The car thread ...

[billy.pilgrim]

Of course

https://www.thedrive.com/news/39020/you ... me-burnout

[O Really]

Not much of a fan of people who tear stuff up just because they can.

[billy.pilgrim]

Definitely would not suit my needs but I can see this working for a lot of people, as a 2nd car.


https://electrek.co/2021/02/13/awesomel ... ctric-suv/

[O Really]

It was a fun weekend at the beach his week. There were several car clubs came cruising around, one of mostly early 40's Chevy/Pontiac/Buicks, and others the usual array of customs, hot rods, rat rods, woodies, and the occasional low-rider. The parking lane along the Carlsbad sea wall looked like a car show.

Then there was a convention of 70's GMC motorhomes, which apparently have a cultish following. There's a Southern California club and also a Northern California club. Others around the country.

Interesting vehicle - specially made chassis, with front-wheel drive, 400ish HP Olds/Cadillac engine, no rear axel and independent rear suspension. Only made them in the 70's.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_motorhome

[Ulysses]

It was a fun weekend at the beach his week. There were several car clubs came cruising around, one of mostly early 40's Chevy/Pontiac/Buicks, and others the usual array of customs, hot rods, rat rods, woodies, and the occasional low-rider. The parking lane along the Carlsbad sea wall looked like a car show.

Then there was a convention of 70's GMC motorhomes, which apparently have a cultish following. There's a Southern California club and also a Northern California club. Others around the country.

Interesting vehicle - specially made chassis, with front-wheel drive, 400ish HP Olds/Cadillac engine, no rear axel and independent rear suspension. Only made them in the 70's.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_motorhome

Interesting design. I'm surprised they went with front wheel drive, but then it does eliminate a long driveshaft if the motor is in front. I wonder how well it did trying to climb hills in the rain/mud/snow, though.

I may have seen one of these when I used to attend bike and car races back in the 80's.

[O Really]

Interesting design. I'm surprised they went with front wheel drive, but then it does eliminate a long driveshaft if the motor is in front. I wonder how well it did trying to climb hills in the rain/mud/snow, though.

I may have seen one of these when I used to attend bike and car races back in the 80's.

And no driveshaft is what lets them sit low as compared to most trucks/RV's. But if you recall, the Oldsmobile Toronado was big in the early 70's, with the front wheel drive. The GMC motorhome used an extended version of that chassis/engine setup. As to driving in bad weather conditions, I doubt anybody who owns one now is going to take it out in that, but front wheel drive cars handle mud and snow better than rear wheel, so maybe they did fine. Or maybe they didn't, which may be one of the reasons they haven't made them for 40 years. In any case, the people who have them now love them.

[Vrede too]

... I wonder how well it did trying to climb hills in the rain/mud/snow, though....

... front wheel drive cars handle mud and snow better than rear wheel, so maybe they did fine....

In general true, but my front wheel drive SUV can lose traction on very steep grades even when they're not slick.

[O Really]

... I wonder how well it did trying to climb hills in the rain/mud/snow, though....

... front wheel drive cars handle mud and snow better than rear wheel, so maybe they did fine....

In general true, but my front wheel drive SUV can lose traction on very steep grades even when they're not slick.

My 4-wheel drive Wrangler farts in the general direction of poor/steep road conditions and taunts them again from the top.

[Ulysses]

Interesting design. I'm surprised they went with front wheel drive, but then it does eliminate a long driveshaft if the motor is in front. I wonder how well it did trying to climb hills in the rain/mud/snow, though.

I may have seen one of these when I used to attend bike and car races back in the 80's.

And no driveshaft is what lets them sit low as compared to most trucks/RV's. But if you recall, the Oldsmobile Toronado was big in the early 70's, with the front wheel drive. The GMC motorhome used an extended version of that chassis/engine setup. As to driving in bad weather conditions, I doubt anybody who owns one now is going to take it out in that, but front wheel drive cars handle mud and snow better than rear wheel, so maybe they did fine. Or maybe they didn't, which may be one of the reasons they haven't made them for 40 years. In any case, the people who have them now love them.

