Four is not the limit: 7 prominent multi-wheeled cars

We are used to the fat that the car has four wheels. There is even the corresponding expression "the fifth wheel" which says about something superfluous. Indeed, why would a car that drives perfectly on four have a few more wheels, unless we are talking about a spare one in the trunk? However, history is a stubborn thing, and on its pages there are many attempts by car designers to go beyond this "four". Let’s look at the examples!

1. Pullman Brumella

The photo is taken from the site: www.wikipedia.org

The first multi-wheeled car appeared at the beginning of the XX century, exactly at the beginning of the era of mass automobile production. Its authors were Americans: in 1903, the world's first six-wheeled self-propelled vehicle from the Pullman company - Pullman Brumella - was released.

The car had an interesting type of wheel control. So, we can say that the Pullman company came up with a controlled rear axle 85 years earlier than the Japanese, who are often credited with this mechanism. However, the car was not adapted to the imperfect roadbed, and the archaic steering lever even caused accidents. Therefore, the only prototype was disassembled for spare parts.

2. Reeves Octo-Auto

The photo is taken from the site: www.silodrome.com

Just eight years after the six-wheeler, it became clear that this was not the limit: in 1911, the first "eight-wheeler" - Reeves Octo-Auto - appeared. Moreover, this model took part in races. However, it did not achieve any serious results, but it received wide publicity among designers and ordinary people.

It would seem that the car had both fame and glory, and the founders of the company considered it almost the pinnacle of progress. However, the history of multi-wheel cars was interrupted on this model for a long time: for almost six decades, no one remembered them.

3. Tyrrell P34

The photo is taken from the site: www.fullsports.info

The first multi-wheeled car after a long break was the six-wheeled racing car Tyrrell P34 released in 1976. Moreover, it managed to write himself into history: the model twice took part in Formula 1, and the driver Jody Scheckter even took the Swedish Grand Prix on it, however, the car did not have more victories.

It should be clarified that this modification occurred for a reason. Designers, to improve the aerodynamics of the car, reduced its front wheels. And at the same time, they increased the number of the latter to six, so that the contact spot became larger. This gave its results: the grip on the surface was 40% higher than that of most ordinary cars. However, serious problems such as overheating brakes and unpredictability of the car on the track put an end to its future.

4. C6W

The photo is taken from the site: www.topspeed.com

This car was build in Italy. It came through the efforts of the engineer Ferruccio Covini. However, the history of this unique car was almost interrupted: having started work in the seventies of the last century, the project had to be frozen for several decades due to lack of funding. But these problems were still solved, and in 2004 the long-awaited brainchild of the Italian designer was presented - the six-wheeled C6W.

The model is a two-door sports coupe with a removable roof. The car has two pairs of front wheels. Unlike most of its "colleagues", the C6W, which has excellent technical characteristics, went into a series, although small - about 6-8 pieces a year, and the demand for them has been preserved for many years.

5. KAZ

The photo is taken from the site: www.pinterest.co.uk

Japanese inventors are known all over the world for their innovation, so it is not surprising that they came up with the idea to create a multi-wheeled electric car. The idea came to life with the electric KAZ. Dimensions, as well as technical characteristics of the car were striking: it developed a speed of more than 311 km/h, the weight was 3 tons. At the same time, the car was capable of a power of 600 HP, and it had a range of about 300 kilometers.

6. Smart ForTwo

The photo is taken from the site: www.leafclover.club

This interesting modification of the small Smart ForTwo proved that adding an extra axle to the finished car will not always seem like something like Frankenstein. Specialists of the famous tuning Studio Brabus took up the implementation of a bold idea. The result was a mini-pickup truck, which was quite roomy compared to the original.

Interestingly, they didn't stop there either. There were enthusiasts who added an additional two-wheeled trailer with a built-in motor to this modification. Power from this, of course, increased, but the cost of such a hybrid jumped so that it became simply unprofitable.

7. Nissan Patrol 8x8 White Spider

The photo is taken from the site: www.360carmuseum.com

Arab sheikhs love exclusive and expensive things. The same applies to cars. For example, the UAE's Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan al Nahyan, who has a huge collection of unique cars, added a multi-wheeled copy in 2010. It was an eight-wheel Nissan Patrol 8x8 White Spider: it was assembled on an individual order. Moreover, despite not the most luxurious appearance, its internal equipment was made to match the high demands of the Arab Sheikh.