In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show

The Nomad Chronicles: Inside a Classic '57 Chevy

In Wheel Time Season 2025 Episode 178

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0:00 | 29:38

A lavender 1957 Chevy Nomad steals the spotlight at our Tailpipes and Tacos Cruise Inn broadcast from Lupe' Tortilla Tex-Mex in Katy, Texas. Owner Jim Craven shares his three-year journey with this head-turning classic, detailing what makes a Nomad special beyond just being a two-door station wagon - from the angled window pillars to the nine distinctive grooves on the car's top.

Under the hood, this beauty houses a monstrous 502 cubic inch crate motor with dual four-barrel carburetors that, in Jim's words, "will lay rubber in second and third gear." While Jim initially had reservations about the lavender paint when buying sight unseen, it's now the car's most celebrated feature, routinely earning trophies and starting conversations at every show.

What resonates most is Jim's refreshing philosophy about classic car ownership. Unlike those who treat vehicles as untouchable museum pieces, he drives his Nomad regularly, believing classics should be enjoyed rather than preserved as "garage queens." This approach has made him and his distinctive vehicle fixtures in the local car community.

We also take listeners through fascinating automotive milestones in our "This Week in Auto History" segment, from the Jeep's 1941 military debut to the Ford Mustang's landmark introduction at the 1964 New York World's Fair. Plus, we decode mysterious car acronyms (did you know RAV4 stands for "Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive"?) and highlight game-changing supplier innovations like anti-lock brakes and touchscreens that transformed how we experience automobiles.

Don't miss our upcoming broadcast from the Hot Rod Tour of Texas! Tune in live next Saturday from Spindletap Brewery in Houston as we follow 300+ classic cars traversing the back roads of the Lone Star State.

Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!

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Lupe Tortilla in Katy, Texas

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Tailpipes and Tacos Cruise Inn Introduction

Speaker 1

Welcome to another In Wheel Time podcast From the Tailpipes and Tacos Cruise Inn at the Loopy Tortilla Tex-Mex in Katy, Texas, USA. It's the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show. We've got more guests from today's cruise inn. We're also going to call on Biff to judge what we've got left out here so we can give away the chili pepper trophies in three classes. So you may be in it, you don't know.

Speaker 2

I never know.

Speaker 1

Howdy Along with Mike out of this world Mars. We always need more Jeff Zekin, chief Engineer David Ainsley over here in the corner where he needs to be. I'm Don Armstrong, glad you could join us today. Who's our guest, Mr Morris?

Speaker 4

You know there are classics in the world?

Speaker 1

No, I don't know.

Speaker 4

Well, you consider your classic a look-up classic. You'll see there a chariot race classic, don Armstrong. So Jim Craven, here has the classic 1957 Chevy Nomad sitting over here.

Speaker 1

Oh, he's got a Nomad yeah buddy over here.

Speaker 4

Oh, he's got a no man. Yeah, buddy, thank you. 502. Two fours man, it's nice I was gonna say so.

Speaker 1

It's not. It's not a new bomb pie wagon, it's got windows in the back, correct? Yeah, uh, because, uh, I think stan is in the process of uh building a race car. That it's not the nomad, it's a, it's another one, that's a handyman wagon.

Speaker 4

Is that what they call it? A handyman, handyman, yeah yeah.

Speaker 1

So it was built for service.

Speaker 2

Yes, yeah, that's right.

Speaker 1

And so they popped the windows out and they put a steel panel back there.

Speaker 2

Yes, yes, and that was the Pi wagon. I've seen that done before.

Speaker 1

Well, so, jim, it's good to have you here.

Speaker 2

Thank you?

Jim's '57 Chevy Nomad Interview

Speaker 1

How long have you had the 57? A little over three years. You bought it from an individual. I assume you didn't buy it new.

Speaker 2

Actually, I bought it from a broker, not the guy that built it. He'd been trying stuff for quite a while and wasn't getting what he wanted, so I followed it for a while over a year.

Speaker 1

Finally, on the fifth auction we made a deal. Why did you go after a 57?

