Grad students create Splinter, the wooden supercar
click above image for more renderings of the Splinter supercar
We're not sure what sort of beneficial impact one would get from making a supercar out of wood composites, but if there is one, the students behind the Splinter supercar will find out. The Splinter will be a 600-hp, 2,500-pound goer with wood used for the chassis, body, and parts of the suspension and wheels.
The car is powered by a twin-supercharged Northstar V8. To keep all that heat from doing bad things to the wood, the exhaust exits from the top of the block and out through mufflers in the wing -- which, as you might guess, makes the non-wooden wing quite hot. Other
The Splinter is a graduate project for some students at NC State. They say "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." We support that no matter what you make your supercar out of. But for the chance to do 190 MPH in what is essentially a motorized tree, hey, sign us up.
[Source: Joe Harmon Design via Winding Road]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
EJ25RUN 8:01PM (12/17/2007)
VERY GOOD EXECUTION, IM VERY IMPRESSED!
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sledge 8:23PM (12/17/2007)
Wooden car?.....I believe that would be called a Morgan!
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Arthur 8:32PM (12/17/2007)
"motorized tree"? more like a motorized coffin. I can just imagine this thing flying apart at 200 mph
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GDUB 8:51PM (12/17/2007)
Amazing Design. much better than the crap i have seen lately.
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clevershark 8:50PM (12/17/2007)
Wood, in automotive terms, was better off when it was artificial and slapped on the sides of enormous station wagons.
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Jaymez 9:06PM (12/17/2007)
Two please.
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rtrdpenguin 3:26PM (12/18/2007)
I just got accepted to NC state Saturday. That is pretty amazing...
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Solo Racer 9:11PM (12/17/2007)
It's the Lamborghini Murcie-Pinebox!
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Big Rocket 9:21PM (12/17/2007)
EJ25RUN @ Dec 17th 2007 8:01PM wrote:
"VERY GOOD EXECUTION, IM VERY IMPRESSED!"
GDUB @ Dec 17th 2007 8:51PM wrote:
"Amazing Design. much better than the crap i have seen lately."
If these students were from a third world country, everyone would be commenting on how derivative the design is compared to Lamborghinis in general, and how they would prefer to use the wood in their fireplace instead of a rolling casket/crematory.
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JimboNC 10:27PM (12/17/2007)
Does the dash and centerstack have genuine steel trim? What's so funny about a wooden car, don't we ride on tree sap turned into tires?
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jeffzekas 3:43PM (12/18/2007)
Quick history lesson: Wood was the first material used to build cars, at the turn of the last century. In fact wood was used for most transportation devices (excepting steam locomotives) before steel became pre-eminent. Advantages: wood is lightweight, strong, easy to repair, and comes from a renewable resource (trees). Also, wood is aesthetically pleasing, both visually and to the touch. Wood is the oldest material (next to rock) used by humans, and, as such, is integral to our cultural and psychological development as a species. As such, "wood is good".
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3seriesisking 9:44PM (12/17/2007)
Very nice. I wonder if it comes with a cigarette lighter. Haha
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Will D 11:48PM (12/17/2007)
Also very impressed!
While I ended up with a math degree and lots of EE schooling I was a student member of the SAE while at UIUC. I would have loved to work on a project like this.
Keep it up, yeah!
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John P. 10:43PM (12/17/2007)
It's a very well executed design. I'll add to what other have said, it's better than alot of crap I've been seeing lately.
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Kevin T18 3:46PM (12/18/2007)
"But for the chance to do 190 MPH in what is essentially a motorized tree, hey, sign us up."
You know they could just as well say something stupid about metal cars... Dont be so close minded
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3seriesisking 11:36PM (12/17/2007)
I don't think anyone is being close minded. It is genuinely cool.
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SPG 11:44PM (12/17/2007)
That's an incredible looking design.
Best of luck to these students in the future.
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WillDaThrill 11:55PM (12/17/2007)
Hate to make the tree hugger comment, but aren't we having enough problems using too much wood for stuff like paper, boxes, etc.?
Would be nice to see one actually built though. Would be great to see one perform.
Minus the tree hugger statement, nice going guys, and yes, it's a whole lot better than the Homer Simpson concepts that have been floating around in the past.
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chris 7:08AM (12/18/2007)
Many are making comments about how the car being wood will be unsafe. While wood may not be as strong as metals or composites, it 'splinters' much like a well designed carbon fibre monocoque. I wouldn't be surprised if the passengers experienced fewer g forces in a crash than they would in a steel or aluminum car.
I'm not suggesting we make cars out of wood - it has an awful tendency to rot and burn.
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Yar 12:59AM (12/18/2007)
How many people have to die before these stupid hippie designers get the picture? I'm guessing this matchstick will be 'strike anywhere'.
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