# Could a Car Be Made (Body Panels) From Bronze? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 14, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113 "2008-12-14T14:34:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/1 "2008-12-14T14:34:41Z")
Bronze is a pretty strong lloy (copper and tin), and it is attractive as it oxidizes. Could you make atomobiles from it? What wold be the cost differnce (from steel body panels)? And, since the scrap value of a bronze car would be so high, would such cars b immediately recycled (instead of abandoned)? Would bronze body cars be “greener” than steel? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/2 "2008-12-14T15:06:32Z")
You could make car body panels out of rice paper if you really wanted to. They’re made out of steel for obvious reasons. Think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/3 "2008-12-14T15:11:02Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > They’re made out of steel for obvious reasons. Think about it. Don’t tell the Corvette that. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/4 "2008-12-14T15:16:55Z")
I believe that Bronze is usually melted down and poured into a mold of the desired shape (casting). I don’t think it this would be possible for shapes such as car body panels. Also, bronze is more brittle than steel, so instead of bending when hit, it would break or shatter. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/5 "2008-12-14T15:17:58Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Don’t tell the Corvette that. The exception (with the Fiero) that proves the rule. How much does it cost to repair a corvette involved in a minor accident? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/6 "2008-12-14T15:24:16Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > The exception (with the Fiero) that proves the rule. How much does it cost to repair a corvette involved in a minor accident? What is the Fiero made of? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/7 "2008-12-14T15:24:22Z")
> [@MC\_E](#): > > I believe that Bronze is usually melted down and poured into a mold of the desired shape (casting). Well, it doesn’t _have_ to be. Steel can be formed the same way; in fact, it is to make engine blocks and other car parts. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/8 "2008-12-14T15:28:03Z")
Bronze has been used since ancient times for springs and even rare archery bows. Highly curvaceous bracelets etc. have also been hammered to shape from flat bronze stock in the past couple thousand years. I think it’d be plenty flexible enough for sundry auto parts. Quite a bit weaker and heavier than steel, though. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/9 "2008-12-14T15:58:03Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > What is the Fiero made of? The Fiero was (it’s long gone) made with a space-frame of steel, and plastic panels hung from it. The technology has always had proponents, but it never seems to be able to meet all the objectives you want in a mass-produced car: Cheap, easy to manufacture, strong, easy to repair. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/10 "2008-12-14T16:44:33Z")
How about [cloth](http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kTYiEkQYhWY)? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/11 "2008-12-14T17:14:14Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > And, since the scrap value of a bronze car would be so high, would such cars b immediately recycled (instead of abandoned)? Yes, they would be immediately recycled. You would wake up the next morning and find your skinless vehicle because metal thieves would have been there during the night stealing the panels to sell at the scrap yard later in the day. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/12 "2008-12-14T17:38:15Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > The Fiero was (it’s long gone) made with a space-frame of steel, and plastic panels hung from it. The technology has always had proponents, but it never seems to be able to meet all the objectives you want in a mass-produced car: Cheap, easy to manufacture, strong, easy to repair. The Corvette for years (and maybe now) used fiberglass rather than plastic. At least some of the parts for cars such as this are now carbon composites. Saturn also had/has composite/plastic body panels. Remember the commercial of the shopping cart rolling toward the door and bouncing off, to the relief of the hausfrau who had been dreading the big dent? Most of the crash protection comes from the structural frame members, not the body panels. To take an extreme example, imagine a dune buggy with roll cage. Not much in the way of body panels at all, but still not wildly unsafe. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/13 "2008-12-14T17:41:16Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > How about [cloth](http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kTYiEkQYhWY)? Early airplane wings were made using cloth. ---
**Author:** ![Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zany_Zeolite_Zipper)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/14 "2008-12-14T17:47:12Z")
On the most recent Top Gear they tested Commie cars made out of leather and cotton. The Commie cars . . . tested poorly. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/15 "2008-12-14T17:52:51Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > The Corvette for years (and maybe now) used fiberglass rather than plastic. At least some of the parts for cars such as this are now carbon composites. > > Saturn also had/has composite/plastic body panels. Remember the commercial of the shopping cart rolling toward the door and bouncing off, to the relief of the hausfrau who had been dreading the big dent? > > Most of the crash protection comes from the structural frame members, not the body panels. To take an extreme example, imagine a dune buggy with roll cage. Not much in the way of body panels at all, but still not wildly unsafe. None of which invalidates what I said. The Corvette is a niche-market sports car. Saturn has never been profitable. The Fiero was a one-off. Find me a mass-market (let’s say 75,000 units/year) car that’s currently in production that uses something other than steel for its body panels. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/16 "2008-12-14T18:00:52Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > None of which invalidates what I said. Well, I wasn’t trying to invalidate what you said, so I’m okay with what you note about the commercial unviability. My only point was that from a structural integrity/safety standpoint, those cars aren’t disintegrating as they drive down the road or killing all their drivers when they get into a crash. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/17 "2008-12-14T18:01:11Z")
Not sure if the Audi A8 counts as mass-market, but it’s all-aluminium. The recent Audi A2 hatchback sold in reasonable numbers and was aluminium too. Then there’s the plastic Smart car and roadster. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/18 "2008-12-14T18:01:56Z")
Given that people wish their cars to be painted rather than being the color of the panel material, attractiveness of the unpainted bronze isn’t an issue, and the paint provides protection from oxidation, making that a less critical feature. But all the listed disadvantages still apply. Delorean tried selling unpainted stainless steel cars. Some people painted them anyway, in spite of the fact that the brushed stainless panels made it difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/19 "2008-12-14T18:02:28Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > Early airplane wings were made using cloth. And so, according to [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6xJzAYYrX8) (well worth watching) video, were early spacesuits. (at 5:50). ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113/20 "2008-12-14T18:10:05Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > Not sure if the Audi A8 counts as mass-market, but it’s all-aluminium. The recent Audi A2 hatchback sold in reasonable numbers and was aluminium too. > > Then there’s the plastic Smart car and roadster. Aluminum is certainly a reasonable choice, and has advantages, especially reduced weight. It still costs significantly more than steel does, though. According to an Australian article from 2006: > [@](#): > > The main barrier to manufacturers using more aluminium in car bodies is cost. At present, the cost of aluminium is about US$1 700 per tonne, compared with about US$400 per tonne for steel. [http://www.csiro.au/science/ps1jb.html](http://www.csiro.au/science/ps1jb.html) Obviously, that quote may be a bit misleading if you wind up using fewer pounds of aluminum per car body than you would steel, but the aluminum body is still going to cost more. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-car-be-made-body-panels-from-bronze/477113.md?page=2)