I'm sick of cars made of scrap metal

[JuiceTheGator]

Dents, dings and scratches still to worry about in 2013. Stoopid. Cars are trying to look so futuristic while the panels are still just crappy painted steel. They should be solid colored plastic or some kind of futuristic resin by now.

My time in boat building makes me wonder why they don't have a very thin honeycomb (silent and super strong) with a layer of plastic on each side for panels? If mass produced, I doubt they'd be much more expensive than pressed steel.

Look at this lunacy to protect the car from dents!

No More Dents: Meet the 'Self-Healing' Car: Video - Bloomberg

 

[outofyourmind]

Plastic or fiber panels would be great.
I'd bet it would even be cheaper than steel.
I'd also bet that they could infuse the color all the way through it so that you wouldn't even see a scratch.

Anybody remember when you could sit on the hood of a car and it not dimple and pop.

 

[JuiceTheGator]

^ Yep, like on my '89 Waggy - the lead sled.

Think how fast a panel could be made on a 3D printer? I'm surprised I haven't yet seen local business franchises popping up with a good sized 3D printer who could make car parts...and every other kinda part. I still need a new dash pad for the Wagoneer.

 

[NativeWebfoot]

Plastic or fiber panels would be great.
I'd bet it would even be cheaper than steel.
I'd also bet that they could infuse the color all the way through it so that you wouldn't even see a scratch.

Anybody remember when you could sit on the hood of a car and it not dimple and pop.

I took my yard ornament ('66 VIP) out last weekend. Stopped at conv store for a Dew, someone was looking and asking about the car and as I was telling him they don't make 'em like they used to, I hopped on the hood and walked around on it. Solid and did nothing to the hood. Ya can't even lean on the current cars' hoods without leaving a big dent.

 

[JuiceTheGator]

Yep, they don't make 'em like they used to. I didn't know which thread to disgrace with this, but had to post it just to share the shame:

I give you the Chevy Spark woodie:

2009 Ford Flex Sparks Spark Woody

 

[Breaker99]

A friend of mines dad built an old mg and it was entirely wood body... I will try to get you a pic.

 

[JuiceTheGator]

^ I've seen that to some extent. The early 50s ones had a lot of wood anyway: K&T Vintage Sports Cars | 1951 MG TD

Early 30s:

 

[fordman84]

I thought a lot of cars were plastic now. I know the wifes Honda has plastic bumpers that wrap pretty far up the sides.

I wonder if a honeycomb plastic door would be able to hold up to the wind speed driving down the road. Then you have all the safety standards to meet. I think it goes back to the thinking that if we could take all the current cars off the road and replace them with new materials then it is possible. But a steel Olds-88 hitting an all plastic Smart car is not going to be a pretty site.

 

[H2S]

and then the Car Gods said: "Let there be Pinto"

I took my yard ornament ('66 VIP) out last weekend. Stopped at conv store for a Dew, someone was looking and asking about the car and as I was telling him they don't make 'em like they used to, I hopped on the hood and walked around on it. Solid and did nothing to the hood. Ya can't even lean on the current cars' hoods without leaving a big dent.

Detroit's been making cheap shit for decades. I leaned on a parked Vega in 1974...my hand went right through the fender (had completely rusted away under the paint) to my elbow.

 

[Breaker99]

^ I've seen that to some extent. The early 50s ones had a lot of wood anyway: K&T Vintage Sports Cars | 1951 MG TD

Early 30s:

Its not like that though, its not wrapped with anything. It looks like an antique wooden boat... it was pretty cool looking. Still trying to find a pic.

 

[Breaker99]

Kind of like this....

 

[JuiceTheGator]

^ Well holy shit! That is absolutely fucking bad-ass.
BMW:

?

 

[Breaker99]

That second one doesn't drive does it?


Like the third one a lot. Still waiting on my friends dad for a pic of the wood mg.

 

[JuiceTheGator]

Woodie Rolls...hell yeah.

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II "Town Country" Limited | eBay

 

[mrwallace2ku]

Thread potential ALERT!

Throw-away society mentality today, not to mention the replacement cost of everything.

Me? Rusty 78' GMC 4x4 w/ side "saddlebag" style fuel tanks COMING AT CHA...GTF outta my way!

BOOM!

 

[jonvi]

Didn't I see on the news last week about 3D printers being used to make cars now?

 

[JuiceTheGator]

Thread potential ALERT!

Throw-away society mentality today, not to mention the replacement cost of everything.

Me? Rusty 78' GMC 4x4 w/ side "saddlebag" style fuel tanks COMING AT CHA...GTF outta my way!

BOOM!

Ha! You kids and your new-fangled cars. My 73 mustang rolls along just fine.

 

[jonvi]

It took only 42 hours to assemble. Not bad for a 1st run.

 

[mrwallace2ku]

Ha! You kids and your new-fangled cars. My 73 mustang rolls along just fine.

Not to mention an owner can still due his own mechanical work on such a fine American car like yours. Parts are abundant and cheap also. Electronics down to a minimum as well.

 

[mrwallace2ku]

It took only 42 hours to assemble. Not bad for a 1st run.

Very interesting. I would hate to take a sidehit in that tho...be awesome when something like that can fly with ease and safety.