Curbside Classic Outtake: The Ultimate 2CV Antidote – Cryptic Symbology Edition

Paul Niedermeyer
by Paul Niedermeyer

At TTAC we take the “fair and balanced” slogan seriously; just not necessarily in any given post. I do tend to go a bit off the deep end, especially after a long week. We’ve had three small cars and one big one this week; the Camaro is in a special category of its own. So we need some serious counterbalancing at the last minute, lest we offend some of our more “big iron” oriented readers (it seems like I’ve managed to offend pretty much every camp this week). Folks; CC is meant (hopefully) to have a modicum of entertainment value, so don’t take anything I say too seriously, ever. Here’s my peace offering: an ex-military machine with a cryptic symbol on the door. Does anyone know what it stands for? Are chicks attracted to it?

Paul Niedermeyer
Paul Niedermeyer

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  • ChuckR ChuckR on Jan 23, 2010

    The interior shot reminds me of the wheelhouse of a commercial fisherman's small boat - bluff, upright and boxy. I have always liked the the looks of its cousin, the 1940's to 1960's flat fender Power Wagon. Unfortunately, my back wouldn't like the seating arrangements very much. In either model.

  • Martin Albright Martin Albright on Jan 26, 2010

    Yes, the M37 was truly a great vehicle. Descended almost directly from the WWII Weapons Carrier, it added a dual-speed transfer case, a separate cab and cargo area (the WWII vehicle was basically a 3/4 ton Jeep) and a slightly updated engine. Believe it or not, I actually saw an M37 still being used by the US Army - in 1993! Keep in mind that this is long after the M37's replacement, the M715, and the M715's replacement, the M880 (a civilian Dodge pickup from the 1970's) were retired from service. It was at Fort Huachuca, AZ, and the M37 was being used by the Directorate of Engineering and Housing, basically the maintenance staff of the post.

  • ToolGuy First picture: I realize that opinions vary on the height of modern trucks, but that entry door on the building is 80 inches tall and hits just below the headlights. Does anyone really believe this is reasonable?Second picture: I do not believe that is a good parking spot to be able to access the bed storage. More specifically, how do you plan to unload topsoil with the truck parked like that? Maybe you kids are taller than me.
  • ToolGuy The other day I attempted to check the engine oil in one of my old embarrassing vehicles and I guess the red shop towel I used wasn't genuine Snap-on (lots of counterfeits floating around) plus my driveway isn't completely level and long story short, the engine seized 3 minutes later.No more used cars for me, and nothing but dealer service from here on in (the journalists were right).
  • Doughboy Wow, Merc knocks it out of the park with their naming convention… again. /s
  • Doughboy I’ve seen car bras before, but never car beards. ZZ Top would be proud.
  • Bkojote Allright, actual person who knows trucks here, the article gets it a bit wrong.First off, the Maverick is not at all comparable to a Tacoma just because they're both Hybrids. Or lemme be blunt, the butch-est non-hybrid Maverick Tremor is suitable for 2/10 difficulty trails, a Trailhunter is for about 5/10 or maybe 6/10, just about the upper end of any stock vehicle you're buying from the factory. Aside from a Sasquatch Bronco or Rubicon Jeep Wrangler you're looking at something you're towing back if you want more capability (or perhaps something you /wish/ you were towing back.)Now, where the real world difference should play out is on the trail, where a lot of low speed crawling usually saps efficiency, especially when loaded to the gills. Real world MPG from a 4Runner is about 12-13mpg, So if this loaded-with-overlander-catalog Trailhunter is still pulling in the 20's - or even 18-19, that's a massive improvement.
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