If I was to build my own hypermiler ?

[trikkonceptz]

Originally Posted by Tango Charlie

Oh, no you don't! Not until you finish that backwards Porsche!

LOL, Hey I may be able to work on both ... From what I know, I won't be using the VW chassis to build the DUBREX, so I can mount the 928 body on the VW frame and build them both up together.... LOL

Now where is that bag of money I left lying around here ...

[The Toecutter]

These forums have a wealth of information. I searched this site looking for information on the Tryane II, not thinking anything would turn up, yet here it is...

Its specs are quite impressive, although I think a naturally-aspirated diesel engine from a VW Rabbit or a VW Golf TDI engine would be a better choice than that of a Citroen 2CV(the front of the Tryane II wuld probably have to re-designed to accomodate it).

[stormbird]

Originally Posted by The Toecutter

Its specs are quite impressive, although I think a naturally-aspirated diesel engine from a VW Rabbit or a VW Golf TDI engine would be a better choice than that of a Citroen 2CV(the front of the Tryane II wuld probably have to re-designed to accomodate it).

Toecutter

I think you are missing the point of the Tryane II and this forum ?

There are two reasons why it it impressive one is the body it's aerodynamics and weight and the other is the engine.

The 2cv engine even powering a 2cv can achieve 35mpg+ around town and 55mpg+ on the freeway , it is a very light engine [ can easily be picked up by one person ] and there is a 5 speed gearbox available for it.

Because the engine is light coming from a light car [ look up the weight of a 2cv compared to a Rabbit ! ] the rest of the transmission components are light to match it.

regards Paul

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Tango Charlie

I've been thinking on this topic, of building a 3 wheel commuter, for some time. From what I've researched, and with what I would want to accomplish, a reverse trike (aka 'tadpole'-2 wheels forward, one behind) design would be what I would build. I'd use a Geo Metro 1.0 L drivetrain up front and a welded tube chassis. Tandem seats.
Fiberglass body that would have a Cd of ZERO!
Bam, 100 MPG.

It would somewhat resemble a cross between VW's concept and the Vortex.
I think a welded tube chassis would be a lot lighter than all that plywood in the Vortex.

How about something like this???



Don't forget....

_______________ You have to get it safety inspected ________________

The process is not for the faint of heart....

Jim.

[Arragonis]

For those interested in the 2CV angle there is a test of the original car here

Citron 2CV6

It got 50.2 MPG with a 'touring speed' of 48 mph.

A lot of my 'if only I could build my own car' ideas for hypermiling have centred on the 2CV because of the seperate chassis makes it easy to put a new body on. With a bit of car I could see a car with a body closely matching the drag template shape and with 2 seats on there. There was another 'special' built in the 50s which used a 2CV as the basis - 4 wheels though - which was capable of 100+ mph on the long, straight french roads. Took a while to get there though.

Similar to this one, but I don't think it was this one as this is a panhard factory car:



I'm not so sold on the 3 wheel concept. They do have some exemptions here such as emissions testing and being taxed as a motorcycle, but there must be strong and valid reasons why the major manufacturers only make concept 3-wheelers and not volume production ones. 3 Wheelers with the 3rd wheel at the front always seem just wrong although I can see the point for aero - narrowest part into the airflow first.

I do recall a Morgan 3 wheeler with a 1930s motorbike engine at the front held the outright lap record at an English circuit in the 1980s at the same time as 500bhp+ Sierra Cosworths were racing at the same circuit.