Re: [Amc-list] Gasoline stinks!

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

The later model Mets (59-62?) have an opening deck lid -- plenty room in there for about six old fashioned paper bags full of groceries. The only problem with the older ones is the trunk is accessed by folding the seat back forward. Of course you'd probably be using it as a two person commuter/errand car, so groceries can occupy the back seat. 

The only problem with battery power is limited range. A car that can run 100 miles in real traffic without losing much power is about the best that can be done without expensive and/or exotic technology. I'm talking mainly about something using relatively inexpensive lead-acid batteries -- a home conversion. Those really aren't very efficient as the original gasoline car has a lot of unneeded weight. Best bet is to build a "souped up" golf cart with light weight panels. Even something like the VW powered rail buggies would be great! Use the VW trans, pile batteries in a box where the engine was (and maybe 2-4 up front for better weight distribution) then strap on some canvas "body panels" for better comfort. Would be okay for fair and warm weather, but not a northern car for sure! May as well get a 125-250 cc scooter and commute with it on good days. Asia has done that for years... 


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Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:53:39 -0400
From: "Bruce Griffis" <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>

With the cost of fuel, I've been thinking of an ancient Mother Earth
News magazine(when did I read that, mid-70's?) where a guy was running
his car on methane (fermented chicken sh*). If I didn't live in
suburbia in a regulated subdivision (oh, the horrors!) I'd think about
that.

Or maybe electric. I bet it wouldn't take much to run a little Met
coupe on batteries. My wife would kill me - well, say unpleasant
things to me - if I dragged home another project. But an electric Met
would be a lot of fun! Could use a tiny motorcycle trailer for getting
groceries.

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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