128 mpg car

[diamondlarry]

Since there wasn't a diesel section I decided to put this here. This was in a Yahoo group.

Hi all,

I've just been a member of this group for a few days but I'd like to
throw something out for comments. In the 70's Mechanix Illustrated/
Quincy-Lynn Enterprises offered plans for a converted vehicle called
Centurion. The conversion amounted to a Triumph Spitfire with an owner
built fiber-glass body weighing 1200lbs. and a "17 hp, 3 cylinder
Kubota" garden tractor diesel engine.

With this combination they claimed and still do(plans are still
available from Robert Q. Riley Enterprises)128mpg@35mph, 103mpg@45mph
and 85mpg@55mph. Here it is some thirty years of technology later and
these appear to be outstanding numbers for a factory effort let alone a
simple backyard build.

Does anyone in the group think that a simple car like this could be
built and achieve this kind of performance?

Stan

[Sludgy]

Yup, there is no mystery to building fuel efficient cars. Light weight and small engine displacement can produce amazing mileage.

There IS demand for high mileage, inexpensive cars. I'd buy one for commuting. Why won't the automakers import them from Europe or Asia?

Maybe I should go to Europe myself and buy a vintage Citroen 2CV.

[Matt Timion]

I've heard of this story before, and mentioned it a few times on this forum. I originally heard, however, it was popular mechanics, but I could be wrong.

I would be very interested in trying to do something like this. This would be a perfect "around the town" car.

Do we have any idea if there are ways to reduce emissions with diesel? I guess running bio-diesel is an option.

The downside of this conversion is that the kubota motors are rather pricey. I think I remember seeing one for around $4000 once on ebay. It would be pretty cool though to convert an older car (old honda anyone?) to use a diesel 3cylinder engine and just cruise around town.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by Sludgy

Yup, there is no mystery to building fuel efficient cars. Light weight and small engine displacement can produce amazing mileage.

There IS demand for high mileage, inexpensive cars. I'd buy one for commuting. Why won't the automakers import them from Europe or Asia?

Maybe I should go to Europe myself and buy a vintage Citroen 2CV.

Honestly for a while I was considering opening up a car dealership here in Salt Lake City that ONLY sold fuel efficient cars. Older imports, hybrids, and Metros would all be sold. If the car didn't get good gas mileage, we could make modifications and then sell it that way. We could fix up an old civic so it could get over 40mpg, or an old metro. Sticker price would be about $4000 per car.

If I had the time and the money, I'd do it. The title of the dealership would be "Gas Savers." Maybe when I strike it rich I can do it.

[diamondlarry]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

I've heard of this story before, and mentioned it a few times on this forum. I originally heard, however, it was popular mechanics, but I could be wrong.

I would be very interested in trying to do something like this. This would be a perfect "around the town" car.

Do we have any idea if there are ways to reduce emissions with diesel? I guess running bio-diesel is an option.

The downside of this conversion is that the kubota motors are rather pricey. I think I remember seeing one for around $4000 once on ebay. It would be pretty cool though to convert an older car (old honda anyone?) to use a diesel 3cylinder engine and just cruise around town.

You're right Matt. The story did appear in PM. I did some digging and found the link to the plans. http://www.rqriley.com/cent.html Now that you mention it, I do remember you mentioning something like this. I just didn't put the two together. Maybe I'm sniffing the acetone too long before I put it in my tank.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by diamondlarry

You're right Matt. The story did appear in PM. I did some digging and found the link to the plans. http://www.rqriley.com/cent.html Now that you mention it, I do remember you mentioning something like this. I just didn't put the two together. Maybe I'm sniffing the acetone too long before I put it in my tank.

It's better to be redundant IMO.

I would personally love to do something like this. Maybe I'll do this when my engine dies in the n600. Throw a small diesel engine in it... I could get 60mpg EASY in that setup.

[Matt Timion]

Wow...

When I look at this car, all I think of is "1980's version of the future."

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

When I look at this car, all I think of is "1980's version of the future."

that's hilarious. and so true.

[Compaq888]

It's always been true that low body weight and small displacement= more mpgs. SVOboy seems to be on the right track, I'd bet if he does his stuff right we could see a 70mpg car from him.

[SVOboy]

It's always been true that low body weight and small displacement= more mpgs. SVOboy seems to be on the right track, I'd bet if he does his stuff right we could see a 70mpg car from him.

Haha. I'd love to get a 1.2 for my car but the engine won't mount up. Mehbe when I get to custom-land with welding I will do it and use the vtec-e head on it.

Anywho, I thought the PM article was using an MG Midget and a kubota engine to make good mpg?