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If you’ve been online for more than a hot second, you know that regular units have become ancient history. In these modern times, tiny units aka smol animals capture the internet’s collective heart, and absolute units have basically become an integral part of cyberspace culture. But if the latter doesn’t ring a bell and you somehow missed how this adorable meme took the web by storm, this odd-sounding term refers to objects and animals that are round, hearty, and exceptionally out of proportion to their surroundings.

In fact, this phenomenon has even spawned a subreddit with the same name. Also titled 'Lads that you’re in awe at the size of,' the online community offers a variety of adorable and surprising pictures where critters and objects can’t even be compared to their peers. I mean, you wouldn’t believe how big some things can get! And we’re here to show you that there's absolutely nothing wrong with that — it only gives us more to love.

Below, our team at Bored Panda has wrapped up the newest batch of some of the best posts from the group, so continue scrolling to check them all out! Be sure to upvote your favorites and let us know what you think in the comments.

Psst! For more similar content, look no further than our earlier pieces filled with the absolutest of the units here, here, and here.

#3

The Head Size Difference Between A Man And A Cane Corso

The Head Size Difference Between A Man And A Cane Corso

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Maryanna Baldridge
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have an English Mastiff and his head is the only thing i can hold. He loves resting his head in my lap for scratches behind the ears.

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The online universe is fascinated by photos of absolute units. Whether it’s gigantic horses, chonky cats, or exceptionally huge plants, it’s hard to deny the inexplicable allure of this meme. And as netizens' obsession with comically oversized items seems to be beyond anything at this point, let's take a look at the origin of this amusing artifact, shall we?

The internet meme database Know Your Meme stated that the first absolute unit meme was born on December 13, 2017, when a Twitter user who went by the handle @mrreptoid wrote, "In awe at the size of this lad. Absolute unit," with regards to a photo of British hotelier David Morgan-Hewitt standing next to the late Queen of England.

Although the tweet quickly caught on with many people using it widely to caption their own pictures, everything took off in 2018 when the Museum of English Rural Life tweeted a photograph of ram with the title: "Look at this absolute unit." Adam Koszary, the museum’s program manager who submitted the tweet, gained over 98k likes and more than 27k retweets in the next couple of days.

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Now, over 1.3 million members of the 'Absolute Units' community get to enjoy this adorable phenomenon daily.

#6

Absolute Unit Paws On This Kitty... Extra Toe Beans!

Absolute Unit Paws On This Kitty... Extra Toe Beans!

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But what makes this meme that pokes fun at objects that are comically and abnormally out of proportion to their surroundings so entertaining to us? To gain more insight on the topic from an expert, we reached out to Bradley E. Wiggins, Ph.D., an associate professor and department head of Media Communications at Webster Vienna Private University. Wiggins is a renowned author of The Discursive Power of Memes in Digital Culture, and his research interests also include digital semiotics and strategic communication.

As Wiggins is about to give an invited keynote talk entitled Research Memes: Challenges, Pitfalls, and Opportunities at the Digital Research Data and Human Sciences (DRDHum) 2022 at the University of Jyväskylä, he was more than happy to share his thoughts on the matter.

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#9

Freya Is Making Herself Known And Comfortable, All 900kg Of Her, By Lounging On Docked Boats

Freya Is Making Herself Known And Comfortable, All 900kg Of Her, By Lounging On Docked Boats

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Leanna Krys
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Freya, RIP...I'm still mad at how they handled this. There wasn't much time between the story of the boats sinking and the news of her being killed. Surely a decent decision could have been made if more thought was actually given. Funny how 'safety concerns' are always for people/property and not for the environment and nature in which the people are encroaching on.

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Professor Wiggins explained that the shape of the animal or object doesn’t really have much importance when it comes to the draw of the meme. "But the placement of the shape in contexts where it is reasonable to be surprised makes sense that it has become so memorable."

"In other words, I think the point is really about a bit of surprise and delight together with some sense of familiarity with the content that makes it so memorable," he told Bored Panda.

#10

Zeus Is An Absolute Unit Horse

Zeus Is An Absolute Unit Horse

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#11

My Crow Friend, Who Comes Visits Me Daily

My Crow Friend, Who Comes Visits Me Daily

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#12

This Elephant Ears Plant At A Plant Store

This Elephant Ears Plant At A Plant Store

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Interestingly, while many of us perceive the absolute unit as a common internet joke, Wiggins explained this is not the correct term to use in this scenario. And to those of you reading this article right now and scratching your head from confusion, the professor explained that a meme and a joke aren’t the same thing.

