When Toyota introduced its first model in the USA, the Crown, in 1957, they attempted a common American advertising stunt – an endurance run from Los Angeles to New York. However, the car barely managed to reach Las Vegas.
cars
The Dodge La Femme, 1955…
The Dodge La Femme, 1955, was the first car made exclusively for women and it included purse, boots, raincoat and umbrella.
Bertha Benz successfully marketed…
Bertha Benz successfully marketed her husband’s invention, the motor car, when she took it for a 65 mile trip, overcoming mechanical problems and inventing brake shoes on the way, and proving that cars were suitable for long journeys. Her trip gained attention, resulting in Benz’s first sale.
When France was occupied by the Germans…
When France was occupied by the Germans in 1940, Citroen was forced to produce vehicles for the Nazis. They chose to move the fill line on their oil dipsticks lower, causing the trucks to seize under stress from low oil.
On October 6, 1909, Vancouver…
On October 6, 1909, Vancouver revealed its first Auto Ambulance and was taken on a test drive, when it ran over and almost instantly killed a wealthy man from Austin, Texas. Ironically, this man was the first person the ambulance picked up.
The largest non-commercial…
The largest non-commercial rocket launch in European history was done for an episode of Top Gear where they tried to send a Reliant Robin into space.
1981 Cadillac Eldorados were…
1981 Cadillac Eldorados were fitted with a metal plate under the driver’s seat to fix a balancing problem. This saved mob associate Frank Rosenthal‘s life when the plate shielded him from the force of a car bomb exploding under his Eldorado.
About 1/3 of new cars no longer…
About 1/3 of new cars no longer come with a spare tire. While some have run-flat tires, having no spare tires decreases weight and increases fuel economy and also quietly saves car companies millions of dollars a year.
Car makers employ…
Car makers employ sound engineers to give car doors that satisfying ‘thunk’ when closed.
An oil change for a Bugatti…
An oil change for a Bugatti Veyron costs $21,000 and takes approximately 27 hours.