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Read This: The fascinating forgotten civil defense history of Mister Softee trucks

Filed under: Classics, Truck, Work, Ford, Specialty, Read This

Mister Softee truck

Hemmings came across an interesting article from the Throwin’ Wrenches blog about the intersection of ice cream, cars and civic duty in America’s late 1950s. In particular, it focuses on the Mister Softee trucks, which criss-crossed neighborhoods of the eastern US serving ice cream. Looking past the ultra-durable vehicles used – heavy-duty Ford-based chassis, for what it’s worth – the article delves into some deeper national-security territory.

See, Mister Softee truck owners were voluntary members of the Civil Defense, thanks to all the useful stuff (potable water, generators, freezers and fridges) that the machines carried with them for serving ice cream. Click over to Throwin’ Wrenches for the full run down of how Mister Softee would have stepped in to help fight if the Cold War ever turned a little hotter.

The fascinating forgotten civil defense history of Mister Softee trucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: The fireproof history of Sparco Motorsports

Filed under: Motorsports, Safety, Videos

A blue patch with white embroidered letters that spell out “sparco,” all in lower case – you’ve seen it so often you ignore it, it’s such a common site on drivers’ suits and racing seats. But there’s so much about Sparco that probably few know – us included.

The 35-year-old Italian firm was started by two rally drivers after the FIA mandated fireproof clothing for racers to combat a spate of injuries and deaths due to fires. One of the founders just happened to be the son of an Italian businessman who made equipment for fire departments and knew all about Nomex. Voila, the marriage of “safety and Italian design” was commenced.

Sparco does more than make suits and own-brand seats, though. The “largest manufacturer of safety equipment in the world,” the company produces seats and seat forms for manufacturers like Aston Martin and Ferrari, and it makes carbon parts for Bugatti and Lamborghini. You can get the rest of the story by watching the video below.

The fireproof history of Sparco Motorsports originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Aug 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: ‘Faster. Farther.’ dives into the history of Porsche racing tech

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Porsche, Racing

Porsche video highlights technological achievements in preparation for a US museum display of the 917.

No doubt, Porsche has produced some of the best endurance racecars around, such as the turbocharged, slant-nose 935 of the 1970s and the ground-effects-enhanced 956 and 962 of the 1980s. But the company’s most famous racecar, its first overall winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, was the 917.

The 917 embodied many of Porsche’s technological achievements up to that point, such as the company’s first 12- and 16-cylinder engines (the flat-16 was never used in competition), fiberglass bodies that implemented early aerodynamic practices and the use of new, exotic materials, such as magnesium and titanium.

The racecar was commissioned by the head of Porsche Motorsports, Ferdinand Piëch, to win overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970, after he realized a loophole in the rules that allowed cars to compete with engines up to five liters in the Sport category if they were also production models. Piëch saw opportunity: the top prototype class was restricted to three liters; the production minimum to compete in Sport was 25 cars. And so, with much effort, Porsche assembled 25 “production” 4.5-liter 917s and had them parked in a neat line for the race inspectors to verify their legitimacy. It didn’t take long before people realized the new Porsches were much faster than the prototype racers, with a top speed approaching 250 miles per hour.

Porsche is putting two 917s on display in the North Carolina Museum of Art starting on Oct. 12, and the company produced a video, which you can watch below, to hype up the exhibit. Enjoy!

Continue reading ‘Faster. Farther.’ dives into the history of Porsche racing tech

‘Faster. Farther.’ dives into the history of Porsche racing tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Aug 2013 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Take a visual walk through the history of Vespa

Filed under: Videos, Motorcycle

Vespalogy Video

Vespa, Italy’s legendary scooter manufacturer, might just be the boot-shaped country’s most significant, transport-focused cultural export. With respect to Ferrari, it’s the diminutive and funky scooter manufacturer that put Italy back on wheels after World War II, with its line of user-friendly miniature motorcycles. Even today, Rome, Milan, and Turin are filled with Vespas, while the tiny scooters can be found in major cities all over the world.

Devour has posted a video that was put together by Nomoon, befitting of the brand’s off-beat heritage that recaps Vespa’s 70-year history. In a simple, animated style, Vespalogy shows a number of models that have defined the brand, from the original Paperino (shown above) to the Vespa 150 TAP, a model with an anti-tank gun used by the French military. Even the Vespa 400, a car designed by the brand’s parent company, Piaggio, and built in France by ACMA, gets a shoutout.

If you’re a fan of affordable, fun-to-ride transportation, take a look below for the full video.

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Take a visual walk through the history of Vespa originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2014 Acura MDX ad campaign the most expensive in brand’s history

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Acura, Luxury

Realizing that it must spend more marketing dollars to compete with the more established luxury automakers, Acura is preparing to launch its most expensive ad campaign ever for its redesigned 2014 MDX. At $78 million, according to Advertising Age, the new “Made for Mankind” campaign that kicks off next month is exactly double what Acura spent on the 2013 RDX launch last year. It’s also the brand’s first cooperation with its new agency, Boston- and Los-Angeles-based Mullen Advertising. Thanks to its bigger budget, we’ll be seeing ads for the MDX pop up just about everywhere from television commercials, cinemas and billboards to videos focused on computers and mobile devices.

The first such video is entitled “Human Race,” and it enunciates Acura’s recent tagline highlight, the synergy between man and machine. More interestingly, the 2014 MDX, which went on sale this month, doesn’t make an appearance in the 60-second spot until close to the end. This video is posted below as well as a press release from Acura along with images of various ads we should start soon.

