Jet-powered VW bug takes to the street
By Marc Perton 
posted Mar 6th 2006 2:49PM
posted Mar 6th 2006 2:49PM
[Via Engadget Japanese]
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Wow, that's awesome! Good to see development like this! I wonder what this could do to racecars!
Actually adding a jet to a car like this does not get much speed but loads of thrust. A race car with a jet wouldn't be very good with fuel efficiency, cost, and safety.
Doesn't driving a vehicle like that around city streets raise legal issues?
Haha. Crazy stuff.
Notice the bandwidth on his web page's photo hosting is already at maximum.
Ok, as cool as this thing looks, I see a MAJOR problem. How could they possibly be feeding enough air to the intake, especially with a front window that can not be removed? Even with the side windows opened, could there be anough flow through the jet?
if you look the intake for the engine is only 14" +/- with the windows and sunroof open there is more than enough air flow.
is anyone bothered by the close proximity of the tree to the flames bursting out of the jet
No.
The tree will survive. :)
Dear Engadget,
It appears you made the perhaps obvious mistake of posting these pictures backwards. He actually hooked a flamethrower to the front of his car so he could incinerate Sunday drivers.
"Doesn't driving a vehicle like that around city streets raise legal issues?"
Ron Patrick said "A police officer picking at his nose while trying to figure out what to charge me with. Notice the hopeful anticipation of us on the right. We're rooting for him and offer suggestions but unfortunately, the California Department of Motor Vehicles did not anticipate such a vehicle so he's out of luck."
Nah, there is a few yards between it (about 16 feet?) as the bug is in the middle of the parking lot, with parking spaces to each side.
lmao
Wonder how much it cost?
I get more and more disappointed with the tech community on a daily basis. I Don't understand why people do stuff like this. This is irresponsible and dangerous. This guy seems really smart .. smarter, by far, than I. Putting a jet engine in a vw .. ok fine .. but why exactly does he have to be able to ride on public streets with it? People have no respect or common curtesy to their fellow citizens. I hope that he is intelligent enough to not really play with this thing on public roads, but somehow my hope is pretty low. Cars are not allowed to spit flames out the rear for a reason.
This is not necessarily a completely idiotic idea. The engineer posed for himself a very unique engineering challenge with a demanding statement of work. He did it as an exercise in engineering, not a teenager's fantasy.
way to be on it engadget... ;)
i posted this news on my blog a few weeks ago. Ron, stopped by and posted some info as well.
He even has a page devoted to this project.
http://oneighturbo.com/?p=204
"My VW Beatle could burn your Viper at the drag strip"
Wow they have got to get cars like that on racing games. Much better than no2. LoL
Reminds me of a company that makes street legal motorcylces and a pickup truck that are also powered by turbo helicpoter engines.
Damn... all the images on the page are "exceeded bandwidth"
Anyone have a mirror?
Rice lovers: Notice! No altezas
deeby deeby dip inspector gadget
-daniel
>> http://formatc.co.nr
how fast does it go? does it have enough braking power to stop safely? does it incinerate anyone and anything behind? can the wheels keep traction? does it requre a pilot license? more questons than answers
well, take a look on the wheels.
This car is stationary when the jet engine is firing.
There is obvious that no person is inside the car in the second and third pictures.
I believe person's ear drum will be seriously damaged due to high noise level and the jerk created by the rapid change of pressure during the ignition.
That is one sick ass ride -if you have to own a VW thats the one to own!!! BBQ Anyone??
No way this works well. Where does it draw the air needed? What is fueling this thing?
Just a glorified flame thrower for looks. If looks could kill, this thing would smoke conventional engine anyday.
I may have missed the pictures on his site due to bandwidth issues, but I want to see the car actually moving.. it's all good and well to fire up the afterburner with the brakes firmly on..
a: who the hell could afford to fuel that sort of nonsense (cool though it is)?
b: imagine how high your insurance rates would go
c: if it is terribly cold outside, wouldn't the large hole in one's vehicle prohibit heat retention?
d: didn't something like this win a Darwin Award?
You see, this is exactly what the emasculated male does when people make one to many comments about how his Bug is a "chick car".
Well...it is.
Where do I sign up for the refit? At 60 years old, this is MY kind of bug!!
not to be a nit pick but where is the shadow of the jet engine on the second picture? i mean it could be under the car, but based on the car shadow, it seems a little off.
