Urba Centurion Update - (Kubota diesel, 100+ MPG in mixed driving - Fall 2012 on)

[changzuki]

Originally Posted by Xist

Does your car attract shopping carts?

It sure did that day!
~CrazyJerry

[changzuki]

Originally Posted by AndrzejM

Have you thought about covering wheels a bit there's a lot of space for improvement...

Hi AndrzejM,
Yes, that and more but I still have some other areas I'm brushing up on. I need to run another tank through before I publish new numbers - but they are looking goooood!

Most recent convenience feature (and due to our frost warning the other night) is the heater/defroster is now fully functional.. Because the car is "insulated" it takes very little heat to warm it right up and it holds the heat well too. The grass was crunchy with frost but my morning commute was seriously toasty!!
~CrazyJerry

[changzuki]

Originally Posted by justme1969

Kept thinking those looked like monza wheels and found a pik.
My friend had one with the big spyder over the hood looked cool he beat it to death.
The tail light first made me think Monza though.

-
justme1969 - At first glance I can see the resemblance but a closer look seems to set them further apart.
-

-
I wish the Centurion's wheels were as common as the Monza wheels. That is one area of the Centurion build that is extremely challenging since the 4 lug bolt pattern (pcd) is 95.25mm (3.75") and the wheels are not hub centric... Finding and refinishing decent vintage wheels ate up a huge amount of time for this project. I suspect that is why the Centurion in the Lane Motor Museum only has hubcaps. The RQ Riley plans state they used Carroll Shelby Scorpions... I doubt there is more than possibly one other set out there somewhere but I may be wrong.. Back in the day (1982) wheels may have been plentiful but it appears many have dried up.
-

-
The Centurion's tail lights per the plans are from an Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser (Station Wagon) although there are many styles that would also look good frenched in.
-

-
~CrazyJerry

[changzuki]

In the true spirit of Do-It-Yourself, it was time to update the Centurion's seats to something more comfortable, and yet, keep it lightweight.
-
As luck would have it, a local big-box home-improvement store was having a sale on summer items. There on the shelf were black and "Kubota" orange striped chaise chair cushions! And on the next shelf were the smaller throw cushions, soooooooooo........
-

-

-

-
These make for one heck of a sound deadener.
Sinking into comfort, not even the "Diesel Shake" can get me now!
-
~ CrazyJerry

[AndrzejM]

[sheepdog 44]

I read a little about the MG Midget today, and i'm really impressed! This is the perfect eco car blank slate. Why get a Metro, Crx HF, or Insight at all? Their frontal area AND weight are no match for a Midget/Centurion! And it's an old car too, which means you can do whatever you want to the engine!

The funny thing is on my commute i always pass an MG Midget going the opposite direction. And i always wish that my car was that small!

[HHOTDI]

There are a few MG/Austin Healey's in my area, one is a $700 roller and another is a $1000 driver in my area if you'd like a good one to start with..?
:{)

[Joggernot]

Back in the 60s the MG was one of the modified cars used for the "highest mpg" contests held periodically. I think it got 180+ mpg with tuning and a few more mods, but the winner (highly modified) got 1000+ mpg (1086?). The winner never went over 18 mph with their tiny engine.

[HHOTDI]

That is so true, I remember the Bugeye Sprite my dad had when I was a little boy that he owned/raced(i'd love to have one today). I really like the Fuel Mileage races Craig Vetter holds/held in the past...Real World driving. He has said his last one is scheduled for October of this year, Barstow/Vegas. There will be others for sure, but not that he himself is sponsoring.

Keep up the great work Jerry! :{)

[changzuki]

Originally Posted by HHOTDI

That is so true, I remember the Bugeye Sprite my dad had when I was a little boy that he owned/raced(i'd love to have one today). I really like the Fuel Mileage races Craig Vetter holds/held in the past...Real World driving. He has said his last one is scheduled for October of this year, Barstow/Vegas. There will be others for sure, but not that he himself is sponsoring.

Keep up the great work Jerry! :{)

:{) - haha! Took a minute to figure that out! Wish I wasn't so far from Vegas. The Vetter Fuel Mileage races would be a great place to go, and see what others are doing "real world". Thumbs up!!
~CrazyJerry