by 3D-Printed Jaguar D-Type Based on a Mazda MX-5
Real Jaguar D-Types are cars that cost millions at auctions. But what if you want such a car but your budget doesn’t allow it? It turns out you can just print it on a 3D printer if you have a chassis to mount it on.
Scott Woodard, an automotive modification enthusiast, decided to create a D-Type replica from scratch. He uses a Neptune 4 Plus printer, which allows printing panels about 30×30 cm in size. Each body element is created separately and then assembled into a single whole.
Challenges and Plans
“Everything was a challenge. This is my third project, and I started it just a few months after buying the printer. Only hours of research gave me the confidence to tackle something so unusual,” Woodard says.
He had previously created a unique Karmann Ghia on a Mercedes-Benz SLK chassis. His experience working with metal helped him avoid many problems with 3D printing. Most interestingly, Woodard plans to publish a method for strengthening ABS-printed parts, which could be useful for creating spoilers, body kits, and other automotive components.
This project opens up new possibilities for the automotive community. 3D printing technologies are making the creation of unique cars more accessible, and it seems we are on the threshold of a new era in automobile manufacturing.
