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

something I hadn't heard of until now... when breaking free a seized engine, consider the aluminum oxide. Lubricant type rust penetrators, they won’t dissolve aluminum oxides

 Kroil, PB Blaster, and trans fluid will do nothing about aluminum oxide, and so, once you've soaked the cylinders in those, and it won't budge, try cleaning those out, and then giving white vinegar a try for the same amount of time

another new to me tip is to make a plate to fit over the cylinder and use a portapower to hydraulically push the piston, if all else fails

https://www.facebook.com/groups/496619540483459/permalink/4166880593457317

see  https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/10/penetrating-oils-compared.html for a comparison of penetrating oils

Dan Blocker, who played Hoss on Bonanza, was the 1st tv star to be hired by a car dealership, to help sell cars. Nickey

 The source for this bit of trivia, is the MCACN magazine, and I guess they meant that it wasn't a celeb hired by the manufacturer, as so many radio and early tv stars were part of the advertising of cars in magazines, newspapers, and commercials.

Maybe he was the 1st tv star that was hired by a dealership, and not the manufacturer. 

But what's the real interesting point, is that he was hired by Nickey

the seatbelt on a 96 Viper? Was mounted to the door

Mopar Connection did an indepth look at something intrinsically Mopar, the left hand threads on the drivers side (lots us learned that the hard way) and had something new about the topic I didn't know.

The acorn nuts had 3 hash marks to indicate they were left hand threaded

https://moparconnectionmagazine.com/gallery-wheels-studs-that-confused-generations/

Huh... Goodrich would make tires in whatever color the customer wanted, I guess is the point of this ad

https://forums.aaca.org/topic/341211-period-images-to-relieve-some-of-the-stress/page/326/

this surprised me, the history of the song Convoy! One of my favorites, of course

The song was created by a fictional musician, C.W. McCall, a character created for Old Home Bread Company’s advertising campaign, resulting in a Clio award

An advertising executive collaborated with Mannheim Steamroller founder 

The song was a response to the 1974 federal speed limit of 55 mph, from 75 mph that truckers were used to

The lyrics were changed for the 1978 movie made by Peckinpah, starring Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, and  Ernest Borgnine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convoy_(song)

https://parade.com/entertainment/the-wild-backstory-behind-convoy-the-novelty-song-that-hit-no-1-in-1976

Sam Cooke sang about the Highways and Byways in the hit song Chain Gang, but I never wondered what a byway was until now

"Byways," the roads that are part of the National Scenic Byways Program,  stunning and storied routes, the roads most-traveled including famous ones like the Blue Ridge Parkway, Route 66, Seward Highway, Big Sur Coast Highway, and Florida Keys Overseas Highway, offer unique scenic, historic, or recreational travel experiences across various states.

To be designated as a National Scenic Byway, a byway must meet the criteria for at least one of six "intrinsic qualities": archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The features contributing to the distinctive characteristics of the corridor’s intrinsic quality are recognized throughout the region and are considered regionally significant.

To be designated as an All-American Road, a byway must meet criteria for at least two intrinsic qualities that are nationally significant and have one-of-a-kind features that do not exist elsewhere. The road or highway must also be considered a "destination unto itself." That is, the road must provide an exceptional traveling experience so recognized by travelers that they would make a drive along the highway a primary reason for their trip.

 If you're looking to make some road trip memories of your own, these scenic byways are among the oldest in the US. 

the Historic National Road Scenic Byway

Dates to between 1811 and 1834 when Thomas Jefferson was in office, and authorized the construction of the road back in 1806. Originally called the Cumberland Road, the highway spanned 620 miles, connecting Cumberland, Maryland, to St. Louis, Missouri, and serving as the main route for settlers moving westward across the US. 

the Historic Columbia River Highway in Oregon with emerald forests, snow-capped mountains, crystal clear lakes, and majestic waterfalls, and some of the country's most enchanting outdoor wonders thrive in the northwestern corner of the US. 

Built between 1913 and 1922, the 74-mile stretch of highway is the oldest in the US, and is still drivable today. Traveling from just outside of Troutdale, it's the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge, whose quaint downtown boasts shops, brews, and eateries – and ends in the state's best-kept secret sun-drenched town, The Dalles. You can drive the whole thing in about an hour

https://genius.com/Sam-cooke-chain-gang-lyrics

https://www.islands.com/2062701/oldest-scenic-byways-america/

https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/bywaysp 

https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/bywaysp/byways

the fun paint names from Mopar and Ford

Anti-EstablishMint

 Counter-Revolutionary Red

 Hulla Blue

 Original Cinnamon

 Fruedian Gilt

 Thanks Vermillion

 Lone O ranger (Orange) 

 Lettuce alone

 Strike me pink

 Purr Pull

Some model A paint names that make no damn sense, maybe they did to the insider intelligencia at Ford paint code chemistry (effing dull scientists with their latin! Uggg!) 