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It turns out that structurally, they are closely related, but there’s a slight disparity that internet aficionados should be aware of. "One chief difference is the visual component offered by the meme," Wiggins said.

"The visual component gives context and meaning to the viewer, and the viewer's job is to laugh at it or be otherwise triggered (positively or negatively) and this can cause sharing, re-posting, etc. The choice to do this may be rooted in the desire to connect with others in impersonal ways. This is what social media, ironically, has taught us all to do, rather well actually."

#14

A Cottonmouth Spotted In South Georgia. Ole Thing Hasn't Skipped A Single Gravy Covered Biscuit Since The Day It Hatched

A Cottonmouth Spotted In South Georgia. Ole Thing Hasn't Skipped A Single Gravy Covered Biscuit Since The Day It Hatched

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Moreover, it’s easy to be amused by something we wouldn’t otherwise see in our daily lives. "Encountering the absolute unit meme, or perhaps memes like it, online means some degree of 'taking us out of the ordinary', but it also suggests a longing, perhaps even a kind of yearning for something new to laugh about," Wiggins added. "Again, this may well be a side effect of social media."

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#17

The Beast's Doors Are In Their Own Class

The Beast's Doors Are In Their Own Class

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The Auditor
Community Member
1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

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GVL
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right, cause you won't have fingers left on that hand anymore.

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Fat Harry
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny how the people referring to Obama as a criminal almost certainly voted for Trump... a man constantly under investigation for fraud and treason...

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Bubbles and sparks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone who thinks Trump is such a great person, should watch the documentary on Netflix, Trump: An American Dream. It's unimaginable how he scammed contractors out of their money, telling them "they would get so much business after people knew they build this or that for him"... He never mentioned this before he hired them off course. His treatment of women is appalling, his lack of respect for anyone that doesn't agree with him compares easily with Putin's. He lies, cheats, steals and yet he still got voted president? Just how?? I really hope he never ever gets a second chance to become president again, because that sociopathic narcissist will make sure the world was we know it will not exist after he's done.... He's got a god-complex from here till kingdom come, he doesn't take no for an answer. The sad thing is however, that he was made that way by his sad excuse for a father, who groomed him into becoming what he is now. So, so sad.

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Krista Ries
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was recently watching live coverage of Biden arriving to our local airport. One of the staff opened the opposite door, closest to the news crews so I saw what beasts the doors were. I had never watched or paid attention to this sort of thing. It makes sense, but was cool to see.

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madbakes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It weighs 15,000-20,000 pounds, 8 inch thick armor and 5 inch windows. I can't imagine the force it takes just to open the door.

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B.Nelson
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The car is a marvel of modern engineering. It weighs 8 to 10 tons and is rumored to have electrified door handles and smokescreen and oil slick makers. Its got a fridge full of the presidents blood type and it's own communication set up. That doesn't even include the cars ability to drive on four flat tires not to mention the level of bullet proof tech is stuffed in the thing. https://www.hotcars.com/this-is-why-the-presidential-cadillac-limo-is-such-a-beast/

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BlueRoseofMystery
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay people everyone has the right to say whether they like or dislike Obama or Trump or any other politician (CIVILLY). Stop banning people because they have a differing opinion than yours. If you want to silence one side both should be silenced and no one get political. We all have the right to choose which politician we support. This disliking people because they like/dislike someone/something is toxic and we Americans have free speech. Stop trying to cancel someone for their opinion. Hate speech is another issue but so far I see that hate speech against Trump is still allowed here on BP but not towards any liberal politicians. People, get your act together. This is ridiculous. Hate speech is NEVER appropriate. Either ban all hate speech or everyone play nice and stop downvoting and banning for differing opinions. Or better yet, do both. This behavior is shameful and juvenile. Kindergarteners know better how to play nice than you lot.

