* Jeep’s corporate owners at Chrysler have plastered the Rubicon name all over recent Jeep products, and for good reason – the legendary off-road trail has been a proving ground for Jeeps since the Liddicoat family started crossing it in their Willys MBs in 1946. The Liddicoat family website has more, including photos of that earliest trip. (via)
* While many of the photos aren’t great, Hans Rosloot’s Amphiclopedia includes just about every amphibious vehicle you’ve ever heard of, and many more that you haven’t, such as the Chrysler-powered, Al Dauphin-built Ann Phibi from 1960, which drives in one direction, but boats in the other. Popular Science had an article on it in March 1960.
* Them boys over at Ride Lust recently posted this photo of the awesomely unsuccessful radial-engined, front-wheel-drive 1935 Monaco Trossi racer. “Most insane car ever built?”
* Bless those cultural chroniclers at The Selvedge Yard for digging up dozens of photos of Daytona Beach from the 1970s and 1980s. I can smell the B.O. and cannabis already…
UPDATE: Part III
* Finally, the Southsiders motorcycle blog recently posted several photos on Fiat’s Lingotto factory, a giant complex that featured a track/testing grounds on the roof. Southsiders claims that the track is still occasionally used for special events. (via)