Remember the Meyers Manx? If you’ve been around for a few years, … well, maybe more than a few, you’ll recall the fiberglass body kits that transformed Volkswagen Beetles into open bodied dune buggies. They were extremely popular in the late 1960s and all you needed was a donor VW. The old body was removed, the wheelbase shortened to 80 inches and you installed the new body. Many of the pieces you pulled off to begin with like the seats and such, just went back on after the bodies were exchanged.

The end result was a lighter car that was really quick and fun. Early examples in nice shape are rare and this one is a fully restored beauty. Almost makes you wonder if the time isn’t right to do it all over again.

Link: Meyers Manx

Lots of manufacturers have been rolling out diesel engines for new passenger car applications but in fairly standard configurations. Fuji Heavy Industries, who build the Subaru, have unveiled the 150 horsepower turbocharged EE20, the first horizontally opposed diesel engine for passenger cars.

The vehicles equipped with the EE20 will be officially announced March 4, 2008, at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. And the Legacy sedan, wagon and the Outback equipped with the EE20 will be released on the same day. The diesel engine is planned to be mounted in other models. But it has not been announced when the engine will be introduced in North America or Japan.

The Legacy and Outback equipped with the EE20 will run a 5 speed stick using a clutch with a dual mass flywheel and damper modified for diesel engines. Gear ratios were also changed to make use of the torque curve of the diesel.

Link: Tech On

The good old boys aren’t running moonshine anymore. NASCAR is big money racing that left the back roads a long time ago and now, with a lot less room for error than the average race fan might think, the cars rely on science, not “go fast, turn left.” A brand new book, The Physics of NASCAR, by Dr. Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Ph.D., explores just how much science is involved in moving these not even close to stock cars around the high speed tracks at 190 mph while running inches from each other.

The book covers everything from the molecular properties of the drivers’ fire-retardant suits to the highly refined aerodynamics that keep the cars on the track while easing their movement through the surrounding air.

The book is also a great way to bring the study of physics into a more interesting scenario to help keep students attentive and excited and shows race fans or anyone with an interest, how physics can be learned by studying things you already find exciting.

via NYT

Hot Rod Magazine has an annual shoot out for the fastest street car in America. The 2007 winner was this 580CI 1500HP 1967 Camaro, and it’s for sale! So, you ask, how fast is it? How about 7.64 second 1/4 miles? Think about that, drive to the track, rip off a 7 second quarter mile, drive home.

The cool thing about these Hot Rod shoot outs is the car drives from track to track, no trailer queens here. This car put in over 1000 miles between tracks and ran in the sevens every time! 1500 horsepower at the rear wheels, all business, this is about as serious as it gets. Nice.

Link: World’s Fastest Street Machine

Forgiato, who, you may remember, came out with clear wheels about a year ago, has a brand new wheel, the Parlaro, which is essentially a single spoke wheel. According to Gary Tegeleci from Forgiato, these are 3 piece forged wheels, manufactured in the U.S. using all American parts, which is rare in the wheel business. The wheels will be available in about 2 months and there is currently a waiting list.

If something like this would look good on your car, give Gary a call.

Link: Forgiato

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Origami is usually associated with nifty little animals or flowers but folding paper can be great for the motorheads among us, too. This paper V12 isn’t a quick little foldup, it has 1978 pieces and all of the internal pieces move just like they should, the crankshaft, connecting rods and 12 pistons all doing their proper job. The creator did add LED spark plugs for a little added realism but, taken as a whole, it certainly looks the part.

Yee’s Job previously designed a paper V8, a paper V-twin and a very cool biplane. The V12 is available as a kit and comes with a 595 page assembly manual. So if you can’t quite swing a real V12, this could be an option. Wouldn’t this look great in a display case?

Link: Yee’s Job via Jalopnik

See also at The Kneeslider: Paper V8 and the Paper V-Twin plus Yamaha has some great Paper Motorcycles