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How Many Supercars Can a Woodchuck Chuck
And now for something completely different? I’d say this was a strange play on recent “keep your non-green riches a secret” trends, but it’s been in the works for a while. North Carolina State University’s craftspeople have got one amazing looking machine on their hands, and I dare say they’ve chosen the best time, (economically and green-wise,) to come this close to completion.
Check out the stats courtesy of Autoblog.
[Autoblog.com] the all-wooden car’s hand-laid bodywork had been mated with the chassis, which was awaiting installation of the twin-supercharged, 32-valve Cadillac-sourced V8 engine and six-speed rear-mounted transaxle from a modern Chevrolet Corvette. Those 600 ponies will be funneled to the rear wheels, which have center hubs made from pressed and laminated wood, naturally. Even the transverse leaf springs are made from orange osage wood.
Designer: North Carolina State University Craftspeople
68 Comments »
Mowgli says
now thats just silly…
hanz says
will it be an actual working car? wouldnt it burn, considering the engine of the car is powerful
Eric says
Fugly sorry.
Noah says
I love it! the only thing I don't like about it is that you have to re-stain it every 2 years… can you imagine?
Mowgli says
now thats just silly…
hanz says
will it be an actual working car? wouldnt it burn, considering the engine of the car is powerful
Ekove says
I love the idea of a wooden body even though the design is not the best.
Now anyone who thinks this piece is more than a show-off is dreaming. It'll smell like crap, if not burn due to heat in no time.
MadCow says
…… why?
Eric says
Fugly sorry.
zippyflounder says
the wood body here is just another form of composite (fibers held in a polymer matrix) and properly made has a strenght to weight ratio that is pretty close fiberglass or carbon fiber. To answer the "will it burn" question, no more so than a corvette, again its generaly the polymer that burns not the fiber. If you would like to read up on wood expoie saturation techique google it and be surprised…zippy designed and built a LOT of high performance boats that way.
collide007 says
It's a piece of art, a showcase of its creators expertise, nothing more. Not that that is a bad thing of course, I wouldnt mind having somthing like this, without out an engine, in a large lobby as a center piece.
powers says
Concept A+
Execution A+
Powertrain B
Design C
Feasibility — Well, you know, it's the thought that counts here.
Ocell says
Joe Harmon is the mastermind of all this. You can get a ton more information on the project at http://joeharmondesign.com/
Noah says
I love it! the only thing I don't like about it is that you have to re-stain it every 2 years… can you imagine?
Ekove says
I love the idea of a wooden body even though the design is not the best.
Now anyone who thinks this piece is more than a show-off is dreaming. It'll smell like crap, if not burn due to heat in no time.
MadCow says
…… why?
zippyflounder says
the wood body here is just another form of composite (fibers held in a polymer matrix) and properly made has a strenght to weight ratio that is pretty close fiberglass or carbon fiber. To answer the “will it burn” question, no more so than a corvette, again its generaly the polymer that burns not the fiber. If you would like to read up on wood expoie saturation techique google it and be surprised…zippy designed and built a LOT of high performance boats that way.
collide007 says
It's a piece of art, a showcase of its creators expertise, nothing more. Not that that is a bad thing of course, I wouldnt mind having somthing like this, without out an engine, in a large lobby as a center piece.
powers says
Concept A+
Execution A+
Powertrain B
Design C
Feasibility — Well, you know, it's the thought that counts here.
Ocell says
Joe Harmon is the mastermind of all this. You can get a ton more information on the project at http://joeharmondesign.com/
Stuart says
the theme is good, but a V8 engine?? are you sick? burning so much oil in a wood car, that's idiot.
this concept looks like a very very very bad fake lamborghini imitation.
Stuart says
the theme is good, but a V8 engine?? are you sick? burning so much oil in a wood car, that's idiot.
this concept looks like a very very very bad fake lamborghini imitation.
smroepe says
WOO HOO GO NC STATE!
Adam says
Why is the final images renders? have they not finished the car yet?
smroepe says
WOO HOO GO NC STATE!
Adam says
Why is the final images renders? have they not finished the car yet?
hejioshin says
Fire protection?