Speaker 2

nomad? Well, because it's our generation. Well, yes, absolutely tri-fives. How can you go wrong? Right, the nomad was iffy, a station wagon. Didn't even think about it, but I was looking for something.

Speaker 1

This is a two-door station wagon oh, absolutely, yeah, that to me is just it, it's it's special. Yeah, it is.

Speaker 2

You know the nomad, where the window pillar comes straight down. The nomad comes out at an angle and it's a sliding window I did not know that yes, yeah and the. There's nine grooves on the hood at the top of the car, not the hood and then the chrome trim on the back. So, there's certain specialties that that makes it a.

Speaker 1

Nomad, yeah, that came from the factory. That way, exactly yeah.

Speaker 4

Yeah, it's not just being a two-door, no, I mean, there's.

Speaker 2

There's plenty of those. Yeah, yeah, I don't know about plenty, but yeah Well. Yeah, you're right. No, they're getting rarer and rarer. But back to your question. I needed something to take to car shows. I really enjoy them so much and, like I said, I spent over a year online looking at different ones. I got a soft spot in my heart for those Tri-Fives, but you know Chevelles and Impalas, I mean, I was open to anything.

Speaker 4

Yeah, a lot of choices out there.

Speaker 2

Yeah, and the color which you can't say on the radio, but it is lavender and the women really love that color a lot. It's purple, so well it's lavender.

Speaker 4

Yeah, let's go with lavender.

Speaker 1

It's not really purple, it's lavender, okay well, whatever, I'm looking at it right through the window there and you can't miss it. Yeah, Now did you have it painted that way?

Speaker 2

No, it came that way and I bought it sight unseen online, so I was very questionable about the color.

Speaker 1

When you bought it online. See, with a car like that I would think oh God, I've seen and heard the nightmares you know rusted floor pans. The frame is just all jacked up. It's been through a thousand different people and everybody Guess where it came from.

Speaker 2

Tell me Michigan, oh my God. So I'm thinking oh, this is a rust bucket? Yeah, yeah, that car is so clean and so solid you wouldn't believe it Really.

Speaker 1

I is so clean and so solid you wouldn't believe really I it's one. I assume that you've been all over it and under it. Yes, absolutely. They know every inch of the car. So what's been done to the car?

Speaker 2

well, we can start off with the engine. It's a 502 with two, four barrels on it. It's a crate motor um power steering, power brakes, okay I guess stop.

Speaker 1

Hold on just a minute. You've got to stop. Did it come with the two four?

Speaker 2

barrels on it. No, that was when you buy the block.

Speaker 1

No, but I mean with that engine. I mean you bought the car with the two, four barrels on it. Yes, yes Okay.

Speaker 2

And the builder bought a crate motor 502, that he put an intake in a two car, that he put an intake in a two-carb.

Speaker 1

I guess the reason I ask is because you know, with the fuel injection these days and you know with two four-barrels on it, I would imagine that you can find some fuel injection system.

Speaker 2

Absolutely. They have a two-four-barrel EFI. Colley makes it.

Speaker 1

I would love to go that way, because adjusting those just in those two floors it's a job, yeah, and not only that, if you don't drive it every day, you know it just evaporation and all the other stuff and hard to crank. It's persnickety. Write that down.

Speaker 2

How do you spell?

Speaker 1

that it starts with a P, p-e-r. I think Persnickety.

Speaker 2

Persnickety, p-e-r. I think P-E-S-N-I-C-O-T-E, p-e-s-n-i-c-o-t-e, p-e-s-n-i-c-o-t-e. Does that come with?

Speaker 1

nuts. Yeah, that Okay, so we're going to move on from the engine. Now it's a 502. Have you had it dyno tested?

Speaker 2

Do you know what the horsepower is?

Speaker 1

Yeah, that sounds good and it scoots.

Speaker 2

There's a 12-volt posi in it and it does very well.

Speaker 1

Okay and transmission.

