In the early days of the automotive technology pioneering era around the 1930s to 1940s, engineers were competing to make various inventions related to motor vehicles. Starting from the discovery and development of machines to the design of the vehicle itself.
A streamlined tadpole three-wheeled vehicle was one of the aviation world inspired creations designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort and built by Jamin Meaux. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2C87QVd)
And one of them is like what was done by a French aeronautical engineer named Victor-Albert Bouffort. Well, shortly after World War II was ended when the world's economy stagnated and difficult. But, turned out he managed to design and build some pretty crazy cars.
The Bouffort designed three-wheeler vehicle prototype model was introduced in 1947 and powered by a Citroën Traction Avant 11 CV drivetrain. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ivld2i)
In the time, he built some kind weird-shaped vehicles that might be made everybody should be turning their head while seen it pass through. The first was the stunning streamlined three-wheeler based on a Citroën Traction-Avant. And there were three of these were actually built and each has slightly different shapes.
And there were three of these were actually built and each has slightly different shapes. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3ivld2i)
In the '50s, he shifted his attention to microcars creating his most famous car, the Peardrop which he felt would revolutionize city transportation. Like most attempts at the time, it didn't catch on, but here's some amazing footage of it driving around London. The way the roof bubble articulates is beautiful.
This Bouffort designed three-wheeler vehicle was exceptionally streamlined with its long mudguards and aerodynamic body featuring gull-wing doors and seating for two side by side. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3f6P2US)
He tried a few more plastic-bodied microcar designs with fascinating results. None made it to production, so he tried turning a Peugeot 403 into a handsome roadster. It was well-received, but only two examples were built. Interestingly, the front windscreen is actually the rear window of a Studebaker.
The Bouffort Peardrop minicar designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort in 1952. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2Z2tC5F)
His only real success at a vehicle was a dandy. The Valmobile was a scooter that folded into a suitcase-sized package. Around 100,000 were actually built. The unique foldable scooter produced in Japan and sold worldwide, and the 75 lbs machine was kind of an adaptation of folding bikes previously only made for military use.
The Bouffort Enville minicar with a boxy style designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort in 1955 (with the Peardrop model). (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2Z2tC5F)
Bouffort thought an easily stored scooter would be embraced by city-dwellers and he was right. Although I think a lof people bought them for the novelty. No front suspension and a tiny motor and wheels meant they were a little scary to ride. But, you could get a sidecar.
A roadster designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort in 1957. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2ZHUkzz)
Besides the foldable scooter above, Bouffort unique-shaped cars continued, by the launching of the Lohr Fardier, a small utility four-wheel drive vehicle used by the French military in the time. At the time, he had become increasingly aware of traffic congestion in cities such as Paris and decided to do something about it.
A unique foldable scooter called 'Valmobile' designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort and produced in Japan during the 1960s to 1970s. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2ZHUkzz)
Bouffort and his friend, novelist Henri Viard, observed that most cars only carried one or two passengers. Their idea was to design a small car for city dwellers – two-seat vehicles whose length was no more than the width of a more traditional car.
1970 Lohr Fardier FL 500, a small utility four-wheel drive vehicle designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort for the French military. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2ZHUkzz)
These small cars would be fitted with relatively powerful engines so they could keep up with traffic. The prototype for the “Minima”, as it was called, featured a tubular chassis, composite bodywork, sliding doors, luggage space in the rear, and a 30 hp engine from the Citroën 2CV that helped it reach a top speed of 120 kph (75 mph).
These small cars named 'Minima' designed by Victor-Albert Bouffort and featured a tubular chassis, composite bodywork, sliding doors, luggage space in the rear, and a 30 hp engine from the Citroën 2CV that helped it reach a top speed of 120 kph (75 mph). (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2BzWMQO)
The Minima was introduced to the public in a dazzling display at the 1973 Salon de l’Automobile, with the show car displayed on the 56th floor of Paris’ brand-new Montparnasse Tower. However, it garnered very little interest and plans for its mass production were canceled. The French brilliant engineer Victor-Albert Bouffort died in 1995 at the age of 83. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | OPPOSITELOCK | LANEMOTORMUSEUM | HEMMINGS]
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Here are several of the world's leading automotive brands who made the Vision Gran Turismo concept cars and shown into the real world (in the form of real cars, dummy cars, or whatever not only can be seen but touched and felt by hand as well)...
