Low-Cost Homemade Car Runs 40 Miles Per Gallon (Jun, 1950)
Source: Popular Mechanics ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jun, 1950
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Low-Cost Homemade Car Runs 40 Miles Per Gallon
With the frame and wheels of a 1934 Ford, a 12-horsepower four-cylinder water-cooled engine, a clutch, transmission and rear end from a junk yard, a former instructor at Dakota Wesleyan University built a unique automobile. The body of the car was made from scrap lumber, covered with hardboard and held together by two boxes of screws. Headlights, tail-lights, radiator grille and windshield were obtained at minimum prices. The hood ornament was the container for an airplane’s loop antenna and a glass dome for the top is from a refrigerator. The builder, Nelson Beck, devoted six weeks’ work and $76.68 to his project which has begun to repay him by running 40 miles to the gallon at an average speed of 55 miles per hour.
WOW. I don’t know much about how cars work but made out of wood?? It sounds like a firetrap to me. And 12 hp!!!
Comment by Caya — May 21, 2007 @ 11:28 am
I wonder what happened to the wood in the rain?
And a collision would be rather spectacular.
Comment by Rick Auricchio — May 21, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
Still, 40mpg in 1950!!
Comment by daniel — October 31, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
Aren’t boats made out of wood and don’t they also sit in water? A 40 mpg vehicle in 1950 would have been incredible.
Comment by Ron — April 17, 2008 @ 9:53 pm
I am building a car and can not find insurance
Any suggestions
Please do reply
Thank you
Ed Watt
Ps a link for a car run on water over ran my first attempt
to send you a e-mail.
Comment by Ed Watt — April 23, 2008 @ 9:06 pm
I built a car from scratch and got it insured through Progressive Direct.
Here are some videos of the car, as well as some pics;
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3088011
http://video.cardomain.com/armigerlives
Comment by Armiger — September 25, 2008 @ 5:54 am
i am not sure but i think u can buy a bound i think is how companys insured they vehicle
Comment by el vato — October 3, 2008 @ 11:17 pm