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Old 04-10-2009, 09:04 PM   #33 (permalink)
jime57
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This is an immensely interesting discussion. botsapper asks some interesting questions related to realistic constraints on most such projects. You will probably have to start with some existing platform, otherwise the design and fabrication effort is huge. Reshaping of an existing car body can be done, and has been done by custom car folks for years. But it is expensive. The use of a portion of an existing platform and cutting away other portions, to be replaced with fiberglas, would be a fairly cost effective way to at least get some answers as to what works as an effective compromise.

It seems to me that the major questions are these: 1. do you want to design something conceptually with a clean slate and no compromises, or, 2. are you interested in modding something existing for a reasonable amount of money? (In the latter case, how much money do you want to spend?)

It seems to me that if number 1 is your objective, then the discussion can continue as to what functional shapes would be the "best" compromise for a 2 person, or 4 person, street legal auto. But note that VW has probably already done this work with their L1, I think that was the designation. And the Aptera is also a solution to this question. Both cars would probably be outside mainstream taste as "attractive" car shapes, though I like them both.

If conceptual only is the objective, then I suspect that lots of advanced aerodynamic modeling is in store. Some expensive design software would probably be required to have any confidence in the test shapes.

I'm just kinda thinking out loud and don't really understand exactly how you would proceed, but its interesting to contemplate.
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