Five Exotics Rocking TMGPS Insignia

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Two types of car enthusiasts exist in our sphere: sticker addicts like us, and those who like to keep it clean. We know that, for many of you, the TMGPS decal is the only decal you’d ever consider putting on your car. We recognize that, we appreciate it, and we salute those who choose to show their manual pride on their ride. We’re even more humbled by the growing number of exotic owners who proudly represent the TMGPS legion. When you spot these in the wild, you don’t have to wonder: yes, there’s a third pedal.

Jason’s Six-Speed Aston Martin Vantage

Jason finally found his perfect white Aston just in time for the release of the latest Bond flick. When he tagged us in his TMGPS Plate Frame photo, we knew we had to highlight his fellow exotic owners within the TMGPS fold.

Taylor’s Manual Porsche 911 GT3

Dr. Taylor never forgets to tag us in shots of his GT3, which sports a TMGPS Insignia Decal in the bottom left corner of the rear windshield. He’s always at a car event or responding to the latest social media photo challenge, so his car account is a must-follow.

Ed’s Manual Ferrari 456GT and Ferrari F355

You might catch Ed at Columbus Cars and Coffee, but you won’t catch him behind the wheel of a two-pedal Ferrari. Ed never misses a chance to tag TMGPS in his brilliant photography, and has even been featured as a manual Ferrari enthusiast in an online journal.

Mike’s Manual Porsche 911 Speedster

We were shocked when TMGPS member Christopher Hersey spotted Mike’s Speedster in the wild, replete with a TMGPS vinyl on the center waterfall in the interior. Mike’s Speedster is finished in Azzuro Thetys, a color borrowed from Lamborghini and brought to production through Porsche’s Exclusive Manufaktur program.

Chris’s Six-Speed Audi R8

About a year ago, Chris picked up his Audi R8 and wasted no time installing a TMGPS decal. Its gated shifter and machined shift knob are a sight to see — art in brushed metal that makes you want to go for a drive.

@highmileage is a world-traveling automotive historian. follow adam barrera on instagram.

Star of Arion: Mitsubishi Models’ Name Origins Might Surprise You

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Mitsubishi’s performance heyday may be behind us, but the brand boasts one of the most dedicated legions of followers in the industry, with owner meets and trackside gatherings every month from spring to fall. Mitsubishi also sells one of the last manual transmission subcompact cars in the US — so just how did the five-speed Mirage get its name?

That might remain a mystery, since Mitsubishi Motors’ Japanese historical site helpfully explains that the name “Mirage” means… a mirage. But it’s here that we learn the playfully named “Dingo” variant is a portmanteau of ‘Diamond’ and ‘Bingo’, which somehow translates into “a car that fits the needs of the times.” Okay, Mitsu — if you say so.

Few manufacturers care enough about their heritage to feature past models on their website. Evidently, marketers don’t seem to realize that millions of dollars of brand equity and affinity don’t just die when a model stops production. As the Ralliart performance brand gears up for a re-launch, it’s encouraging that Mitsubishi cares enough about their past models to offer at least a token peek into their name origins.

Here, we learn the overland favorite Delica got its name from being a “Delivery Car”, with the Space Gear trim owing its name to the “abundant utilization of interior space”. FTO, we’re told, stands for “Fresh Touring Origination”. An unmentionable myth is dispelled: Pajero, it turns out, is the Argentinian name for a mountain cat — so forget the vulgar urban legend you’ve heard.

A comprehensive catalog of name histories awaits on Mitsubishi’s Japanese-language homepage, highlighting the brand’s particular interest in equine names: Eclipse, it turns out, was the name of a famous British racehorse in the 18th century; the name logically follows the Starion, named after the Star of Arion, a mythological racehorse descended from Poseidon and Demeter. Colt, naturally, is the fledgling of the family of race horses.

Peruse the full model list to unearth your own gems. The Pajero io is named after the Italian word for “I”, not Jupiter’s moon. Next time you see a manual-transmission import puttering around, you’ll know.

@highmileage is a world-traveling automotive historian. follow adam barrera on instagram.