Speaker 2

Turbo 400, which I did have to have rebuilt, and that's when I had an option. You know why go with the higher RPM 400, which is basically a drag transmission. Right, but it's a solid transmission and I took it to the best guy in town and he rebuilt it and put a shift kit in it and it's wonderful, it's very nice. Nice, chirp the tires a little bit, oh, absolutely.

Speaker 1

Are you kidding? Chirp them. Yeah, burn the back end off of it Make them scream.

Speaker 2

It will lay rubber in second and third.

Speaker 1

Those wheels yours or did they come with those wheels?

Speaker 2

No, it came with the 15-inch Americans. It was actually lower, an inch inch and a half lower than it is now, and I just bought them out in my driveway.

Speaker 1

Yeah.

Speaker 2

And I don't like 15 inches. I put 17-inch. Got away from the Americans because every Tri-5 has Americans. Went with the US Mag, which is beautiful. I think it's beautiful. It's 17-inch, got the right tires, it has a beautiful look to it and I took the 3-inch blocks out and put 2-inch in, so it's got a little bit up and you can see that beautiful chrome wheel Not polished either. I don't care for polish, I like chrome Chrome won't get you home, but nice to look at.

Speaker 1

Yeah, absolutely. And how long have you had the car now A little over three years.

Speaker 2

Three years You've been to every car show that there is, you know, within a 50-mile radius. I try to hit them all.

Speaker 1

Do, you do?

Speaker 2

Autorama with it. Oh no, no, you know, to me this is an everyday driver. It's not a garage queen, although I put it in the garage and I keep it covered, but it's not a show car, it's not a six-figure car, it's not. I like these in town.

Speaker 1

Well you know it's funny, because I'm the same way with the Corvette. I had a Corvette show car and I never go back to that again. I mean it was fun while I had it and when I did it, you know, did the $10,000 paint job and the underside pinstripe. All that Did all that. Yeah, but it's a nightmare.

Speaker 2

I mean it's a lot of work to keep it up.

Speaker 1

So now with the Corvette, I just keep it clean, I'll show it wherever. And Hot Rod Tour of Texas is coming up this week, so I'm going to drive it down to Victoria and once I get it down to Victoria, we and park it in the motel parking lot, spend the night there and get up the next morning and drive it on the tour for three days.

Speaker 2

Well, there you see, and that's what you want.

Speaker 1

You own a drivable car. I'm surprised that you're not on the Hot Rod.

Speaker 2

Tour Well.

Speaker 4

Was it too much work.

Speaker 2

Nobody ever invited me. Well, okay, well, it sold out this year, but year.

Speaker 1

Keep it in mind, hot Rod.

Speaker 4

Tour of.

Speaker 1

Texas just look it up Because I think that you'd really enjoy it. That car would be perfect on it.

Speaker 2

And that's what I appreciate about the car. It's in its own class by itself and the public loves it. It's great for the trophies and I have nothing to do with that, but I get to meet, so many people and so many people have stories and time just flies by with that car.

Speaker 4

Yeah, so, like you said, it's four. How would you say, jeff, 400 and how many miles? 488. Yeah, starting in Victoria, but it comes down through Houston Palacios. I mean, it's basically country roads, oh absolutely yeah, and last year there was a night at the drive-in, went to the drive-in and it was great to sit out at the drive-in with all these old cars and hot rods.

Speaker 2

See, that's where the station wagon comes in Exactly. I don't care what kind of car it was Plymouth Ford Dodge Going to the drive-in with mom and pops and the popcorn and backing in. I did a segment last week on station wagons.

Speaker 3

Yeah waves. Yeah, yeah, I mean, I'm, I'm into if, yeah, if it wasn't for that lady I live with, I'd probably probably have a barn full of stationery.

Speaker 2

Just paint her purple and put her in the garage. I think yeah, and if I was to rebuild a car today, I guarantee you I'd use that color. Really, yeah, it's growing on me. I love that color.

Speaker 4

Like you said, it just stands it's royalty your eye gets drawn to it definitely does that.