Eric says
What car manufactured now has fire protection built in? Why would you expect this one to provide it, because it's "wood"? It's not 100% tree's I'll have you know…
hejioshin says
Fire protection?
Eric says
What car manufactured now has fire protection built in? Why would you expect this one to provide it, because it's “wood”? It's not 100% tree's I'll have you know…
Pete says
Joe Harmon has done some amazing work on this thing. Seriously. He had a completely wild idea and decided to give it a shot. To attack the practicality of this project is a waste of breath. What the hell does practicality have to do with building a WOODEN CAR? This is an exercise in materials and processes that has lead to some pretty damned creative problem solving and left Joe with, if nothing else, one fantastic portfolio piece and a whole lot of press.
PS: the wheels alone are works of art. Even more impressive in person,
Pete says
Joe Harmon has done some amazing work on this thing. Seriously. He had a completely wild idea and decided to give it a shot. To attack the practicality of this project is a waste of breath. What the hell does practicality have to do with building a WOODEN CAR? This is an exercise in materials and processes that has lead to some pretty damned creative problem solving and left Joe with, if nothing else, one fantastic portfolio piece and a whole lot of press.
PS: the wheels alone are works of art. Even more impressive in person,
karl says
why does zippy refer to himself in the third person?
tone says
a corvette doesn't have a transaxle.
JediQ says
Of course a Corvette has a transaxle. Do a little research before posting something ignorant.
alexd says
It's not exactly common sense because the new C6 cars don't have a traditional layout. They are front engined, with a torque tube transferring the engine's power to a transaxle in the rear. And to mate the engine directly to that transaxle without the torque tube might require a custom bell housing.
proveyouwrong says
new c6…. c5 had the same set up fuck ass.
Cobra Commander says
Im curious to know what the outcome of a wreck in this thing would be.
Iunctus Nos Sto says
A pretty nasty splinter
Psychaotipath says
i wanna know how much the bloody thing weighs
wiseguy says
i hope that wood is treated.. termites are bad news.
noone says
again, GREAT design and all………but i dont see a real-life adaptation….i guess some conceots will just always remain conceots….
noone says
again, GREAT design and all………but i dont see a real-life adaptation….i guess some conceots will just always remain conceots….
Norberto says
Acho que se pode fazer tudo…quando se quer,eis a prova lindo carro de madeira…!
Norberto says
Acho que se pode fazer tudo…quando se quer,eis a prova lindo carro de madeira…!
gilbert wham says
One word: Marcos.
gilbert wham says
One word: Marcos.
Pavle says
wowowoow!
lovely atmospheres and great details on vehicle!
Pavle says
wowowoow!
lovely atmospheres and great details on vehicle!
Shawn.B. says
I hope your not a smoker if you want to buy this car….
Shawn.B. says
I hope your not a smoker if you want to buy this car….
Matt G says
have you ever started a 2×4 on fire with a cigarette? you people damning this project don't understand what this car is made of and the structural integrity of wood and different resins. setting this on fire would be very difficult even with a torch. engines and exhaust do not produce anywhere near enough heat to light this car aflame.
fajas colombianas says
Would this be an actualy working car when its done? Because I don't know how wood can stand up to the tortures of the road.
yOGA says
Put some heath shield on that engine for god sake!
Johnny Fort Myers says
Love the outhouse in the bottom pic! lol
Johnny Fort Myers says
Love the outhouse in the bottom pic! lol
Love Your Lawn says
I take my hat off to the creator, it's a work of art, and shows the creative genius of the person responsible.
Love Your Lawn says
I take my hat off to the creator, it's a work of art, and shows the creative genius of the person responsible.
sean says
damn ugly
Auto credit sacramento says
wonder at what stage this wooden supercar is now
Tom says
Not really. The Bf109k, a fine airplane, had a lot of wood, in the tail and fuselage. Not incredibly practical, but it look’s bitchin’ and if it works and I become rich, I’m buying it.
Grey says
ITs a statement of art. This is more likely to work and be successful in what its created for, than most designs here… or anywhere.
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