Tales From Inside The NAPA Auto Parts Store: COTD

The Autopian has an awesomely diverse readership of people across all sorts of disciplines in all kinds of industries. Usually, this means that there’s almost always a reader who is an expert in something that we write about. Sometimes, it also means that industry news makes a material difference to our readers.

Thomas wrote a Morning Dump that includes a story about how O’Reilly Auto Parts seems to be interested in NAPA Auto Parts. Resident NAPA person Matt Sexton chimes in:

Firstly, independent NAPA stores are not franchises. NAPA is an association, like Ace Hardware. I don’t pay a franchise fee.

Secondly, you all think I might have some insider info on this, but sadly I don’t. No one seems to be talking, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire. GPC’s earnings call is July 21 so if you’re looking for something I’d start there.

What it would mean for us independently-owned stores, I have no idea. Many towns where O’Reilly operates have NAPA stores. All O’Reilly’s are corporate-owned, most NAPA stores are not. For guidance I look to the CarQuest retreat on the west coast, where the independents that were left, were all basically just left holding the bag.

Fun times for me.

In other news, Jason wrote about the HVAC controls of air-cooled Porsches. Trust Doesn’t Rust:

Most people assumed Porsche drivers lost control and crashed their cars because of the rear-engine design and difficulty to drive at the limit.
Nope.
They were trying to figure out the HVAC.

If you thought the 912E was bad, ADDvanced has some news for you:

Pretty sure most air-cooled 911s are like this, not just the 912.

Boy do I have an infographic you need to add to this post.

I have owned my 77 911 since 2013, and I still have no idea how it works, lmao.

Andy Individual:

Oh how far we have come. Modern innovation:

Stab, I said stab, touchscreen
Stab ‘car’ icon. Stab again
OK now stab ‘setting’ icon
Stab climate ‘icon’
Stab again, oops, hit a bump, stab ‘back’
Stab ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘front’ or ‘rear’ motorized vent icon
Stab ‘defrost’
Stab ‘defrost’ again, oops hit a bump, stab ‘back’, oh no, not home screen!
Start over
And so on…

Hoonicus:

German engineers get a bad rep. They knew any usable heat from an air cooled engine heat exchangers in freezing temperatures was merely a suggestion, and the best way to warm occupants was to amp up frustration, physical thrashing, and head steaming.
( my 71 Karmann Ghia Conv., friends 72?bus, 912E that came into the shop, granted my KG was rotted out, and replaced with 4 outlet Monza exhaust that eliminated the shot exchangers).

Finally, Thomas wrote about the price of the Fiat Topolino. Burt Curry:

I live in a 34 lot subdivision with private roads, and this would be perfect for going up to the highway with my trash, or going to the group mailboxes, or down to my creekside campsite! I assume I can charge it at home?

Younork:

No, unfortunately, you’re going to need to ship it back to Italy for each and every charge.

Have a great evening, everyone!

Top graphic image: NAPA