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ChickyChicky
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Naw, the "both sides" thing no longer applies here. "Liberal" in the US is really more center-left or even center-right in other parts of the world. The right here keeps moving further and further to the right, to fascism, to racism and homophobia. At what point in Germany or Italy or Spain or Cambodia or Korea, did people switch from having "differing opinions" to actually killing their enemies? The people who stormed the US capitol, Trump supporters, had Nazi and Confederate sympathizers in their midst. Trump supporters killed cops. Trump supporters put out a noose to taunt Mike Pence, they taunted Nancy Pelosi. If they had gotten a hold of either of those people that day, do you think they would have just sat down and had a nice chat? A Trump supporter nearly killed Mr. Pelosi. Trump spread the lie that Obama wasn't American. These are not just different opinions, they're dangerous, deadly lies.

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Paul Brown
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, its supposedly blast proof, can take a hit from a bazooka and keep on truckn.

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Erik Ivan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bulletproof, and blast proof - kind of... because the thing with armour is that there is always someone doing their best to making something that can penetrate it. And even if a vehicle should be able to take a hit from something, there is always "the golden b.b.". A lucky hit may dissable something that should be able to withstand the weapon. That is why tanks are not oblivious to people with things going bang comming towards them. And that is why it's generally a bad idea to let something like the beast (and whoever happen to be president of that country) out on it's own without backup and additional protection. I guess, in short, that is why there is a whole protection detail asigned to most countries leaders.

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v
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Something else to consider in this pic, Obama stands 6'2". Looks like his eyes might be above the roof line of the car.

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Amy T
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So a skinny guy is basically having to turn sideways to get out. Taft would have caused some issues.

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Liz-ard
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They must hold for a whole lot more than bullets nowdays, right?

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Sherry Harvey
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This picture of the Beast is amazing. I never knew how thick it’s doors were! Ain’t no bullet getting through that thing! It’s a shame that it’s needed to transport our Presidents, but IIWII.

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New Everywhere
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This post is about the door. Somehow 🤣 I knew 🤣 this thread

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Péter Rózsahegyi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It would be nice to live in a world where the president of the USA could walk freely in Budapest's largest, crowded market, with only a few bodyguards and assistants, without cordons and snipers. George Bush Sr. was the last one to do it, those who came after him could not.

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Samantha Lujan
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1 year ago

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Legend in his own mind. Worst President ever, maybe besides his puppet Sleepy Joe

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#18

There's No Point In Playing Dead If You Meet This Absolute Unit

There's No Point In Playing Dead If You Meet This Absolute Unit

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Janina Prado
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's just a cuddly little thing, looking for nose boops, tummy rubs, and a picnic basket.

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This can even tell a few things about us as human beings. After all, memes are known as the perfect attention trap that captures our attention and doesn’t let it go. Feeling sick and tired of the people and the world around us, we often seek these tightly packaged chunks of information to find relief and unwind from our daily troubles.

Professor Wiggins explained that when we succumb to the mindless scroll and look at our screens endlessly, whether standing in queues, waiting for appointments, or simply having nothing else to do, "we become transfixed by content that is largely designed for attention-grabbing and retention."

#19

U.S. Cavalry Soldiers Pose In Front Of A Tree Known As The "Grizzly Giant" 1900. That's A Big Tree

U.S. Cavalry Soldiers Pose In Front Of A Tree Known As The "Grizzly Giant" 1900. That's A Big Tree

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Khara Mei
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He still stands today! Grizzly Giant stands in Yosemite National Park, he's nearly 3000 years old.

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#20

This Titan Of A Tiger

This Titan Of A Tiger

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#21

This Unit Of A Caterpillar

This Unit Of A Caterpillar

"This dude does not want to pupate. I think he's enjoying being a caterpillar too much. All he wants to do is eat and he's gotten enormous."

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"It makes sense that we go back again and again, seeking what we may never really know," he added. "The absolute unit meme is a moment, a flicker, a spark that starts and stops almost immediately. Yet you can experience this spark again and again and again. It's liminal."

"That means it situates you between a 'now' state and a 'then' state, it's somewhere in between, like a wedding or graduation ceremony, they only exist because something ended and something else will start, but hasn't yet. But social media allows the liminal to become nearly permanent," Wiggins concluded.

#22

Cardon Cactus In Mexico, 1890s. Absolute Unit At 8 Meters (26 Feet) And Weighing 10 Metric Tons (Over 22,000lbs)!

