NEW RAFFO BELVA DESIGN
Discussion
Thanks guys for you comments
I have to say that the Aeon is a great concept and it really lends itself to many different body shapes, and the rear of the ME 12 would really look good on a new car.
Maybe an updated Maclaren F1 kit on the Aeon chassis, and why not a speedster version of it....you got me thinking...
Cheers
Italo
I have to say that the Aeon is a great concept and it really lends itself to many different body shapes, and the rear of the ME 12 would really look good on a new car.
Maybe an updated Maclaren F1 kit on the Aeon chassis, and why not a speedster version of it....you got me thinking...
Cheers
Italo
Very, very nice - I like the idea of a spyder. Do you have any thoughts of insulating the passengers from the weather. The reason I am asking is that this summer has been a shocker - over 70 days of over 100 degrees in the old thermometer - that is not spyder weather. The wet this year has been pretty bad as well - several rainfalls of 250 mls in less than an hour. And to top it all off, we have had 3 overnight temperatures of -12 degrees in the new thermometer during the last week.
So, yeah, I am a bit interested in protection from the weather (even though I truly like the spyder design) and have had qite a few periods in my life where I looked into the concept of a removable hardtop for an open sports car. Some of the open cars I have driven include E-Type, XK120/140/150, Sprite (the bug eye), TR3A, 7's, MG-TC/D/F, SP250 (Daimler Dart), etc. I guess I have the experience to talk about the protection problem. All these cars were never reknowned for dry or cool or warm passengers when really needed after a few years of use.
The big problem with a soft top is that they leak after a few short years. the problem with the hard top is that it is all or nothing - the three states of a hard top are:
1. Secured and on the car (it might rain or its too hot) until removed after the car returns to the garage.
2. removed from the car entirely (its a great cool, sunny day so who wants a hard top).
3. Unsecured and on the car (I gotta shocking hangover and its a great cool, sunny day but it might rain) until removed by wind and road forces shortly thereafter (yes, in the SP250).
The essence of the problem is easily stated - soft tops are easy to use, are with the car at all times but offer inadequate protection while hard tops are difficult to use, are sometimes (but not always) with the car and offer adequate protection.
So, the idea occurred to me - is there some way a hard top could be designed within these bounds:
1. the hard top is available, ON THE CAR, at all times.
The hard top in one or more than one parts are easily manipulated by young women (rather than hulking great males)
2. The hard top in one or more than one parts can be stowed in the boot with a minimum reduction of storage space or
3. The one or more parts are clipped to the body forming part of the design of the vehicle.
I have a few ideas on this idea over the years - folding panels and split roofs came to mind but I have never really got down to it because I cant draw for nuts (I failed Finger Painting 101 when I was in first year kindergarten). I guess its over to Italo and all the other designers for comments
WebRat
So, yeah, I am a bit interested in protection from the weather (even though I truly like the spyder design) and have had qite a few periods in my life where I looked into the concept of a removable hardtop for an open sports car. Some of the open cars I have driven include E-Type, XK120/140/150, Sprite (the bug eye), TR3A, 7's, MG-TC/D/F, SP250 (Daimler Dart), etc. I guess I have the experience to talk about the protection problem. All these cars were never reknowned for dry or cool or warm passengers when really needed after a few years of use.
The big problem with a soft top is that they leak after a few short years. the problem with the hard top is that it is all or nothing - the three states of a hard top are:
1. Secured and on the car (it might rain or its too hot) until removed after the car returns to the garage.
2. removed from the car entirely (its a great cool, sunny day so who wants a hard top).
3. Unsecured and on the car (I gotta shocking hangover and its a great cool, sunny day but it might rain) until removed by wind and road forces shortly thereafter (yes, in the SP250).
The essence of the problem is easily stated - soft tops are easy to use, are with the car at all times but offer inadequate protection while hard tops are difficult to use, are sometimes (but not always) with the car and offer adequate protection.
So, the idea occurred to me - is there some way a hard top could be designed within these bounds:
1. the hard top is available, ON THE CAR, at all times.
The hard top in one or more than one parts are easily manipulated by young women (rather than hulking great males)
2. The hard top in one or more than one parts can be stowed in the boot with a minimum reduction of storage space or
3. The one or more parts are clipped to the body forming part of the design of the vehicle.
I have a few ideas on this idea over the years - folding panels and split roofs came to mind but I have never really got down to it because I cant draw for nuts (I failed Finger Painting 101 when I was in first year kindergarten). I guess its over to Italo and all the other designers for comments
WebRat
The front screen comes from - let me look this up for authenticity - "for your information the windscreen is avaliable from triplex histroic division it is a meclaren M6 screen, but the tooling was later corrected for the Production Belva." Unquote.
I dont know what the rear window is made from but it looks like its cut from a simple flat sheet of transparent material.
WebRat
I dont know what the rear window is made from but it looks like its cut from a simple flat sheet of transparent material.
WebRat
A very difficult solution with all those parameters ! I think that something similar to your idea could be what Trident did with the ICENI, and Giugiaro with the Corvetter Moray,http:
//www.madle.org/eidmoray.htm see :
Two simple Polycarbonate with a middle rollbar, simple and easy to operate, but you can't store them in the car!
//www.madle.org/eidmoray.htm see :
Two simple Polycarbonate with a middle rollbar, simple and easy to operate, but you can't store them in the car!
trevorc said:
Nice work !! It is very attracive as a spyder..!!! Only change I would make would be the grill, maybe more of the Audi R9 look ............
Looking forward to your future renderings.. perhaps a rework of the Ultima ?? <grin>
Trevor in Calgary, Canada
You gave me an Idea !, thanks for the comments, and the Ultima does need an update, but a long time ago an Ultima owner told me that the car is a classic and it shouldn't be tampered with.
I differ on this point, I will see what I can come up with....
Cheers
Italo
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