Dymaxion Car

thingiverse

A Car for the Future from the Past. The Dymaxion Car, designed by legendary geodesic dome creator R. (Richard) Buckminster Fuller, was a vehicle that embodied three groundbreaking innovations: front wheel drive, aerodynamic design, and fuel efficiency. This car, which was originally conceived as a concept car, had only three prototypes built due to its novelty factor. The Dymaxion Car's design philosophy was rooted in "doing more with less," a phrase coined by Fuller to describe his dynamic maximum tension approach. Fuller also referred to the car as a "zoomobile," a name that encapsulated its sleek and efficient design. Built in 1933 at the 4D Dymaxion Corporation factory in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the first prototype was completed in just three months using steel, aluminum, wood, and canvas. This initial model was used to demonstrate the car's proof of concept to conventional automobile manufacturers, including Walter Chrysler. However, due to friction from dealers and financial institutions, Chrysler withdrew his support for the Dymaxion Car. The car's design bore a striking resemblance to an airplane, which was no coincidence - Fuller had originally intended for the Dymaxion Car to be a "land/air vehicle," or a flying car. Fuller filed a patent for the Dymaxion Car, and his subsequent refinements resulted in the third and final prototype. Despite his initial enthusiasm for the project, Fuller eventually dissolved the 4D Dymaxion Corporation, sold the three prototypes, and claimed that it was never intended to be a commercial automobile company. Each of the Dymaxion Cars met a peculiar fate - Prototype #1 was involved in a fatal car accident and was presumed destroyed in a fire at the U.S. Bureau of Standards garage in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Prototype #3 was sold and bought by various investors before disappearing into thin air. Fortunately, Prototype #2 was salvaged from fate and is currently on display at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. The Dymaxion Car's build consists of 54 parts, including a building block used as a jig for assembling some of the parts. A fully assembled model is an exploded or X-Ray replica, with the body removable for viewing/displaying the interior. This 1/48 scale model replica comes with several photographs and drawings to guide assembly, and Testors Cement for Plastic Models (No. 3512) is recommended for gluing the parts together. The Buckminister Fuller Institute provides a wealth of information on the Dymaxion Car, including its design philosophy and construction process.