Chevy & GMC Vans

700HP wooden car.

http://www.joeharmondesign.com/pod.html

As awesome as that car is, and it is awesome, I would hate to be in an accident with it. Imagine all the wood just shattering in a million pieces. And there's no metal frame?! Great craftsmanship though..

Looks cool, couldnt pay me enough to drive it. I guess I am just old, but I need my metal around me to feel safe. and the biggest quetion is... WHy wood????

Water Boy wrote:700HP wooden car.

http://www.joeharmondesign.com/pod.html

Hey W.B.-must be a Ga thing.

What about the British sports car the Morgan? It still uses a wooden framework.

Assuming they did the engineering work needed to provide the proper structure for the design, it would be just as good a metal, possibly even better. Remember this is not just wood, it is wood composite. That means it is made of wood and some type of epoxy. As the one video pointed out wood actually has a stronger strength to weight ratio than aluminum. With the composite, I would guess it is even stronger. As he mentioned, this is similar to building a carbon fiber body, but replacing the carbon fiber with wood. If I had the know how, I would happily build a wooden body for a vehicle.

As to the frame, again, if designed correctly, it would be just fine. I guess it depends on how well one trusts the designers.

I am looking forward to seeing it running.

I just have to ask "why?".

But hey, it is really cool.

Looks like Joe has some seriously sick wood-workin skills, I'd take that for a test drive in a heart-beat if givin the chance,awesome car

Hotroder383 wrote:Looks cool, couldnt pay me enough to drive it. I guess I am just old, but I need my metal around me to feel safe. and the biggest quetion is... WHy wood????

easy to work...it looks like a wood / epoxy resin composite to me. Ok, so I finished my wood epoxy kayak, what shall I build now? Oh of course a 700hp wood car! I have to wonder what will keep the engine from torqing itself right out of the engine compartment when he revs it...or just flipping over. He better have his aerodynamics down pat, it's likely to take off like an ultralight plane.

Ok, so I finished my wood epoxy kayak, what shall I build now?

Wait a second, are you saying you built a wood epoxy kayak? or did the guy in the article build a wood kayak?
If you built the wood kayak, I would be interested in seeing pics of that (and the build process if possible) I have thought about doing that myself, but it's a little pricey for me right now...

astronut74 wrote:

Ok, so I finished my wood epoxy kayak, what shall I build now?

Wait a second, are you saying you built a wood epoxy kayak? or did the guy in the article build a wood kayak?
If you built the wood kayak, I would be interested in seeing pics of that (and the build process if possible) I have thought about doing that myself, but it's a little pricey for me right now...

I have plans for a stitch and glue plywood/epoxy kayak. I haven't built it yet because I actually prefer working on the vehicles. I still would like to build it someday though.

astronut74 wrote:

Wait a second, are you saying you built a wood epoxy kayak? or did the guy in the article build a wood kayak?
If you built the wood kayak, I would be interested in seeing pics of that (and the build process if possible) I have thought about doing that myself, but it's a little pricey for me right now...

I was making a joke, the guy in the article didn't but I did, about 18 years ago. Sorry no pics, no digital cam back then.
17' touring kayak with a modified elongated cockpit. Do some checking online. There's tons of source material now - plans, kits. It's one of the easiest boats to build. I highly recommend System 3 resins and fiberglassing products. They have a water based epoxy paint that is great stuff, pretty pricey these days though. I think I paid $90 for a gallon for it back when. I think it's up over $200 now. A gallon turned out to be more than I needed though.