Astute readers of Autoblog will no doubt remember pics of the jet-powered Volkswagen New Beetle we posted a while back. Owner Ron Patrick was recently interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle and fired up the fire-breathing Beetle on camera.
While Patrick admits the car was built more for show than go, the video of the Beetle’s brakes straining to keep the car planted while the jet engine is spooled up to 25,000 rpm proves this Franken-bug is no show pony. Patrick also admits to having flipped the jet switch on the highway while doing 100 mph.
Patrick reveals a few interesting details about his bug in the interview like the fact that it swills kerosene at the rate of 15 gallons per mile(!) and the dash-mounted flower vase was removed because any blossom would be immediately sucked into the jet’s air intake. Now that's some serious flower power.
[Source: San Francisco Gate via GermanCarBlog]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
me @ May 3rd 2006 12:53PM
I can't load that video, please help
devi8i @ May 3rd 2006 1:02PM
Come on. Autoblog isnt hosting the video. Download Quicktime 7 and try again. If you still have problems contact the site hosting teh content.
CoffeeJedi @ May 3rd 2006 2:09PM
"the dash-mounted flower vase was removed because any blossom would be immediately sucked into the jet’s air intake"
the intake's on the inside? that doesn't make any sense
Glenn A. @ May 3rd 2006 3:23PM
The intake is behind a mesh so as to (hopefully) not suck any body parts or people in (don't laugh). I've seen the pix.
It must be absolutely hellish loud inside the Beetle with the turbojet running, though. (I was in the Air Force, I've been around jet aircraft).
SoloTwo @ May 3rd 2006 3:25PM
What? The intake for the jet is right inbetween the seats, watch the video again.