Aug 25 2008Wooden Supercar Apparently Being Built
Remember the article we ran on the Splinter, a 240MPH wooden supercar designed by a NC State graduate student? Yeah, well it turns out Joe Harmond, the student behind the concept, is actually building the damn thing. That's what it's supposed to look like when it's finished there. It still has a long way to go, but there's some build photos and a video after the jump. I must admit, I thought it was all a sham until I saw them. Dude is actually building himself a damn supercar. Out of wood. Good looking, Joe. Just imagine: if you can build a freaking car out of wood, imagine the treehouse you're gonna build me. It's gonna be sick! So yeah, start drawing up the plans. No, seriously, the car can wait, I need a fucking treehouse and I need it now.
Hit the jump for a couple random photos of the build in progress, Joe's official website, his blog, and a massive Flickr gallery.
Joe Harmon's Official Website
Joe's Splinter Build Blog
Monster Flickr Gallery Of The Build
Thanks to Dr. Howard, who once built a rocket out of toothpicks but it burnt up.
Reader Comments
1. marqel - August 25, 2008 5:20 PM
Hmmm. The wood should burst into flames? A flaming sportscar out of wood? AWESOME!
FIRST BTW? OMGWTFBBQ!
2. churnin - August 25, 2008 5:31 PM
A flaming car that goes that fast would definitely draw a crowd! I wonder if it smokes the passengers so they come out smelling like some beautiful west-coast salmon??
3. Test Tickles - August 25, 2008 5:45 PM
This is pretty damn impressive and all... but seriously, dude? You're really building a car out of wood. Better keep that thing parked in a humidifier or just donate it to a museum. Cause if I see your ass driving that beautifully impractical thing in my neighborhood, I'm filling your tank with termites.
4. We're Famous! - August 25, 2008 6:02 PM
whoa! he goes to my school! WE'RE FAMOUS!!! YAY NC STATE DESIGN SCHOOL!
5. JaC - August 25, 2008 6:13 PM
@ 4 - You'll be able to attend the funeral when he's impaled by a 2 foot long splinter. Give him my regards.
6. Hunter - August 25, 2008 7:17 PM
Negatives:
-extremely flammable
-not really saving the trees
-as #5 said, too many splinters
-termites
-rain
Positives:
-it's super kick-ass looking
They balance each other out don't they?
7. SluggishGirl - August 25, 2008 7:47 PM
Ooooh yeah, what about this guy...?
http://www.geekologie.com/2007/11/ukranian_man_builds_twofaced_w.php
i see a Wooden Death Race in the near future. Donkey Kong better bring his barrel racer.
8. poop - August 25, 2008 7:53 PM
i like it.
horse carriages were made of wood and they carried a bunch of rough mother fuckers from coast to coast, with a bunch of marauding redskins in tow.
9. Clay_modellers_From_Cov - August 25, 2008 7:56 PM
I doubt it very f*ckin much pal. Having worked around concept cars for many years..no one makes a wooden working prototype you numb nuts biffo knob git wad.
10. SluggishGirl - August 25, 2008 7:58 PM
yea, #3 right. #3 is always right.
11. SassyMolassy - August 25, 2008 9:39 PM
Next up: Joe Harmond builds a woman out of wood. She gives him a rash from her poison oak leaves. He's shocked. He thought she was a virgin. Poor Joe. *eyeroll*
12. guate6 - August 26, 2008 1:19 AM
Are you guys serious?
This thing is awesome, and that guy and his team are great!
Flammable? Not sure about you, but for many many many decades, people have been TREATING wood. There are a lot of treatment types. For chemicals, hardness, flame retardation, rain/water, termites, etc. You really think they went through all this trouble if those things hadn't been addressed?
This thing is great, and I can't wait to see the final product. Stop being jealous, and disapproving. Asshats, all of you who wrote negative comments.
13. scone jumper - August 26, 2008 1:27 AM
well its been done before thats all i can say
14. saduyajev jerbowitz - August 26, 2008 1:37 AM
Maybe I'll make a 9-iron made of wood as well. That will put me in the books.
15. Somebody - August 26, 2008 2:58 AM
Wooden car + crash= Instant toothpicks! Sweet...
16. sixteenth - August 26, 2008 7:40 AM
well then shouldnt they be done by now???
they said august in 4 months, so either by 4 months they meant a year, or the tape is months old
17. FreddyK - August 26, 2008 8:30 AM
This thing is awesome.
