Buckminster Fuller's DYMAXION CAR

[PaykanHunter]

The Dymaxion car was a concept car designed by U.S. inventor and architect Buckminster Fuller in 1933.

 

The word Dymaxion is a brand name that Fuller gave to several of his inventions, to emphasize that he considered them part of a more general project to improve humanity's living conditions. The car had a fuel efficiency of 30 miles per US gallon (7.8 L/100 km; 36 mpg-imp). It could transport 11 passengers. While Fuller claimed it could reach speeds of 120 miles per hour (190 km/h), the fastest documented speed was 90 miles per hour (140 km/h).

 

Watch the original one in action

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In 2010 Norman Foster commissioned a complete re-built of a Dymaxion Car you can watch him driving it here.

 

 

 

 

[Rocket88]

Rear wheel steering at 90 mph...................I bet that was twitchy.............

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Rear wheel steering at 90 mph...................I bet that was twitchy.............

The steering was blamed for the first prototype's crash at the Chicago Worlds Fair which killed the driver. I don't know if it was ever officially considered the cause of the accident, but it ruined the project.

[PaykanHunter]

The steering was blamed for the first prototype's crash at the Chicago Worlds Fair which killed the driver. I don't know if it was ever officially considered the cause of the accident, but it ruined the project.

Oh NO!!!... Now you ruined it!... ;@ Yes the crash pretty much killed the project, but I don't think it was that twitchy in high speed, take look at this

.

[Rocket88]

That looks impressive........trouble is, a good sneeze would probably result in you barrell rolling it into a field, unless some "slack" was built into the steering.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

It was an amazing thing. Who wouldn't want a car that could do this?

 

[PaykanHunter]

Yes!... Buckminster was so ahead of his time!... remember he did this car back in 1933!...

[Justin Case]

Dymaxion was derived from 'dynamic maximum tension' which is no doubt what the driver felt at 90 mph

 

Buckminster Fuller was once described as

Designer-genius R. Buckminster Fuller was one of the century's great nutjobs, a walking unorthodoxy (who originally conceived of the Dymaxion as a flying automobile, or drivable plane, with jet engines and inflatable wings)

 

However, you may not know that he also invented the geodesic dome, which has proved rather more succeessful

 

[PaykanHunter]

Yes indeed the Montreal Biosphère dome of the former pavilion of the United States for the 1967 World Fair, still stands today.

 

[DSdriver]

If you were stupid enough to drive a bus into the base of a geodesic dome the damage would appear on the other side (of the dome, not the bus).

[OwdChina]

Rear wheel steering, like a forklift truck.....ooerr. Been using forklifts for a good number of years and rear wheel steering on a forklift is the only way for the vehicle to opperate properly. But on a road going car....err...no thanks...bloody dangerous IMO.

Not to be confused with the four wheel steer motors, ie the 4ws Celica which was excellent.

[maxpower]

It was an amazing thing. Who wouldn't want a car that could do this?

 

 

yeah, and the driver could be shouting at the guy " now are you gonna put that fucking blackberrry in you pocket and watch where you're walking"

[stuboy]

rear wheel steering...

 

was ok when i used to unload lorries with a forklift

 

but not in a car

[Negative Creep]

GRseven 4 DOIN DOWNUTS tho

[DSdriver]

Some time around 1968-70 I went to a lecture given by Bucky, an incredible man and one of my heros.