Jet-powered VW bug takes to the street

Ron Patrick wanted a VW Beetle with a jet engine (hey, who doesn't?). But he also wanted to be able to drive it on the open road, rather than just on a closed airport runway surrounded by fire engines and EMT crews. His solution? A dual-engine vehicle, with a normal VW motor for day-to-day transportation, and a GE T58-8F helicopter turboshaft engine converted to run as a jet, to get through rush-hour traffic. All we know is we don't want to be caught behind Patrick when he flips the switch on this one. That, and how much will he charge to add this little trick to our ride? (Click through for more pics.)

[Via Engadget Japanese]

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 7th 2006 5:27AM]

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

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 7th 2006 5:56AM]

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?

[TechCF Posted Mar 7th 2006 7:14AM]

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.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 7th 2006 8:05AM]

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..

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 7th 2006 10:14AM]

eric: lol

I love Back to the Future!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 7th 2006 11:52AM]

Owned!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 7th 2006 12:18PM]

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.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 7th 2006 12:21PM]

I forgot to add.....what happens when you're rear-ended?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 7th 2006 1:17PM]

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.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 7th 2006 2:28PM]

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.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 7th 2006 5:14PM]

Dorks in Spaaaaccceee!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 4:26AM]

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???

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 5:55AM]

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.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 7:32AM]

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).

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 3:45PM]

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.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 9th 2006 9:51PM]

Power to the people?!!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 10th 2006 9:14AM]

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.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 10th 2006 9:17PM]

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.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2008 1:28PM]

is not too bad...............at all............just take good look at it.........is part of new world disciver

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 13th 2006 3:35PM]

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.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2006 12:17AM]

63: That is an urban legend. Mythbusters did a show testing that, and it didn't even leave the tarmac.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 29th 2006 11:50PM]

Ron,

You are one crazy mofo. I briefly worked for you at FYMUTA, remember? Seeing this brings back good memories.

Best,
John

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 2nd 2008 12:01PM]

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

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 5th 2006 1:47AM]

"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.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 5th 2006 1:56AM]

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.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 5th 2006 7:02AM]

tu eres el puto CRACK!!!!!!!, from Spain. You are the mother fucker crack, from Spain. jejeje

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 6th 2006 3:27PM]

[e-mail]

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 13th 2006 11:17PM]

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: [e-mail]

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

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 24th 2006 1:54PM]

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!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 2nd 2006 11:15AM]

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.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 14th 2006 8:18AM]

This stinks of FAKE. If Crispin Porter aren't behind it, I'll eat my shoes.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 17th 2006 1:57PM]

Nice, But I have onename for ya Bob Motz
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7247631638591385667&q=bob+motz

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 12th 2006 4:09PM]

thats ridiculous and silly but quite funny and I would imagine expensive in fuel cost eh!

[lulianping Posted Dec 2nd 2009 9:41PM]

i mean it could be under the car, but based on the car shadow, it seems a little off.
http://www.laptopbatteryclub.com/

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 10th 2007 10:29AM]

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