Is it too cost prohibitive to use aluminum to fabricate body panels? It seems the benefits to using Aluminum would be obvious in that it is light weight and is resistant to corrosion and inturn because it is light-weight gas mileage would improve. It seems even with galvanized steel sheet metal rust and corrosion are inevitable. The sheet metal these days is so thin that even surface rust can perforate the panels. Has there ever been a car body made from Aluminum?
Why not use Aluminum?
- Thread starter JP4RNR
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dingo
New member
I believe the Dalorian (sp?) was all aluminum (aka the "Back to the Future" car). The Acura NSX also has an all alum body for the most part. I'm sure there are more cars out there, but no doubt all these cars will be at a premium because of the cost of working and using aluminum.
Baba Booey
New member
I am not certain, but I believe aluminum may be very difficult to paint. I looked into re-painting an old aluminum boat one time, and from what I remember, it would have been a difficult process using chemicals and paints that were environmentally unfriendly and unsafe from a health standpoint.
It sounded like enough of a nuisance that I didn't go through with it.
It sounded like enough of a nuisance that I didn't go through with it.
TimelessR1
New member
The Delorean was actually a stainless steal car
http://www.deloreanmotorcar.com/dmc/otherss.htm
They've been trying to go aluminum for a little while now
http://www.aluminum.org/Template.cf...tManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=3496
http://www.deloreanmotorcar.com/dmc/otherss.htm
They've been trying to go aluminum for a little while now
http://www.aluminum.org/Template.cf...tManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=3496
Last edited:
qballjr13
New member
Jacobzky said:
Actually the Ferrari F430 is an aluminum frame with aluminum body panels. From www.edmunds.com "Thanks to an aluminum space frame draped with aluminum body panels, the F430 weighs in at a relatively svelte 3,200 pounds"
But with the technology today and treated meatl i don't think things rust like they used to. The old Toyotas used to be really prone to rusting out here in Wisconsin "the road salt belt" of the nation.
Are todays Toyotas anymore prone to rust than any other mfg. ?
Alum. wont rust but will still corrode and get eaten away actually faster then metal. Like if you live where I live with all the road salt a chip in the paint will start the same process. Granted it will not rot through like metal but will spread underneath the paint and cause havoc.
Re paint , materials , ect... it would not be cost effective at this point. Our 4R's would probablt cost $ 50,000.00 - $ 60,000.00
Are todays Toyotas anymore prone to rust than any other mfg. ?
Alum. wont rust but will still corrode and get eaten away actually faster then metal. Like if you live where I live with all the road salt a chip in the paint will start the same process. Granted it will not rot through like metal but will spread underneath the paint and cause havoc.
Re paint , materials , ect... it would not be cost effective at this point. Our 4R's would probablt cost $ 50,000.00 - $ 60,000.00
TimelessR1
New member
I think the cocaine tires was an add on option! kind of like a run flat, if it got punctured...the cocain would come out already in lines...:biggrin2:
