A trebuchet is a catapult; it's not a Hillman, it's a Mini.
Um. A trebuchet and a catapult are two quite different things, as
are Minis and Hillmans. I have since been informed that C&D did
in fact fling a Mini; the Wall Street Journal article that I have
saved definitely specifies a Hillman. Oh well.
As for the difference between a trebuchet and a catapult, the former
uses weight and leverage to hurl very large objects, while the latter
uses tension, typically either by twisted ropes or gut cables, and
uses a spoon-shaped lever to throw generally smaller objects. But it
only really matters if you know the difference, say, between a falchion
and a poignard, or a cuisse and a greave. (Why, yes, in fact, there
ARE pieces of information more useless than the good head casting
numbers of a 1275 Spridget engine...)
"But on this day, Car and Driver, which has marveled at the
wondrousness (SIC) of this torqued-out invention since we first
heard of it, has come to sponsor the toss of an automobile, a cute
little red 1975 Austin Mini, complete with an "I Love My Mini" decal.
A Mini? What a bunch of weenies.
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