Jet-powered VW New Beetle
Ron Patrick wanted to prove that his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford wasn’t just a piece of useless paper framed on the wall, so he put his book smarts to use by combining a GE Model T58-8F helicopter turboshaft jet engine and a VW New Beetle. Patrick claims his one-way ticket to the Darwin Awards is street legal since he left the stock drivetrain intact. We’re not so sure about that since at any time he could flip a switch and torch the Tercel behind him with 1,350 flame-throwing horsepower.
I think what we’re all wondering is, “Yeah, but how does she handle?”
[via Engadget via Engadget Japanese via TechBlog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jason 9:14AM (3/07/2006)
Technically speaking, you could call this a hybrid, right? :P
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vlocityboy 9:17AM (3/07/2006)
I'm wondering if this would be more cost-effective than chipping my 1.8 L.....
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Billy Bob 9:20AM (3/07/2006)
This fool is going to toast an innocent bystander. Someone needs to nuke HIS worthless ass.
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JZeke 9:27AM (3/07/2006)
Since its a helicopter motor, I assume that means it cant really push this car...
why? If you notice the motor is a turboshaft, meaning the turbine is designed to spin a shaft to spin a blade. Since there's no fan or blades, all she can do is torch Hummers...
not that theres anything wrong with that!
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Al 9:27AM (3/07/2006)
I'd suggest a Pratt & Whitney PT-6A, myself. Much better safety record...
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Den in IN 9:31AM (3/07/2006)
I just impressed that a Ph.D. could accomplish something that requires actual design and fabrication skills.
Seriously, this is pointless in all the best ways!
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ANR 9:37AM (3/07/2006)
Seeing as it's a turbo shaft...I wonder which set of wheels it's powering. If he left it front wheel drive, that's gotta be some hella torque steer.
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Leo 9:43AM (3/07/2006)
There's an unmistakable phallic quality to this. Maybe an aerial view would "drive home" the point.
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JayNorth 9:47AM (3/07/2006)
Whatever people. This guy is just plain gay.
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JayP 10:07AM (3/07/2006)
The stock engine is in tact, driving the front wheels. He can toot along without the jet making it a street-legal car.
But when he wants to shag- he has the jet.
This looks appealing for the times I'm getting tailgated by some dope. I wonder if it melts chrome.
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Gunnar Heinrich 10:07AM (3/07/2006)
A Rolls-Royce jet engine would do nicely as well.
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
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klaatu 10:09AM (3/07/2006)
Shazam, ya'll? Where can I get one for my Prius?
Nope, don't have any need to go 500 mph - too many 2-lane roads and too much traffic around here.
But I sure would like to "toast" the morons who scream up behind me 20 mph faster than I'm going only to slam on their brakes and tailgate 2 feet behind me (like, I can go anywhere faster when there's 500 cars on a friggin' two lane road headed to town to go to work...)
Hell wait a sec - why not just get the turboshaft AND the blades and hook them up to my Prius?
I'd be to work in 5 minutes instead of 30..... heh heh.
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pavster 10:46AM (3/07/2006)
It doesn't look like the egine is coupled to anything, and since it's not a turbo jet, the car gets no benefit from it. It's like strapping a V12 engine to your car and directing its exhaust backward, but without connecting the output shaft to anything. It will look and sound cool, but it won't move.
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bhtooefr 11:24AM (3/07/2006)
Actually, it's been somewhat modded, from what I've read.
Such that, for example, it's no longer a turboshaft, but rather a bog standard jet engine, with an afterburner tacked on the end.
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Richard Warren 11:37AM (3/07/2006)
Look for the factory version in showrooms next month with the fast critter on the hood.
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klaatu 11:59AM (3/07/2006)
I think the jet engine WOULD assist in propelling the vehicle even though it was originally a turbo-shaft engine. It's called jet propulsion (look at the 2nd photo, for gooness sake). Even if the engine is from a 'chopper, it is a gas turbine engine. Only gas turbines intended for automotive use do not provide any thrust - go to allpar.com and look at the 1963 Chrysler Turbine for one example of that.
Besides, perhaps he has geared the power shaft down and attached it to the rear wheels - you know, 150 horsepower to the front wheels, 1000 horsepower (or whatever it might be) to the rear wheels plus a few hundred pounds of forward thrust.....
"Yeeee-haaaaa"
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nastinupe 12:47PM (3/07/2006)
All I know is that I wouldn't want to race it. He would intinidate the hell out of anyone with that thing on the back.
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ANR 1:14PM (3/07/2006)
@ 15, Turbo shafts provide little - if any - thrust. The only thing the exhaust is good for is roasting hot dogs. As for the flames, the guy probably just hooked up an afterburning system to get the flames. Turboshafts don't normally belch flames (and it's quite clear the car isn't moving in that picture.)
The turbine engines used in cars...yeah, those were turboshafts.
Now, had he used a turbo fan or a turbo jet (engines that actually produce thrust through the exhaust), then we'd have a potential Darwin Award on our hands.
And in case you're wondering, there are four basic types of turbine engines: turboshaft, turboprop, turbofan, turbojet.
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Nico MCM 1:17PM (3/07/2006)
Klaatu - Look at the 2nd picture huh? This dumbass has the jet engine going and is applying the brakes at the same time! I mean the wheels aren't even moving! So much for all that jet propulsion.
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Nico MCM 1:18PM (3/07/2006)
Klaatu - Look at the 2nd picture huh? This dumbass has the jet engine going and is applying the brakes at the same time! I mean the wheels aren't even moving! So much for all that jet propulsion.
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