Where's the Carbon Fibre Car?

I am patiently waiting for the fabled German engineers to catch up with
Burt Rutan and build a carbon fibre and aluminum car.

Get rid of the cast iron and steel, streamline the car and every other
component is lightened (wheels, tires, brakes....). Such a design would
approach modern aircraft's payload-to-vehicle weight ratio and yield
blazing performance too, in terms of terrific acceleration, top speed, hill
climbin, and low fuel consumption.

Has anybody notice gasoline is above $3.00 a gallon in California? The
days of traditional car constructions are numbered. The Big Three will
not agree, but once some Asian upstart lands on the scene with a 2000 pound
four-passenger sedan, they'll run for bankcrupcy court.

Sure, using modern materials and fabrication techniques may cost a little
more, but so what? What costs more new has greater value when later sold
used. Its a perfect balance. And what's more, when something costs a lot
because it contains so much value, the buyer appreciates it a lot more and
it isn't thrown out so soon. He gets more value out of it because he keeps
it longer. Its like a fine Leica camera. Back in '53 it cost $300, a
small fortune. Many such buyers still own the same camera after all these
years; those who decide to sell can get every nickel back and more.

 

Chrysler has a plastic molded car with a body made out of 2 pieces of
plastic. Saw it on some show. Intended for poor areas in Africa. We may
need it here soon in the US. Probably won't meet safety standards. Looked
like a plastic golf cart.

 

Nomen, stop blathering again....

 

Optimist. Fantasist.

A 1953 Leica camera is worth maybe 200 USD today (in Germany), a tiny
fraction of the original value.

DAS

For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling

 

I think my Leica IIIG Red Dial is worth a bit more than that.

 

It's called a McLaren F1.

tinyurl.com/gb2d

 

Many nations require the materials in a car to be recycled at the end of its
life. Carbon Fibre does not fit into that plan; although I guess you could
burn the stuff.

Richard.