Beginning in 1992, Yamaha sparked the idea of making a ferocious supercar with an abundance of technology owned by Formula 1 cars by launching the Yamaha OX99-11 V12 concept. At that time, the Japanese giant manufacturer that was famous for its motorcycle products was a supplier of Formula 1 engines and decided to use one of its F1 engines.(You see it on the video below).
The fierce appearance of the Yamaha OX-2020 supercar concept designed by Gaspere Conticelli. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2BDJgLU)
The Japanese manufacturer partnering with IAD's English engineering consultant to make this sports car a reality, the OX99-11 V12 model was created with a power capacity of a 3.5 liter V12 with a power kick of 400 hp at 10,000 rpm and combined with a six-speed manual gearbox. Even so, it's unfortunate because this car never reached the production line.
Front section view of the Yamaha OX-2020 supercar concept designed by Gaspere Conticelli. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2BDJgLU)
Turning to 2020, an automotive designer named Gaspere Conticelli, resumed the form of the successor to the supercar who had been born dead with the nickname Yamaha OX-2020. Like one of the three OX99-11 V12 prototypes built, the OX-2020 has a red bandage and has a very unusual design.
Dashboard section view of the Yamaha OX-2020 supercar concept designed by Gaspere Conticelli. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2BDJgLU)
The most obvious similarity with its predecessor is the split front bumper design that functions as a wing, to produce maximum downforce pressure. The design version of the OX-2020 refers to as a mid-engined sports car, the sides have a large air intake while there is also a prominent roof scoop.
Rear section view of the Yamaha OX-2020 supercar concept designed by Gaspere Conticelli. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2BDJgLU)
What's interesting is the sleek cockpit that seems to have the same two-seat arrangement as the OX99-11 V12, while the similarity between the two continues at the rear, with thin cooling vents on the engine cover and quad taillight.
Although this independent design illustration has not been officially approved by Yamaha, but overall, this supercar is very suitable to carry the name of Yamaha to fight with its rival, Honda which first had a lineup of sports cars. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TECHEBLOG | CARSCOOPS]
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If you often travel out of town, you will usually find miniature cars made of wood that are sold in souvenir shops. However, this is a different matter from miniatures, precisely in Bandung apparently there are some real vehicles that are made of wood. And who was the owner of those wooden bodied vehicles?
The wooden-bodied Suzuki LJ80 'Jimny' owned by Fawaz Salim of Bandung. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2D1TMgd)
The owner named Fawaz Salim, a businessman, and owner of a timber company in the city called 'Equator Wood.' When you look at his collection it turns out he has made several vehicles out of wood. In the collection there are Suzuki Jimny LJ80 (in Indonesia, it usually called 'Jimny Jangkrik,' and 'jangkrik' means 'cricket'), then VW 181 or VW Safari, and there is also a wooden body Vespa scooter, etc.
Suzuki LJ80 'Jimny' owned by Fawaz Salim made of 'sonokeling' type of wood. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3eXC6QZ)
The vehicles mentioned above can really be operated on the road like a vehicle in general. Because they all were built base on the original vehicles, just the body is changed of wood. Fawaz said that for the manufacture of wooden vehicles, it started from his fad and just trial and error.
The wooden-bodied Suzuki LJ80 'Jimny' needs one and a half years until all is completed at a cost of more than Rp.200 million. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2D1TMgd)
The wooden-bodied Suzuki Jimny for example, its body is not from plywood, but really made of original wood of 'sonokeling' type from Kalimantan. According to Fawaz, the wood is originated from legal cutting and already has an official permit, due to the wood taken from the trees directly in the forest, so there's should have an official permit from Perum Perhutani (Indonesian Forestry Institutes).
