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]

[JOsh @ Mar 6th 2006 3:03PM]

Wow, that's awesome! Good to see development like this! I wonder what this could do to racecars!

[Chris @ Jan 15th 2009 7:49AM]

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.

[Duncan @ Mar 6th 2006 3:04PM]

Doesn't driving a vehicle like that around city streets raise legal issues?

[E71 @ Mar 6th 2006 3:06PM]

Haha. Crazy stuff.

Notice the bandwidth on his web page's photo hosting is already at maximum.

[Brian B @ Mar 6th 2006 3:12PM]

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?

[Kenneth Greenwell @ May 6th 2008 10:31PM]

if you look the intake for the engine is only 14" +/- with the windows and sunroof open there is more than enough air flow.

[Zack @ Mar 6th 2006 3:13PM]

is anyone bothered by the close proximity of the tree to the flames bursting out of the jet

[Vince @ May 22nd 2008 6:21PM]

No.

The tree will survive. :)

[A Munro @ Mar 6th 2006 3:16PM]

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.

[alex @ Mar 6th 2006 3:16PM]

"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."

[icerabbit @ Mar 6th 2006 3:17PM]

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.

[Here @ Mar 6th 2006 3:20PM]

lmao

Wonder how much it cost?

[sun @ Mar 6th 2006 3:37PM]

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.

[IMReader @ Sep 20th 2006 12:38PM]

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.

[oneighturbo @ Mar 6th 2006 3:39PM]

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

[nizzy1115 @ Mar 6th 2006 3:40PM]

"My VW Beatle could burn your Viper at the drag strip"

[Josh @ Mar 6th 2006 3:41PM]

Wow they have got to get cars like that on racing games. Much better than no2. LoL

[Ben @ Mar 6th 2006 4:16PM]

Reminds me of a company that makes street legal motorcylces and a pickup truck that are also powered by turbo helicpoter engines.

[James @ Mar 6th 2006 4:29PM]

Damn... all the images on the page are "exceeded bandwidth"

Anyone have a mirror?

[Jake @ Mar 6th 2006 4:53PM]

Rice lovers: Notice! No altezas

[daniel rojas @ Mar 6th 2006 4:54PM]

deeby deeby dip inspector gadget

-daniel
>> http://formatc.co.nr

[3rdsun @ Mar 6th 2006 5:05PM]

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

[Chris @ Mar 6th 2006 5:16PM]

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.

[KTM 525 Manila @ Mar 6th 2006 5:45PM]

That is one sick ass ride -if you have to own a VW thats the one to own!!! BBQ Anyone??

[Gunnar @ Mar 6th 2006 5:46PM]

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.

[sines~ @ Mar 6th 2006 6:22PM]

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..

[Soggyfritter @ Mar 6th 2006 6:38PM]

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?

[Matthew Smith @ Mar 6th 2006 6:43PM]

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.

[kathy harris @ Mar 6th 2006 6:47PM]

Where do I sign up for the refit? At 60 years old, this is MY kind of bug!!

[hiS_oWn @ Mar 6th 2006 7:09PM]

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.

[zeke @ Mar 6th 2006 7:15PM]

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

[doomonu @ Mar 6th 2006 7:22PM]

I saw this car at Autorama just a few days ago. It looked rather interesting....

[Mert @ Mar 6th 2006 7:38PM]

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..

[therpham @ Mar 6th 2006 8:06PM]

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".

[cha0s @ Mar 6th 2006 8:07PM]

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.

[Ron Patrick @ Mar 6th 2006 8:25PM]

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.

[Ross @ Mar 6th 2006 8:31PM]

That thing got a hemi?

[Bill Hancoc @ Mar 6th 2006 8:53PM]

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)

[No @ Mar 6th 2006 8:57PM]

ITS FAKE!

[KTM 525 Manila @ Mar 6th 2006 9:10PM]

To all you Aeronautics Engineers looking for fault -lay off -you need to just stay focused on the Space Shuttle Tile issues!

[BadBatz @ Mar 6th 2006 9:24PM]

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 torque�the 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

[Chris @ Mar 6th 2006 9:27PM]

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.

[Danny Cohen @ Mar 6th 2006 10:21PM]

Why do people who "trick out" cars always pick cheap crap cars?

[Eric Silverman @ Mar 6th 2006 10:28PM]

"If My Calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, your in for some serious shit"

-eric

[Ron Patrick @ Mar 7th 2006 12:30AM]

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.

[William Hook @ Mar 7th 2006 12:41AM]

Awesome!

I don't care about the legal issus, but does he ship to Australia?

lol. :P

[Justin Bell @ Mar 7th 2006 2:02AM]

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 :)

[No @ Mar 7th 2006 3:32AM]

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.

[Mert @ Mar 7th 2006 4:29AM]

At least it's an attempt to put the beetle engine back where it belongs.. :P

[scott @ Mar 7th 2006 5:09AM]

Retard.
Ever heard of the Darwin Awards?