DJR Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 (edited) FB_IMG_1501075433441.jpgSome of the early VW buses came out with portal axles. Meaning that the ground clearance was fantastic because each wheel had a mini gearbox at the hub with the drive shaft entering the hub well above its midpoint. Those axles became quite sought after with people building all kinds of maverick 4x4 off road vehicles. Edited July 26, 2017 by DJR Long Wheel Base and Rata-tat-tat 2
Rata-tat-tat Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 (edited) Hold my beer. Edited July 26, 2017 by 123goat Eddy Gordo, DJR, Wannabe and 2 others 5
Rata-tat-tat Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 Some of the early VW buses came out with portal axles. Meaning that the ground clearance was fantastic because each wheel had a mini gearbox at the hub with the drive shaft entering the hub well above its midpoint. Those axles became quite sought after with people building all kinds of maverick 4x4 off road vehicles.Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
DJR Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.The original design for the portal axles date back to wartime VWs like the Kubelwagen and the Schwimwagen. They also had a four wheel drive system and the Schwimwagen had a propeller driven off the power tap shaft that came out the rear of the engine. Many thousands of each were made and they reportedly outperformed anything the Americans or the Brits came up with, including the now famous Jeep. Unfortunately very few survived as they were intentionally destroyed by the Allies after the war. Let me Google a bit for images! Wannabe, Hairy and Gravity 3
Allrounder Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 There is plenty of the first one in Bali still being used as tourist transport.
Slowbee Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 Some incredible images around the astronomy theme. Have a look at the past winners http://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory/insight-astronomy-photographer-year No Hare, geomark and Lurch the stalker 3
Shebeen Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 Impressive. Few people know that the first open boat circumnav of the globe was done by South African Ant Stewart in a Dudley Dix designed 19' Cape Henry. He still lives in Cape Town. https://youtu.be/1QkZN35RZfUI can still remember being in awe when he came to speak at our school after doing it. from what i can remember he had to make the boat a bit smaller than the original design, as his workshop wasn't big enough!
Ed-Zulu Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 (edited) I can still remember being in awe when he came to speak at our school after doing it. from what i can remember he had to make the boat a bit smaller than the original design, as his workshop wasn't big enough!That's right, he also changed the deck layout so he could wedge himself between a deck-pod and the gunwales so he could sleep without falling off the boat. I have a picture of the boat the morning after he arrived in Richards Bay with sails sill hanging off the boom un-stowed, will scan and post. Best of all, he grew up in the Free State!!! Edited July 27, 2017 by Ed-Zulu Shebeen 1
DJR Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 There is plenty of the first one in Bali still being used as tourist transport. Quite right, many still running especially in the Carribian as well. Although those were made later, in Brazil, if my memory serves me right. They had straight forward Beetle floorpan and running gear, so no 4x4, portal axles, high ground clearance or long wheel travel. Allrounder 1
Ed-Zulu Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 (edited) That's right, he also changed the deck layout so he could wedge himself between a deck-pod and the gunwales so he could sleep without falling off the boat. I have a picture of the boat the morning after he arrived in Richards Bay with sails sill hanging off the boom un-stowed, will scan and post. Best of all, he grew up in the Free State!!! Edited July 27, 2017 by Ed-Zulu
Ed-Zulu Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 That's right, he also changed the deck layout so he could wedge himself between a deck-pod and the gunwales so he could sleep without falling off the boat. I have a picture of the boat the morning after he arrived in Richards Bay with sails sill hanging off the boom un-stowed, will scan and post. Best of all, he grew up in the Free State!!! See picture in pdfAS.pdf
Fruity Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Skott5, Hairy, Lurch the stalker and 3 others 6
Fruity Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Lurch the stalker and Long Wheel Base 2
Fruity Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Gravity and Lurch the stalker 2
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now