Father and son modified their car to get more than 100 miles to the gallon
- A father and son team modified a 1993 Geo Metro themselves
- They were aiming to make it as fuel-efficient as possible
- By utilizing a concept invented in the 1930s they achieved an incredible MPG rating
Published on Dec 21, 2023 at 5:40 PM (UTC+4)
by Andie Reeves
Last updated on Dec 23, 2023 at 1:09 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Alessandro Renesis
This Mad Max-looking Geo Metro is more fuel efficient than the latest EVs or hybrids.
A father and son have modified the 90s vehicle to get over 100 miles to the gallon.
But rather than spend a fortune on high-tech mods, the pair used technology from nearly 100 years ago.
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Olli Hollmen works as a software engineer but has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
He used to work on motorcycles for his friends when he was a teenager, and is now passing on his skills to his 17-year-old son, Max.
The two have a long driveway in front of their home, full of vintage cars.
They spend their afternoons tinkering, with each car in a different state of modification.
But their most impressive feat involves a 1993 Geo Metro.
After buying it three years ago they set on a mission to push its miles per gallon (MPG) rating to the limits.
The Geo Metro is already a fuel-efficient car, with this model ranging between 32 MPG and 44 MPG.
But the Hollmens wanted to do better.
They achieved their success using just sheet metal, corrugated plastic and technology from the 1930s.
A German engineer called Wunibald Kamm introduced the concept of the ‘Kammback’ or ‘Kamm-tail’.
To reduce drag, the vehicle has an angled rear instead of a full-length tail.
They attached the sheet metal to give the car more of a ‘teardrop’ shape.
Then they ran extensive tests to make sure they were getting the angle just right.
By taping pieces of wool to the back of the car and watching their movements while the car was in motion, they perfected the design.
Now, the Geo Metro is able to get an incredible 106 MPG.
The Toyota Prius, for comparison, is highly fuel-efficient and reaches about 57 MPG.
The only downside is the car’s appearance.
With the metal in stark contrast with the car’s red paint job, it has a decidedly homemade feel to it.
But when you’ve achieved such a feat perhaps you’d want people to know you did it yourself.
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Andie Reeves
Andie is a content writer from South Africa with a background in broadcasting and journalism. Starting her career in the glossy pages of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, Andie has a broad portfolio, covering everything from sustainability solutions to celebrity car collections. When not at her laptop Andie can be found sewing, recording her podcast, taking board games too seriously or road-tripping in her bright green Kia.
