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Episode 72 – Stay Loaded

Welcome to the auto podcast that… always likes to stay loaded.

On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…

  • We talk about unicorns with four wheels
  • We learn that Daryl is the king of Hammerschlagen
  • We contemplate moving to the land of 10,000 lakes

All that and more on a special installment of Throwin’ Wrenches.

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Projects & Road Trips

@throwinwrenches Tool a trip to the Minnesota countryside to pick up a 1966 #Cony360 #KeiTruck ♬ Going up the Country – Canned Heat

The legendary Gabe Casey is back with more adventures from the open road. This time, our favorite guest tells us about the recent trip he and Daryl took to the tiny hamlet of Albany, Minnesota to snag a very rare piece of Japanese automotive history.

What’s his latest purchase, you ask?

We guarantee you’ve never heard of it. It’s a 1966 Cony 360 Wide Pickup.

You might be saying to yourself, “That’s a cute little thing”. And you’d be right. It is certainly cute. It looks like a VW Type II Single Cab meets a Subaru Sambar.

Made by the Aichi Machine Industry Company of Nagoya, Japan between 1964 and 1970, these little air-cooled kei trucks were popular utility vehicles back in their home country. Here in the United States, they were briefly imported and few survive today.

So when Gabe found this little workhorse in an online auction of Stearns County Pioneer Steam Club items they were looking to dispose of, he quickly exercised his trigger finger and bought the thing. Then he texted Daryl to see if he wanted to load up the Tundra and get a rental trailer to bring it back to central Illinois. Of course, Daryl was up for the adventure.

What happened next?

That’s a long story. We’ll hear that long story, and learn what passes for entertainment in Dairy County on the Minnesota prairie.

We also:

  • Discover the game of hammerschlagen
  • Learn where the cheese powder in Kraft mac & cheese comes from.
  • Disuss why some online auctions for farm equipment are GOLD for car folks.
  • Offer advice to everyone on why it’s OK to take automotive risks once in a while. Or all the time.

Come along for the road trip. We promise the continental breakfast at the Baymont Inn is worth it.

News

CarMax settles charges it did not disclose U.S. vehicle recalls

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK, Dec 1 (Reuters) – CarMax Inc (KMX.N), the largest U.S. used car retailer, agreed to pay $1 million to resolve claims by 36 states that it failed to disclose open safety recalls to consumers before selling vehicles to them.

Thursday’s settlement followed a multistate probe led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul that began in 2014, amid concerns that consumers were not being warned about necessary repairs and potentially serious safety recalls.

The accord requires the Richmond, Virginia-based company to provide consumers with hyperlinks and QR codes to look up recalls, and documentation that “clearly and conspicuously” discloses open recalls before presenting other sales paperwork.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who joined the settlement, in a statement said CarMax sometimes classified vehicles as “safe” even if they had been recalled for airbags or other safety features.

“When someone buys a car, they need to know that it will keep them safe,” James said.

In a statement, CarMax said it has since 2014 disclosed recalls when advertising and selling vehicles.

Chief Operating Officer Joe Wilson added that CarMax is not authorized to repair recalled vehicles, and tries to ensure that consumers use manufacturer-authorized facilities.

CarMax said it has more than 230 stores, and sold about 924,000 used vehicles in its fiscal year ending Feb. 28. 2022.

Photo: Forbes

Frank Lloyd Wright Hated Garages

Source: Forbes 

But Wright did not like garages, despite the fact that he added an enclosed garage space with fuel pumps to his own Oak Park home. They promoted clutter, he said. Instead of serving as a tidy place to put the car when not in use, the garage became the handy place to put tools, children’s outdoor toys, off-season furnishings and decorations, gardening supplies, snow shovels, leftover wallpaper and everything else big, bulky or outdoors-oriented. As Wright’s career progressed, he worked to turn his clients away from garages and towards simpler spaces less inviting to clutter.

“A car is not a horse, and it doesn’t need a barn,” he told his client, the commissioner of the Usonian Jacobs House. “Cars are built well enough now so that they do not require elaborate shelter.”

Photo: NY Post

Jay Leno Hits Police Car… Twice Outside First Comedy Gig After Accident

Source: NY Post

Maybe it’s time for this car buff to hire a driver and mechanic.

Jay Leno hit a police vehicle multiple times as he pulled up to his comeback gig Sunday in California — more than two weeks after suffering third-degree burns while working on a classic car in his garage.

The 72-year-old comic and classic car aficionado hit the tire of a pole Jeep with the back right tire of his Tesla as he attempted to park in front of a Hermosa Beach comedy club, video shows.

Leno then inexplicably backed up and collided with the car a second time.

“You can just go, we’ll figure it out later,” the star-struck cops told the A-lister after his wife, Mavis Leno, rolled down her passenger window to talk to them.

Leno then struggled to execute an easy parking job, opting to parallel park in front of the Comedy Magic Club instead of simply pulling into the wide-open spot, while paparazzi and fans looked on.

Cars of the Weak

Daryl: 1996 Mercedes-Benz G320 AMG Turbo Diesel – $55,000

Source: Facebook Marketplace

1996 Mercedes G320 AMG Short Wheel Base swapped with the legendary om606 turbo diesel and 6-speed manual transmission. Originally from Japan, but spent 15 years in Dubai before importing to the US. 50k miles on the chassis and 9k on the engine. I have $15k in receipts for the engine/trans/diff swap and custom ac setup. It has 4 low, triple lockers, and a fully mechanical injection pump. Approximately only 40 were produced a year between 1994-1997. Comes with a Wisconsin title, price is firm but would consider trades for the G Wagon. 


Gabe: 1969 Toyota Hilux $18,750

Source: Bring a Trailer

This 1969 Toyota Hilux is a short-wheelbase example that is finished in green over a black interior and equipped with a 1.9-liter inline-four paired with a four-speed manual transmission. The seller acquired the truck in the San Francisco Bay Area seven years ago and has since added approximately 34k miles. The 3R engine was rebuilt in 2018, and fresh fluids and spark plugs were installed in the last 3k miles. This N10 Hilux is offered with recent service records and a clean California title in the seller’s name.

 

Thanks for listening, and we’ll catch you on the next episode!

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