Students Made a Barbie Truck That Can Reach 30 mph
Some Georgia Tech students played around with a childrens’ truck—and the results are staggering.
Written by Tom Hindle
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
A children's toy that goes 30 miles per hour? That's what you get when a pair of mechanical engineering students at Georgia Tech soup up a classic children's riding toy with creative
car modifications
. This custom Barbie go-cart is a bit on the small side, unlike VW's 2009 full-size Barbie car
. However, it works just as the students redesigned it to.Quirky custom vehicles are a tradition at Georgia Tech
Seeing unusual vehicles on the Georgia Tech campus is probably not surprising—especially since the school is well known for its engineering program. However, the speedy Power Wheels Barbie Jeep crafted by engineering students Dustin Sloan and Trenton Charlson turns heads, even among some of the more impressive engineering feats from college students in the US.
Dustin Sloan, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student, explained the duo's thinking to the
Georgia Tech site
: "We like the idea of taking children's toys and upgrading them with a more powerful means of propulsion." A previous project saw them outfitting a tricycle with the motor from a chainsaw. Neither of the students has a background in automotive engineering. Trenton's focus in high school was on mechanical design and learning the machining process as a member of his school's robotics team. Now he's a member of Georgia Tech's Battlebots team and a third-year aerospace engineering student.
An iconic plastic Barbie Jeep gets an update
Barbie's pink Corvette may be the most memorable vehicle in the doll's fairly
extensive car collection
, but the child-sized bright pink and purple Jeep is also a worthy contender. Since its introduction decades ago, many youngsters have treasured the backyard adventures they experienced in their Barbie Jeeps. There's no word yet on the future of this highly modified version of a Barbie Jeep. However, judging by the obvious fun the pair are having with it, it doesn't look like they'll be giving it up anytime soon!
What roadworthy modifications did this Barbie Jeep get?
The two students added a few special touches to their 1990s Power Wheels Barbie Jeep. The toy SUV, which was originally intended for kids aged three and up, can now be seen zipping around campus with one of the soon-to-be engineers behind the wheel.
In order to achieve the results they wanted, the students had to cram a lot of modifications within the toy's plastic framework. According to
Georgia Tech
news, they outfitted it with a steel frame, custom tires, and a six-horsepower log splitter engine. They also managed to fit in mechanical steering, a gas pedal, and hydraulic brakes.It's a tight fit, but the modified steel-framed toy Jeep can haul both of them as they zip around campus. Dustin is rightly proud of the fact that the tiny go-cart can drift and power slide, despite its admittedly "very touchy" gas, brakes, and steering.
Motorized vehicles of all types need the right insurance
The students are planning a pulse jet engine for their next project. They've decided to mount it on a rocking horse and hope to achieve a top speed of 50 miles per hour. With speeds like that, they'll definitely need the right insurance if they want to keep their modified vehicles street legal.
Fortunately, it's a lot easier to find insurance for a car or truck than a modified child's toy. When you use the
Jerry
super app, it's as easy as can be! Just sign up, answer a few simple questions, and get quotes from more than 50 top insurance companies like Allstate, Nationwide, Safeco. In mere seconds, you'll have your pick of insurance that meets your particular needs and budget. The average user saves almost $900 per year! 
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