Our own car designs

[kach22i]

Great stuff guys, when I have some time I'll collect the stuff I've posted in the forum and congregate it here.

[ciderbarrel]

Originally Posted by Sven7

Why do you say they're unstable? I don't think any of us will be driving high-powered trikes and flipping them accelerating out of corners.

2m mark (i tried their link to start it at the 2m mark, and it didn't link right)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bIn_ZgHJaE

[freebeard]

bottsapper -- What's the story on the Dymax II?

Smurf -- I like 'em, especially the first one with the VW torsion bar beam, and the one that's 11' 8" long.

Most of them have ingress/egress problems, though. It's common with tube frames; I've seen an actual, real, tube frame buggy that had side windows smaller than what you show, to crawl in and out of. I never saw anyone try.

That's more important to me lately; I'll refrain from posting a picture of the VW Nils in this 'build your own' thread, but I think it gets it right.

ciderbarrel -- I LOL'd. It didn't take long! But sometimes it's an advantage (1:11):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InlFaERcPeA

[Smurf]

Thanks Freebeard. I also like the 11'8" one, based on a small Kawasaki 250cc. It would have belt high bodywork over the rear end, real clean and light weight, maybe storage for a backpack. Pure city commuter.

The entry and exit is a very valid point, and in my head I can envision a crossbar that pivots out from the dash corner, and locks in near the left shoulder. With some additional side impact support, I'd probably trust the locking crossbar in most situations. It's a fine balance between simplicity, ease of use, looks, and safety. But I try to remind myself it'll be much safer than the 2 wheel donor, as I'm not a motorcyclist in any sense.

I haven't designed much lately, but my mind is moving towards the VW XL1 as far as shape. Enclosed front wheels, a small one person cage inside surrounded by a wider-than-canopy body, tapering back to take advantage of the single rear wheel. Generally, I design with a solid interior cage, and an almost 'break-away' front and rear end, sort of like open wheel racers. The cycle and front end can be replaced after a crash, I cannot.

[NeilBlanchard]

...but three wheeled cars are not unstable?

[freebeard]

Smurf -- There's a button for that!

I came up dry in Google Images, but I've seen (in magazines) roll cages that have the door bars on hinges. So it's open door, open gate, get in, close gate, close door. OTOH there's this:

T-bone that!

I should go back and bump my Messerschmitt thread. There's no actual design there, but what I was talking around is a reverse trike with a monocoque tub and a tube frame roll bar above the beltline. The MaRussia supercar has a nice detail for the join:


Similar to the Porsche (962?):


...and since I broke my own self-imposed rule; Here's the door on the Nils;


Hope the O.P. doesn't come back and spank me.

[freebeard]

calfianu --

[Smurf]

That one is amazing too Freebeard.

[freebeard]

The reason I couldn't find it earlier was I was looking for 'czech tri-car' when the original filename was 'Czeck tricar2'. So maybe the vehicle is in Czech Republic. What I see is a one-piece canopy that sits 2-3" higher than the body, which has a door cut-line.

It's closer to completion, but I like the Original Poster's 4-wheeler, with the wing bent down into pants for the rear wheels. It would need some sort of subframe to carry the front suspension pickup points. What an opportunity for Edison2's in-wheel suspension/steering.

[Christopher Jordan]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

...but three wheeled cars are not unstable?

Depending on physics some might be unstable. My 3-wheeler never lifted a wheel, but I was sitting almost on the ground. Sitting higher would either turn the whole thing over or buck me off like a wild bronco. I hope it never happens but it seems to me some reverse trikes are a little too high and may throw someone off, then we will hear that "unstable" or "unsafe" stereotype all over again.