Tag: wood

ETC: Russian motorcycle gets wood-power conversion

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Motorcycle, Humor, Russia

Ural Motorcycle on wood gas

Occasionally, we come across a technology that has just kind of been forgotten about. Take this Ural motorcycle. It runs on a substance called wood gas, which is the byproduct of incomplete combustion of carbon products like wood, hence it’s name. The fuel goes through a process called gasification in a wood-gas generator to produce combustible hydrogen and carbon monoxide. So basically, you’re burning wood to produce fuel.

This Ural has had a rudimentary wood-gas generator fitted, while an a number of other low-tech, scrounged items make up the rest of the side-car-mounted system. According to The Knee Slider, the top speed of the bike is a mere 80 kilometers per hour (about 50 miles per hour), while the fuel it runs on is quite bulky. Still, if you run low, just pack an axe and hope you run out of gas somewhere that’s wooded.

Wood-gas-powered vehicles might be uncommon today, but they were a normal means of transport in the past. Vehicles in Germany, Sweden, France, Denmark, Switzerland and Finland were converted to run on wood gas during World War II due to fuel rationing, while wood-gas is still used in rural parts of the world today. Take a look at the wood-gas Ural in the gallery provided by English Russia.

Russian motorcycle gets wood-power conversion originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Aug 2013 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutch artist makes automotive masterpieces from scrap wood

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Sedan, Etc., Europe, Porsche, Alfa Romeo

1969 Alfa Romeo Guilietta

Dutch artist Diedrich Kraaijeveld makes photorealistic sculptures of cars from painted pieces of wood. That’s impressive enough, but here’s the best part: Kraaijeveld’s pieces are assembled from painted pieces of wood he scavenges and recycles. In other words, these perfectly color-matched and shaded collages take shape from scrap wood that Kraaijeveld gathers in specific colors.

Most of the pieces are made to replicate photographs, and almost none of them are started until Kraaijeveld has a glut of one color of wood. With the collection process taken care of, the forms of classic sports cars start to take shape. We’re particularly fond of his Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Porsche 911.

According to Inhabitat, Kraaijeveld scavenges the wood from around his hometown in Holland and while on vacation in different parts of the world. Head over to Inhabitat to see more of Kraaijeveld’s work.

Dutch artist makes automotive masterpieces from scrap wood originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 May 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear USA host Rutledge Wood picks up a Buick Roadmaster wagon

Filed under: Car Buying, Wagon, Buick, Celebrities

rutledge wood's buick roadmaster

Rutledge Wood, part of the Top Gear trio here in the States that went out to find the best car from GM’s recent past, (wisely) picked a Buick Roadmaster as his steed. He then used the wagon to wind up victorious over the choices of his co-hosts. Now, Rutledge has shown that he truly cares about the LT1-powered five-door, as he just purchased a 1996 example to put in his own driveway.

Regardless of your stance on the U.S.-version of Top Gear, you have to admire a man who understands the timeless appeal of a good station wagon. Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon owners should look upon the Buick Roadmaster with a fond gaze, because the Roadmaster is part of your hot-rod wagon’s DNA.

This may not be the 2011 Buick Roadmaster that Rutledge was hoping for, but we’re pretty sure he’s still smitten with his new ride.

Top Gear USA host Rutledge Wood picks up a Buick Roadmaster wagon originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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