Location
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
School
San Jose State University
Expertise
PC Gaming, Entertainment, History, Technology
- Raised on the Atari 64 and graduating to Commodore's line of home computers, Eli has been playing games since the very Dawn of the Gaming Age.
- In 1991, Eli created and moderated the "Star Wars Echo" on FidoNet, one of the first Star Wars fandom sites. He was also the president of the America Online Star Wars Fan Club on AOL.
- Eli learned to drive a stick shift in a beige 1970 VW Beatle, beat a Porsche 911 in a souped-up '67 AMC Ambassador, got wedged on a speed bump in a slammed mini-truck, and used a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 as a surveillance vehicle.
Experience
Eli has written about tech, hardware, and video games since 2003 for sites like AOL, Joystiq, GameDaily, Endgadget, GameSkinny, and Game Rant, as well as Beckett Massive Online Gamer magazine. His unique interactions with automobiles and motorcycles allow him to see them from a different point of view than other "car writers." Eli especially likes to weave those personal experiences with historical anecdotes and pop culture references into all of the stories he brings to SlashGear readers.
Education
Eli graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice. Instead of becoming a police officer, he became a licensed private detective, where his love for researching and investigating the facts — then putting them into a coherent, informative narrative — grew into a passion.
SlashGear's content hails from a group of experienced technology and automotive editors and a wide-ranging team of writers, engineers, enthusiasts, and experts across consumer tech and transportation. Our goal is to provide up-to-the-minute breaking news coverage as well as original and engaging opinion and editorial content that serves as the ultimate resource for those who want to stay up to date on the latest and greatest the industry has to offer.
Our editors, advisors, and fact-checkers conduct regular reviews to ensure the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of our articles. Complete information on our editorial process available here.
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The classic Jeep look includes a seven-slot grille framed by two headlights. But it hasn't always been so. Why the design stands today starts with World War II.
By Eli Shayotovich
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American Pickers has found a ton of cool cars during the course of the show, but this 1950s Isetta might take the cake for coolest small car.
By Eli Shayotovich
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2017 was the last time we saw a new Dodge Viper hit the streets, but rumors are swirling there will be a 2025 Viper. However, don't get your hopes up.
By Eli Shayotovich
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An intriguing belly tank car was found during the fifth season of the History Channel's "American Pickers," but what happened to the vehicle after the show?
By Eli Shayotovich
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You might want to think twice about using winter tires all year long, as the complications and headaches won't be worth the minor convenience.
By Eli Shayotovich
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Aston Martin is mostly known for its luxury cars, but in more recent years, the company has also dipped its toes into the realm of high-end motorcycles.
By Eli Shayotovich
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Many know the name Porsche, but have you heard of the Porsche Slantnose? Here's a closer look at this iconic car and what one goes for at auction today.
By Eli Shayotovich
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The original Batmobile from the 1966 series was featured on an episode of “American Pickers” in 2013. Here’s what happened to it after that episode.
By Eli Shayotovich
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Pontiac never actually called them "snowflake wheels," but they were popular anyway, in a variety of colors often inspired by the special models that had them.
By Eli Shayotovich
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The Chevrolet Corvair ushered a host of innovations into the American automotive tale, but ended up as a scapegoat for a host of safety failures.
By Eli Shayotovich
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The first ever automotive Easter egg is attributed to Jeep and a car designer named Michael Santoro.
By Eli Shayotovich
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The Toyota Land Cruiser is an instantly recognizable classic vehicle, but fans may be confused to learn it was originally called a Jeep. Here's why.
By Eli Shayotovich
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The movie “The Car” from the late ‘70s has become a cult classic. Here is the type of car that was used in the film and what happened to it.
By Eli Shayotovich
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If you've ever wondered why all Koenigsegg cars have a spooky little phantom logo on the hood, here's why.
By Eli Shayotovich
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There have been lots of twists and turns in Alfa Romeo's century-long saga. Now under recently changed ownership, it continues to struggle in the U.S.
By Eli Shayotovich
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Aerosmith's old touring van was discovered by Mike and Frank on "American Pickers," but what happened to the piece of rock n' roll history afterwards?
By Eli Shayotovich
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The Ecto-1 is legendary, but here's what it was made of and where it wound up after Ghostbusters filmed.
By Eli Shayotovich
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The history and origin of the Jeep name is longer, less certain, and more complicated than you might have expected.
By Eli Shayotovich
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The iconic DeLorean is a dream car thanks to its bizarre backstory and pop culture prominence, but the iconic vehicle suffered a surprisingly low production.
By Eli Shayotovich
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The Dodge Deora was one of the coolest custom cars ever created, and its futuristic look translated perfectly into Hot Wheels' car design.
By Eli Shayotovich
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Pontiac has had its day on the silver screen with some pretty big stars in the form of iconic vehicles.
By Eli Shayotovich
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If you’re not familiar with Ural Motorcycles, they’ve been around for several decades. We answer the common question whether Urals are copies of BMWs.
By Eli Shayotovich
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Technology
By Eli Shayotovich
The C-130 military transport plane is a behemoth in the skies, capable of carrying all manner of supplies and personnel anywhere you need it.
By Eli Shayotovich
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Many enthusiasts have heard of Ural motorcycles, but few may know the long history behind the company, who owns it now, and where the bikes are made.
By Eli Shayotovich
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Concept cars are meant to be wild, wacky creations, but these from Dodge are so off-the-wall we're glad they never made it to mass production.
By Eli Shayotovich
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When Harley-Davidson started out in the early 20th century, it didn't have any logo at all. Since then, it's had dozens. Here are the most iconic.
By Eli Shayotovich
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How do you get a car to be light enough to win its races? In 1963, the answer Pontiac found was: Strip it down, then make holes like it's Swiss cheese.
By Eli Shayotovich
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