Am I the only person here that has noticed a total lack of FIREWALL between the jet engine and the driver?! First time something goes "pop" back there, the driver might have juuust enough time to squeeze out one last fart before peices of turbine go floating through his head! I really find it surprising that people give kudos to absolutely pointless projects such as these
I saw this car at Autorama just a few days ago. It looked rather interesting....
I'd say that engine is purely cosmetic... real jets don't flame like that, besides a helicopter turboshaft wouldn't have an afterburner... I'll be really surprised if it turns out to be real..
I seem to remember a Logan Whitehurst and the Junior Science Club song about a guy modifying a VW Beetle with a jet engine. It was called "Buckaroo Bonzai Is Not Just A Movie".
Wait a minute, this Beetle can very easily become air born and there is nothing on the body of the vehicle from preventing that. Either this pic is photoshoped or he must not exceed 120mph.
Reading these blogs is almost as fun as building the car was.
Since the Detroit Autorama last week, the website: www.freewebs.com/jet_beetle has had bandwidth issues. Late at night, you'll have less problems. I'll see what I can do about that.
P.S. The car will be at the Fresno Autorama on March 17 to 19th.
That thing got a hemi?
Ok, as cool as this thing looks, I see a MAJOR problem. How could they possibly be feeding enough air to the intake, especially with a front window that can not be removed? Even with the side windows opened, could there be anough flow through the jet?
I saw this car a few days ago at the Detroit autorama and it looks VERY unsafe. to answer the previous question the jet is inside the car and teh intake xomes up to right behind the front armrest with just a screen protecting the intake. There is no way that this gets enough air to get goin very fast and even if it did the noise would be deafening. But you car would be very clean afterwords (huge vaccuum cleaner in back seat)
ITS FAKE!
To all you Aeronautics Engineers looking for fault -lay off -you need to just stay focused on the Space Shuttle Tile issues!
Neat, but I personally prefer the Jay Lenon jet motorcycle, to quote:
"the power for this sleek beast was a C18 Allison Rolls Royce Jet Engine, the same type used in a Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter! Jay also explained that this was a shaft driven turbine engine and was capable of turning at 60,000 RPM. (...) this bad boy puts out 450 ft/lbs of torquethe same as a Dodge Viper! The jet engine (mounted upside down on an aluminum frame) also produces a temperature of about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit out of the exhaust pipe, so be sure and stand back when this baby is fired up!"
More http://www.rideontv.com/episodes/CRN0005/leno.html
Why a VW beetle? Those cars are for girls. Not even a jet engine makes this car seem tough.
Imagine: "Hey guys, I know my parents bought me this girly car for my 16th birthday.. but check it out, I put a jet engine on it!" (His friends then repeatedly punch him in the stomach for being so un-cool)
LAME.
Why do people who "trick out" cars always pick cheap crap cars?
"If My Calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, your in for some serious shit"
-eric
Arm rest? There is no arm rest in the car. Take a look at the dash photo and the photo with the red halon tank.
Blocking the air? Take a look at two T58s in a Sea King helicopter (www.naval-technology.com/projects/seaking/). What's that big plate doing in front of two engines blocking the air? Quick, warn the Navy!
So far we have had fluid dynamics, heat transfer, aerodynamic, acoustical, safety, styling, and legal "experts" step in and give their opinions. No analysis, no experiments, no data, just guesses based on zero experience.
As far as the choice of the car, that is the artistic element of the project and you are entitled to your taste - however, in terms of engineering, execution, and function, you could not dream to have produced a street-legal jet car as good as this one. But maybe I'm wrong. Let's see your street-legal jet car.
Awesome!
I don't care about the legal issus, but does he ship to Australia?
lol. :P
To all you people puzzled at the lack of intake: The sunroof, and 2 side windows are open and are more than enough to allow a small helicopter turbine to breath.
Even though the air flow through the back is very fast, it's also very small, and of course, it's expanding, because that's the fundamental principle of internal combustion engines. The intake isn't sucking in air anywhere near as fast as the exaust is expelling it.
30: As for the lack of firewall, I'd be more worried about anyone standing besides or behind the car, not the driver inside, who is in front of it.
21: Jerk created by the rapid change of pressure during the ignition? It's a turbine, not a rocket engine. Turbines aren't exactly the fastest engines to start up.
