Record at the time for the most profitable movie ever made relative to its budget

New York’s only fraction of a street, (the only street with a fractioned number in New York City) 6 1/2 Avenue was given its official signposts in July 2012 by the Department of Transportation.

The thoroughfare is part of the over 500 areas in the city that are known as Privately Owned Public Spaces. These POPs originated in the 1960s when the city gave property developers incentives for creating public spaces as part of their new buildings. These privately owned public spaces usually took the shape of plazas, atriums, walk through arcades.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/6-1-2-avenue-manhattan-s-secret-street

After all these years, I never realized that the Tesla speed settings / Ludicrous Speed, Plaid - were something Elon Musk picked up from the movie Spaceballs (thank you Marco the Lab!)

The Tesla Plaid Origin: 

Elon Musk named Tesla's high-performance powertrain after the 1987 Mel Brooks sci-fi parody film Spaceballs. 

In the movie, the spaceship Spaceball One travels through ridiculous speeds: Light Speed, Ridiculous Speed, Ludicrous Speed, and finally, "Going Plaid". 

When the ship reaches Plaid speed, it moves so fast that the stars warp into a literal tartan plaid pattern.

When the villain spaceship prepares to chase the heroes, the ship commander skips over Light and Ridiculous speeds for the rarely engaged Ludicrous speed.

 Tesla previously introduced "Ludicrous Mode" for acceleration, so "Plaid" was chosen as the ultimate step above it.

In 2016, Tesla introduced Ludicrous Mode as the ultimate performance setting of the Model S and Model X.

Tesla introduced the even quicker Ludicrous Plus Mode in 2017.
Tesla discontinued Ludicrous Mode and Ludicrous Plus Mode for the 2022 model year.
The Model S and Model X Plaid are Tesla’s new performance benchmark vehicles.

Tesla introduced the Model S Plaid for the 2021 model year, replacing the temporary Ludicrous driving mode with a more powerful vehicle overall. The 2025 Model S Plaid offers impressive specs:

1.99-second 0-60 mph time
200 mph top speed
309-mile range
The Model X received the Plaid treatment after the Model S. Its performance numbers are slightly tamer but still strong:

2.5-second 0-60 mph time
149 mph top speed
335-mile range

Both vehicles offer a range of upgrades over the standard models, including:

Performance electric motors
Carbon-fiber bodywork
Performance brakes

https://www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/ludicrous-mode-ludicrous-plus-mode

news to me.... they built about a 100 Barracuda and Challengers in Antwerp Belgium, and some in De Nekaaf, Rotterdam, Netherlands

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ebodies/permalink/28382971091321690/

there were even a few assembled in Switzerland. 

What's really cool are the 100 or so all white Challengers that were assembled at the Simca plant in Poissey.

How've I been a gearhead, a car guy, a mopar fan - and not learned of this until now? 

and that had me realize the French racing Barracuda was probably made in Europe

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10165062763755833&set=gm.2342223662971508&idorvanity=804065043454052

A ghost town named Goo... another was named Tunk - so there must have been enough odd named ones that it wasn't very unusual

Goo was likely located off of a railroad branch that extended from Boyne Falls area toward Alba. It doesn't sound like it was much of a town, more likely a logging camp or small settlement.

"Goo" appears in the Rand McNally Shippers Guide for Michigan, 1908 and 1917.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1282668961809379/permalink/28327162176933358

There is at least 110 different parts that differentiate the 64½ from the 65 and 66 models. One of those is the automatic transmission shifter bezel.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1564646985448519&set=a.599919666728879

the 911 Turbo turns 50, fine, that's cool and etc... but, what I realized, is I haven't heard why Porsche 911s seem to have very good looking plaid upholstery. German car, Scottish cloth design - so that had me looking into that...

https://www.porsche.com/stories/innovation/porsche-911-turbo-50-years/

How the historic tartan pattern made its way into the latest Porsche anniversary collections? What does a fabric with deep Scottish roots have to do with Porsche?

