The automobile and the history of America, post-1970 --

This ending quote (p. 473) is from James Flink's seminal article "American Automobile Consciousness" published in the American Quarterly (v.24, October, 1972). It marks the beginning of an extended discussion on this blog.

Automobility has had more important consequences for 20th century American man than even Frederick Jackson Turner's frontier had for our 19th century forebears. Thus the coming of Automobile Consciousness III[ aproximately post-1968/70] marks a significant turning point in American historical development- the end of an era that historians will someday refer to as the age of the automobile. Whether the new era of American historical development that has dawned will be even more an era of the people or become the age of the superstate remains to be seen. Certainly the time has come for concerted, retrospective scholarly inquiry and debate over the details of the American automobile revolution.

So what did happen after 1970 to both America and its automobile industry? Did we gain more freedoms, or have we witnessed the emergence of  a superstate? Did the superstate rise as the automobile industry fell, and are these two phenomena somehow linked? How did we come to accomodate Japanese imports while at the same time not insisting fair trade -- so that American products were not welcome in Japan? With the government bailouts of Chrysler and GM, did the superstate merge with the auto industry?

Good- Bye, Paul Walker!

 Paul Walker, the star of the “Fast & Furious” movie series, died Saturday in a car crash that killed one other person outside of Los Angeles. He was 40.

His publicist Ame Van Iden confirmed his death. A statement on Mr. Walker’s Facebook page said he was a passenger in a friend’s car, and that Mr. Walker was in the area to attend a charity event for his organization Reach Out Worldwide.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that speed was a factor in the crash.

Deputies found a Porsche Carrera GT engulfed in flames when they responded to a report of a collision in the community of Valencia, north of Los Angeles. Two people who were found in the car were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Santa Clarita Valley Signal reported that the Porsche crashed into a light pole and tree and burst into flames. The fundraiser, to benefit victims of Typhoon Haiyan, took place at a nearby racecar shop. Attendees rushed to put out the flames with fire extinguishers to no avail.

Mr. Walker’s “Fast & Furious” co-star Vin Diesel posted a photograph of him and Mr. Walker arm-in-arm on Instagram with the message: “Brother I will miss you very much. I am absolutely speechless.”

Mr. Walker rode the “Fast & Furious” franchise to stardom, starring in all but one of the six action blockbusters, beginning with the first film in 2001. The blond-haired, blue-eyed Los Angeles-native brought California surfer good-looks and an easy, warm charm to the series.

The son of a fashion model and a sewer contractor, Mr. Walker grew up in a working class, Mormon household in Glendale, Calif. Mr. Walker’s mother began taking him to auditions as a toddler. He was a child model beginning at the age of 2.

After a string of TV roles as a child in the ’80s, including small roles on “Who’s the Boss” and “Charles in Charge,” Mr. Walker made his feature film debut in the 1998 comedy “Meet the Deedles.” Supporting roles in the films “Pleasantville,” '‘Varsity Blues” and “Flags of Our Fathers” followed.

His performance in the 2000 thriller “The Skulls” caught the eye of producer Neal H. Moritz, who cast him in “The Fast and the Furious” as undercover police officer Brian O’Conner. Adapted from a Vibe magazine article about underground street races, the film became an unexpected hit.

In the sequel, “2 Fast 2 Furious,” Mr. Walker moved to center stage with Mr. Diesel temporarily dropping out. Mr. Walker, a self-described “gearhead,” kept his character’s sports car from the film.

Mr. Walker starred in other films, including the crime thriller “Running Scared,” the Antarctic adventure “Eight Below” and the heist film “Takers.”

“Fast & Furious” proved unusually enduring. Released in May, “Fast & Furious 6” was the most lucrative of them all, grossing more than $788 million worldwide. The seventh installment began shooting in September, with a release planned for July. The film’s production was on break with more shooting to be done.

Mr. Walker stars in the upcoming Hurricane Katrina drama “Hours,” which Lionsgate‘s Pantelion Films is to release Dec. 13. He formed Reach Out Worldwide in 2010 to aid people struck by natural disasters.

Mr. Walker is survived by his 15-year-old daughter.

Black Friday (actually Thursday) at the Chula Vista CA Pick and Pull

Hi folks -- an amazing experience yesterday.  As some of you know, I like to go to Pick and Pull junk yards to sift through the Mercedes cars for parts I rarely need. I like to sit in the 380s and figure out where all the hidden parts are configured, since by the time I get there usually much of the dash is removed and thus I can see vacuum servos, relays, etc. and how they are positioned.

OK, so Thursday morning to Saturday this week was 50% off at Ecology in Chula Vista. My son-in-law Tony and I got there Thanksgiving morning at 7:45 a.m. and there was already a long line and they were letting people in.  It just got crazier as time went on, and by the time we left at 10 a.m. there were hundreds upon hundreds of folks milling and pulling parts. For a time son-in-law Tony and I were the only Anglos in the yard where for the most part Spanish only was spoken.

It was insane -- actually a Mexican acted insane so that he could try to jump the line -- addled and oblivious to anyone. Nice guy, just crazy and not dangerous.  There were thieves amongst us, so paranoia reigned concerning keeping a close watch on tools and pulled parts.

This was a once in a lifetime experience -- I came home with 5 Mercedes 15 inch alloy wheels, each for $14.49!  But then you add in the core charge for each ($5), dismounting tires ($3), and it all adds up.  For junk!  The wheels may work out, but I am not totally sure for now.

Happy Thanksgiving! -- Turkey Cars

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Can you identify this car? -- is it a 1927 Dodge or something else?

A Thanksgiving Road Trip Film: Planes Trains and Automobiles

A 1986 Chrysler Town and Country

Getting home for Thanksgiving, any way one can!  No matter how life is,there is that moment of joy when first getting home for the holidays. Then the joy gets complicated once reality sets in.

One of the funniest depictions of a burned up but somehow running automobile.