Dutch artist and inventor Joost Conijn refitted his Citroën with wooden panels and installed a wood-burning boiler for propulsion. He then traveled around Eastern Europe, documenting people's reactions to his odd car.
I'm just a bit skeptical because the engine in the video doesn't sound like steam engine and the car moves at a pretty phenomenal rate of speed for a steam engine. But I have read that during World War II, some cars in Sweden were converted to wood-burning engines due to a scarcity of oil, so a functional steam engine modern car should be hypothetically possible.
What do you think? Is this real or a hoax?
http://www.divus.cz/umelec/en/pages/umelec.php?id=196&roc=2002&cis=2 via Make | YouTube Video | Artist's Website (Google Translator Version)
I do like the idea of producer gas and think it could be made easier than a steam car. If it really isn't very user friendly for everyday use, then perhaps you don't have to use it every day.... This is great fun and that's what it was for--an adventure.
Have a great New Year!!
As for steam cars, yes they can go fast - Jay Leno a couple of years ago was clocked over 75mph on a US freeway in a 1906 Stanley steamer running on kerosene. Some modern ones have been produced by individuals - but there were some experiments by the big manufacturers in the 1970s, including Saab and GM - neither put the car into production though - a great pity.