Research reverals that the McLaughlin tartan was a design highlight of the 911 Turbo # 1, because  the chief designer at Porsche at the time, was going for a fashion look and wore a pair of tartan trousers to work...  Inspired by his bold style choice, the design team decided to explore how this classic pattern could add a unique flair to the interiors of their cars.

At the 1973 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Porsche unveiled the 911 RSR Turbo concept car, which featured an upholstery fabric inspired by the Black Watch tartan in a blue, green and black pattern. 

Two more patterns were soon added to the collection: the McLaughlin (also known as MacLachlan) tartan in a bold red and blue, and the Mackenzie tartan in shades of beige, red, blue, white and olive green. 

 The tartan interiors quickly became a distinctive feature of the Porsche high performance models

https://www.porsche.com/stories/culture/what-is-the-porsche-tartan-collection/

The words "horse" and "car" trace back to a shared Proto-Indo-European root (*ḱers-) meaning "to run," connecting the running animal to the running vehicle.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122265609410221106&set=a.122126356070221106

I just learned that John Force and I both have May 4th for our birthdays!

 I already knew Audrey Hepburn, because before the internet, she was the only one famous enough to be mentioned on Entertainment Tonight's daily celebrity birthday announcements 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Force  John was born in 49, same year as my mom

Now that the internet has data gathered all the info and stats, it's a matter of just asking an AI program who was born on any particular day, to learn about the celebs that share your birthday. 

So, here are some others that I share my birthday with, just fwiw

Richard Jenkins (terrific role in Cabin In The Woods) 

Will Arnett (most fun Batman!) 

Randy Travis

Mick Mars

writer Robin Cook, most famous for Coma (1977) OutBreak (1987)

Dick Dale (Misirlou)

Something I only just learned of... the the Taconic State Parkway, a 105-mile scenic roadway passing through New York, prohibits commercial vehicles from using it. "vehicles with painted or displayed signs, names, or insignia"

“When New York State’s picturesque state Parkway system was built early in the Twentieth Century, it was designed for automobiles. 

Low stone bridges on the Parkway system have posted vertical clearances as low as 6 feet, 11 inches.

 Commercial vehicles often hit and get stuck under these low bridges, causing serious accidents and long delays while they are being removed,” said the New York State Department of Transportation.

https://cdllife.com/2026/troopers-ticketed-114-commercial-vehicle-drivers-for-using-restricted-new-york-state-parkway/

So, since this isn't widely known, and is often violated, the state uses it as a revenue generator, and on July 27 and July 28, 2026, troopers conducted an operation targeting commercial vehicle traffic, and made 114 tickets for violating the Parkway Rules and Regulations, (vehicles with painted or displayed signs, names, or insignia operating on the Parkway)

the United States Air Force has only one dedicated close-support fighter, the Warthog / A 10 (thank you George !)

It has a 30mm Gatling with the payload capacity of four B-17s.

The Air Force, though, doesn't seem to care much for the Warthog, and has been trying to get it out of service. 

the Air Force has stopped training Warthog drivers, and depot maintenance operations on the A-10 are wrapping up. 

Now, though, there's a new bill in Congress to keep the 'Hogs flying for a few more years: It's called the Bolstering Recognition, Resurgence, Retention, and Remembrance of the Thunderbolt Act.

That's right. It's the BRRRRT Act.

We've learned from the war with Iran how useful a flying Avenger cannon can be, and that's prompting a lot of people to take another hard look at keeping them around. The BRRRRT Act proposes to keep at least 126 Warthogs flying.

There's still a place in the modern battle space for a dedicated, low-and-slow, dedicated close air-support airplane, and the A-10's a very, very good one

https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/07/24/keeping-the-a-10-flying-the-new-brrrrt-act-n2204736#google_vignette

https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/02/29/could-this-drone-replace-the-a-10-warthog.aspx

Elwood Blues, was partly based on Felix the Cat, the black and white, and Felix's "Magic Bag of Tricks" became Elwood's briefcase handcuffed to his wrist, that he carried onstage to retrieve his harmonica from

According to Aykroyd he based the black and white look of the brothers and the bag that Elwood carries around, on the popular comic strip and cartoon character.

