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Tesla enthusiast celebrates Elon Musk’s daring, rebellious streak in epic illustration

(Photo: Shawn Wylde/AAF)

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Elon Musk is arguably one of the world’s most notable visionaries today, but at his core, he is still a rebel. He rebelled against the conventions of the United States’ space program with SpaceX, and he rebelled against the fossil fuel industry with Tesla. It has never been easy for Musk, as his career is defined by one big risk after another. It is no secret that despite his estimated net worth of $20 billion, Elon Musk still lives on the edge, seemingly teetering on the edge of success or failure. 

A Rebel’s Journey

Marine veteran and entrepreneur Shawn Wylde is also a lifelong rebel. Raised in a chaotic household, Wylde eventually made his way to the military. His path was paved with controversy, as he faced expulsion from the Virginia Military Institute after leading a student revolt against the administration after they overly punished a group of students. From there, Wylde served as an officer in the US Marine Corps, where he was eventually deployed to Iraq. Wylde dealt with a traumatic brain injury and PTSD after his deployment, which resulted in a downward spiral that ended with him serving time in federal prison.

It was during his incarceration that Wylde came up with what could very well be his best business idea to date. While trying to figure out how he could raise money to pay off his lawyer,  the former marine opted to try his hand at designing a clever, hyper-patriotic (and to a point, satirical) shirt that he could sell to fellow military members. His plan worked, and it allowed him to raise more than enough cash to pay for his legal counsel. While in federal prison, the former marine continued brainstorming ideas for his business. After serving time and while on house arrest, Wylde launched his online clothing store — American AF — which features a collection of humorous and hyper-patriotic clothing that pokes fun at every corner of US politics and history.

Mad Musk

That said, Wylde’s recent project is a step away from American AF’s usual political fare. This time around, the former marine opted to focus on a person that he considers the “entrepreneur’s entrepreneur” — SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Inspired by the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max, and using his flair for pop culture-inspired humor, Wylde launched American AF’s latest flagship illustration — Mad Musk, which features a determined Elon Musk confidently riding an electric Mad Max Interceptor while fighting aliens on Mars. In a statement to Teslarati, the former marine described his inspiration for the piece in the following statement.

“We tend to idolize the big names in tech, but I think the vast majority of founder success stories could have been written about somebody else, if timing and luck were different. That is, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, etc.,  while amazing companies, would have been created by somebody else if not by the founders that got there first. But not Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Co. No way these would exist without Elon Musk. I think that’s what sets him apart from the other startup megastars. Also the fact that he keeps starting new companies. Most successful entrepreneurs realize how lucky they were and how brutal it is, and so they transition into being investors.  It’s safe and easy. But not Elon. He goes and invests all his money into insanely risky startups. It’s mad really. That’s why we created Mad Musk,” he said.

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In true American AF flair, Mad Musk is riddled with references from Elon Musk’s past ventures notable moments. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Starship could be seen in the background, and the Tesla logo stands proudly on top of a flagpole. These Elon Musk references extend all the way to the Tesla-Mad Max Interceptor itself, from the cover to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, his “worth it” tweet after his run-in with the SEC, solar panels from Tesla Energy, as well as the logos of Zip2, X.com, PayPal, and Blastar, a game that Musk created as a child. Some humorous illustrations in the vehicle also include Jeremy Clarkson (a reference to the former Top Gear host’s controversy with the original Roadster), and a 1990s Calvin Sticker that quite literally targets TSLA short-sellers. Of course, the logos of The Boring Company, Neuralink, and Ad Astra (shown in Musk’s armband) are also prominent in the illustration.

American AF’s ‘Mad Musk’ is riddled with references to Elon Musk’s ventures. (Photo: Shawn Wylde/American AF)

Elon Musk’s Determination, Another Man’s Inspiration

Ultimately, Mad Musk is Wylde’s ode to Elon Musk’s determination and grit, as well as his stubborn refusal to give up. Wylde noted that he actually wanted to work at Tesla since he finds the company’s mission inspiring. Considering that the electric car maker already has someone that’s “a lot smarter” than him, Wylde notes that he might as well help Musk from the outside by showing, in his small way, that the daring CEO pretty much embodies the American dream. Plus, Wylde tells us, “Tesla is made in the USA,” making the electric car and energy company truly American AF.

