Okay, so when we first heard that the Toyota Tundra was going to pull the Space Shuttle Endeavor to its final resting place, we were a little dubious. It's not that we doubted the Tundra's power or performance. It just seemed a little, well, impossible. That's all. We mean, the Space Shuttle Endeavor does weigh some 150,000 pounds.
It did it, though. The new Toyota Tundra pulled the Space Shuttle Endeavor over the bridge - a short five minute drive…probably the longest the Tundra has ever undertaken.
That said; Toyota can't take all of the credit. The automaker worked in collaboration with the Sarens Group - an engineering firm with expertise in heavy lifting. Together the two companies developed a special dolly which was critical to moving the Endeavor over the bridge.
If you're wondering how it is the Toyota Tundra was called upon to help with the task in the first place, Mark Toyota will tell you. The NASA-designed space-shuttle carrier which took the Endeavor from LAX up to the bridge was too heavy. Toyota stepped up to help, not only as an automaker looking for a little publicity… Why try to hide it, right? But as a 20-year sponsor of the California Science Center - where the Endeavor will go to rest.
Even if you're not a Toyota fan, you should take a moment to check out the seemingly impossible mission across the 405 freeway on YouTube. More than a stunt, it's history.
Curious to learn more about the torque, horsepower and engineering which allowed the Tundra to champion such a feat? Visit our new Toyota dealership today. A quick chat with one of our sales professionals and a test drive around Plover will tell you everything you want to know.
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