Remember Toyota's Super Bowl XLVII commercial, back in 2013? It depicted a completely unmodified Toyota Tundra towing the U.S. Space Shuttle Endeavour, baffling many truck drivers who know that the light-duty pickup's tow rating is only about 10,000 pounds.
The space shuttle? It weighs 292,000 pounds.
It wasn't a trick, or even a gimmick! The Toyota Tundra was serving a very real, vital purpose in transporting the retiring shuttle to its final home on display at the California Science Center.
See, the massive spacecraft made the majority of its voyage through the streets of LA conveyed by self-propelled robotic dollies. When it reached the Manchester Boulevard overpass, however, it had to consider the weight limits of the bridge, so the infrastructure didn't go crumbling down onto the highway below.
The robotic rig was too heavy. For this very short journey -- short enough not to blow out the engine -- the half-ton pickup was light enough to make it across, trailering the shuttle.
The Tundra in particular was chosen, not so much for its outstanding capability and reliability under stress, but because of Toyota's commitment to the sciences, including a decades-long partnership with the California Science Center -- the shuttle's destination.
Love science, space, or just need a dependable and powerful truck? Visit Charlie's Toyota in Augusta, and see what's in stock in our new inventory.
