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Extendible Car
A whole slew of benefits
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A telescoping, or concertina, design for the cabin of the family car could be a very handy feature.

Going skiing and don't want $1,000s worth of skis out in the open whenever you're away from your car?
Push a button and the motorised back of the cabin of your car slides out along rails to the desired length.

Need to take a whole soccer team of kids to the game today?
Clip-fasten seating (aircraft style, with self-contained safety restraints) into the cleats on the floor.

Gone to the hardware store and bought some 4.8m (16ft) timber?
You know the solution to this problem.

Found a parking space, but it's about 3ft shorter than a family sedan?
You got it.

Sure, there are safety issues to be overcome, but with good engineering, tight tolerances, safety cutouts and some German ingenuity these issues will be dealt with, in short order.


UnaBubba, Mar 12 2002

Same Concept http://www.halfbake...ea/Expandable_20Car
Slightly different engineering solution. [jutta, Mar 12 2002]

Shrinking car... http://www2.swissin...ect=111&sid=1056591
Only in switzerland, and the passengers do have to get out first or risk a horrible death. [Danzarak, Mar 12 2002]

(?) Is that her own hair? http://www.rinspeed...rs/cars-e-start.htm
[Danzarak, Mar 12 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

[link]






       [admin] Moved to 'Car: Design' to 'Car: Adjustable' - just a minor tweak.

st3f, Mar 12 2002
  

       In Texas, there's this guy with a Chainsaw...

thumbwax, Mar 12 2002
  

       Hi there.. erm sorry but this is Baked. It was on TV about two weeks ago - a major company has designed a four seater where the back end of the car comes in to make it a two seater.. I'll try and find a link.

Danzarak, Mar 12 2002
  

       Dang! Searched extendi/able, extensi/able, extending, stretchable cars. Came up with nothing...   

       The TV item must be very recent, no mention I could find on the 'net.   

       Danzarak, same concept. Though I see this extending to 12 seats, or so.

UnaBubba, Mar 12 2002
  

       Fair enough... I had to search for ages (by internet standards) to find it... it was the comedy item on the end of the news, on most channels in the UK.

Danzarak, Mar 12 2002
  

       It might be possible to have a vehicle with an extendable wheelbase, on which body modules of differing capacities could be installed. Class 8 trucks (18 wheelers) have extendable wheelbases built into the trailers- the read axles are mounted on a rail system that allows the assembly to slide forward or back, according to the desired configuration. The assembly is held in its final position by very stout steel pins. Such a vehicle could be made fairly cheaply using existing components...

whlanteigne, Sep 26 2002
  
      
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