This is awesome! [1] Ron Patrick, a PHD Mechanical Engineering major from Stanford created a jet engine and fitted it to his silver VW Beetle adding an extra 1350 hp to the car.

The car has two engines: the production gasoline engine in the front driving the front wheels and the jet engine in the back. The idea is that you drive around legally on the gasoline engine and when you want to have some fun, you spin up the jet and get on the burner (you can start the jet while driving along on the gasoline engine). The car was built because I wanted the wildest street-legal ride possible.

Ron did write to me to say that he’ll be on [2] The Late Show with David Letterman tommorow night (8/30/06). Tune in to watch it!

Just make sure that if you do ever see his car, don’t stand behind it or you won’t know what hit burnt you! His next project? … to make his wife’s Honda Metropolitan Scooter jet powered as well. More pictures and details of his car/next project can be seen on his [3] website.

[Pictures courtesy of [1] Ron Patrick]