I love armchair engineering :)
Hm. I wonder why the wheels aren't spinning while he is blowing the "afterburner" on...
oh, wait, thats right, its because IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING!
This is just a weird flamethrower at best. It doesn't add any horsepower to the car, or do anything but get warm.
At least it's an attempt to put the beetle engine back where it belongs.. :P
Retard.
Ever heard of the Darwin Awards?
Been done before - in the UK of all places.
I've seen this car (also road legal) at Santa Pod a couple of times:
http://www.santapod.co.uk/e_easter2005detail.php?PhotoID=45
http://www.santapod.co.uk/g_gallery_detail.php?PhotoID=37
I've just read all the comments and come to what seems to me the plainest conclusion - since there's no way this car can work it appears that Ron Patrick has signed a contract with Volkswagen company and already made a good deal of money by promoting VW Bug brand, although it may not need any promotion - it's always been popular. Look at how much attention it drew, it's being discussed by thousands of people. What do you think?
This isn't street legal in Norway. We have a law that requires car drivers to hear traffic (horns etc). Never seen anyone charged with it, but it do work as an argument against those with insane car stereos.
Ron, haha definatly a nice ride, some great engineering went into it thats for sure..
to all the doubters spend 5 min reading his site.. or even How-Stuff-works or really anything for that fact...
theres alot more behind this build then showing off a flame thrower, or roasting other cars in traffic (Rons page even states that he has 2 engines up in it) I to may not be fond of the beetle, but its a great choice for the build for JUST that reason..
anyway, to everyone who thinks they know whats going on and how this and that was built.. why dont you take a second to read his page.. or better yet ask him a question..
eric: lol
I love Back to the Future!
Owned!
Dear Ron Patrick,
You did not create a true street legal car. You created a bastard machine, thats capable of INJURING ANYONE AROUND YOU. Next you'll probably claim that the "off" button is a safety feature! Not only have you completely ignored your OWN safety, but the safety of all those who RESPONSIBLY share those city streets with you. Ohh.....this is "art"......well in that case ignore everything i just said, and chalk up your lack of any safety measures as "artistic license".
PS, Drive past a police station with that flame thrower blasting, and melt the nice old lady in the car behind you. Lets see how long your "street legal" argument stands up.
I forgot to add.....what happens when you're rear-ended?
never seen so many thick people talking such rubbish in my life..
"its obviously fake, cos the wheels arnt moving while the jets fired up"
since when have jets been attatched to the fuckin drive shaft?
a jet pushes vehicles, it dont drive em, ever seen a fighter jets wheels smoking on take off during some "big burnout"
p.s. dunno why ya bothered, it wouldnt ever go that fast, a small jet like that aint designed to push somthing, ever seen motorbikes converted? they dont go much of any faster than a GSXR, n fucking well dont accelerate as quick.
muppets.
Let get to the important issues, What kind of miles per gallon , how many cupholders, and what kind of sound system? Since it was in a VW bug and it had a jet engine referred to as a bonb , could we classify this as a bug bomb.
Dorks in Spaaaaccceee!!!
all these commentators and not one of you seem to get it! To do something like this is to challenge yourself in intellect and passion... that is all. YES it probably does work! YES it probably is dangerous YES it probably is TECHNICALLY legal and NO it is most definately NOT sensible but I have no doubt the bloke had a ball making it and thousands have enjoyed talking about it, looking at it and wishing they had the guts or ability to accomplish their own equivalent of it. AFTER ALL, WHY WOULD ANYONE OF SANE MIND CLIMB EVEREST???
True or fake, one thing I can think of striaght off is that it wouldn't pass the ratio for emisions to fuel standards. But then I don't know if america even has these laws.
The difference between this and the bug at Santa Pod (great place to go, by the way) is that the one at Santa Pod is *only* powered by the jet; there's no normal engine in there.
Wasn't there another jet-powered Beetle that used to be a regular at Santa Pod? A pink one? I think it was called the Extreme III or something (but Googling doesn't turn it up).
Oh, and what's all this about Beetles being 'girly' cars? Sounds like some people are insecure about their masculinity. Heh.
I miss my Beetle (1974 Jeans, mmm).
This is post is a great "Break-Away" from the more
serious industry competition news I have to keep up
with.....while overseeing one of the world's great
Design Shops. The photos of the Jet Engine are great
and strapped to the VW bug is hilarious....it is such a
great play on all these small cars that being rolled out
by the big automakers with vastly oversized engines.
