illuminance
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The oldest running car, an 1884 French steamer nicknamed "La Marquise," will be auctioned off next month; Ontario-based RM Auctions is expecting the car to fetch over $2 million.
It's special not only because it's the oldest running car, but also because it's the winner of the first car race—not hard, since it was the only competitor. It ran the 1887 Paris-Rouen time trial at top speeds of 37 mph (60 km/h), according to Gizmag.
The car was commissioned by French entrepreneur Count de Dion; built by Georges Bouton and Charles-Armand Trepardoux; and seats four people back-to-back ("dos-a-dos"). Put that together to get the car's full-name: the 1884 de Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout.
Where do you sit? On top of the 40-gallon water tank, toward the rear of the nine-foot-long car. That tank feeds the two compound steam engines, which propel the carriage locomotive-style.
The 127-year-old car - which in its long life has had only four different owners - will cross the block October 7 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
http://autos.sympatico.ca/weird-automotive-news/9813/worlds-oldest-running-car-for-sale/1
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Rolling off the 3D printing press... the world's first 'printed' car - and it actually works
The world’s first 'printed' car has finally rolled off the printing press.
The 'Urbee' was made using a special printer which built up layer upon layer of bodywork - almost as if the car was 'painted' into existence, except using layers of ultra-thin composite that are slowly 'fused' into a solid.
But unlike most 'innovations' in cars, this one won't break down after 5 years - Urbee is built to last 30. Project leader Jim Kor, told MailOnline today: 'For us, this unveiling was quite a milestone.
Underneath is a petrol and electric hybrid engine which helps make it one of the greenest cars in the world.
Experts have said the car uses eight times less energy than a similar vehicle and can go can go 200mpg on the motorway.
It also has a sleek, futuristic design which makes it look like a prop from a science fiction film like the Fifth Element.
The ‘printing’ process, however, it what has attracted so much attention: it was completely different to the normal way car manufacturers build a car, which is to bolt chunks of bodywork on where they need to go.
Read more - Full article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...lling-3D-printing-presses-.html#ixzz1Z83oFeIV
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