When Fuller's dreams can only get here

Rare ONES - It seems that technological developments can make people come up with wild ideas to create a means of transportation that was once considered impossible. If generally cars can only be driven on land, now cars that can dive and fly have emerged. Call it the Rinspeed sQuba, a concept car designed to be used in land and waters. There is also the Terrafugia, a car with wings so it can fly.

This Dymaxion (Prototype Two) car is said a true embodiment of the dream and obsession of an American inventor named Buckminster Fuller back in the 1930s. (Picture from: Autoevolution)

We all know, since along time ago indeed many have dreamed of being able to fly and cross water by simply driving a car. And the car that we are going to discuss is said that have the ability to be driven in three realms, namely land, water and air, even crazier (sorry, not meant to be condescending) this three-wheeled vehicle was first launched in 1933.

Many people were amazed when they first saw Dymaxion (Prototype One) car at Chicago's World Fair of 1933. (Picture from: Autoevolution)

As quoted from Autoevolution, the car is named Dymaxion (stood for Dynamism, Maximum and Tension) is said a true embodiment of the dream and obsession of an American inventor named Buckminster Fuller back in the 1930s. As he believes life would be easier when there are no transportation barriers using only one vehicle, so he is determined to develop a car that can fly and driving on water as well.

Buckminster Fuller and Starling Burgess (whose helped in the design of the vehicle) posed along with Dymaxion (Prototype One) car back in the 1933. (Picture from: Autoevolution)

Indeed Fuller never wanted his Dymaxion to be just a car only. Even Naval architect Starling Burgess helped in the design of the vehicle, and naval influences were apparent throughout the interior. As the resut, this car is made in the form of a plane fuselage coupled with front-wheel drive, rear-wheel-steer, rear-mounted engine vehicle that, in theory, would later be used to take off like a regular plane. And the first Dymaxion was unveiled at the Chicago’s World Fair in the 1933.

As you can see here the shape comparison of the Dymaxion and the cars that existed at that time seems like the numbers 0 and 1. (Picture from: Autoevolution)

Due to its unique-shaped, as the concequently it become the main spotlight of the visitors at that time. This uniquely shaped 3-wheeled vehicle has a length of up to 6.1 meters whose cabin can accommodate up to 11 passengers. At that time even Fuller had claimed that his car could go up to 206 kph with a fuel consumption of 6.5 liters per 100 km. Might be it could happen, because at that time Dymaxion was powered by a V8 engine and transmission from Ford. Then coupled with the body which is made of very light aluminum material.

The Dymaxion (Prototype One) is powered by a V8 engine and transmission from Ford, so it claimed could go up to 206 kph with a fuel consumption of 6.5 liters per 100 km. (Picture from: Autoevolution)

Unfortunately, the Dymaxion did not last long, in the same year and at the same event the Prototype One was destroyed after being hit by another car at a speed of 112 kph and killing the driver. After that Fuller and Burgess managed to raise funds to build the 2nd and 3rd prototypes. Of the two units, only Prototype Two has survived to this day and can be found in Nevada. As quoted from Autoevolution, Prototype One was badly damaged in the crash but eventually restored by Fuller himself, and was lost in the following years. Prototype Three was scrapped sometime in the 1950s.

All the three Dymaxion prototypes had traveled around America promoting all kinds of stuff, including jet fuel. The third one, for instance, is believed to have been driven some 300,000 miles (482,803 km) before it vanished from the face of the earth. It's doubtful (in our opinion) that it could convinced Walter Chrysler, Henry Ford and Henry Kaiser to invest in Fuller's invention, even though they said the car could not be mass-produced without some crucial improvisations. Unfortunately Fuller turned down all of the investment offers and ended up closing his own company to complete Dymaxion.

Uniquely, until now it has never been stated whether this unique-shaped Dymaxion has really been successfully developed according to its purpose to be able to fly and sail. Moreover, after nearly a century, there has not been a single big company that is really serious about continuing a car like this. However, so far at least Fuller already had shown to us that the main goal of technology is to facilitate all human needs, including the simplification of this transportation function, although in a way that is somewhat unique and unusual. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOEVOLUTION ]

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