Hooniverse » Obscure connections

Last Call- Reliance Tractors Edition

Robert Emslie — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:30:50 +0000

Here’s the product label for a part I recently recently received via UPS. The application list reads like a panoply of failed English (and one Italian) auto makers. With the exception of Ford, Land Rover and – surprisingly – Lotus, everyone else has gone the way of Elvis, and parts like this are become harder and harder to come by. I’m not going to tell you what was in the box, the part number is on the label, and you’ll just have to figure that out for yourselves.

Hooniverse Asks- Have You Ever Gotten an Incredible Deal on a Car?

Robert Emslie — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:00:10 +0000

You know the myth- a small ad in the local paper lists a Porsche or muscle car of some sort at an unbelievable price. The buyer calls up the seller, who turns out to be a woman going through a divorce. She says that her soon to be ex has run off with his secretary or something, and has told her to sell his car and send him the money. That’s why it’s such a deal.

Of course, stories like this bleed into the urban landscape, the details changing over the years, but the basic tenets remaining. Taking the leap from myth to reality, has something like this ever happened to you? Have you ever been the recipient of a deal on a car or truck that seemed to go to be true?

Image sources: [ mytrade.co,Photobucket]

Ricer Wings Save the Planet

Robert Emslie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:08:04 +0000

Here’s an idea who’s time has come. Designed by Leon Zhu, from China, it’s a folding solar panel that stores in your car’s fashionably massive rear-wing! When you’re parked, it unfolds to provide both shade and a jolt. When you’re on the move, it stores in the slamin’ big spoiler.

Think of the benefits of a solar panel on your car- making time with Prius-driving eco-chicks; the ability to leave the radio on for the dog/baby you’ve left in the 110° car; and the satisfaction of knowing that you’re doing something for the environment, and getting a hefty tax rebate. And we know that’s what it’s all about.

The only thing that could make it better would be if it snapped shut like a window blind- flapflapflapflap.

Source: Designboom

That GM’s Such a Slut!

Robert Emslie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:30:02 +0000

Over on the Jalopnik, I told you about a Porsche 944 that had an LS1 dropped under its hood-

I coulda' had a V8, oh wait, I do.

We got all nice pricy or crack pipy over this, and right now the consensus seems to be that fifteen large is pretty fair dinkum for that frankenporsche. It also seems that the Chevy 350 isn’t generally monogamous and has found its way under the hoods of a few other European exchange students as well.

Not only did that German lassie succumb to the charms of Chevy’s muscular push-rods, but so did this British babe from the Thatcher era.

Yes sir, that’s a pimped out ‘82 Lagonda that’s also had the Chevy’s hand up its skirt. On top of losing three camshafts, the engine replacement means that you can no longer pop the hood and check the little brass plaque to see who it was that built your motor. Of course the added horsepower and reliability may make up for that, but is that more important than this car’s reputation and honor?

It’s a little disconcerting to drag the draw bridge-big hood open and see the Corvette flags and script where you’d normally find hammered gray cam covers and oil leaks, but it’s even more odd to slip behind the wheel and see, not TV screens, but sweeper dials from a Vette. That’s like getting your baby-daddy’s name tattooed as a tramp stamp.

There’s still plenty of TVs in the car, including one at crotch level on the passenger side that seems a little oddly placed. There’s also more remote controls than behind Bill Gates sofa cushions.

What does this besmirched beauty cost, you might ask? Well, right now the seller is asking $46,000 for sloppy seconds the opportunity to bring her home and restore her honor.

Check out the Chicago Craigslist ad for a lot more shots, and keep those Chevys away from your daughters!

Hat tip to Tollberg for the link.

Name That Part: High School Math Edition

Robert Emslie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:30:55 +0000

It just doesn't add up!

Math. Back in high school they told us we’d use it every day of our lives. Not believing them, I spent most of my math classes drawing cars in my notebook and fantasizing about showing them to the girls in the class so they could swoon over my mad car-drawing skills. Eventually, I found that I did need math in my daily life, as I started having to know whether a 7/16 open end would fit on a 16mm bolt (it won’t), and what oil-gas ratio should be on a two stroke Honda. And that leads us to today’s Name That Part.

That’s right, I’m highjacking Name That Part from Deartháir today as he’s busy with some sort of Moose emergency or something. So, back to math- Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Idontgetitometry. . . for some people it just comes easy, and for others- well, it just doesn’t add up. The equation above should be something that’s readily recognizable if you’re one of the former, and it may have something to do with the part below. Or maybe it doesn’t, but that’s for you to figure out. So, as they say in high school- do the math.

Deartháir adds: For those of you wondering about Wednesday’s NTP, it was the throwout bearing from a Reliant Rebel. So what’s the tie in? Well, Khan was a bit of a sexy rebel, and the ship he commandeered was the USS Reliant. Oh, and Kirk beat him by attacking from a different bearing. There were some of you who were really close, and who may have actually guessed right, since those parts swap back and forth with damn near everything. Since some of you came within a hair’s breadth of guessing it, and did a really good job of identifying it, I’m awarding the victory to… myself. Go team Me! Yay me!