Highway to hell?

An enthusiast in the US has built a motorised coffin on wheels, powered by a pulse jet. Its builder, Bob Maddox, has a strong interest in improbable vehicles and built the vehicle using a coffin and a small pulse jet, all mounted on a lightweight chassis and wheels. Weighing just 136kg, his Maddoxjets Coffin Car can accelerate from 0-100km/h in around nine seconds. According to Maddox, he once drove the Coffin Car at 100km/h but was concerned for its stability and wary of attempting to drive it any quicker.
February 19, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
An enthusiast in the US has built a motorised coffin on wheels, powered by a pulse jet. Its builder, Bob Maddox, has a strong interest in improbable vehicles and built the vehicle using a coffin and a small pulse jet, all mounted on a lightweight chassis and wheels. Weighing just 136kg, his Maddoxjets Coffin Car can accelerate from 0-100km/h in around nine seconds. According to Maddox, he once drove the Coffin Car at 100km/h but was concerned for its stability and wary of attempting to drive it any quicker. Presumably he was unwilling to end up in a coffin, in the ground. Maddox previously built a motorcycle powered by a similar pulse jet, although like the Coffin Car this was strictly for demonstrations and drag racing events and not road legal. Pulse jets were used to power the German V1 flying bombs used in WWII and are simple in design, but their hot exhaust gases mean these engines are unsuited to use on road.

Related Content

  • Safer highway containment continues to grow
    March 8, 2012
    A steady flow of new technology and systems is ensuring the highway barrier sector is seeing major gains in safety. Mike Woof reports A combination of technological development and tougher regulations are ensuring a constant flow of new safety barrier solutions for the highway sector. Issues such as containment and deflection are high on the technical agenda, while a wide array of technologies is being developed to meet specific needs for certain applications. Both in the US and Europe, an increased focus o
    Read More
  • Tourists' taxi tale of terror
    March 1, 2012
    A group of French tourists found that their recent trip to New York set their pulses racing a little more than they had expected. The tourists boarded a vehicle outside the Air France terminal at New York's JFK airport, unaware that this was an unlicensed cab.
    Read More
  • Crash test highlights barrier safety
    February 24, 2012
    The event, organised by UK Roads, was held in association with MIRA (formerly Motor Industry Research Association); Mott MacDonald and Traffex/Road Expo, also offered an exhibition of related products and services from MIRA; FSP (Frangible Safety Posts); 3A Composites; ASD Metal Services; JPCS; Tofco; FLI Structures (screwpile demonstrations); Highway Care; Gloucester Composites; Traffex; Road Expo; Brett Landscaping; NAL and SAPA.
    Read More
  • UK contractor operating sophisticated Benninghoven asphalt plant
    April 27, 2015
    A sophisticated Benninghoven asphalt plant is now in use by a UK contractor close to London - Mike Woof writes UK contractor FM Conway is now operating a second highly advanced asphalt plant in the London area. As with the first unit supplied a few years ago, the plant was designed and constructed to FM Conway’s specific needs by leading producer Benninghoven. This latest plant is located to the west of London (the earlier plant is to the east of the city) and close to Heathrow Airport. Being situated
    Read More

Highlighted Content