Speaker 2

I mean, yeah and it's, it's a really it was done in 2008. And that paint job I've won trophies for best paint and it is a wonderful paint job, but they should have one that's best color, because I know it's the color that won, not so much that people are looking at the paint job.

Speaker 4

There's not anything wrong with that.

Speaker 2

It job? There's not anything unusual. Yeah, yeah, special, well jim it's great to talk to you.

Station Wagon Love and Car Shows

Speaker 1

Oh, I appreciate to find out about your car. Appreciate the attention, yeah, and um be sure, and look up your interview after we get off the air today. I, I can't wait, okay, yeah, you're the star stop it.

Speaker 2

Am I blushing? Stop it, tell me more.

Speaker 1

Yeah, I got you well, well, it's great to learn about the car, and is this your first time out here?

Speaker 2

No, no, I just live a couple miles over. I've been to Katy 31 years.

Speaker 1

Okay, back before it turned into this, this is my stomping ground.

Speaker 2

And that's one thing, too, about when you get a nice car that you like and I'm willing to move on after a while, get something new um, everybody knows it. So when I pull in, they're like, oh there he is, you know. So I want to get something and surprise everybody. Look what I got. Oh, my god, that's. And then that's what I enjoy about. Same thing when you brought up your corvette, you know, I bought a brand new one in 2014 and that first year I owned it, people, loved it about 2020.

Speaker 2

First year I owned it people loved it. They ever seen it. Year I owned it, people loved it. They never seen it. After that, it just all of a sudden everybody's got one, Everybody's seen one, so I like that being special.

Speaker 4

Yeah, they go back. Yeah, he's back. I've seen it. Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 2

And that'll happen with anything you drive if you stay within a local area. Thanks, guys, jim.

Speaker 1

Craven 57, nomad. We thank you sir. Hey, you can get the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show 24-7 through the Odyssey Radio app, thank you, and the In Wheel Time app Just look for In Wheel Time Car Talk Podcasts available from your favorite podcast provider. And we video stream our live weekly show on Facebook, youtube and InWheelTimecom. The In Wheel Time Car Talk Show continues right after this quick break. You've waited all winter and it's finally here.

Speaker 1

The break. Tailpipes and Tacos, saturday, april 19th, 8 to 11 am. Cruise in, make a donation of any amount and grab a free Loopy Tortilla Breakfast Taco. Tailpipes and Tacos only happens at the Loopy Tortilla Tex-Mex in Katy, 703 West Grand Parkway at Kingsland Boulevard, just south of the Katy Freeway. Join the car camaraderie and your car will automatically compete for one of three Chili Pepper trophies at no charge.

Speaker 1

Spring is here and what better way to celebrate than with a free taco at Tailpipes and Tacos, saturday, april 19th, 8 to 11 am. The In Wheel Time Car Talk Show will be there too. We hope to see you then. Come on out. Be sure to follow the In Wheel Time crew when we join the Hot Rod Tour of Texas beginning next Thursday evening in Victoria. In Wheel Time will be there to give you a taste of the three-day trek. Next Saturday's live two-hour show will come to you from the Houston stop at Spindletap Brewery, beginning at 10 am. You'll be able to get a feel of 300-plus cars traveling the back roads of Texas from Victoria to Madisonville. We hope you check into Facebook, youtube and InWheelTimecom for live updates as we take the hot rod tour of texas beginning next thursday evening. Come join us. Welcome back to the in-wheel time car talk show. Okay, um, mr mars, you've done your car review. It's time, let's, let's do the uh, the other feature that you, we've postponed, can we?

Speaker 3

you want to do the uh this week in auto history?

Speaker 1

Yeah, let's do this Week in Auto History. You still have it.

Speaker 4

Oh, now I overshot, now I go back up.

Speaker 1

Okay, there you go. So let's do that, shall we?