For those interested, Aykroyd makes his Felix reference around the 14:05 mark in this episode of the Fly on the Wall podcast  https://open.spotify.com/episode/6gxrIjHrQUyTnX6Sl95JyT

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/aug/03/how-we-made-the-blues-brothers-dan-aykroyd-john-landis-interview

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dougwrightawards/posts/10161832465062164

The Type 96 ku radio receiver (in the photo) were purchased by the Japanese Navy from Sylvania U.S.A. and marked U.S. Navy!

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1477911691035567&set=a.634513275375417

ever enjoy the song Summertime, by Mungo and Jerry?

The revving engine sound in the middle, is the sound of a Triumph TR6 roadster

When recording the track in Pye Studio 1, the band and producer Barry Murray needed a sound effect to match the song's open-road theme. Because they didn't have a motorcycle handy, the recording engineer (Howard Barrow) drove his Triumph sports car past the studio building while a microphone was set up outside on the ramp to capture the exhaust noise. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/659232924278450

reason a C4 Corvette is better for racing than a C5? Smaller body, less air resistance. 2,025 Commemorative Edition Z06s were made and they had carbon fiber hoods, another plus

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-chevrolet-corvette-z06-38/

Today's trivia that I've never heard of before, and only just learned of:

In the early days of motoring in the USA, one of the most popular cars was the Ford Model T. As were so many T's in comparison to other vehicles, the aftermarket manufacturers concentrated on accessories and "improvements" for the Model T. 

In fact, because of the vastness of this market, a new phrase was born: "fits to a T"

https://www.thecarburetorshop.com/Carbshop_virtual_museum.htm

1952 Willys-Overland M38A1 has a odd notch on the top of the rear 1/4 panel

a couple months ago I posted one I found on a walk,  https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2026/02/its-rained-lot-lately-and-this-jeep-has.html#comment-form

it's a notch for a soft top frame

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willys_M38A1#/media/File:Nekaf_met_stroomaggregaat.JPG

a very unusual piece of marble architecture in Manhattan (the Inwood Arch) gets no attention, no historical recognition, and only is noticed as an out of place curiosity... a scale replica of the Arc de Triomphe, not really noticeable behind some auto body shops

Used as a storage by a transmission repair shop!

built in 1855 as an entrance to a hilltop mansion (that was eventually demolished in 1938 to make way for apartment complexes) that in 1895 was used as a clubhouse/HQ of the Suburban Riding and Driving Club, near the Harlem Speedway

the commercial property owner of it, inherited the property from his father, who saved a guys life in WW2 and was gifted the property including the Arch, in thanks

At the end of 216th st, on 5063 Broadway.     

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2372741329867888

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaman-Drake_Arch

https://myinwood.net/the-inwood-arch-and-mansion-circa-1896/

https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/05/realestate/streetscapes-seaman-drake-arch-encrusted-relic-mid-19th-century-inwood-estate.html

it was even covered by Scouting Ny! I loved that site! Sadly that guy stopped adding to his blog. https://www.scoutingny.com/how-a-beautiful-19th-century-marble-archway-became-an-auto-body-shop/

one of the sides of the arch is inside the transmission shop

this is what it looks like inside

In the 1978 film The Wiz, the Lion is named Fleetwood Coupe De Ville, and he's got a pretty cool rear view mirror

 

One of my favorite childhoood movies... the graffiti people, the lion, scarecrow and tin man, the monster trash cans, walking cameras in the Emerald City, those cool taxi cabs, and the very cool motorcycle gorillas! 

And the great songs, No Bad News, and Ease On Down the Road! 

But I'd never noticed that the lion's name is Fleetwood Coupe De Ville until now