CarStuff
Did Bonnie and Clyde really write to Henry Ford to thank him for his fast, reliable getaway cars? Do you ever wonder what happens at the DirtFish Rally School? What's a tether car? The CarStuff show has explored these and literally hundreds of other fascinating topics to explain how some of the most amazing machines on land, sea and air actually work. So whether you want to know more about hearses or circus trains, salt flat racers or the popemobile, Scott Benjamin has you covered.
51
Automotive Easter Eggs
Have you ever noticed the Italian speaking spider under your fuel door or the shark in your glovebox? Those are two real-life examples of hidden, often whimsical, details that automotive designers have included in production cars.
61 min
52
The 100 Best and Worst Cities to Drive in
Traffic congestion and infrastructure are only a fraction of the story. Listen in as Scott and Ben sort-out and explain a recent study of the 100 most-populated U.S. cities. Find out if your city was ranked at the top or bottom in any of the key dimension
61 min
53
Nuts and Bolts – August 2017
It’s all the stuff that didn’t make it into earlier CarStuff episodes along with a bunch of unusual car-related news stories, some listener mail and maybe even a few laughs along the way.
68 min
54
Stuff Truckers Know
The world depends on trucks (and truck drivers, of course) to deliver most of the products we use or consume daily. Join Scott and Ben as they attempt to explain why truckers do some of the things they do.
63 min
55
Car Title Loans
Looking for a short-term loan with extremely high interest rates plus the added worry that your vehicle will be repossessed by the lender? If so, a car title loan may be just what you’re searching for!
55 min
56
Amphibious Vehicles
While some amphibious vehicles were developed out of pure necessity, the rest came from talented designers and engineers with some spare time on their hands — and the drive to create a few of the most capable and fun vehicles we’ve ever seen.
59 min
57
How Maglev Trains Work
It sounds like something straight out of science fiction -- gigantic train cars suspended inches above the ground by electromagnets, propelled hundreds of miles an hour down tracks that cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
45 min
58
The Dangers of Distracted Driving
There are three types of driving distractions, and no one is immune from the dangers associated with each -- young drivers and experienced drivers alike. Join Scott and Ben as they look at what’s happening inside the brain of a distracted driver.
42 min
59
Are motorcycles really more dangerous than cars?
Compared with people driving cars and trucks, do motorcycle riders face a higher risk of death or injury in a crash? Find out what motorcycle manufacturers and some riding gear companies are doing to make your next two-wheeled adventure a lot safer.
42 min
60
Icebreakers and Ice-Strengthened Ships
These purpose-built vessels are tasked with breaking through thick ice in order to keep shipping lanes and ports open during the winter months. But they don’t break the ice the way you probably think they do – there’s a surprising twist.
47 min
61
Abandoned Racetracks
You can find abandoned racetracks scattered across the U.S. — but only if you know where to look. Scott and Ben reveal several lost raceways, including a little bit of racing history from each and the circumstances that led to their downfall.
53 min
62
The Mid Night Club
Formed in 1987 and active until 1999, the Mid Night Club took illegal street racing to a whole new level. Join Scott and Ben as they delve into the clandestine adventures of the Mid Night Club, and find out why they so abruptly disbanded.
48 min
63
How Ice Roads Work
Ice roads are more than just a clever way to truck supplies to isolated areas in the cold winter months. In fact, ice roads have played a meaningful role in history. Join Scott and Ben as they test the ice on this unusual method of transport.
50 min
64
The $1,000 (or less) Good Used Car
Make no mistake: Buying any car is a serious endeavor -- and buying a good used car is an art. In a market full of lemons, overpriced junkers and ticking transmission time bombs, is it really still possible to find a decent used car for under $1,000?
51 min
65
The $10 Million Enzo Ferrari
No, that $10 million isn’t the price of an Enzo Ferrari at auction. But it was (almost) the ransom for Enzo Ferrari’s corpse. Join Scott and Ben to learn the common-link between Elvis Presley, Abraham Lincoln, Charlie Chaplin and now, Enzo Ferrari.
51 min
66
High-Altitude Surveillance Blimps
It’s easy to understand how a high-altitude surveillance blimp could be helpful for military use. But what happens when you bring the same technology to the civilian world? Scott and Ben discuss the pros and cons of these eyes in the sky.
45 min
67
Affordable 1990s Dream Cars
When these cars were brand-new they were simply too expensive for most of us. But now, prices have dropped on a lot of those once unobtainable dream machines of the 1990s. Tune in to see if one of your favorites made the list.
48 min
68
Nuts and Bolts – April 2017
What do you do when you have a stack of news stories, listener mail and leftover show notes piled up on your desk? Well, around here, that means it’s time for Scott and Ben to record another episode of Nuts and Bolts.
55 min
69
An Unexpected Consequence of Autonomous Cars
We’re still in the early stages of the first wave of semi-autonomous cars, with fully autonomous vehicles promised soon after. But as technology begins to take over behind the wheel, a new and startling consequence has been realized.
53 min
70
Abandoned Auto Factories Around the World
Sometimes old automobile factories are put to good use when the assembly line finally stops moving. We’re not talking about those places in this episode. Join Scott and Ben as they discuss the decrepit remains of some once-great car factories.
42 min
71
The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Don’t call it a Camaro. (But the story does begin there.) Join Scott and Ben as they unravel the history of this American-made automotive icon and scrutinize a few of the behind-the-scenes characters that made the Pontiac Trans Am a reality.
57 min
72
The Borgward Story
In 1957, Borgward was Germany’s second-largest auto manufacturer, right behind Volkswagen. By 1961, the company was bankrupt. But, as you might have guessed, that’s not the whole story.
66 min
73
Legends: Harry Miller – American Race Car Desig...
By the start of the 1920 racing season, Harry Miller was designing and building race cars that were decades ahead of the competition in terms of engineering as well as style. Join Scott and Ben for part two of the Harry Miller story.
55 min
74
Legends: Harry Miller – American Race Car Desig...
The legendary American race car designer and builder Harry Miller was known as "the greatest creative figure in the history of the American racing car." His cars and engines dominated the American oval-track racing scene for almost half a century.
53 min
75
Cars and Trucks You'll Still Crave 10 Years fro...
You know the ones we’re talking about: The new cars and trucks that are so cool in 2017 that you’ll spend your evenings and weekends searching for them on eBay and Craigslist when we finally make it to 2027.
69 min