Jalopnik - Obsessed with the culture of cars

Why Harley-Davidson Used Four Camshafts For Pushrod V-Twins

staff@jalopnik.com (Benjamin Gracias) — Sun, 03 May 2026 00:25:00 +0000

Pushrod V-Twins had a very unique design that involved the use of four camshafts connected by meshed gears. The reason for this was more than experimentation.

Learn To Drive Like It's The 1970s With This Aetna Drivotrainer Simulator

staff@jalopnik.com (Nico DeMattia) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:59:35 +0000

Can you actually use it to learn how to drive? Without the accompanying screen and instructor, probably not.

Porsche Developed A Sedan For Studebaker, And It Even Involved John Z. DeLorean

staff@jalopnik.com (Nico DeMattia) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:25:00 +0000

Porsche didn't always just make Porsches. It was founded as an engineering firm, and it created cars for other brands. Studebaker almost was one of them.

Why Consumer Reports Called The Acura SLX 'Not Acceptable'

staff@jalopnik.com (Charles Krome) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:25:00 +0000

The Acura SLX faced some difficulties in the mid-'90s. Consumer Reports blasted models of that era for the risks it posed to owners' safety.

Yes, There's A Difference Between Austin-Healey Bugeye And Frogeye Sprites

staff@jalopnik.com (Chloe Clougher) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:25:00 +0000

The entry-level British sports cars may appear identical to the casual observer, but there's a key difference between Austin-Healey's Bugeye and Frogeye Sprite.

Car Colors Used To Be So Cool, They Inspired Guitar Companies To Use Them, Too

staff@jalopnik.com (Eugene Buono) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 15:25:00 +0000

Today's cars are mostly in grayscale shades, but automakers used to be way more creative. In fact, their palettes inspired some of the most iconic guitars ever.

Mini Has Been Making Drivers Smile For 25 Years Today, And I'm So Glad

staff@jalopnik.com (Logan K. Carter) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:05:00 +0000

Here's to another 25 years of whimsical, fun, go-kart-like motoring done only the way Mini can.

The Brief And Annoying Period Where Car Ads Bragged About 0-50 Times

staff@jalopnik.com (Marko Mikulic) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:25:00 +0000

You're probably familiar with the 0-60 mph times used to measure acceleration. But there was a time when automakers sought to rely on 0-50 times instead.

Chrysler's Bugatti Tribute Featured A Straight-Eight Made From Two Dodge Neon Fours

staff@jalopnik.com (Nico DeMattia) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:25:00 +0000

When Chrysler made a 1990s concept car honoring a 1930s Bugatti classic, the body was appropriately stylish. But the effort didn't extend to the engine.

How Bernie Madoff's Ponzi Scheme Helped End This Storied American Automaker

staff@jalopnik.com (Chloe Clougher) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:25:00 +0000

Bernard Madoff seemed the height of respectability in 2008, but he was secretly scamming his investors. Among them was the owner of a famous car brand.

For Fans Of Antiquated Ways To Power Spark Plugs, Here's How To Set Ignition Points

staff@jalopnik.com (Chloe Clougher) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:25:00 +0000

Back when cars relied on distributors, spark plugs needed ignition points. You'll have to know how to set them correctly if you have a classic.

Lola T70 Racecars Used To Be So Cheap That George Lucas Bought His Own To Film THX 1138

staff@jalopnik.com (B. L. Johnson) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:25:00 +0000

You might have noticed the Lola T70 being used in "THX 1138." Indeed, at least one model was owned by George Lucas, and he might not have spent a lot on it.

How An F1 Driver Turned The Utilitarian International Scout Into A Luxury Off-Roader

staff@jalopnik.com (Chloe Clougher) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:25:00 +0000

International Harvester's Scout was built to replace the horse, but a Swiss Formula 1 driver turned it into two models that were far more upscale.

Why The Datsun 510 Earned The Poor Man's BMW Title

staff@jalopnik.com (Kiran Menon) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:25:00 +0000

The two-door sedan might be a thing of the past, but one Japanese creation has becomes something of a cult hero. Calling it the Poor Man's BMW is no insult.

How Goodyear Developed Tires For The Moon

staff@jalopnik.com (Nico DeMattia) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:05:00 +0000

You can't take tires off a car and expect them to work on the moon. In fact, the tires Goodyear developed for 1970s moon missions were quite different.

Four Turbocharged Production Cars Existed In 1978, And Two Of Them Were Buicks

staff@jalopnik.com (Chloe Clougher) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:25:00 +0000

Alongside a pair of European entries with turbochargers in the late 1970s sat a couple of Buicks, carrying forward a banner America had dropped in the '60s.

Hey '70s Kids, Remember The Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser? Yeah, You Do

staff@jalopnik.com (Chloe Clougher) — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:25:00 +0000

The Vista Cruiser is an iconic car that had a ton of cool features and even appeared in a famous TV show. If you're looking for one today, here's what to know.

The Porsche Panamericana's Wheel Arches Looked Like That For Very Practical Reasons

staff@jalopnik.com (Chloe Clougher) — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:25:00 +0000

The engineers who built the Panamericana as a gift for their boss included wheel arches inspired by the race that gave the concept car its name.

Oldsmobile Almost Became Muscle Car Tyrants With A 32-Valve 455 V8

staff@jalopnik.com (Charles Krome) — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 14:25:00 +0000

At one point, Oldsmobile created a behemoth of an engine with 32 valves and 455 cubic inches. But regulatory issues meant it never went to full production.

The 2003 Infiniti FX Was A Genius Idea, And I'm Still Mad More Automakers Haven't Copied It

staff@jalopnik.com (Collin Woodard) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:21:31 +0000

Imagine if Ford had looked at the FX's success and decided to do the same thing with the Mustang.