American icon pulled by Toyota. I know both the space programs and major vehicle manufacturers are global but seemed like something a GM or Ford or Dodge should have been doing.
I worked as a Lexus tech for 20 yrs til last Feb and drive a Tacoma so I have a thing for their products but... this is just wrong! I really have to wonder how stuff like this happens. I assume NASA would have had to OK this so can only think that they must have their head well hidden.
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FFR 5353K,351/400hp,TKO 500, 3-link w/3.08 and Truetrac, Koni DA coilovers front and rear,APE hardtop,Forte front and VPM rear swaybars
1987 Buick Grand National (All original with only 16k miles)
1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport (Currently undergoing a frame off restoration)
1965 Buick Riviera 401 car, unrestored survivor, driver.
2005 F150 FX4, Supercrew (Daily Driver)
2001 Dodge Grand Caravan (Beater)
That was my initial impression also - why a Toyota?
I watched it on the news last night. Apparently the motorized dolly that they were using to move the Shuttle is too heavy for the bridge over the freeway. So they stopped and swapped out the dolly for a lighter one - which was pulled by the Tundra. That segment is actually a Toyota Commercial, with a stunt driver, etc and they took several hours to get it all set up with lights and everything. I am sure Toyota paid some big bucks. Once they got across the bridge, they went back to the motorized dolly
I think they need to raise $200 million to cover all the costs involved
The Tundra is made in San Antonia and it had "Born in America" across the front
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John Hudson FFR 2513 My427SC.com
Now that I'm driving a Tundra, I'm surprised it didn't run out of gas before it made it across the bridge! It's got the balls of Job, but the worst mileage of any of the dozen or more trucks I've owned.
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FFR2710: 400+RWHP, Vortech blown all Trick Flow 302, 3.27 IRS, Cobra R\'s, Tremec. Bodyman is finally ready for my car, Soon to be Lambo orange!
seemed weird to me too but you have to consider that the Tundra is made in North America, for the North American market. there are hardly any Tundras in Japan or anywhere else.
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MK4 delivery 12/17/11
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Type 65 Coupe Ordered 01/17/13
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347 w. stack injection, IRS, Levy arms, Levy front and rear brakes
i'd love to know if they REALLY did it with a stock truck and stock transmission.
I saw an interview with the Toyota/America product engineer. He claims it was stock, and when pressed said that just about any full-sized pickup could have done it.
I saw an interview with the Toyota/America product engineer. He claims it was stock, and when pressed said that just about any full-sized pickup could have done it.
I've bolded what I think is the key phrase.
My son - who lives in LA - went down to watch portions of the whole spectacle (moving the Shuttle along LA streets from the airport to the museum) in person, and from his perspective - it certainly looked like a stock Tundra.
Additionally, the truck was on display at SEMA this past November, and assuming it was the same truck (which I think it was) - it certainly looked stock.
Lastly, from my time years ago when I did some technical support work around filming of a couple TV commercials, advertisers in those days got into a world of hurt if they were phoney-ing up stuff on commercials - and I'm sure it's much more rigorous today than it was then. You may recall once upon a time when a certain soup company - one with red & white can labels - got busted for putting clear marbles in the bottom of soup bowls so the chunks of potatoes/meat/etc would stay on top in the pictures, making it look like the soup was much chunkier than reality.
BTW - I don't own a Tundra and never have. But love my '03 Dodge Quad cab diesel.
YMMV
Lynn
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Retired and living in southern Utah where's it's warm and dry, and where every day is a good day as long as you wake up on top of the dirt!.
FFR 7591 Anniversary Edition (#10 of 15)
Build school: February 2012, Order date: 22 July '12, Delivery date: 23 Sept '12
GM has been known to do that. They like to have drive before you buy events here in So cal. You go to the airforce base and they have tracks setup. They also let you drive the "competition". Oddly enough the "competition" cars are dogs and the GM products are over peppy.
__________________
MK4 delivery 12/17/11
Build thread: HERE
Epic First start video HERE
427w ford racing, stainless headers, 3link, tko600, 3.55 gears, Jim Inglese weber intake system and a custom paint job from Jeff Miller!