Menelous Orange

 Pegex Orange

 Runelite Red

 Chicle drab

 Copra drab 

 Kewanee green

 There are SO many more, but not as much fun, I posted them https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-model-t-had-about-10-colors-to.html

Names of colors that they passed on: Nine colors that were rejected, "Catch Me Copper", "Unforseeable Fuicha", "Statutory Grape", "Gang Green", "Well Red", "Cost Of Living Rose", "Fisher Body Rust", "Hi Ho Silver", "Frank Lloyd White".

Chrysler’s High Impact Paints were available from 1969 through 1973 and included ten new colors that only set customers back an extra $15

Specific twist to one color name, Go Mango, it's not to be pronounced as the fruit, but instead as Go Man Go! 

In the past decade, in the effort to attract customers to buy into the retro-muscle car marketing of the Hemi, the Hell Cat, and the Demon, they brought back fun to the paint names too:  Furious Fuchsia,  Green With Envy,   Pitch Black,  Redline 

https://www.highimpactperformance.org/03-MoparPaints.html

https://www.dodgegarage.com/news/article/showcase/2019/03/high-impact-colors

Thanks Joe for telling me about the license plates stamped "Prison Made"

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/price-result/1962-prison-made-montana-state-shaped-license-plate/?srsltid=AfmBOopfA5c47ROMS5Kmd3dhPhZU9-rE2FOD-ERgd7j3vUKz6CdcFm1Z

Most of Americans are aware that license plates were made in prisons for decades... but this is the first time I've heard of any that were stamped "Prison Made" 

done for President Truman’s plane, the “Sacred Cow.”

The Douglas Aircraft Company built a special plane for the president with an elevator so the wheelchair bound president could be boarded easily. 

The plane’s official name was “The Flying White House” but it was better known as the Sacred Cow because of its heavy security. 

President Roosevelt used the “Sacred Cow” to go to the Yalta Conference in 1945 to meet with Churchill and Stalin to discuss postwar Europe. This was the only time he used the plane since he died 2 months later. President Truman used the plane during his first 27 months in office.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2386148155071569&set=gm.2811476045690895&idorvanity=186487028189823

Here's the original design

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1735087839836763&set=gm.819814074857112

Ever hear of a Super Quad? Not me. I love this hobby, learning new stuff all the time

Flowed 1250, and this was the rear in a dual quad set. 

This was prepped by Dick Harrell. 

The SuperQuads are rare, only made for 2 years, 1969 and 1970, and only available over the counter.

They were 850 and 1000cfm in stock form respectively.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=26291481590444209&set=pcb.4495200910757152

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2695731877370740/

this photograph was taken from Frank Sinatra's Learjet, after it had picked up Frank and Dean that morning and dropped them off at Palm Springs before going on to Edwards airbase.

https://www.facebook.com/planehistoria

Photograph of Frank Sinatra and William P. Lear with Learjet 24A aircraft N175FS, June 17, 1965 during the delivery of Lear Jet No. 31 to Frank Sinatra Enterprises, by Jack Bledsoe

The 23 model was based on the Swiss FFA P-16 strike-fighter aircraft, and over 100 were built before Learjet switched to newer, larger models. Many of the world’s most famous and influential people flew on the Learjet 23

Due to the noise from the engines, they are are only Stage 2 noise compliant, and no one yet makes a Stage 3 kit for these

https://dp.la/item/b880b4a601d08b9f9928e091401e278c

Between 65 and 67, the flightlog of Sinatra's Learjet included:

Marlon Brando and Sammy Davis Jr. flew in it to Mississippi to join Martin Luther King Jr. in a civil rights march

 Sinatra and actress Mia Farrow flew in it on their first date, as well as their honeymoon in France

 The Rat Pack used it to make routine stops between Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Sinatra’s home in Palm Springs

 Elvis used the Lear in May of 1967 to elope to Las Vegas with Priscilla

https://www.geaerospace.com/news/articles/100-year-anniversary/come-fly-away-ge-powered-frank-sinatra-elvis-presley