Cars and Comrades

Cars and Comrades

by Brandon, Bryant, Conner, and Zach

History Automotive Politics

Listener Questions and Answers

You've got questions, we've got answers. If you have any more questions for us, send us an email and we'll probably answer it on a future show. PS: The car show was cancelled but we'll try to be at the next one. Main topic at 47:17 Email us with tips, stories, and unhinged rants: carsandcomrades@gmail.com // Our social media links etc: www.linktr.ee/CarsAndComrades // Music by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: www.kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/polygondwanaland // Links/Sources: Ben Norton: https://www.youtube.com/@GeopoliticalEconomyReport // Aging Wheels Lada: https://youtu.be/j6dGEH6vzJc // Aging Wheels Trabant: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzV2uljPvyAe1K8ArgPHGBmfZ7Y-7JKhv&si=maLtTxKkAhg5eCfS // Engineering Explained: The Holy Grail Of AWD Systems | Rivian R1T https://youtu.be/XeTDwFchFdw // Drive Deviant: https://drivedeviant.com/ // https://www.instagram.com/drive_deviant/ // https://www.facebook.com/groups/559707701976661/ //

Shitboxes Part 2

All about the second-shittiest cars each of us has owned. Send in your own shitbox stories and we'll read them on a future episode. Main topic at 101:45 Email us with tips, stories, and unhinged rants: carsandcomrades@gmail.com // Our social media links etc: www.linktr.ee/CarsAndComrades // Music by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: www.kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/polygondwanaland //

Weird Wankels

You've probably heard of the Wankel rotary engine found in the Mazda RX-7, but it was also tested in all kinds of experimental vehicles, including torpedoes, Soviet cop cars, helicopters, and diesel tanks. But first: our project car updates, and some history about the inventor Felix Wankel. Main topic at 28:08 Email us with tips, stories, and unhinged rants: carsandcomrades@gmail.com // Our social media links etc: www.linktr.ee/CarsAndComrades // Music by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: www.kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/polygondwanaland // Links/Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Wankel // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wankel_engine // How Rotary Engines Work https://youtu.be/sd6pJtR4PaY // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wankel_Diesel_engine // Rolls Royce Made A Diesel Rotary Engine With Four Rotors! https://youtu.be/1pDjwaqU0dU // https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/man-builds-3000hp-34-7l-2100cu-turbocharged-big-block-rotary-engine-its-insane // https://tractorzoom.com/equipment/tractors/john-deere/the-angry-dorito-john-deere-rotary-power // https://driventowrite.com/2022/09/06/join-the-wankel-party-lada/ // https://jalopnik.com/the-soviets-made-fast-ish-rotary-powered-ladas-for-the-1850125728 // How USSR Stole Wankel For KGB https://youtu.be/Bo8oalHcW3g // https://www.thedrive.com/news/soviet-five-pointed-rotary-is-the-final-boss-of-wankel-engines //

[FIXED AUDIO] News: Rusty Cybertrucks, Union Busting, and Goodbye to Kum & Go

Rollout of the new Tesla Cybertruck has been less than smooth, and it turns out that their stainless steel body panels aren’t very resistant to stains or corrosion. Meanwhile, the UAW is fighting to unionize auto plants in the South, Chinese companies are getting ready to sell electric cars in North America, and beloved gas station Kum & Go considers a name change for some reason. Main topic at 53:23 Email us with tips, stories, and unhinged rants: carsandcomrades@gmail.com // Our social media links etc: www.linktr.ee/CarsAndComrades // Music by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: www.kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/polygondwanaland // Links/Sources: https://www.theautopian.com/tesla-cybertruck-wheel-covers-are-chewing-up-tires/ // https://www.wired.com/story/this-is-why-teslas-stainless-steel-cybertrucks-may-be-rusting/ // https://finance.yahoo.com/news/spacex-illegally-fired-workers-critical-192839382.html // https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/29/uaw-launches-union-campaigns-at-tesla-12-others.html // https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/4454085-uaw-says-majority-of-workers-at-tennessee-vw-plant-signed-union-cards/ // https://www.thedrive.com/news/chinese-carmakers-want-factories-in-mexico-that-can-mean-only-one-thing // https://www.thedrive.com/news/ford-kills-self-parallel-parking-feature-to-save-a-few-bucks // https://www.thedrive.com/news/kum-go-will-change-names // https://www.theautopian.com/full-size-suvs-are-twice-as-likely-to-kill-pedestrians-as-cars-study/ // https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/12/manufacturer-deliberately-bricked-trains-repaired-by-competitors-hackers-find/ //

Interesting Engines: Offenhauser

Designed in the 1930s, Offenhauser racing engines dominated at Indianapolis until the 1970s, winning 27 times. We chart its evolution from a 2.5L boat engine to a 1,000 horsepower turbocharged screamer. Main topic at 45:55 Email us with tips, stories, and unhinged rants: carsandcomrades@gmail.com // Our social media links etc: www.linktr.ee/CarsAndComrades // Music by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: www.kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/polygondwanaland // Links/Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Miller_(auto_racing) // https://silodrome.com/miller-91-race-car/ // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offenhauser // https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/assembling-270ci-offenhauser-indycar-engine-step/ // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offenhauser_Sales_Corporation // https://www.museumofamericanspeed.org/drakev8.html //

