The Dymaxion car was a concept car from 1933, designed by U.S. inventor and architect Buckminster Fuller. The word Dymaxion is a brand name that Fuller gave to several of his inventions, to emphasize that he considered them part of a more far-reaching project to improve humanity's living conditions. The car had a fuel efficiency of 30 miles per US gallon (7.8 L/100 km), which was unheard of in the United States at the time. It could transport eleven passengers at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour (193 km/h). 1938 Buick Y-Job, the first Concept car A concept car or show car is a car prototype made to showcase a concept, new styling, technology and more. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Richard Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller (July 12, 1895 – July 1, 1983)[1] was an American visionary, designer, architect, poet, author, and inventor. ... The word Dymaxion is a brand name that Buckminster Fuller used for several of his inventions. ... “Car” and “Cars” redirect here. ... Fuel efficiency sometimes means the same as thermal efficiency, that is, the efficiency of converting energy contained in a carrier fuel to kinetic energy or work. ...

The car was a three wheeler, steered by a single rear wheel, and could do a U-turn in its own length. However, the rear-wheel steering made the car somewhat counterintuitive to operate, especially in crosswind situations. The body was teardrop-shaped, and naturally aerodynamically efficient. The car was twice as long as a conventional automobile, at 20 feet (6 metres) long. [1] Drive power was provided by a rear-mounted Ford V8 engine, which produced 85 bhp (63 kW) through the front wheels. The front axle was also a Ford component, being the rear axle of a contemporary Ford roadster turned upside-down. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Three_wheeled_cars. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with U-Turn. ... For the Daft Punk song, see Aerodynamic (song). ... “Ford” redirects here. ...

An accident at the 1933 Chicago world's fair badly damaged the first prototype, killing the driver, and seriously injuring the two passengers. The Dymaxion had rolled over, and although the driver was wearing a seatbelt, the prototype's canvas roof had not offered sufficient crash protection. The cause of the accident was not determined, although Buckminster Fuller reported that the accident was due to the actions of another vehicle that had been closely following the Dymaxion. [2] The crash prompted investors to abandon the project, blaming the accident on deficiencies in the vehicle's steering. Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A 1933 Century of Progress worlds fair poster The Century of Progress International Exposition was a Worlds Fair held in Chicago, Illinois from 1933-1934 to celebrate Chicagos centennial. ...

In his 1988 book The Age of Heretics, author Art Kleiner maintained that the real reason why Chrysler refused to produce the car was because bankers had threatened to recall their loans, feeling that the car would destroy sales for vehicles already in the distribution channels and second-hand cars. For other uses, including the Chrysler Brand, see Chrysler (disambiguation). ...

Although the Dymaxion cars did not enter production, it was influential on several subsequent designs. Ben Pon's VW Transporter van of the late 1940s resembled the Dymaxion, being a multi-seat mini-van with an aerodynamic body. Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion concept of obtaining optimal efficiency by aerodynamic design, and employing the most advantageous materials continues to inspire design such as the Aptera hybrid car prototype, which, like the Dymaxion, is a three wheeled, ultra light, aerodynamic, fuel efficient vehicle design. Ben Pon was a Formula One driver from the Netherlands. ... The VW Type 2 was the second automotive line introduced by German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen. ... The Aptera is a two-seat, three-wheel parallel hybrid car designed for production by Accelerated Composites. ...

Of the three prototype cars built, only the second prototype survives, located in the Harrah Collection of the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. The exterior has been fully restored, though it is a hollow shell, as they had no idea what the Dymaxion's interior was like. The National Automobile Museum, located in Reno, Nevada, displays historic automobiles from the late 19th Century up to the 1960s and in some cases later. ... “Reno” redirects here. ...

External links

• WNET article
• Dymaxion Passengers: Towards a cultural history of Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion Car
• Photos from National Auto Museum collection]