Cardon Cactus In Mexico, 1890s. Absolute Unit At 8 Meters (26 Feet) And Weighing 10 Metric Tons (Over 22,000lbs)!

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Kennedy Kargeaux
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do these even exist anymore? I feel like these probably don't grow like this anymore...,

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#23

Felt Like This Was A Unit Of A Water Lily

Felt Like This Was A Unit Of A Water Lily

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#24

Absolute Unit Of A Horse - 3200 Lbs

Absolute Unit Of A Horse - 3200 Lbs

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#25

Does This Belong Here? Lemon From My Parents Lemon Tree

Does This Belong Here? Lemon From My Parents Lemon Tree

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#26

Aerial Photography Camera Used During WWII

Aerial Photography Camera Used During WWII

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#29

The Size Of This Car

The Size Of This Car

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#30

The Size Of The Lockheed C5 Galaxy Compared To Other Military Planes

The Size Of The Lockheed C5 Galaxy Compared To Other Military Planes

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Tactical Taco
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The C-5 Galaxy routinely carries 73 troops and 36 standard 463L pallets. The aircraft is able to carry two M1 Abrams main battle tanks, or one Abrams tank plus two M2/M3 Bradley fighting vehicles, or six AH-64 Apache/Apache Longbow attack helicopters.

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#31

This Straaaaaawberry I Saw In The Store

This Straaaaaawberry I Saw In The Store

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#36

Absolute Unit Of Communications Wiring Bundle

Absolute Unit Of Communications Wiring Bundle

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#37

Before Chainsaws This Was The Length Of The Two-Man Hand Saw And Heavy Duty Axes That They Used To Drop These Tremendous Trees

Before Chainsaws This Was The Length Of The Two-Man Hand Saw And Heavy Duty Axes That They Used To Drop These Tremendous Trees

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#38

This Dude’s Squeegee At Illinois State University

This Dude’s Squeegee At Illinois State University

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#39

The Black Crack, A 65-Foot-Deep Fissure Along A Trail In Canyonlands National Park In Utah

The Black Crack, A 65-Foot-Deep Fissure Along A Trail In Canyonlands National Park In Utah

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#41

Absolute Unit Of A Gumball Machine (My 5'6" Shy 13 Year Old Son For Scale)

Absolute Unit Of A Gumball Machine (My 5'6" Shy 13 Year Old Son For Scale)

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#42

A Vietnamese Guy With His African Bullfrogs

A Vietnamese Guy With His African Bullfrogs

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#43

I Got To See This Monster In Iceland. What An Absolute Unit!

I Got To See This Monster In Iceland. What An Absolute Unit!

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Lawrencium
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sleipnir was the name of Odin's giant eight-legged horse. Seems fitting for this!

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#44

Monster Morel

Monster Morel

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A C
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why does it look like so much like a dirty paw on the bottom? It's messing with me!

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#45

Statue Of Unity In India (Biggest Statue In The World)

Statue Of Unity In India (Biggest Statue In The World)

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Austin Starr
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the money that went into building the statue could have fed and housed a lot of people.

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#46

This Case Of Beer

This Case Of Beer

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Lawrencium
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, you know you have a drinking problem when you're buying the 1844 pack for yourself...

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#47

I See Your Absoluteunit Of A Dandelion And Raise You The Absolutest Of The Dandelion Units

I See Your Absoluteunit Of A Dandelion And Raise You The Absolutest Of The Dandelion Units

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#48

Apparently My Thumb May Be An Absolute Unit?

Apparently My Thumb May Be An Absolute Unit?

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#49

Bugatti Tyre Next To Normal Car Tyre

Bugatti Tyre Next To Normal Car Tyre

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Robert T
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Friend fitted 315's to his car and showed us a picture of a stack of tyres. A first glance we thought it was 4 tyres stacked - it was 2! Standard width we run is 225, and smaller cars run about 165. The Bugatti tyre looks like it is more than that, but that's what you need to put 1000HP down onto the road. I suspect the fronts are somewhat narrower!

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#50

14 Year Old, 6’1″, 300lb Football Recruit Tyler Parker

14 Year Old, 6’1″, 300lb Football Recruit Tyler Parker

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Delta Dawn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This kid’s bones are still in the process of calcifying. I’m not sure that amount of musculature is doing him any long term favors…

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Note: this post originally had 53 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.