Aptera Typ-1 Styling

[Yanquetino]

I have tried to stay abreast of anything and everything about Aptera that internet users have posted in blogs and forums. My general impression is that the majority love the Typ-1's styling, but some naysayers hate it. There seems to be little "middle ground" or indifference. I, for example, think it is the coolest looking vehicle I have every seen, yet my wife grimaces, rolls here eyes, and shakes her head.

The other day, when pondering my love for its looks, it occured to me that perhaps it subconciously reminds me one of my dearest childhood fantasies. When I was a pre-teen, I was awe-struck :eek: by the following vehicle from a popular TV show. I desperately wanted one! Well, that dream might now come true with the Aptera.

Any of my fellow ol' duffers remember what the TV show was? :rolleyes:

http://www.casteyanqui.com/_dibujos/mfmartianship.jpg

[foundit]

Well the design is mainly for aerodynamics rather then looks. I personally think it looks awesome though. Of course there will be the naysayers, as no one has the same preferences when it comes to anything in life. I think the Aptera looks very modern. Perhaps some people just don't like change, and the Aptera is certainly a major change in appearance from all the other vehicles we see on the road today.

[Aptera#965]

I love the design and so does my wife- which for me = the green light, lol.

I've gotta be honest: when I first saw the car the other day, the first image that ran through my mind was:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DFbuulDiM_U


I embrace the forward design that tries to optimize the vehicles intended goals. All the attention the Aptera's uniqueness will get ain't bad either :D

I just want to find a way to "modify" the car so when people see the Aptera they hear the sound of Goerge Jetson flying by!

[Aptera#965]

The other day, when pondering my love for its looks, it occured to me that perhaps it subconciously reminds me one of my dearest childhood fantasies. When I was a pre-teen, I was awe-struck :eek: by the following vehicle from a popular TV show. I desperately wanted one! Well, that dream might now come true with the Aptera.

Any of my fellow ol' duffers remember what the TV show was? :rolleyes:

http://www.casteyanqui.com/_dibujos/mfmartianship.jpg


I can't pin it, but I'll take a stab- Thunderbirds? How about Fantastic Voyage?

[Yanquetino]

I can't pin it, but I'll take a stab- Thunderbirds? How about Fantastic Voyage?

Hey, you're getting warm, #965! Some Apterian will likely ask Grandpa --who will immediately recognize it. Here's a hint, a link to the TV show's theme song:

Theme Song (http://www.casteyanqui.com/_dibujos/mfm.wav)

By the way, speaking of TV shows, it would be hilarious to have your Aptera emit sounds like George Jetson's car! What a great response to all the rappers who pull up next to you at the light with their bass woofers cranked up to top volume (one of my prime pet peeves).

[Aptera#965]

oh I got it - My Favorite Martian!!

I was born in '64 so it was a little before my time :D

[Yanquetino]

BINGO, #965! Born in '64, huh? Yup, you're still a young puppy then. They say that the ship was modeled after a Jaguar E-Type:

http://www.casteyanqui.com/_dibujos/ejaguar.jpg

Come to think of it, I can see a bit of the Aptera Typ-1 in it too!

[KarenRei]

By the way, speaking of TV shows, it would be hilarious to have your Aptera emit sounds like George Jetson's car!

With such an eye-catching, futuristic vehicle, I've thought of a number of fun ways to have fun with other people on the road/at destinations

* Wear silver suits and, optionally, space helmets; play any spacey song (Final_Fantasy_4_SurfaceoftheMoon_OC_ReMix.mp3, perhaps?).
* Wear ultra-formal attire and dark glasses, for that "government agent" motif. For humor value, play "Secret Agent Man".
* Wear stereotypical Russian garb and loudly play the Soviet national anthem (for that retro-sci-fi, "US vs USSR in the space age" feel). Best with a red hammer-and-sickle decal on each door.
* Wear ridiculously stylish, German modernist-inspired outfits and play abstract/techno music ("Now is the time on Sprockets when we dance!" -- perhaps "Sister Savior, Blackstrobe remix"? Or for more humor value, perhaps the dance version of "Schnappi, Das Kleine Krokodil"?)
* Wear matching white robes and carry religious artifacts; play monk chant
* Wear superhero-and-sidekick costumes; play Batman theme (after all, my favorite term I've seen thrown around for the Aptera is that it looks like "Batman's girlfriend's car")
* Gorilla costumes. Just to confuse people even more. (A throwback to the US's testing of the first jet aircraft, where the pilot was famous for dressing in a gorilla costume and "smoking" a stogie to help make the story of anyone who saw the strange, propellerless plane in the air sound all the more ridiculous)

Either way, you could ensure that a good portion of the people who saw you getting out of the car would have a story to tell their friends ;)

[APTERA 2356]

wasn't that the spaceship from my favorite martain?

[APTERA 2356]

OMG I spent too much time in TV-land

[aptera1213]

my favoite martian

great show from my childhood

[Raiyn]

* Wear ultra-formal attire and dark glasses, for that "government agent" motif. For humor value, play "Secret Agent Man".
Slight modification, as I don't see this as 007 territory, substitute MIB style suits and blast Will Smith's Men in Black theme

* Wear ridiculously stylish, German modernist-inspired outfits and play abstract/techno music ("Now is the time on Sprockets when we dance!" -- perhaps "Sister Savior, Blackstrobe remix"? Or for more humor value, perhaps the dance version of "Schnappi, Das Kleine Krokodil"?)
Or industrial garb playing Schwanenschrei by Das Ich?

* Wear matching white robes and carry religious artifacts; play monk chant
Only if it can be the one from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.


Perhaps an outfit from Logan's Run?

[onugs]

I loved that program!

[curbowman]

Hello! It's my first post here. Count me as another Aptera fan... from Venezuela!

It's nice to read about Jaguar and Aptera similarities, after all both designs came from a similar source: Science!

I saw some time ago a History Channel program (I think it was 'Automaniac') where a Jaguar historian spoke about how the E-type was designed. It wasn't made by a stylist, but by an engineer instead; his goal was to make a very slippery, aerodynamic shape. He took the chassis & powerplant measurements, and did his math using the good old calculus ruler to create one of the most advanced designs of his era. And as we know, the Aptera team has used the most advanced tools to make the most aerodynamic vehicle out there.

So there is, after all, a similarity between the Jaguar and the Aptera: the rounded nose, the extended tail, the faired headligths, the 'bubble' shape... all came from a mathematic solution wich pursued aerodynamic efficiency.

Will the Aptera be heralded as a future classic as the Jaguar E-type is? I won't bet against it!:happy0025:

[hyo silver]

I used to watch My Favourite Martian all the time. Were there reruns, or do I have to admit to watching the original? :) Does anyone remember how he packed that spaceship? He gathered all his junk into one pile and zapped in with a reducing ray. I could sure use one of those for camping trips.

White would seem appropriate for Aptera fashion. And slippery. Are any of us brave enough to wear white lycra bike shorts? Space music would be great. Jean Michel Jarre's 'Oxygene' should do it.