"Dymaxion Car" - Buckminster Fuller

The Dymaxion car was a concept car designed by Buckminster Fuller in 1933.
Fuller considered the project is to improve humanity's living conditions.

The car was a three wheeler, two at the front, and one at the back, drive power was provided by a rear-mounted Ford V8 engine. The body was teardrop shaped  of 6.1m, which can transport 11 passengers, and naturally aerodynamically efficient.



Although the Dymaxion cars were not produced, the design was influential on several subsequent designs.

The VW Transporter van of the late 1940s resembled the Dymaxion slightly, being a multi-seat mini-van with an aerodynamic body.

The most widespread example of its influence was the Fiat 600 Multipla, where an extreme rear-mounted engine and a driver position above the front axle was used to give extremely compact hybrid of car and van, which could either seat 6 people, or used for moving bulky loads.

The Dymaxion car concept of obtaining optimal efficiency by aerodynamic design and employing the most advantageous materials, although obvious, may have especially influenced such design as the Apetera hybrid car prototype, which like the Dymaxion, is a three wheeled, ultra light, aerodynamic, fuel efficient vehicle design.