Internal Combustion Engines Are In Danger, Why Elvis Shot His Car, and More!

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Some topics deserve more love, a little more time, and a deeper discussion. Since the last episode of the Motorious Podcast, we’ve had several requests to give a little more attention to hot stories in the automotive industry. Here’s what we covered:

Here are the topics:

Washington State Bans ICE Registrations

Not shockingly, Washington Governor Jay Inslee recently signed SB 5974, legislation which bans the registration of most new internal-combustion vehicles in the state by 2030. Similar bans have been put into effect in places like California and the UK, despite serious questions about the realistic nature of making such a switch so rapidly.

The goal of this new Washington law is to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. As Inslee said at the signing of the bill, “There is no way to talk about climate change without talking about transportation.” He went on to characterize internal combustion engines as something “our grandparents imagined” and EVs as “the transportation system our grandchildren dream of.”

The problem is, depending on your age, your grandparents didn’t just dream of using internal combustion engines, they did, and they refined the technology continuously. In fact, it’s still being refined by automakers which haven’t ceremoniously announced they’ll abandoned ICE cars for EVs to score points with a certain sector of the population.

Read the full story here.

California Police Looking For Chevy Impala Owner

Petaluma Police Department in the San Francisco Bay Area have put out an interesting request. They’re looking for the owner of what they believe is a 1966 Chevy Impala convertible. At least that’s what they think it is. The license plate was missing and the VIN didn’t match any records on file, so they’re making a guess. In fact, they don’t even know if the vehicle is stolen.

This story started on March 22 when officers started investigating a report of a stolen vehicle. While they were searching they came across this classic Chevy Implala. The fact it not only wasn’t licensed but that the VIN didn’t provide a return raised their suspicions.

Read the full story here.

Denzel Washington’s 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo Sells For Over $400K

Denzell Washington has been in the media for longer than most of us can remember because of his calm demeanor, ability to convey aggression through a character, and developed acting talent. Add that all up with the fact that he's played an influential role in virtually every new actor's career since his own, and you get a public figure who commands admiration and respect from many eager fans. Like many Hollywood big-wigs, Denzell also has a pretty massive car collection which is where this new piece of information comes in. Recently, the actor sold his prized 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo at auction for over $400,000, and you'll see why very soon.

First of all, this car is a pretty rare one because of the lower production numbers and incredible prestige it holds in the automotive enthusiast community. It isn't like there are not a lot of 911s out there. It's just that the owners typically don't want to part with them. Another feature of this vehicle that makes it worthy of such a high price tag is the twin-turbocharger system which only came with a select few cars. Generally, turbocharged classics will always fetch a high price tag which is shown by the fact that other examples of the 911 Turbo from that year usually yield around $300,000. However, this car went for over $100,000 more than the typical price. So what makes this car so unique that someone was willing to take a 33% price increase?

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Carfax Sounds The Alarm On Rolled Back Odometers

You might have seen the news reports from Florida citing a Carfax studying claiming the state is fourth in the nation for rolled back odometers. It’s enough to make anyone worry, especially with vehicle costs, gas prices, and inflation surging. And while news stations claim there are more than 75,000 vehicles on the roads in Florida with rolled-back odometers, none have linked to the Carfax study. We searched for it and found nothing. But wait, there’s more.

A man out of Glendale, Arizona was shocked to find that Carfax claimed the odometer on his personal truck was rolled back. Michael Silva started a pressure washing business and so got an older truck to get him around from job to job. However, as the business became profitable, Silva needed to get a newer pickup. That’s when he found out the Carfax report for his old truck claimed the actual mileage on it was far more than what was showing.

Read the full story here.

Elvis Shot His Pantera In A Heated Rage For Being A Hooptie

The De Tomaso Pantera is an Italian supercar with Ford engine. Frustrating many, this car was rushed to market, but was on the verge of greatness. Thanks to Ford rushing it to market, it was known as being a total lemon of a car. Elvis handled the car’s gremlins with fire power.

Alejandro De Tomaso born in Argentina, fled after he was implicated in a plot to overthrow the Argentinian government, settled in Northern Italy. De Tomaso raced and started his own car company. Execs at Ford liked the car and pushed the leadership to collaborate, and it only took a year to make the Pantera.

In its own price class, had power windows, and air conditioning. Very different for its time, it rolled on 4-wheel IRS and got stopping power from disc brakes. Since it was billed as a higher end car under the Ford umbrella, it was sold through Lincoln dealerships.

The Pantera was known for having an awkward steering wheel that blocks the gauges, pedals are shifted towards the center so it’s hard to shift. The car had a tendency to overheat and vapor lock. Mechanics hated them, they were plagued by recalls and electrical issues, but they still had and have a loyal fan base. Awkward steering wheel that blocks the gauges, pedals are shifted towards the center so it’s hard to shift. The car had a tendency to overheat and vapor lock. That might be because it was powered by a 351 Cleveland - rated 310 hp due to emissions standards - and had a uniquely tuned exhaust that gave it a very distinct growl.

Elvis bought one used for $2,500 ($13000) to impress his girlfriend Linda Thompson. His career was sliding at the time, and he gained a reputation of being a hot head, famously shooting his tv because he didn’t like who was on it.

Read the full story here.

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