Splinter

[Kitdy]

Some graduate students a North Carolina State University are building a wooden bodied sportscar.

Below is the original article form Autoblog:

We're not sure what sort of beneficial impact one would get from making a supercar out of wood composites, but if there is one, the students behind the Splinter supercar will find out. The Splinter will be a 600-hp, 2,500-pound goer with wood used for the chassis, body, and parts of the suspension and wheels.

The car is powered by a twin-supercharged Northstar V8. To keep all that heat from doing bad things to the wood, the exhaust exits from the top of the block and out through mufflers in the wing -- which, as you might guess, makes the non-wooden wing quite hot. Other oddities innovations include Osage Orange leaf springs, and seating that puts passengers' legs between the upper and lower A-arms of the suspension. And those multi-colored spokes you see on the wheel? Yep, made of wood.

The Splinter is a graduate project for some students at NC State. They say "we aren't trying to sell anything, we aren't trying to save the world, and we aren't advocating that everyone should drive a wooden car. This project is a scholastic endeavor in which we are simply trying to explore materials, learn, share ideas, and stimulate creativity." We support that no matter what you make your supercar out of. But for the chance to do 190 MPH in what is essentially a motorized tree, hey, sign us up.

I think it is pretty cool, if somewhat unpractical. I am digging the wood spokes on the wheels.

[Kitdy]

More pics.

[johnnynumfiv]

Other oddities innovations include Osage Orange leaf springs, and seating that puts passengers' legs between the upper and lower A-arms of the suspension

0_o. I like my legs, no thanks.

Neat idea tho. Its interesting how the reversed the intake/exhaust on the engine.

[092326001]

It reminds of a diablo
it looks good and is an interesting idea but sounds rather impractical

[baddabang]

I wonder how thick the body panels would have to be in order to remain rigid and keep weight down.

[Turbo.Jenkens]

I expect it is invisible to police radar.

[092326001]

I'm wondering how they would attach the body panels

[Ferrer]

The first time I saw I thought Morgan (because of the wood)...

[Rockefella]

It's interesting, more power to them.

[fisetdavid26]

Do want.

[NSXType-R]

Originally Posted by 092326001

I'm wondering how they would attach the body panels

Maybe only the exterior is wood, and the majority (or all) of the frame is just aluminum tubes?

Looks like a great project.

[cmcpokey]

i see bad things coming for whomever gets to test drive this thing

[kingofthering]

Huh...this is begging for some wood/erection jokes.

[Spastik_Roach]

I drive a wooden car

haha, you must have an erection

sorry KOTR, i think you've hit a comedy dead end here

[whiteballz]

Its pretty damned sexy too. I'd love to see one in CF rather than wood though.