This is a Ford Tempo T-Drive, a Ford experiment that went wrong. The Tempo had an inline eight cylinder engine with the transmission mounted directly behind it
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This is a Ford Tempo T-Drive, a Ford experiment that went wrong. The Tempo had an inline eight cylinder engine with the transmission mounted directly behind it
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Why would you need an 8 cyl Tempo? Pulling a boat?
Fitting in with the optimism of the Atomic Era, the Ford Motor Company proudly unveiled the Nucleon in 1958. The power plant of the Ford Nucleon would work according to the same principle as how nuclear submarines work. A nuclear reaction in the reactor produces heat that is used to boil water. The resulting steam spins a set of turbines. One turbine would provide the torque to propel the car, while another would drive an electric generator. The designers estimated the Ford Nucleon would be able to drive 5,000 miles [[8,000 km) or more ‒ depending on the size of its core ‒ without recharging. Imagine millions of nuclear powered cars on the road driven by people like you, your colleagues or the girl next door. And imagine with thousands of accidents happening worldwide every day involving nuclear powered cars, what would become of the safety with the nuclear debris,waste or contamination? Despite the fact that this car has never been realized,it could be regarded as one the most iconic cars of the Fifties as the Ford Nucleon embodies the spirit of those days more than any other car. A mock-up of the car can still be viewed at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
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The Cadillac Cyclone - a car ahead of its time - the black cones
supposedly hid SONAR obstacle detectors ... beep, beep, ...
<sigh> ... they don't make 'em like they used to...
The Python - an amphibious car designed by WaterCar Inc., whizzes over the water at up to 60 miles per hour. On land, it drives like a convertible at up to 125mph and does 0-60 in less than 5 seconds.
Price: > $200,000.00
Read all about it at: http://www.watercar.com/html/watercar_python.html
and here's how it works:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/watercar-python.htm
Ta-daaa!! First a car that floats, now - the Terrafugia - a car that flies!!
Up we go-o-o-o-o...
Read all about it at www.terrafugia.com . Tell 'em beachboy sent ya...
Before the Python there was the amphicar.The Python - an amphibious car designed by WaterCar Inc., whizzes over the water at up to 60 miles per hour. On land, it drives like a convertible at up to 125mph and does 0-60 in less than 5 seconds.
Price: > $200,000.00
Read all about it at: http://www.watercar.com/html/watercar_python.html
and here's how it works:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/watercar-python.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mW_m1KfRTE
The back looks like a vette, the fRont like a Dakota.
The 1951 Hunt car.
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Mark 3 VW Golf Harlequin
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still rather have the AquadaTa-daaa!! First a car that floats, now - the Terrafugia - a car that flies!!
Up we go-o-o-o-o...
Read all about it at www.terrafugia.com . Tell 'em beachboy sent ya...
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/aquada.htm
Read up on the development of the VW Beetle - it received all kinds of bizarre engineering over the years. During the war, models were produced with wood/coal gassification engines. The windshield wiper cleaner pump was pneumatic, and driven by air in the spare tire. For a while an optional kerosene [[I believe) heater was available for the passenger cabin, as you didn't get much heat from the rear-mounted engine.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo, familiar to anyone who visited the Detroit Historical Museum in the sixties or seventies. Two wheels [[not counting the retractable training wheels) and what is said to have beern the first V-8 built in Detroit, definitely qualifies as odd. In fact the idea of a 3.000-lb. motorcycle just makes my head hurt. Some quick and sloppy Internet research suggests the Bi-Autogo is loaned to another museum, whch is why I missed it on my last visit to the Museum.
I used the Fordette image on a post a few days ago about the silent film festival that showed the 1918 Fatty Arbuckle film “Love”,where I got this picture. It shows that Fatty had it right almost one hundred years ago: a cheap, small, inexpensive personal transportation vehicle that probably gets 100 miles to a gallon. Haven’t we learned anything since 1918?????
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Here's Johnny Cash's odd auto idea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWHniL8MyMM
I don't know why, but I like it:I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Scripps-Booth Bi-Autogo, familiar to anyone who visited the Detroit Historical Museum in the sixties or seventies. Two wheels [[not counting the retractable training wheels) and what is said to have beern the first V-8 built in Detroit, definitely qualifies as odd. In fact the idea of a 3.000-lb. motorcycle just makes my head hurt. Some quick and sloppy Internet research suggests the Bi-Autogo is loaned to another museum, whch is why I missed it on my last visit to the Museum.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/iipcache/128141.jpg
There are some great examples here, starting with the "Horsey Horseless", a car with a wooden horse head mounted to the front:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/20...657662,00.html
I remember the first time I saw the Bi-Autogo about 55 years ago when I was on a field trip to the DHM. Crazy fabulous machine – a cross between Jules Vern and Steampunk. Outlandish even when you consider it was built in 1913.
Seats 3: the driver in the center of the front seat and two people in the rear seat. Notice the outrigger/training wheels that came out when you stopped. It would be great to see it back on display in Detroit. Wonder what it would take to bring her home?
It sounds simple, only one wheel. Many unexpected problems I'm sure!!
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b-autogo reminded me of the Dodge Tomahawk
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them there is this:
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A recent Michelin Design Challenge concept car:
Vrooom, vroom!!
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