This Week in Automotive History

Speaker 4

So we found a few things this week in automotive history that we felt were kind of interesting. So this week in 1941, jeep officially enters into military service. So the US Army officially accepted the Willis MB into military service. So the US Army officially accepted the Willis MB into military service and this is what gave way to the iconic Jeep. It was designed for regular performance, lightweight, 4x4, and it really became essential to the Allied success of World War II because of its durability, easy to repair and versatility. I mean it could go over difficult terrain, it could tow equipment. They transported people in it, it was an ambulance, it was a communication vehicle. Over 600,000 units were produced during the war.

Speaker 4

Also this week, on the 17th, the Ford Mustang made its official debut on April the 17th at the New York World's Fair. Now this was unveiled at the Ford Pavilion Got a lot of people's attention because of the way they were doing the, the tease leading up to it. It was alongside the futuristic ride called Magic Skyway that was created by Walt Disney, and this is part of what created all the buzz that allowed them to sell 22,000 Mustangs on the first day alone. Now, however, two days earlier, on april the 15th, was rich. It was originally when the first ford mustang was sold in america. Now this was done at a dealership. It was a wilburton white. Wilburton white convertible with black interior. It was purchased two days before the car's official release, bought, bought by a Chicago school teacher for $3,447.50. Had a V8 engine, a power convertible top, and her car today is recognized as the earliest known retail Mustang. Due to a thing at the dealership it was actually sold two days before it was supposed to sell.

Speaker 4

Now, also this week, april the 15th, rand McNally publishes the first Road Atlas. Now, this is the first comprehensive. There was a lot of maps out there, but this was the first comprehensive Road Atlas for the American public and this kind of started the revolution of the American travel, of people getting in their cars and going, which surged in the 20s and 30s. And when they did this they had to have a map to be able to tell where to go, and this is what allowed them to do that. It had detailed maps, route information, points of interest and helped people find what was going on in the world once they left their hometown, and it made long-distance car travel more accessible and contributed to the fascination with growing road trips.

Speaker 4

Last but not least, april the 18th. The Ford gt40 made its competitive debt debut in Nuremberg on April the 18th 1964. Now, this was done by. It was developed to challenge Ferrari at Le Mans. The gt40 was entered by Ford advanced vehicles you've probably seen and heard some of this Driven by Bruce McLaren and Phil Hill at this particular event, showed a lot of promise with his powerful V8, but it struggled mechanically and it couldn't finish the race. But that's part of what started Ford's legendary campaign into Le Mans, which you end up seeing in the recent Ford versus Ferrari movie.

Speaker 1

Did you have a bit of Don Armstrong going on there? Yeah, I was.

Speaker 4

It was like oh, that was blank. That was this week in automotive history, including the blank.

Speaker 3

Blankety blanks.

Speaker 4

Yeah at the end, Just no charge for that one Okay.

Speaker 1

Well, it's been another chaotic morning here on the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show. It's been good though, at least for me. Well for you, maybe Not for me.

Speaker 4

Well, I don't have to worry about the chariot race.

Speaker 1

You don't have to what? I wonder who's giving away the Joey?

Speaker 3

Pimper truckers. He's running around here doing something.

Speaker 1

Well, that's just great, because we haven't done anything as far as giving away. Well, we've got around here doing something well, that's just great, because we haven't done anything as far as giving away 10 minute, 10, 30s. When we give away, yeah, well, if there's any cars left, he's working on it, he's working well. Well, we're hoping that we can give away those chili pepper trophies got one over there.

Speaker 3

I like that one there. We got a couple back here yeah, uh-huh, okay.

Speaker 1

So there was another uh feature that I I didn't write down that I was, that I had postponed. I've got one, you got one. Yeah, I do okay. Well, I've got one too, but wanted to you, you do yours well, everybody you know, you see a car and it's got.

Speaker 3

It's got a abc after it or anZ, it's got an acronym on it. So this is what I found out Mercedes-Benz AMG. Do you know what that stands for? The AMG part Offridge Merlik Gospach, that's the AMG part of that.

Speaker 1

How do?

Speaker 3

you say that again.

Speaker 1

Well, I just did it, so we're not going to say it again it's a German word, I was thinking about american motors.