The Kharkovchanka in Antarctica

Since the discovery of Antarctica, many have tried to explore the frozen continent with dog sleds, airplanes, and various wheeled and tracked vehicles. In this episode, we cover a less successful American exploration vehicle of the late '30s, and some much more successful Soviet vehicles of the late '50s and '70s. Main topic at 32:00 Email us with tips, stories, and unhinged rants: carsandcomrades@gmail.com // Our social media links etc: www.linktr.ee/CarsAndComrades // Music by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: www.kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/polygondwanaland // Links/Sources: https://www.thedrive.com/news/33433/theres-a-massive-antarctic-exploration-vehicle-lost-somewhere-at-the-bottom-of-the-world // "The Snow Cruiser"-Antarctica's Abandoned Behemoth: https://youtu.be/zR0M7KjnJTE // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Snow_Cruiser // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctic_Treaty_System // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT-T // How to pronounce Kharkov: https://youtu.be/Q-Tdb6ihQ5M // How to pronounce Kharkovchanka: https://www.howtopronounce.com/kharkovchanka // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kharkovchanka // https://www.rbth.com/history/327680-soviet-off-road-vehicles-antarctica // "Kharkovchanka" - The Colossal Soviet Antarctic Cruisers: https://youtu.be/f6R-h06IsJw // https://jalopnik.com/soviet-versions-of-the-antarctic-snow-cruiser-were-so-m-1844211018 //

UAW Strike Recap with JT from Second Thought

We're joined by JT Chapman from the First Thought and Second Thought YouTube channels, and The Deprogram podcast, to recap the recent UAW strike, how the working class won big, and how this might lead to a general strike. Plus: Elon is up to his usual union-busting antics, but this time he's up against nearly every union in Sweden. And the Cybertruck roll out hasn't gone as smoothly as he would've liked. But first: JT's hotrod Volvo project. Main topic at 54:13 Email us with tips, stories, and unhinged rants: carsandcomrades@gmail.com // Our social media links etc: www.linktr.ee/CarsAndComrades // Music by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: www.kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/polygondwanaland // JT's channels and podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb5CyUGW_tODKqsOknphG-A // https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJm2TgUqtK1_NLBrjNQ1P-w // https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-deprogram/id1596666465 // Links/Sources: https://www.labornotes.org/2023/10/big-3-buckled-stand-strike-spread // https://twitter.com/UAW/status/1721954556924371150?t=zaHL79rTIrGCTpgtxXJFSg // https://twitter.com/UAW/status/1719100638494159171?t=MIBSFV0qB0jzcpuG7qhVwg // https://twitter.com/UAW/status/1718800729266082186?t=iBniVKhzsReaWhPc0kX5mA // https://www.theautopian.com/why-the-uaw-would-love-to-unionize-tesla-next/ // https://www.npr.org/2023/11/17/1213157550/tesla-sweden-union-workers-boycott // https://www.thedrive.com/news/tesla-cybertruck-isnt-nearly-as-bulletproof-as-elon-musk-wants-you-to-think // https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/10/elon-musk-sweden-unions-tesla-labour-car // https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-sweden-if-metall-compromise-issue/ //

Interesting Engines: the Lotus 907

Zach tells us about the unusual Lotus 907 engine, and the Esprit sports car that it was found in. We also discuss engine swaps, including why the Chevy 350 is boring, why muscle cars need 2JZ swaps, and the weird Buick, Oldsmobile, and International engines that we would build if we had the time and money. Main topic at 23:38 Email us with tips, stories, and unhinged rants: carsandcomrades@gmail.com // Our social media links etc: www.linktr.ee/CarsAndComrades // Music by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: www.kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/polygondwanaland // Links/Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_907 // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Esprit // Big American V8 Power In A Cheap Porsche 911!!! | PART 1 https://youtu.be/LahQUlck-n8?si=rG8mnoVmZHCCPKwC //

Used Cars Part 2, With Guest Alex

We're back with Alex the mechanic to give some advice on what to look for in a used car, and some recommendations under $10k. Main topic at 40:30 Email us with tips, stories, and unhinged rants: carsandcomrades@gmail.com // Our social media links etc: www.linktr.ee/CarsAndComrades // Music by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: www.kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/polygondwanaland // Links/Sources: Alex's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/for_the__animals/ Consumer Reports Buying Guide: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/buying-a-car/how-to-buy-a-used-car-a5221672417/ //

Used Cars Part 1, With Guest Alex

We were going to make a serious and informative episode about what you should look for when buying a used car, but instead we goofed off and dared each other to buy shitty unreliable cars for $5,000. We did sprinkle in some practical advice here and there, or at least you might learn what not to do from our bad decisions. Alex will be back for a Part 2 soon, where we'll discuss practical, economical, and boring cars that you should buy if you're smarter than us. Main topic at 1:09:14 Email us with tips, stories, and unhinged rants: carsandcomrades@gmail.com // Our social media links etc: www.linktr.ee/CarsAndComrades // Music by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: www.kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/polygondwanaland // Links/Sources: Alex's pictures of puppers and Porsches: https://www.instagram.com/for_the__animals/ // Turbo a stock Honda Insight: https://youtu.be/kEV4KAnSjGg?si=mUIPjDOnugc1qfo3 // Mini Cooper with a WRX engine and drivetrain: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/introducing-colin-a-mini-ature-wrx/191397/page1/ // Screenshots of Car Ads: https://ibb.co/album/GH67qq // Links to Car Ads: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/709375080526846/ // https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1361196731420176/ // https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/259269456582745/ // https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/220081444409667/ // The rest of the ads have been taken down by now 😢

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