I thought he was completely full of crap at first, but as the video went on it is clear how much awesomeness is wrapped up in that car. Hats off to him. It reminds me of a few car friends I have, but this guy goes way farther than anything I have seen.
Congrats. I cant wait to see it on the road.
#12... ditto.
18. http://webescape.wordpress.com/ - August 26, 2008 9:05 AM
Who the fuck would want a wooden car?
19. Smartass - August 26, 2008 9:13 AM
I'm sure this will be certified as road worthy and there are no structural issues or crash test safety concerns with a one off wooden car.
20. Huh? - August 26, 2008 9:17 AM
The question is, "Who woodn't".....HAHA!!!!
21. Your Mom - August 26, 2008 9:20 AM
It will become an effing collector's item and he will sell the car for a very pretty penny. All of you who think this car will actually be driven on a daily basis are asshats and probably 13 years old. Tweens.
22. Uncle Eccoli - August 26, 2008 10:01 AM
At least he's not designing death rays for some military.
23. DreamFolder - August 26, 2008 10:07 AM
@13 Yes, it's been done before by just about every Boy Scout pack since they invented the wheel. Two words: pinewood derby
24. Momboelitist - August 26, 2008 10:26 AM
This guy is going to make a fortune and it will come from offshoots of this car. For example, If the wheels pass gov safety tests I'm sure they will be in demand. Also, many of his design concepts will undoubtedly end up in the mainstream.
If nothing else, I'm sure he's already been offered a job with GM for 6 figures.
25. Amaranth - August 26, 2008 10:35 AM
great, now we have to watch rappers riding in wooden wheeled super cars in their rap videos
26. jaime - August 26, 2008 2:16 PM
when his engine catches on fire and subsequently the rest of the car he's gonna wanna kill himself.
27. churnin - August 26, 2008 2:49 PM
@22- Well I think they did that already- it was called the wooden spear...
28. johnny - August 26, 2008 4:19 PM
Man some of you guys are lame... these people are doing it as a graduate project, they aren't going to be driving this around town every day... People making jokes about it being built out of wood are dumb as hell (and probably can't read and see the reasons why they're building it out of wood) and probably haven't accomplished a project anywhere near this magnitude in their entire lives...
29. Jessica - August 26, 2008 4:25 PM
Hmmm. I want it.
@20
.....*chirp*
Nah. That was pity giggle worthy. xP
30. cardon - August 26, 2008 7:58 PM
I wonder if people like 28 have ever heard of a joke? It's a sweet car and a cool project... lighten up a little!
31. JOWE - August 26, 2008 10:37 PM
NOT REAL!!!!!!!!!!!
no im just kidding...thats awesome
32. cathryn - August 27, 2008 8:49 PM
hats off the to the guy thats gonna crash this thing
33. Vik - August 28, 2008 6:30 AM
Non-smoking? Slivers up ur ass?? Stay away from termites!!!
34. MillenniumMan - August 28, 2008 9:39 PM
I personally would like to say excellent kickass design. Still, fiberglass would have made a better choice, it's lightweight, not as flammable in case something does happen in the engine compartment. But if he paints a couple of layers of fiberglass over every wood surface, it'll last for decades, even with bad weather.
Now, when the right people see this car, he's gonna get offers out the wazoo...
35. Jon - August 29, 2008 12:17 AM
how does it perform in crash tests? >_<
36. SkooshMaster - August 29, 2008 7:10 AM
hmmm thats 1 really ambitios project...
hell probably end up like that guy in nevada that went to germany and drove his lambohrgini murcialego off the autobon. jackass
37. SlyAndTheFamilyStallone - August 29, 2008 10:13 AM
Dave Coulier and his fucking puppet would have a field day with this.
38. hobocop - September 3, 2008 2:50 PM
Oh ya...well when I was in shop class I built a magazine rack so I'm not that impressed.
39. red_fox88 - September 4, 2008 6:45 PM
Of all the useless things any one can build, a wooden car. It's a new version of the good old woody.
www.stuffforrichbastards.com
40. borandi - September 9, 2008 1:56 PM
I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Morgan - http://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/. They are a UK car company, been around a while, and have been making cars outta wood for years. Nothing as extreme as this though, but wood isn't a new or bad concept.
41. RESET RIF - October 12, 2008 10:50 PM
THIS CAR IS DONE BEING BUILT ITS ON THE COVER OF A HOME DEPOT MAG CHECK IT OUT
42. Hal Jordan - October 30, 2008 11:15 AM
Morgan has been making cars with wooden frames for years and they don't burst into flames.