Type 65 Coupe Ordered 01/17/13
Build thread: HERE
347 w. stack injection, IRS, Levy arms, Levy front and rear brakes
I said in another post that the part that I found the best was the shot of the pinion and drive shaft. Those are the parts that Dodge is having a recall on right now.....LOL. Pretty good way for Tundra to say FY to Ram.
__________________ "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." Inigo Montoya
I'm sure any V8 powered Full Size pick-up truck could of done that haul. Being that it was a very low speed tow, the demands on the truck are much lower, and that is the reason as to why it was possible. Now try towing that sort of weight at a contstant 55 mph, and now you have a totally different story, and one cooked truck.
1987 Buick Grand National (All original with only 16k miles)
1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport (Currently undergoing a frame off restoration)
1965 Buick Riviera 401 car, unrestored survivor, driver.
2005 F150 FX4, Supercrew (Daily Driver)
2001 Dodge Grand Caravan (Beater)
Like Rob J said, see if the Tundra can get that load up to freeway speeds in a short time (like on an on-ramp) and then stop in a reasonable distance....Justa bunch of Toyota hype....(and I own one)...
Low range gears and a 5.7 liter V-8. Yep no problem moving it at walking speed.
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FFR 5353K,351/400hp,TKO 500, 3-link w/3.08 and Truetrac, Koni DA coilovers front and rear,APE hardtop,Forte front and VPM rear swaybars
The real question is why not? The tundra is built right here in the US and 80% of the parts are made here. It is an american truck, just a foreign brand. They are built right in truck country Texas
agreed with Sam, remember the famous LEMON ad from the VW? there is a scene in Mad Men where they sat around talking for several minutes about "how stupid it was."
I agree a very smart marketing tactic.
We are all here analyzing this, aren't we? Got our attention!
If this were politics we'd be calling it a great photo op. Toyota beat all others to the punch and I bet it has increased sales significantly. It is also a great visual that shows an American built truck doing something very American. Great marketing.
American icon pulled by Toyota. I know both the space programs and major vehicle manufacturers are global but seemed like something a GM or Ford or Dodge should have been doing.
The Tundra is the only full size (Ram, Silverado/Sierra, F-150) that qualifies as a domestic product. It's the most "American" of all those trucks.
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MK3.1 - Under Construction
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Tremec 3650
The Tundra is the only full size (Ram, Silverado/Sierra, F-150) that qualifies as a domestic product. It's the most "American" of all those trucks.
Its not about where each physical part is manufactured. Its where the buck stops.
__________________
MK4 delivery 12/17/11
Build thread: HERE
Epic First start video HERE
427w ford racing, stainless headers, 3link, tko600, 3.55 gears, Jim Inglese weber intake system and a custom paint job from Jeff Miller!
Type 65 Coupe Ordered 01/17/13
Build thread: HERE
347 w. stack injection, IRS, Levy arms, Levy front and rear brakes
The Tundra is the only full size (Ram, Silverado/Sierra, F-150) that qualifies as a domestic product. It's the most "American" of all those trucks.
I was about to say the same thing.......my Toyota made in the USA.....by buddies new Silverado..................made in Mexico.
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MKIII, 302 FMS Crate, GT40 Heads, Quick Fuel carb, TK0500 Mid-shift, 3-Link, 300 RWHP & Trq. Finally done after two years. I think I will call her Black Betty
"A parent's only as good as their dumbest kid. If one wins a Nobel Prize but the other gets robbed by a hooker, you failed."
...Or give them more money that we can borrow from.
__________________
MK4 delivery 12/17/11
Build thread: HERE
Epic First start video HERE
427w ford racing, stainless headers, 3link, tko600, 3.55 gears, Jim Inglese weber intake system and a custom paint job from Jeff Miller!
Type 65 Coupe Ordered 01/17/13
Build thread: HERE
347 w. stack injection, IRS, Levy arms, Levy front and rear brakes
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