This great post reminds me of the true story of the guy
in Arizona that strapped a jet engine to the roof of his
car and took it out onto the great open desert highway.
Man, that thing literaly took off and before the dude knew
it he had gone airborne and burned up 60 miles of straightway.
Sometime later the Arizona highway patrol came across what
was left of him and his "Hot Wheel" splattered on a canyon wall.
Apparently the dude needed to take a hard right to stay on the highway....
of course being airborne, you sort of lose the "Steering" component.
Hence, .....he did a Wiley Coyote all over the canyon wall.
tm.
Power to the people?!!!!
I know this guy is single for two reasons:
1) There was precious little boot space already in the bug. Where's he going to put his groceries? Simple. Single guys eat in bars or have their groceries delivered by Dominos.
2) He has the time and the money to stick a jet on his bug.
Did anyone notice the tree, is it safe, why would anyone want to build such a thing, Darwin awards. If you have to ask any of these questions then you just don't understand the purpose in any event.
is not too bad...............at all............just take good look at it.........is part of new world disciver
This note is in response to #50 by Rich. The car you are talking about is owned by Ronnie Picardo. It is NOT street-legal. It only has one engine, the jet. It was licensed, then the piston engine was taken out and the jet put in, and for 1 year (until its next inspection), they said it was street-legal during its shows as part of "the show". It's a cool car, but it's not street-legal.
I just spoke to Ronnie, and he is planning to build a new beetle convertible, with the original gasoline engine in the front and a jet in the back and that car could be made street-legal.
Of course, when you turn on the jet on a highway in the US, legal issues may arise. In a private parking lot, it may be still be legal depending on the noise regulations there.
63: That is an urban legend. Mythbusters did a show testing that, and it didn't even leave the tarmac.
Ron,
You are one crazy mofo. I briefly worked for you at FYMUTA, remember? Seeing this brings back good memories.
Best,
John
in the UK there is a car built from 2 hillman imps that has a jet engine is road legal and is also the worlds lowest car
here is a link
www.flatmobile.co.uk
"41. Why do people who "trick out" cars always pick cheap crap cars?"
Volkswagen happen to actually be the greatest car manufacturer in human history. At least before the 90's.
ive seen a car propel itself to 700mph with two rolls royce jet engines. Seen a fire truack go to about 400mph with twin jet engines. How would this bug not work? Would you want to go 250mph with a bug and a jet engine? highly doubt so.
tu eres el puto CRACK!!!!!!!, from Spain. You are the mother fucker crack, from Spain. jejeje
natatoche1@hotmail.com
I saw the images of the Jet Bug and can only say one thing: ...fascinating!!!
Could you send me a video describing the whole story?
I'd very highly appreciate your affirmative decision. Please find my postal address below
Congratulations for the project and please keep me in touch with it.
All the best,
Carlos Frigerio
Av. Villavicencio, 793
X5016CRA Córdoba
Argentina
here's an anternate e-mail address: cafq4@hotmail.com
P/S: would you permit me to translate the story into Spanish and Portuguese? If so, plese rush the English wording for me to work with - many thanks
I am amazed by the ignorance of the public. Go to Ron's website - yes it is real. Go to a military airfield and watch the jets at takeoff. They do a full power runup with the brakes on to assure the engine is putting out full power. If you don't think it adds any power to the VW, stand in FRONT of it while he spools up the engine! Come on now, be brave!!!
Ron Patrick should have just spread his legs and lit his fart.That would have been more amussing.
a blow torch to the plastic car would be more fun.
This stinks of FAKE. If Crispin Porter aren't behind it, I'll eat my shoes.
Nice, But I have onename for ya Bob Motz
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7247631638591385667&q=bob+motz
thats ridiculous and silly but quite funny and I would imagine expensive in fuel cost eh!
you people are seriously stuck on all the wrong issues related to this fellows fantastic endeavour..street legal? who cares,its street useable..oh no you're too close to that poor tree and might cause a fire or my low expectations of humanity have been realized...support this man,,for all the people who have ever said "that be really cool with a jet engine strapped to it" i and my cohorts salute you..and we have elected to award you with acmes WHILY E. COYOTE lifetime achievement award,,,anytime your on the east coast driving that thing and the cops are on you tail,,we'll hide you,ADAM CRAMER
WWW.LIBERTYVINTAGE.COM