Yes, I guess the engine weight helps with the FWD. I'm pretty sure someone pointed out one of these GM RV's at the race track (probably Laguna Seca) and said it was special, but didn't say why.

[GoCubsGo]

It was a fun weekend at the beach his week. There were several car clubs came cruising around, one of mostly early 40's Chevy/Pontiac/Buicks, and others the usual array of customs, hot rods, rat rods, woodies, and the occasional low-rider. The parking lane along the Carlsbad sea wall looked like a car show.

Then there was a convention of 70's GMC motorhomes, which apparently have a cultish following. There's a Southern California club and also a Northern California club. Others around the country.

Interesting vehicle - specially made chassis, with front-wheel drive, 400ish HP Olds/Cadillac engine, no rear axel and independent rear suspension. Only made them in the 70's.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_motorhome

Hey, that looks familiar. Is it an EM 50?

[O Really]

Ha! Maybe, but since I've learned a little more about them, I'd say it stretches the imagination way beyond reason to pretend one of them could really be a viable "urban assault vehicle." For one thing, the lower half is fibreglass, and the upper is aluminum. All of the entire body would have to be replaced or lined with steel. And if you did that, the suspension would flatten out and the wheels fall off. You could probably replace the gasoline engine with a big diesel, but getting the torque to the front wheels might be an adventure. But WTF, it's not like the entire film was all that realistic anyway, but it sure was funny.

[neoplacebo]

Cherokee Indians ask Jeep to stop using their name.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ch ... e-n1258581

[Vrede too]

Cherokee Indians ask Jeep to stop using their name.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ch ... e-n1258581

... The Jeep Cherokee remained in production through 2001 and was replaced by the Liberty. In 2013, Jeep announced a return to the name for the Liberty's replacement....

It had faced opposition, too.

[O Really]

Did the Comanches also object? But I can see why the Cherokees might not like it. Depending on which year of Cherokee you had (and which of the auto companies was making it), it could have been really good or a total piece of shit that nobody would want their name on.

[neoplacebo]

Did the Comanches also object? But I can see why the Cherokees might not like it. Depending on which year of Cherokee you had (and which of the auto companies was making it), it could have been really good or a total piece of shit that nobody would want their name on.

Yeah, the Indians are way off base on this.......had they been consulted back in the day, they may have suggested a name like the "Reaper" or the "Wildfire" or the "Killer." Mitt Romney's dad used to run American Motors before it went broke and became part of Chrysler. Everything about Mitt Romney, Chrysler, American Motors, and America in general can be illustrated by the gargoyles that appear on the corners of the CHrysler building. It was built back when the gargoyles were in charge.

[O Really]

Yeah, the Indians are way off base on this.......had they been consulted back in the day, they may have suggested a name like the "Reaper" or the "Wildfire" or the "Killer."

Well, there was the "Renegade" (a person who deserts and betrays an organization, country, or set of principles), as well as the "Honcho" and the very clever "Wagoneer." Yeah, they should have asked the Indians.

[GoCubsGo]

Yeah, the Indians are way off base on this.......had they been consulted back in the day, they may have suggested a name like the "Reaper" or the "Wildfire" or the "Killer."

Well, there was the "Renegade" (a person who deserts and betrays an organization, country, or set of principles), as well as the "Honcho" and the very clever "Wagoneer." Yeah, they should have asked the Indians.

The Wagoneer is making a comeback.

[neoplacebo]

Not in my opinion. Hell, that thing looks awful but I guess one can wear one's mask while driving or riding in it.

[O Really]

Not in my opinion. Hell, that thing looks awful but I guess one can wear one's mask while driving or riding in it.

What - do you miss the plastic wood on the earlier version?

[billy.pilgrim]

I worked part time on a land survey crew in college. You had to be special to get a seat in the truck; otherwise it was 4 to 6 of us in the ambassador. Not sure the year, but no fins.
We had beat the thing up so badly by driving any and everywhere through the woods that none of the doors would open. I'm sure we showed great professionalism at each jobsite as we all exited through the windows.