“After reading up on Elon, I get the sense that he was a child prodigy who suffered a traumatic upbringing that–despite being tragic–somehow resulted in a guy who has nearly unlimited perseverance, passion, and goodwill to give the world. I just think he’s a really authentic, sincere person that isn’t motivated at all by money or power. He’s a creator and engineering is his art,” Wylde said.

In my recent interactions with Shawn Wylde, he mentioned that he really hopes that Elon Musk would like his company’s fun, quirky illustration. That said, the former marine also joked that he would settle for Musk not hating the picture, and for not suing American AF for using his likeness. Shawn also noted that if Mad Musk proves successful, his clothing company would create more dedicated Elon Musk-inspired merchandise, particularly one that features the CEO and a car that he recently reserved from Tesla — a next-generation Roadster.

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Elon Musk’s refusal to give up and his raw determination is something that could not be denied. It is this characteristic that made SpaceX and Tesla what they are today. Ultimately, these characteristics have also inspired people from all over the world. Beyond Shawn Wylde and his clothing company, Elon Musk’s daring ventures have also created a dedicated community of electric car owners who promote Tesla through their self-made films, and who are willing to pay it forward when needed.

American AF’s current collection of Elon Musk merchandise could be viewed here.

Below is a humorous video from American AF about Elon Musk being the ultimate “dream weaver.” Do note that Kimbal Musk also makes a very special announcement at the end of the video.

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Lifestyle

EV fans urge Tesla to acquire Unplugged Performance for edge in fleet and security industry

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles.

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Credit: Unplugged Performance

A growing number of Tesla enthusiasts and longtime community voices are calling on the electric vehicle maker to acquire Unplugged Performance, a California-based aftermarket company best known for tuning Tesla vehicles and developing specialized government fleet solutions under its UP.FIT division.

The idea was once considered a niche proposal among EV fans, but it is now gaining serious attention not just as a performance play but as a strategic move to deepen Tesla’s roots in the fleet and security industry. 

A strategic fit

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles, from track-optimized components to visual and aerodynamic upgrades. But in recent years, its UP.FIT division has pivoted toward a more functional future by outfitting Tesla vehicles like Model Ys for police, military, and government use.

That work has sparked growing calls for closer collaboration with Tesla, especially as the EV maker increasingly leans into autonomy, AI, and fleet services as core components of its next chapter.

“I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever,” wrote Whole Mars Catalog, a well-known Tesla investor and FSD Beta tester, on X. “Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP.FIT unlocks large government and commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization.”

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Tesla fans such as shareholder Sawyer Merritt echoed the sentiment, calling Unplugged a “great fit within Tesla.” adding, “They are literally located directly next to Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne.”

Enabling the next wave

Supporters of the idea noted that integrating Unplugged into Tesla’s corporate structure could help accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in government sectors. With UP.FIT patrol cars already in use across some U.S. police departments, Tesla fans envisioned a future where self-driving Teslas could potentially revolutionize law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and public service logistics.

“Just imagine how autonomous patrol cars could transform policing and bring us into a safer future,” the veteran FSD tester wrote.

The benefits could also extend to Tesla’s existing consumer base. “They also have some incredible products in the works that I think will appeal to many ordinary Tesla drivers — not just those looking for performance or mods. Stuff that’s so good it should have come straight from the design studio next door,” Whole Mars Catalog noted.

Unplugged Performance, founded in 2013, shares not just a product vision with Tesla, but also geography. Its Hawthorne headquarters sits directly adjacent to Tesla’s design studio, and the two companies have maintained a close working relationship over the years. The aftermarket firm has long positioned itself as a “mission-aligned” partner to Tesla.

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In response to the recent calls for acquisition, Unplugged Performance acknowledged the support from the community. “Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla,” Unplugged CEO Ben Schaffer posted on X. “We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!”

