Splinter Supercar Made of Wood
Approaching the serious idea of constructing a super car out of wood is cause for doubt, especially, with consideration to heat, weight and safety and their disastrous effects. However, put all notions of political correctness and conventional logic aside and consider the possibility.
That's exactly what some graduate students at North Carolina State University have done. Stated on their web site, “...we aren't trying to sell anything, we aren't trying to save the world, and we aren't advocating that everyone should drive a wooden car. This project is a scholastic endeavor in which we are simply trying to explore materials, learn, share ideas, and stimulate creativity." Stimulate creativity is an understatement. At first glance, a glorified tree trunk on wheels but closer look at the detail, from inner body structure, wheels, exterior, steering and suspension components, and a complex project of design and engineering start to unravel.
Easy to think of this project, called Splinter, as a fancy car design drafted on computer with a wood grain exterior, but actually it's a real vehicle being built. With a target weight of 2500 lbs. the wooden projectile, gets a twin roots-type superchargers Northstar V8 producing 600hp and theoretically capable of 190 mph. Check out the source link below for full story and production photos.
a wood Lambo??? ahhh no....my mistake again
...no much imagination designers I guess
id haf to say, its creative and id love to see this thing in action. Looks spectacular and i wish these guys luck. btw i think it looks more like a konigsegg shape with lambo lights and styling cues.
ummmm... sturctural design flaws 1.its made of wood 2.its made of wood and 3. its made of wood!!!!!!!LOL
i don't know, i guess if they take everything into account: tempurature variations, heat distribution, the natural properties of wood to expand/contract with heat, and all the physics involved, theoretically it is possible, although in order to be safe you would have to account for every variable, or as moyusuf put it, it could catch fire at 190mph. but hey, it would be a pretty cool/unique accoplishment to say that you helped create that car and it did almost 200mph.
If you use the proper wood and it is properly treated it can be just as strong and absorb shock as metal. Ive seen wood molds for 20,000lb castings, if you can make that out of wood im sure you can make a car.
Finally, Petrolheads and Tree-huggers can live together in harmony!!
don't take it so seriously folks. its a student design & engineering project. have you ever made anything this cool? then zip it!
LOL, thats why i said that it would be cool/unique to be able to say that you were a part of that project.
If you bothered to check out the construction website, I think you might see that the design and construction are actually very impressive, and safe. Marcos made quite a few race cars with monocoque chassis made of wood. Just like these guys. Only he used Aluminum for the suspension and bodywork. Veneer plywood construction was also how some of the fastest prop fighter planes were built. The only reason the aircraft industry moved to metal was because, like the auto industry found, it needed skilled woodworkers and a longer period of time for each aircraft. They were lighter and stronger, but more expensive. Anyone remember 'The Spruce Goose'?
Have to admit it looks cool, although i dont like the idea of 600hp and wood rims, I would have done it differently, aluminum panels covered with a thin layer of wood held on by some nice flush rivets. It would have an oldschool Hispano feel to it.
Was impressed with the effort untill I saw the pic with all the wood filler in use. A little putty and a little paint. Make a carpenter what he ain't. Don't like the idea of wooden brake rotors either. Love the steering wheel though.
A wooden body isn't such a crazy idea- only for the mechanical parts is it mad. Remember the awesome Mosquito fighter/bomber of the 2nd world war- wood construction to keep weight down and it was one of the greatest planes of the war
It'd take a certain carpenter from Nazareth to convince me that an all wood car, ironically named the Splinter, will do 190mph without having the effect of a flying Lincoln log. Also will the frame be made of wood too, because I hear Amish-built box frames provide the most support ;)