What is the meaning of RDNZL?
Mighty Little
Frunobulax
numbers you might see in an automatic car.
You know, Reverse, Drive, Neutral, 2, and Low.
If you search this group and or the web, you'll find a number of
conversations regarding this.
The old geezer
SWLABR...????
TOG
Frunobulax
Which gives us the potential that RDNZL might stand for something
else, such as "Rub Dan's Naked Zebra Lips".
(for a long time I thought RDNZL was an allusion to how many times FZ
had revised the piece, mixed with the similar sounding fairy tale name
Rapunzel; "Redone-zel")
ttuerff
I always thought it was a Rapunzel pun, too, until somebody here years
ago revealed the car connection, which makes perfect sense.
TT
Gary
>
> I always thought it was a Rapunzel pun, too, until somebody here years
> ago revealed the car connection, which makes perfect sense.
>
> TT
Its continuity ex
ists on several
simultaneous levels.
Yesterdays Wafflez
it (slow day) I put on George Pal's Puppetoons of Repunzel & played
RDNZL along with it....Yikes!! Totally cool & magical! It's that
Bickford stop-motion look & Zappa music...very cool.
thanz,
Yesterdays Stop-Motion Freak
John Scialli
wrote:
And it was (is) the vanity license plate of the car Frank never drove.
I seen it.
Diogenes
> Does anybody know what RDNZL means? Is it an abbreviation for something?
>
>
Les Cargill
I thought it was Ruth Don't Need Zappa's Lyrics.
(on Ruth! Yes Ruth! Haha!)
--
Les Cargill
Martin Gregorie
...but with P(ark) missing. I prefer the Redunzel theory because of this.
In addition FZ was apparently so uninterested in driving that its hard to
see that he'd remember "PRND21" let alone be inspired to munge it and use
the result as a song title.
--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |
computeruser
"Martin Gregorie" <mar...@see.sig.for.address.invalid> wrote in message
news:gdd5es$aai$1...@localhost.localdomain...
I was in a Desoto recently (being restore at a buddy's shop)
It had no Park on the tree.
Diogenes
Frunobulax
> see that he'd remember "PRND21" let alone be inspired to munge it and use
> the result as a song title.
I disagree for the fact that FZ was a freaking font of knowledge in a
lot of areas in which he professed little interest. For example, he
claimed to find reading boring yet his vocabulary was astounding for a
person so inclined.
Given his obvious interest in words - both real and made up - I find
it highly likely that one of his first thoughts upon seeing
"PRND2L" (or any variations thereof) was to attempt to vocalize it.
And he wouldn't have to have been driving to see it - I noticed and
stared in fascination at all manner of lights, letters, and numbers in
the various cars I was shuttled around in as a kid. I'm sure FZ has
numerous opportunities to look and wonder at them as well, whether
behind the wheel or not.
As I said above, I always assumed that it was a play on Rapunzel (and
I'm sure it still is, to some degree) but, upon hearing the automatic
gearshift theory, I smacked my forehead and said: "Of course!"
I think the evidence, while circumstantial, is strong enough to make
the case.
Gads, what nerds we are ...
Martin Gregorie
> That would be a Powerflite transmission.
>
I'd heard of it but didn't know how it differed. Looks like Powerflight
was the ancestor of RND[z]L rather than to opposition's
PNDLR.
Question for the motor-heads:
* when did other manufacturers move over to the RND2L pattern?
* why?
* when did PRND2L become standard?
* and, for extra marks, why on earth is the PRND21 pattern
retained for 4 speed automatics?
I drove a Japanese shed from Denver to Bakersfield and back and not being
to lock it in 3rd on those long, high mountain grades drove me spare. My
Focus has the same stupid pattern but at least its shift points are
better placed. It happily tows a glider trailer up hills without trying
to do it in top gear. Ditto without the trailer.
John Scialli
What shift pattern would be seen from the back seat of
an old Rolls? (One does not sit next to the chaffeur after all).
Corné van Hooijdonk
> What shift pattern would be seen from the back seat of
> an old Rolls? (One does not sit next to the chauffeur after all).
FZ did though, as can be seen in the VPRO '71 documentary. (Being driven
to the El Taco burrito place... FZ: "No... yes... yes... yes... yes..")
AAAFNRAA!!
Martin Gregorie
>
> What shift pattern would be seen from the back seat of an old Rolls?
> (One does not sit next to the chaffeur after all).
I've never sat in a Roller of any age. Sorry. However IIRC, when they
introduced automatics I think they used GM units, but that was quite
late. After all, one didn't care about the gears while one could afford a
chauffeur. My guess is that PRND21 was most likely the de facto standard
by the time RR offered an automatic gearbox.
Now, if you had said Bentley, that would be different. A good mate has
one + chauffeur as his clubbing car. Yep, rich bastard, at least until
last month. But, I haven't noticed what type of shift it has - just the
nice leather.
John Scialli
Not a paid chaffeur, but his pumpkin.
Martin Gregorie
>
> Not a paid chaffeur, but his pumpkin.
This one is. When he got the car he hired a potential pumpkin to drive
it, but she had to go. Lovely girl, but couldn't drive. Now he has a
bloke to drive it.
gilw...@yahoo.com
Which we used to call "PRINDL 2-1" Like emergency Rampart 2-1 or 1 adam 12
We were pretty stoned back then
derek from the internet
was one of Frank's nicknames for Gail. She had long hair and would
repeat herself when excited or insistent, hence "Redundant Repunzel." Or
"RDNZL."
--derek.
Bill
--
Bill
Zappazeesta
jtne...@stanford.edu
> Does anybody know what RDNZL means? Is it an abbreviation for something?
The old geezer
digile...@gmail.com
Today I stick to the car story.
Les Cargill
> Many years ago I was told that RDNZL was Franks nickname on Gails little toe. Anyone else who Also heard this?
> Today I stick to the car story.
>
--
Les Cargill
digile...@gmail.com
Music is the best!