All details and instruments of the Suzuki LJ80 'Jimny' are installed and functioning properly. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2D1TMgd)
Initially, Fawaz bought the original Suzuki Jimny for Rp.14 million (approx $970). But when the car arrived it turned out that the conditions were not as expected. So then he decided to replace the Suzuki Jimny's body with wood. But because the original body has been wrecked and can not be used as a benchmark. So finally he borrowed a similar car body from one of his colleagues.
The wooden-bodied Suzuki LJ80 'Jimny' needs one and a half years until all is completed at a cost of more than Rp.200 million. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3eXC6QZ)
In the process of working on the car body, there are interesting things, namely the wooden body making process done by 1 person only. According to him the making of this body is a quite complex process, so there is a possibility the body will not be finished if done by many people. There are many mistakes that can be happened, such as the wooden joints that don't fit, or to pull different the cutting line, and others.
A portion of the wood joint details of the Fawaz Salim's wooden-bodied Suzuki LJ80. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2D5ZCxd)
Meanwhile, to form an intact car, at least 7 people are needed. Where other crews work on wooden bodies, while mechanic crews tidy up the car's legs, machinery, and electrical systems. After the car completed, turn out the use of wood on the car body made its weight increased heavier and according to Fawaz, the weight of this wooden car is around 2 tons in weight.
The weight of this Suzuki Jimny LJ80 increased dramatically after its body was changed to wood. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/3eXC6QZ)
This was also expressed by crews who participated in the work of this wooden car, they said that if the original body only needed three people to lift the whole body. And if the wooden-bodied needs about eight people, even then only the back. It is estimated that the weight ratio of this wooden car is three times heavier than the original body.
This is possible because the 'sonokeling' wood type used is more hardness than the teak wood, and of course far heavier than a metal plate. According to Fawaz to realize this wooden-bodied Jimny, it takes a time about one and a half years until all is completed at a cost of more than Rp.200 million (approx over more $13,800).
As we have seen today that design modifications always succeed in attracting the interest of automotive enthusiasts. Not only because it can bring a design that is more okay and new, even design modifications often provide inspiration for fans. But have you ever imagined if a BMW R NineT was modified in such a way as if it came from the post-apocalyptic era and rode by Mad Max?
This futuristic custom BMW R NineT of Zillers Garage is the ultimate motorcycle for the End of Days and should be ridden by Mad Max. (Picture from: https://yhoo.it/38icI63)
The motorbike figure mentioned above can be seen on this unique BMW R NineT figure is built by Mikhail Smolânovym from Zillers Garage who is already known as one of the metal-shaping experts, so that the look of this motorcycle is so fierce.
Indeed, the appearance of the BMW R NineT looks very much different from the original version, which currently has a custom aluminum body with a steampunk, retro-futuristic style, and cafe racer. With almost all parts of the motorcycle covered by a new bodywork, only the wheels and cylinder head of the engine are visible.
This futuristic custom BMW R NineT of Zillers Garage is wrapping a nearly seamless sheet of aluminum over the Beemer’s original form. (Picture from: https://yhoo.it/38icI63)
Even the cockpit looks as if it merges with the gas tank, and also only has a tiny speedometer and buttons for the lights. Then for the front, visible on the motorcycle mounted a LED rounded headlight that looks modern in harmony with its new fairing.
While at the rear, the stern of this motorcycle appeared in the café racer style which is made like the wasp's tail and it can be pulled-back as access to the electrical system and USB port.
This futuristic custom BMW R NineT of Zillers Garage is kept the 1,170cc boxer intact but added a custom pie-cut exhaust. (Picture from: https://yhoo.it/38icI63)
Then for the legs, this motorcycle gets a pair of custom rims and air suspension devices. So that when it stopped or being displayed, the bodywork position can be set to be so low that it looks almost touching the ground.
In the engine sector, everything is still in standard condition with a 1,170cc engine which is capable of spitting out 110 horsepower, except for the use of a custom exhaust system with the muffler look sticking-out next to the rear wheels.
Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | YAHOO SPORT | DRIVEMAG | RIDE APART]
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