I cannot rationalize this on any level.

I remember seeing this as a feature when MINI released the first convertible. I’m not sure if it continued on in the following generations. Or it may have been a joke that went over my head... fairly certain it’s real, tho. :)

My late uncle had a ‘76 when I was a kid; same silver, with T-tops, and I think he had those turbine-style hubcaps, but I’m not certain. I thought it was the most badass looking car then. Now as an adult, it’s still up there. :)

I was so hoping to see this image for this story. Thank you. :)

Was your first exposure to it in Car & Driver’s Ten-Best feature called something like “Cars We Can’t Get Here,” around... ‘89-’91, maybe? ~10-year old me saw this issue in the newsstand, flipped through, came across the picture of a Pao, and immediately walked to the counter to buy the whole issue because I had to…

Their warning alerts are very dramatic; like a missile has launched when a license plate light burns out. :)

My DD is an ‘01 A4 1.8T. Just last night the passenger side front window fell into the door. I guess I’m happy to hear that this is a problem for all of them(?)...

This Is Not A Volkswagen Beetle, but this is very definitely a Christmas present to a fellow Beetle-fiend like me.

I believe it’s to prevent either rocks from shattering the glass or the shattered glass falling onto the track.

After Elwood Blues goes on about the finer points of the Bluesmobile, the “cop shocks, etc” he says something to the effect of, “So what do you think? Is it the new Bluesmobile or what?” To which Jake says, “Fix the cigarette lighter.”

I think I get it now; people love these exit wrecks because it’s “rich” people getting some kind of “justice.” Never understood it with Mustangs, because Mustangs are fairly attainable for most people. But this, it’s kind of like seeing rich people get a pie in the face... those in the crowd most likely don’t have…

Thank you!

This is extremely informative, thank you- what are your thoughts on a Pao? (preferably a stickshift?)

PotbellyJoe sir, I have to thank you. “Our Tamed Racing Driver” makes so much more sense than either “Our Team Racing Driver” or “Tame Racing Driver.” Because the Stig was wild, and if he ever put a car in the grass, they’d show it. I’d missed the joke every single time Clarkson said it, and would’ve continued missing…

Does anybody else see this, or is this a sign I’m coming down with Jeepola?

IIRC, International did stack vertical lights on some of their 50s-60s designs. And the 76(?) and 77 El Camino could be had with stacked rectangular headlights, which are nowhere nearly as cool as stacked round ones. If you’re cool with stacked rectangular headlights, you’ve also got some years of the square body…

I’ve got an ‘81 Datsun 210 and a set of 14(?) inch 200sx wheels for it, so this makes me happy. Thank you, Yokohama.

Yep, a ‘72 Coronet.

A personal pet peeve of mine is no one ever seems to check the gas gauge. Like their car will run out of gas, completely out of the blue (usually making that “tooka tooka tooka” sound as it slows to a stop), and then they’ll “oh come on, come on” as they try to restart it, usually cranking the ignition in one hand and…

Having worked on some amateur-level movies, there is a sort of long worklight, usually taped across the dash, to highlight the actors’ faces. Sometimes they’ll remember to throw a gel on for the green/blue “glow” of the gauges.