Wooden Supercar takes to the streets

We've seen a smorgasbord of unusual ways to get back and forth to work, and while you could certainly catch us aboard a real-world Mario Kart or jet-powered scooter, traversing the 101 in a completely wooden automobile isn't exactly within our realm of acceptable risk. Nevertheless, the Sada furniture company in Japan has crafted such a vehicle, and the president of the firm has even driven it into a news studio just to show it off. Reportedly, the vehicle can actually reach a top speed of just under 50 miles-per-hour, but considering it would cost you around ¥3,900,000 ($32,819) to take one of your own home -- not to mention the implausibly high insurance rates on a flammable vehicle -- you're probably better off just living vicariously through the videos after the jump.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

[JinKazama @ Jul 30th 2007 8:03AM]

Can you imagine the splinters you'd get if you wreck that thing. Talk about a fate worst than death...

[Peter @ Jul 30th 2007 8:09AM]

Not to mention how many rainforests would die to build it...

[dom.rout @ Jul 30th 2007 2:24PM]

Mining for metals and obtaining oil for plastic destroys trees too...

[dan @ Jul 30th 2007 3:20PM]

50 mph? Lousy! A 1959 MGA with wood floor boards and dash hits 120 mph.

[John @ Jul 30th 2007 9:44AM]

$32K? What's the point of making a car out of wood if it doesn't cut manufacturing costs?

[Rees Clissold @ Jul 30th 2007 11:56AM]

As a marketing gimmick for your furniture company?

[John @ Jul 30th 2007 8:45AM]

Kinda redefines the term "woody"...

[shamowfski @ Jul 30th 2007 9:00AM]

Since when does barely 50 mph = Supercar?

[Mike @ Jul 30th 2007 9:52AM]

That isn't a "car". It's a three wheeled motorcycle with a wooden structure built around it.

Being it can only reach about 50mph, I'd say it's a heavy wooden structure, or a very weak motor.

BOOOOO all the way around.

To top this guy, I'm going to go buy the frame for a car and, instead of putting a body on it, I'm going to build it out of wood. Bah.

[FrankTheCrank @ Jul 30th 2007 9:34AM]

Yo, my boys chillin in the hot whip!

That shit would look hot with some 24" DUBS.

PEACE!

[Pedro @ Jul 30th 2007 9:34AM]

That dude's a total pimp. Fo' real.

[Elepski @ Jul 31st 2007 5:37AM]

Art car junk... just something that was cobbled together. Frankly... I expected more from the Japanese.

[Ken S @ Jul 30th 2007 10:15AM]

From the pictures at the top, it looks like they've already had to replace the front bumper/grill.

[apeguero @ Jul 30th 2007 1:32PM]

Butt ugly.

[pstelman @ Jul 30th 2007 1:34PM]

I bought one of those used. Turned out it had termites. :-(

[Kietzche @ Jul 30th 2007 2:38PM]

I had a wooden car. It wooden go.

Passe though. Haven't Morgan been making wood-framed cars for years?

[SteveMB @ Jul 30th 2007 3:01PM]

Probably safer than a Toyota.

http://gearsofwarpc.com

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 30th 2007 3:08PM]

Wood I?

HARELIP! HARELIP!

[tcc3 @ Jul 30th 2007 3:34PM]

No, the engine is wood too. Each piece is hand carved to exacting specs. This is why it only does 50 mph. thats how long until the engine catches fire.

=P

[hemmy @ Jul 30th 2007 3:38PM]

I hope the ashtray isn't made out of wood too.

Just sayin.

[TIMMAH! @ Jul 30th 2007 5:27PM]

"Since when does barely 50 mph = Supercar?"

If you got a faster wooden car, then stage it up at the light. Otherwise this is the top of the heap...

[ESTNYC @ Jul 30th 2007 7:47PM]

A Morgan Plus 8 would blow the doors off this thing. If it had doors. And, yes, Mogs still have wooden chassis.

Nothing new here, folks, keep it moving.

[nd4speed @ Jul 31st 2007 2:34AM]

Where's Bob Vila when you need him. What did they make the body with, 2x4s and a bandsaw? I hate to bash, but at 32K, it's just uglier than sin.

[itwork4me @ Jul 31st 2007 3:14PM]

lets make some wooden samurai swords next.

[kyle allen @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:20AM]

oooh sooo fast!