Continue reading 2014 Acura MDX ad campaign the most expensive in brand’s history

2014 Acura MDX ad campaign the most expensive in brand’s history originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Stratos takes to the track, teaches history lesson

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, Specialty, Lancia

2011 Lancia Stratos

New Lancia Stratos becomes a part of history – Click above to watch the video

The new Ferrari F430 Scuderia-based Lancia Stratos has been the darling of the interwebs since it was first teased in 2009. Over the last two years, it’s made it from a simple sketch to a very real, very fast, very rare tribute to a true motorsports legend.

To give the car the introduction it deserves, its builders have combined footage of the original Stratos tearing its way through Europe’s rally passes with film of the new car doing its thing on a modern race track. The effect is a hoontastic history lesson and tribute to both cars.

Unfortunately for us, the video is entirely in German, but the footage is cool enough to bridge any language barrier. The full 13-minute video resides after the jump. Continue reading.

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New Stratos takes to the track, teaches history lesson originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz presents The History of AMG

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Videos, Mercedes-Benz

AMG video

The History of AMG – Click above to watch the video after the jump

AMG started putting wrenches to Benzes back in 1967, and 44 years later we’re still fawning over its products. From the C to the E and all the way up to the SLS, Mercedes-Benz vehicles that wear those three letters on the back are sure to get our blood flowing. The two German companies have formed a valuable partnership, and we expect more amazing vehicles for years to come.

Before looking too deep into the future, however, it’s time to take a look at the past. Mercedes-Benz has prepared a video that provides a brief visual history lesson. The text in the video may have been ported over courtesy of Google Translate, but the meaning is clearly conveyed. Click past the jump to view a video timeline of AMG’s history.

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Mercedes-Benz presents The History of AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: A look back at the history of the Volkswagen Beetle

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Budget, Videos, Volkswagen

A history of the Volkswagen Beetle

A history of the Volkswagen Beetle – Click above to watch video after the jump

Our cohorts over at AOL Autos have gone through the trouble of creating a video to take a look at the history of the Volkswagen Beetle. With the People’s Automaker pulling the covers off the 2012 Beetle at this year’s New York Auto Show, there couldn’t be a more fitting time to crack open the history books and dive into the car’s past. Editor-in-Chief David Kiley narrates the informative clip and covers everything from the vehicle’s unfortunate beginnings to its widespread popularity in Germany and around the world.

The video features plenty of classic footage of workers assembling the Bugs themselves as well as more than a few great vintage advertising spots. There’s even an airborne Beetle for your viewing enjoyment.

Kiley helps remind us that the “New” Beetle was largely responsible for helping to save Volkswagen in America back when the brand was struggling to get a grasp on our market. Hit the jump to check out the clip for yourself.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: A look back at the history of the Volkswagen Beetle

Video: A look back at the history of the Volkswagen Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette is all about racing history [w/video]

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet

2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette

2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette – Click above for high-res image gallery

Chevrolet is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a fitting tribute to racing driver turned entrepreneur, Louis Chevrolet. The brand’s founding father raced in four Indianapolis 500s from 1915 to 1919, and though he never managed a victory, his motorsports expertise helped guide his car company from the outset.

In observance, the 2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette gets a special coat of “Carbon Flash” black paint and carries logos on the B-pillars with the number 100 and a likeness of Mr. Chevrolet himself. Inside, there’s plenty of Alcantara and contrasting red stitching to set off additional black trim, and the headrests are embossed with the same 100th anniversary logo as the B-pillars.

Outside, the Centennial Edition gets special 18 or 19-inch for the Grand Sport and standard Corvette and 19 or 20-inch rollers for the ZR-1 and Z06.

The Centennial Edition package is available on every Corvette model they sell, meaning you can get your Z06, ZR-1 or Grand Sport gussied up just the same as your standard coupe or convertible. All of the cars with the 100th anniversary package receive red painted brake calipers and Corvette’s optional (and excellent) magnetically adjustable suspension.

The Centennial Edition Corvettes go on sale this summer, but the first one will be auctioned off by Barrett-Jackson tomorrow in West Palm Beach, Florida. Proceeds of the sale will go to the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer. Full press release and video after the jump, gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette

2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette

[Source: Chevrolet]

Continue reading 2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette is all about racing history [w/video]

2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette is all about racing history [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: M35h rewrites hybrid history books (at least according to Infiniti)

Filed under: Hybrid, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Infiniti

2012 infiniti m hybrid

2012 Infiniti M Hybrid in “Remember” – Click above to watch video after the jump

Infiniti believes its new M Hybrid is the first such vehicle built for people who actually enjoy driving. With 360 horsepower on tap, they might just be right. Yes, we are aware of the Lexus GS450h, which can run from 0-60 miles per hour in just 5.2 seconds. So is Infiniti for that matter because, in a new spot that has been playing during the NCAA’s March Madness tournament, the automaker takes a not-so-subtle jab at the hybrid Lexus sport sedan.

Dubbed “Remember,” the clip briefly takes a look back at the past 100 years of hybrid technology. Ultimately, the M Hybrid comes into view as it blows past a Lexus GS450h sitting at a stop-light. From there, we see the Infiniti drifting down the road as the narrator tells us why we’re going to love it. He must have a soothing voice… because the clip does a pretty darn good job of getting our attention. Click past the jump to see if it does the same for you.

[Source: YouTube via Carscoop]

Continue reading Video: M35h rewrites hybrid history books (at least according to Infiniti)

Video: M35h rewrites hybrid history books (at least according to Infiniti) originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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