5
GM Introduced Airbags So You Wouldn't Have To Use A Shoulder Belt
Airbags are essential to safety in modern vehicles, but in their first production vehicle, they were actually made as a way to replace seat belts entirely.
Read More-
-
Why Old American Cars Had So Many Engine Options
These days, most new vehicles only come with a couple of different engines. But the '60s and '70s were filled with a plethora of different options.
Read More -
Automakers Have A Long, Annoying History Of Trying To Replace The Gear Shifter
Many modern cars have replaced the usual PRNDL gear shifter with fancier designs. But technology isn't the only reason for these major changes.
Read More -
4 Weird Olympic Special Edition Cars (And How Automakers Could Repeat The Magic Today)
From the minibuses at the 1980 Moscow Olympics to the 1996 Buick Regal, these four weird Olympic special edition cars show how automakers used to take risks.
Read More -
Why Hudson Stuck With A Straight-6 Engine When It Already Had An 8
Before Hudson was folded into American Motors, it had developed its own eight-cylinder engine. Yet for years, it stuck with its old-fashioned straight-6.
Read More -
These Are Your Picks For The Next Overpriced Enthusiast Cars
Look, we see you trying to drive up the value of cars you already own, and we have to respect the hustle.
Read More -
George Harrison's Porsche 928 S Was Almost Used For Spare Parts
George Harrison once owned a Porsche 928 S that was driven for 11,000 miles. If it wasn't for a bit of luck, that car wouldn't have seen any action beyond that.
Read More -
Displacement You Can't Refuse: The Godfather Big Block Somehow Reached 1,000+ Cubes
They said it couldn't be done, but one engine designer figured out how to surmout the challenges on the way to 1,005 cubic inches and 2,150 horsepower.
Read More -
Why JFK's Infamous Lincoln Continental Was Put Back Into Service Instead Of Getting Scrapped
The limo President John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was shot became a symbol of his murder. But the government kept it working for over a decade anyway.
Read More -
Am I Wrong, Or Does This Four-Cylinder Ferrari Racing Engine Sound Like A Lawn Mower?
We expect Ferrari engines to have a certain appealingly angry sound. But some of them seem like they'd be more at home on the grass in front of your house.
Read More -
Jay Leno Owns The Katharine Hepburn Bugatti And That's Not Even The Interesting Part
Remember the Bugatti T38A in 'Christopher Strong' with Katherine Hepburn? You probably don't, but that very car now belongs to Jay Leno's renowned collection.
Read More -
You Can Blame 60 Minutes For 'Unintended Acceleration'
In the late 1980s, Audi had to deal with lawsuits and bad press regarding unintended acceleration. But this issue never actually existed in the first place.
Read More -
You Can Question Frank Sinatra's Infamous Ferrari Quote, But Not His Taste In Cars
Frank Sinatra may or may not have ever made his well-known derogatory comment about Ferraris. Either way, he had an excellent, eclectic car collection.
Read More -
Trying To Run Engines On Gunpowder Sounds Like A Good Way To Get Rid Of Excess Fingers
Can an internal combustion engine really run on gunpowder? The short answer is yes ... but there are lots of reasons why it's not a good idea.
Read More -
Here's Why Harley-Davidson's Knucklehead Engine Is So Valuable
Harley-Davidson's Knucklehead engine released back in 1936, and despite its age, models with the engine can sell for over $200,000 even today.
Read More -
Festival Of The Unexceptional Car Show Celebrates The Mundane Cars We Inexplicably Love
None of these cars are likely to be found on posters adorning the walls of bedrooms or even at your local cars and coffee.
Read More -
When Did Automakers Switch From 8-Track Players To Cassette Decks?
Cassette tapes existed before cars adopted them, but automakers stuck with 8-tracks until one key improvement made cassette decks reliable enough for vehicles.
Read More -
Elizabeth Taylor Made This 1960 Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe Stunning (And Twice As Valuable)
Elizabeth Taylor's relationship with her 1960 Roll-Royce Drophead Coupe lasted longer than any of her marriages, and added to the car's cachet.
Read More -
Why Suzuki Took Consumer Reports To Court Over Its Testing
The Suzuki Samurai was a hot-selling SUV in 1988, but a Consumer Reports article led to its sales plummeting. So Suzuki challenged the magazine in court.
Read More -
How Stephen King's 'Christine' Made 1958 Plymouth Furies Cool
You probably picture the 1958 Plymouth Fury in red, but it was only ever built in beige. Stephen King rewrote its legacy and turned it into a pop culture icon.
Read More -
The Last Production Car With A Hand Crank Was Still On Sale New In 1997
The heyday of the hand crank ended in the 1930s, but there were still new cars with hand cranks six decades later. For their owners, it was a practical choice.
Read More -
The History Of The Gentlemen's Agreement That Capped Motorcycle Speed
In the 1990s, an escalating speed war among motorcycle makers brought proposals to outlaw super-fast bikes. Then came an unofficial pact with the same effect.
Read More -
Volkswagen Once Gave Buyers Free Guitars That Could Play Through Their Car's Stereo
Back in 2007, certain Volkswagen models came with a free gift. That gift was a specialized, branded guitar that could hook up to the car's stereo.
Read More -
At $35,900, Is This 'Showroom Condition' 1999 Chevy Tahoe Worth Driving Off The Lot?
Today's GMT400 series Tahoe is, arguably, from the best-looking generation of the bunch. Let's see if this survivor is priced accordingly.
Read More -
The UK Government Once Provided Free Invacars That Could Flip And Catch Fire
It was a noble postwar thought: Give returning soldiers who had disabilites a free car. The program soon expanded. But these three-wheelers had major problems.
Read More -
Why GM's Beautiful 1950s Aerotrain Was A Nightmare For Passengers
In 1950, GM created the Aerotrain to revolutionize the train industry. But several issues made it awful for passengers to use, and it didn't last long.
Read More -
This Is The Last Manual-Transmission Corvette Made Before The C8 Broke Our Hearts
Chevrolet's decision to drop manual transmissions from the Corvette was based on cold-eyed business. But the last manual 'Vette lives on in a Kentucky museum.
Read More
