How a Mercedes-Benz-Built Manual Transmission Became Jeep Wrangler’s First Six-Speed

The Jeep Wrangler’s first six-speed manual transmission wasn’t homegrown—it came from Mercedes-Benz. The NSG370 gearbox, originally developed for the Chrysler Crossfire, debuted under the Wrangler’s hood in 2005, marking the first time the off-road legend offered a six-speed shifter of…

How the 1957 Racing Ban Wiped Out American Factory Race Teams Overnight

The 1950s were a brutal era for motorsports, defined by soaring speeds, packed grandstands, and virtually nonexistent safety standards. The 1955 Le Mans disaster—where a factory-backed Mercedes-Benz 300SLR plowed into spectators, killing 84 people—marked a turning point. By the mid-1950s,…