A juicy selection of stories, covering subjects from racing to automakers, crime to pop culture, and historical events to modern-day happenings. Did you know that after James Dean's death behind the wheel, parts of his car were sold off and cursed their owners? Did you know Bonnie and Clyde almost exclusively stole Ford V8s as their getaway cars because they were the fastest cars of their day--and that Clyde Barrow even wrote Henry Ford a thank-you card? Did you know peanuts in the shell are considered bad luck at NASCAR races? Did you know James Brown's wife once tried to claim diplomatic immunity when fighting a traffic ticket because her husband was "the ambassador of soul"? Did you know Harry Houdini learned to drive late in life only because he needed to get to an airport for a stunt, and it was the only drive he ever made? Have you heard the story of the mythical 200-mile-per-galon carburetor that the oil companies and auto manufacturers kept hidden from the public? Or the story of the mechanic working in a car's trunk who was mistaken for a kidnapping victim? The automotive world is filled with crazy stories, mysteries, myths, rumors, and legends. This book compiles them all-spanning subject areas from racing, manufacturing, and mechanics to crime and pop culture--with explanations of their origins and where the truth lies.