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Elon Musk

X account with 184 followers inadvertently saves US space program amid Musk-Trump row

Needless to say, the X user has far more than 184 followers today after his level-headed feat.

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Joel Kowsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

An X user with 184 followers has become the unlikely hero of the United States’ space program by effectively de-escalating a row between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump on social media.

Needless to say, the X user has far more than 184 followers today after his level-headed feat.

A Near Fall

During Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s fallout last week, the U.S. President stated in a post on Truth Social that a good way for the United States government to save money would be to terminate subsidies and contracts from the CEO’s companies. Musk responded to Trump’s post by stating that SpaceX will start decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately. 

Musk’s comment was received with shock among the space community, partly because the U.S. space program is currently reliant on SpaceX to send supplies and astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). Without Dragon, the United States will likely have to utilize Russia’s Soyuz for the same services—at a significantly higher price.

X User to the Rescue

It was evident among X users that Musk’s comments about Dragon being decommissioned were posted while emotions were high. It was then no surprise that an X account with 184 followers, @Fab25june, commented on Musk’s post, urging the CEO to rethink his decision. “This is a shame this back and forth. You are both better than this. Cool off and take a step back for a couple days,” the X user wrote in a reply.

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Much to the social media platform’s surprise, Musk responded to the user. Even more surprising, the CEO stated that SpaceX would not be decommissioning Dragon after all. “Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon,” Musk wrote in a post on X.

Not Planned, But Welcomed

The X user’s comment and Musk’s response were received extremely well by social media users, many of whom noted that @Fab25june’s X comment effectively saved the U.S. space program. In a follow-up comment, the X user, who has over 9,100 followers as of writing, stated that he did not really plan on being a mediator between Musk and Trump. 

“Elon Musk replied to me. Somehow, I became the accidental peace broker between two billionaires. I didn’t plan this. I was just being me. Two great minds can do wonders. Sometimes, all it takes is a breather. Grateful for every like, DM, and new follow. Life’s weird. The internet’s weirder. Let’s ride. (Manifesting peace… and maybe a Model Y.)” the X user wrote.

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Lifestyle

Tesla Cybertruck takes a bump from epic failing Dodge Charger

The Cybertruck seemed unharmed by the charging Charger.

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Credit: Hammer_of_something/Reddit

There comes a time in a driver’s life when one is faced with one’s limitations. For the driver of a Dodge Charger, this time came when he lost control and crashed into a Tesla Cybertruck–an absolute epic fail. 

A video of the rather unfortunate incident was shared on the r/TeslaLounge subreddit.

Charging Charger Fails

As could be seen in the video, which was posted on the subreddit by Model Y owner u/Hammer_of_something, a group of teens in a Dodge Charger decided to do some burnouts at a Tesla Supercharger. Unfortunately, the driver of the Charger failed in his burnout or donut attempt, resulting in the mopar sedan going over a curb and bumping a charging Cybertruck.

Ironically, the Dodge Charger seemed to have been parked at a Supercharger stall before its driver decided to perform the failed stunt. This suggests that the vehicle was likely ICE-ing a charging stall before it had its epic fail moment. Amusingly enough, the subreddit member noted that the Cybertruck did not seem like it took any damage at all despite its bump. The Charger, however, seemed like it ran into some trouble after crashing into the truck.

Alleged Aftermath

As per the the r/TeslaLounge subreddit member, the Cybertruck owner came rushing out to his vehicle after the Dodge Charger crashed into it. The Model Y owner then sent over the full video of the incident, which clearly showed the Charger attempting a burnout, failing, and bumping into the Cybertruck. The Cybertruck owner likely appreciated the video, in part because it showed the driver of the Dodge Charger absolutely freaking out after the incident.

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The Cybertruck is not an impregnable vehicle, but it can take bumps pretty well thanks to its thick stainless steel body. Based on this video, it appears that the Cybertruck can even take bumps from a charging Charger, all while chilling and charging at a Supercharger. As for the teens in the Dodge, they likely had to provide a long explanation to authorities after the incident, since the cops were called to the location.

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