Elio Bus

[KN16]

Well not really. In 1933 Inventor/architect Buckminster Fuller designed the Dymaxion. It seated 11 got 33MPG (very good for the era) and while it was never documented doing over 90MPH it was claimed it could hit 120.

Only a handful were built and even fewer survive. It had a wood frame so you should be able to cobble one together if you wish. A rear mounted ford V8 produced 85HP through the front wheels. The rear wheel provided the steering and was controlled by a stick not unlike an airplane.

An early crash that killed a driver scared the investors away and nothing ever became of the project.

 

[Ty]

View attachment 583

Well not really. In 1933 Inventor/architect Buckminster Fuller designed the Dymaxion. It seated 11 got 33MPG (very good for the era) and while it was never documented doing over 90MPH it was claimed it could hit 120.

Only a handful were built and even fewer survive. It had a wood frame so you should be able to cobble one together if you wish. A rear mounted ford V8 produced 85HP through the front wheels. The rear wheel provided the steering and was controlled by a stick not unlike an airplane.

An early crash that killed a driver scared the investors away and nothing ever became of the project.
View attachment 584

That is just too cool.

 

[Jim H]

Thanks for exposing another part of our automotive history to us. I'm certain most of us have never hears of this vehicle before. It seems to have some of the characteristics of a VW Bus which faced the same concerns about driver fatality

 

[Jeff Bowlsby]

 

[NSTG8R]

Reminds me of something I took to the top of Sandia Peak when I was in NM.

I do remember seeing a pretty good documentary on Modern Marvels, or the ilk, a while back. Very interesting design! Buckminster Fuller...another 20th century genius.

Side note: When I was working on my CAD degree (architectural design during that semester), one of our guest speakers, a fellow in his late 70's, maybe early 80's, was an understudy of Mr. Fuller's.

 

[NSTG8R]

View attachment 4897

Okay...Those wheels would look cool as h*ll on an Elio with no front wheel fairings. Chromed, of course!

 

[RUCRAYZE]

View attachment 583

Well not really. In 1933 Inventor/architect Buckminster Fuller designed the Dymaxion. It seated 11 got 33MPG (very good for the era) and while it was never documented doing over 90MPH it was claimed it could hit 120.

Only a handful were built and even fewer survive. It had a wood frame so you should be able to cobble one together if you wish. A rear mounted ford V8 produced 85HP through the front wheels. The rear wheel provided the steering and was controlled by a stick not unlike an airplane.

An early crash that killed a driver scared the investors away and nothing ever became of the project.
View attachment 584

we can only hope no disaster of the EM project will scare investors away!!!

 

[Mark327]

Rear steering = bad.

 

[Rickb]

Rear steering = bad.

Why? It could make the Elio a zero turning radius vehicle. LOL

 

[NSTG8R]

Why? It could make the Elio a zero turning radius vehicle. LOL

Uh oh, I see a 72" mower deck option!