Did you know.....

[HiFlyer 9,358]

That the cool APC M577 from the movie ALIENS (1986) was built over an actual vehicle?

(Well it was. The airplane towing tractor known as the Hunslet ATT77)

Random trivia of the day.

[martin-w 3,235]

Would it pass a UK MOT though?  I fear the lack of headlights and bad visibility and no soft squidgy bumpers to protect pedestrians would be an issue. 

[n4gix 4,947]

Um, Martin it has headlights! Check out the shiny round lights really low on the glacis.

[dmwalker 603]

I expect it would do really well in crash tests but not so well in parking.

[iwebber 207]

4 hours ago, dmwalker said:

I expect it would do really well in crash tests but not so well in parking.

So just like an SUV then...

[bofhlusr 453]

But does it have enough cup holders??

[martin-w 3,235]

7 hours ago, n4gix said:

Um, Martin it has headlights! Check out the shiny round lights really low on the glacis.

 

Negative! Negative sir! They're just fog lights. When hunting aliens on a hostile, foggy world, you need fog lights so other space marine vehicles don't collide with you. 

I'm afraid the ministry of transport MOT testing mechanic will require proper headlights...

We are going to have to fail your MOT on this one mate. We can fix it and re-test for you but that'll cost you 2000 quid mate, and we can't do it till next week. And by the way, you need new tyres too. And a new exhaust. 

 

No MOT'S in Guernsey... what about the US? Is it a state thing. 🤔 

Edited February 1, 2023 by martin-w

[charliearon 3,023]

I'm with Bill!  More or less headlights! 👌

 

[martin-w 3,235]

5 minutes ago, charliearon said:

I'm with Bill!  More or less headlights! 👌

 

 

Grrr.... FAIL! FAIL! FAIL!

No MOT certificate for you my boy. Those guys are just fog lights in the UK. 

Get that thing off the road or you'll be arrested. 

😏

 

[n4gix 4,947]

11 hours ago, martin-w said:

No MOT'S in Guernsey... what about the US? Is it a state thing. 🤔

No "MOT's" here in the US Martin. It's up to each state to row their own boat. In my former state of Indiana for example, there are only two counties that require bi-yearly emissions testing: Lake and Porter counties. This is simply because of their proximity to Illinois, which has stringent emissions mandates.

[n4gix 4,947]

8 hours ago, martin-w said:

No MOT certificate for you my boy. Those guys are just fog lights in the UK.

Note that it even had side marker lights. However, I do note a lack of turn signals! Thankfully, at least in the US it is still legal to use hand signalling: left arm straight down for stop, straight left for left turn, and arm straight up for right turns...

[dmwalker 603]

25 minutes ago, n4gix said:

Thankfully, at least in the US it is still legal to use hand signalling: left arm straight down for stop, straight left for left turn, and arm straight up for right turns...

This would be an option for those with 10ft long arms.

[martin-w 3,235]

16 hours ago, n4gix said:

Note that it even had side marker lights. However, I do note a lack of turn signals! Thankfully, at least in the US it is still legal to use hand signalling: left arm straight down for stop, straight left for left turn, and arm straight up for right turns...

 

Legal in the UK too, its part of the highway code. Essential if your indicators fail, you need those hand signals. 

 

16 hours ago, n4gix said:

No "MOT's" here in the US Martin. It's up to each state to row their own boat. In my former state of Indiana for example, there are only two counties that require bi-yearly emissions testing: Lake and Porter counties. This is simply because of their proximity to Illinois, which has stringent emissions mandates.

 

Its not just emissions in the UK, everything is stringently checked for safety. Brakes, suspension, tyres,  corrosion, fuel system, lights, seatbelts, wipers, exhaust. There are dozens of checks. And yes, emissions too. Do any of those states have stringent tests like we do, or are they pretty basic? 

[n4gix 4,947]

I've lived in just twelve states, but in none of them has there been anything even close to such a stringent inspection. Honestly, I've seen many vehicles over the decades that really should not have been on the road at all!

[Fielder 3,663]

California tests for smog emissions every two years. No other tests. But Cheech and Chong drove there before the testing era.