NEATORAMA HOME | LITE/MOBILE VERSION | BEST OF NEATORAMA

Star Wars Landspeeder by Daniel Deutsch

By Alex in Car & Vehicle, Movies & SciFi, Pictures on Aug 28, 2008 at 3:52 pm



Photo: Daniel Deutsch

That’s a full-size and driveable replica of Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder from Star Wars, built by Daniel Deutsch in his own garage:

We built this fiberglass replica landspeeder last spring from the ground up on a custom aluminum chassis. The electric drive system is capable of a top speed around 25 mph. The speeder is the same size as the original, and can travel several miles on a single battery charge.

Check out the “damaged” paint job on the Landspeeder. Excellent! Link – Thanks Richard Young!

Update 8/29/08 – Daniel Deutsch wrote to us about the Landspeeder:

The speeder was a collaborative effort. The body mold and windshield were produced in California, and then shipped here to Orlando. We then did the bodywork, chassis, and electronics. The side grills were waterjet cut from PVC, then spaced and stacked.

It has lighting effects in the engine pods that change with the sound during acceleration. I added a short video clip to my web gallery of the speeder being driven, there’s also one of the engine pod lights. A few folks posted that they thought the pics were photoshopped, however it’s most likely the fact that I use a fill-flash when taking outdoor shots. I am attaching an additional couple photos of the body mold, etc., for you to this email.

The entire speeder was built in six weeks, and was first revealed in Los Angeles at the Star Wars Celebration IV event (30th anniv.) in May 2007.

More photos:

Thanks again, Daniel!


Share


FROM THE NEATORAMA SHOP



COMMENT
  1. McCobb
    Aug 28th, 2008 at 5:31 pm

    Oh my Gawd!! That is the greatest thing ever!

  2. mR pSYcHo
    Aug 28th, 2008 at 6:20 pm

    And what about that nice DeLorean?

  3. Matt
    Aug 28th, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    It's all very well, but the trouble with these things is the depreciation. Ever since the XP-38 came out, they're just not in demand.

  4. SB
    Aug 28th, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    Is this thing street legal because, I would love to take it for a drive on the freeway.

  5. Xinavera
    Aug 28th, 2008 at 9:20 pm

    A Landspeeder *and* a DeLorean? This guy is my hero!

  6. Johnny Cat
    Aug 28th, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    Yeah I recognize this as the trade-in scene.

  7. artbot
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 1:31 am

    Of all the SW "tribute" items people have built over the years, this is hands down the coolest one ever! Amazing attention to detail. The finished pics look so punchy and brilliant I almost thought it was a 'Shopped hoax, but the supporting pics pretty much prove its existence.

  8. Anthony
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 2:23 am

    WHAT?!?!?

    WHAT!?!?!

    My mind is blown. If i still had anything in my dome i would take a picture of my brain on the wall behind me.

    Damn man, I said god damn.

  9. HTTP guy
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 2:48 am

    Looks good. I hope it drives well too.

  10. heather
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 2:54 am

    I DARE meter maid to ticket this guy! That is so awesome!

  11. Old Ben
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 3:05 am

    "I DARE meter maid to ticket this guy!"

    Oh, you just wave your hand and go "This isn't the parking violation you're looking for...we can go about our business. Move along..."

  12. PartyRichter
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 4:03 am

    I'd love to pilot it around the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert!

  13. Joeski
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 5:37 am

    I would like to take my daughter to school in this thing one day - I might even dress her up like R2-D2!

  14. dannyboy
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 5:49 am

    Pretty realistic, except for the mailbox and lightpost prodruding from the top engine.

  15. ted
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 6:41 am

    25 mph does not a speeder make.

    How does he get it to hover?

  16. tony
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 7:29 am

    He took it Goldie Wilson's Hover Conversions.

  17. Bobjr94
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 9:50 am

    If they had built that on a hovercraft now that would be the best.

  18. SG
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 1:19 pm

    aw, c'mon! that's an obvious photoshop job. look at "landspeeder right side" -- the shadow is all wrong.

  19. Sam-o
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    Wow so lucky you have ability to make such fine vehicles. Would love to go back in time or speedster to Tattoine for a drink.

  20. danield
    Aug 29th, 2008 at 4:44 pm

    I've had a couple of people say they thought the speeder was photo shopped. It's most likely because of the fact that I use a fill-flash when taking the pics. If you'd like to see more without the flash, and a video of it driving, please check out my web gallery: http://www.reallandspeeder.com
    There is also a video of the engine light/ sound effects in the dark too.
    Daniel

  21. SpottedOwlStew
    Aug 31st, 2008 at 12:46 am

    Why is my dream car in the background, without mention?

  22. web design company
    Sep 11th, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    So the time machine in the back is there to.... make the picture more official?

  23. pondlife
    Sep 20th, 2008 at 8:22 am

    Awesome vehicle - I've got to ask why? and how much free time does this guy have!?

  24. MICHAEL J. SCHMITZ
    Oct 30th, 2008 at 3:09 pm

    IF IT DOES'NT HAVE A AIR-INTAKE ENGINE, YOU MIGHT CHECK WITH THE COUNTRY INDIA, WHERE THEIR BUILDING THE AIR CAR.

  25. sunjester
    Feb 22nd, 2009 at 4:11 am

    I have something of intrest to you,that deals directly with your project.I have been developing a drive for that thing for 30 years,and soon to go public.it is a rather simple device,but nobody has invented it yet.no not another segway,but something bigger.please contact me if you are intrested.levitation is not so far away.i am engineering a solution for that car of yours.Thank you.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT

Neatorama Comment Policy
You don't have to register or login to comment, but it's easier if you do so. Comments aren't censored, but those that are abusive or off-topic may be edited or deleted.


Keep track of the comments with Comment RSS

Lijit Search

T-SHIRTS FROM THE NEATORAMA SHOP

WRITE YOUR OWN NEATORAMA POST
Got a neat story? Share it with the world by writing your very own Neatorama blog post with the Upcoming Queue. Who knows, you might just win something ...

Here's how to get started:
FAQ | Tips