[Gravdigr]

This is pretty cool.

from YahooAutos

Canadian Tire had a mission: Prove its MotoMaster Eliminator battery could withstand being frozen to -40 degrees Fahrenheit and still start a vehicle. To do that, it utilized a 2005 Chevy Silverado 2500. But this isn't your average pickup. Taking the concept a step further, Canada's retail giant decided to strip the chassis bare and rebuild it using massive blocks of ice. With some incredible carving and ingenuity, the team created the Ice Truck — a fully drivable pickup made (almost) entirely from ice.

When automakers build vehicles, the material used for the bodywork must be extremely strong and as light as possible. Ice isn't either of these things. To create the truck, 14,000 lbs. of ice was needed, causing a few problems: The truck's chassis had to be capable of managing the weight. And once you've found a suitable truck, how do you prevent the ice from cracking when hitting bumps and potholes?

Another problem is how to prevent the engine's heat from melting the ice. After a thorough inspection to ensure the Chevy's 2005 frame was free from rust, the team proceeded to weld it rigid to prevent any unnecessary movement that would cause the ice to crack. They then prepared it to run under its own power without the body, and added extra coolant to help keep the engine from melting the ice too quickly. To establish the best possible clarity, the ice had all the trapped air removed; thus eliminating the whiter spots you tend to find in ice cubes.

After some initial testing, driving over rough roads with a few blocks of ice placed on the chassis, the team deemed their modifications a success, and that the ice could withstand the bumps without fracturing. The only thing left to do was add the remainder of the ice blocks, carve it into a truck, and then drive it one mile through the town of Hensall, Ontario, to set a potential world record for the first self-propelled ice creation to drive.

The process of making and driving an ice truck is impressive. But what's perhaps more impressive is the attention to detail; things like an air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror. It even has working lights. I suppose we shouldn't be too surprised. After all, Canadian Tire enlisted Iceculture, a leading ice construction company that handles ambitious projects like the Disney Ice Castle that appeared in Times Square in October 2012.

With the ice truck built, Canadian Tire succeeded in its mission, driving about a mile while averaging 12 mph. It has now submitted its efforts to Guinness to become officially recognized as the world's first drivable ice vehicle. However, as cool as this truck is, watching it melt may be more fascinating:

Actually, in the second video below, you get to watch it unmelt. Demelt? It drips back together.





24 pic slideshow, here.