Speaker 3

Good, no, no, close enough. What about a subaru brz? The b stands for boxer engine, the r is for rear wheel drive and the z is for zenith, as in the ultimate passion for sports cars, okay, yep, toyota bz4x. The bz means beyond zero emissions, describing the nature of battery, electrics, while the 4X denotes the car being a crossover. So how about that?

Speaker 4

So there is some intelligence in all that. That's right. Here's one for David.

Car Acronyms Explained

Speaker 3

The Aston Martin DBX. What's the DBX stand for? The DB is Aston Martin, including the DB5. It actually stands for David Brown, who purchased Aston Martin in 1947. The X is for crossover.

Speaker 4

Fiat David Brown, david Brown.

Speaker 3

Who the hell is David Brown? He owns Aston Martin.

Speaker 4

He's a rich guy.

Speaker 3

Fiat. Either that or a broke guy it actually stands for Fabrica Italiana Automobilia Torino. In English translates to factory in Torino. And what are the letters Fiat? The word Fiat F-I-A-T, toyota Yaris, gr, gr is Gazoo Racing. Volkswagen GTI Grand Touring Injection is what the GTI stands for. There's the yeah, there he is, christine. It's the Christine car RAV4. Toyota RAV4 is recreational active vehicle with four-wheel drive. Yep, I was wondering about that. Yeah, I looked that up. The Recreational active vehicle?

Speaker 1

Yeah, I looked that up the other day. Yeah, ford Focus.

Speaker 3

RS Rally Sport, which also means Rennsport, which is a German word for racing or sports or motorsports. So that's what the RS and Ford Focus, saab Svenska Aeroplan Akaik. Ooh, let me see that Bulldog Meaning Swedish airplane company. Wait a minute that was trying that one.

Speaker 1

Let me do my ABBA impression here. Svenska aeroplane akibolag.

Speaker 4

Send your letters too.

Speaker 3

And then we'll do one more here. It's a Subaru XV. It just means crossover vehicle, that's all it means. So there's a meaning behind all these acronyms that they put on these cars.

Speaker 1

Great Everyone has a meaning. Everything's got a meaning. So did you give away our trophies, alright. And you have names of these people and all that. Yeah, I got a piece of paper for you. Is that what you're looking for? A piece?

Speaker 3

of paper to write on.

Speaker 1

Okay, very good thank you very good thank you, is she? Remain. Did you see my grandson and my daughter? And yeah, he is, does n't he looks just like me, doesn't he?

Speaker 3

oh, hell no yeah, he's got a full diaper.

Speaker 1

Here, you need a pen. You got a pen. No, he stole my pen. Oh, okay, good, you know, these things here at the Loopy Tortilla do get out of hand easily.

Speaker 3

When we're here.

Speaker 1

Yeah, what Mars? Yeah, well, everybody else wishes they could be here. So this is what leslie sees on youtube right here.

Speaker 4

Oh my, you lost your feed. Let me see if it came back on what did you see the picture? Yeah, no, I didn't, I was reading there's the picture what so for our YouTube, you need to get your. Tv fixed.

Speaker 1

No, that's not it.

Speaker 4

Yeah, that's it.

Speaker 1

No, it's not, I'm telling you? Okay. Well, you try to convince Leslie that, that's it.

Speaker 4

No, I'm not going to, not after what I just saw. See what's on there now.

Speaker 1

That's it. There you go. It's a big mess.

Speaker 4

Well, that wasn't there a minute ago.

Speaker 1

That's what I'm saying.

Speaker 4

Hold that thought.

Speaker 1

It's a mess how am I going to hold the thought, so we apologize for our YouTube visitors with some sort of screwed up video?

Speaker 4

but that's not surprising. We're going to investigate here.

