Unauthorized prototype photo

@jkuvakas 

A colour modification fitting well with Diecast Zone tradition.

How about a Rolls Royce and a white horse?....

@jkuvakas 

@lloyd-mecca 

HA! That works!!  

Posted by: @david-green

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I was quite intrigued by how the ‘exhaust’ problems could be worked out. I an also wondering why horses and zebras, when an oxen clearly has superior power.

David, the design of horse-powered automobiles is fraught with technical problems, and you have made a couple of valid points.

First, the proximity of the main exhaust system to the passenger compartment. For all its faults, the Mark I Trabbie Demi-coupe did provide a sensible safety gap for dispersal of "solid particulate combustion residues" which appears to be lacking in the new offering.

Second – why not oxen? The main drawback is their notorious lack of acceleration, making them more suited to commercial vehicles where serious get-up-and-go is less important.

Of course horse-powered cars have been the subject of experiment in the U.S., from the earliest days

up to the present time

but this has not led to a successful production model (a state of affairs the Forum Prize Committee  obviously has ambitions to change.)

In Europe, Citroen, VW and Fiat all conducted field experiments (the most logical place to do it, when you think about it).

Ford in Britain also did some early proof-of-concept work but the proposed drive arrangement proved somewhat unsatisfactory.

In Belarus (an East European hotbed of technological progress) they came up with a one and a half horsepower small family hunchback

but funding for full-scale production was not forthcoming.

Elsewhere, there have been proposals for rear-drive propulsion

transverse power units

and dual-power hybrids.

So if the Committee requires inspiration for further refinements to their ground-breaking design, there is a wealth of research results out there for the taking.

@graeme-ogg 

Highly thorough research! Bravo Graeme!

@graeme-ogg 

I see your points Graeme. You have done a comprehensive global study showing an incredible range of options available. About the only one, unless I missed it, not considered, is the jackass. Your erudition is magnificent.

Glad you approve, David. But I think your closing comment maybe belongs in the "The Brain and Life" post?

@david-green We tried various species but found that they just couldn't conjure up the horsepower; plus let's face it from a marketing perspective, who would be tempted to buy a ticket on a draw for  a car(t) sporting 1 MP (Moosepower)....not to mention the fact that a moose has a face only a mother could love.

Graeme;  I know you are just trying to expand our design horizons but I would appreciate it if you left out the auto-erotica sicko material.

I am away for the day today but will consider all ideas submitted or whatever.......  

Just put a Jackass in there and join most people on the road.

Posted by: @graeme-ogg

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So if the Committee requires inspiration for further refinements to their ground-breaking design, there is a wealth of research results out there for the taking.

While the Committee hesitates to consider their designs as "groundbreaking," we do admit to seeing certain similarities between our rudimentary plans and composting. Boris implements most of the digging/shoveling aspects of the proposal while Jack and I tend to the creation side of all that needs to be shoveled.

I'm thinking Boris needs to find a new line of work and also have his eyesight checked.

Posted by: @jack-dodds

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Graeme;  I know you are just trying to expand our design horizons but I would appreciate it if you left out the auto-erotica sicko material.

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I am away for the day today but will consider all ideas submitted or whatever.......  

Apologies for any discomfort or embarrassment caused. You make me feel like a bit of a prick.

@graeme-ogg Graeme;  Thank you for your compliment basically describing my thinking as modern and youthful; it resolves my now obviously incorrect suspicion that several jackass references were a bit of a "sideswipe".  Your ongoing enthusiastic support of our new prize project is appreciated; JK and I agree that you are sharp as a tack but no prick.