Speaker 1

Okay, at any rate, I don't have any other. Well, I do have a feature, but it's going to be too long to fit into this little area. I think no, I'm going to make it fit. Though automakers have spent untold billions on research and development to create technologies that make vehicles cleaner, safer and more comfortable and more reliable, the modern automobile would be unrecognizable today if not for decades of pioneering by their supplier partners anti-lock brakes. Almost from the beginning of the auto industry, engineers have known that a vehicle is more difficult to control in emergency braking when the wheels lock up. Chrysler introduced the SureBrake four-wheel anti-lock brake system in 1971 as optional equipment on the imperial luxury car. I didn't know that it used sensors in the wheels and vacuum controls to modulate the brakes. In 78, bosch began modern anti-lock brake era when it its four-channel computer-controlled abs debuted on the mercedes-benz w6, later called the S-Class Brake-by-wire. Some lower technology brake-by-wire systems have been in production, and hybrids such as the Toyota Prius, that use signals from the brake pedal to push brake fluid through a series of pipes to the front and rear brakes. German supplier ZF said it will launch a by-wire system that operates the brake calipers electrically starting in late 2028. So nothing that you do inside really is going to have anything that's mechanically connected to the function Cameras. Toyota and Nissan ushered in the modern era of backup cameras In the early 90s. They became federally required safety equipment on all passenger cars in the 2018 model year.

Automotive Supplier Innovations Spotlight

Speaker 1

Catalytic converters no device has done more to clean up the emissions from gasoline and diesel engines. Virtually every gasoline and diesel automobile today has a catalytic converter. The device located in the exhaust system uses precious metals and high heat to convert harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides into less harmful gases and water vapor. Lane departure warning, which to me is intrusive and I don't like it, but Nissan debuted the current system developed by Vallejo in its Infiniti FX SUV. Today, lane departure is a key building block of the suite of technologies that enable self-driving cars. Lithium-ion batteries First commercial lithium-ion batteries were made by Sony in 1991. I didn't know that First commercial lithium-ion batteries were made by Sony in 1991. I didn't know that First Teslas used lithium-ion batteries made by Panasonic and LG Chem.

Speaker 3

I can't hear him. I turned my lane departure thing off.

Speaker 1

Yeah, it's annoying. Yeah, in 1990, the first built-in GPS system came in the Japan market Mazda Cosmo luxury car. The system was developed by Mitsubishi Electric and Mazda, the gyro. The gyro cater lasted one year, I think. I've heard that. That's not what you heard, that's not what it meant, that's not what you.

Speaker 3

The gyro cater.

Speaker 1

Yeah, gyro, cater, cater, cater, cater. Radial tires. First patents for radial tires were granted more than 100 years ago, but France's Michelin perfected the technology and created the tire that changed the industry. Michelin's first radial tire, the Michelin X of 1946, improved safety, handling, durability and fuel economy. By the 80s, 100% of all new cars sold in the United States were equipped with radial tires. In a radial tire, the cords are positioned bead to bead at 90-degree angles to help reduce friction. And the radio. Paul and Joseph Galvin, founders of Motorola, the Chicago company that created the first commercially successful car radios in the 1930s, likely would not recognize the audio systems in today's cars. The radio is just a small part of the infotainment system and has become crucial in the operation of the vehicle. Screens in some cars control almost every key function. Delco Electronics and Delco Systems developed the first in-car touchscreen. That debuted in the 1986 Buick Riviera. Yes, since then, screens and functions have grown so much that some vehicles, such as the Cadillac, escalade and Celestique, have screens that stretch all the way across the dash.

Speaker 2

All right.

Speaker 1

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Closing and Show Information

Speaker 1

The award-winning In Wheel Time Car Talk Show now reaches 5.3 million folks each year. Check us out on inwheeltimecom, the Odyssey Radio app, YouTube, Facebook and just about every other entertainment source out there, including our live broadcast every Saturday 10 to noon Central Time. The In Wheel Time Car Talk Show has informative automotive guest interviews, new car reviews, along with popular features, including Jeff's car culture, the latest new cars, cruise ins and racing dates. It's InWheelTimecom. Join us. That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show. I'm Don Armstrong, inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and our InWheelTimecom website. Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart Podcast, Podcast, Addict, TuneIn, Pandora and Amazon Music. Keep listening and we'll see you soon.