# I Show Up (in 1900) With a Complete Set Of Plans For a 2000 Car **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 11, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-show-up-in-1900-with-a-complete-set-of-plans-for-a-2000-car/595951 "2011-09-11T16:58:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-show-up-in-1900-with-a-complete-set-of-plans-for-a-2000-car/595951/21 "2011-09-14T18:22:13Z")
Not to mention the fact that you have a black man working the line! :eek: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-show-up-in-1900-with-a-complete-set-of-plans-for-a-2000-car/595951/22 "2011-09-15T02:07:57Z")
I think they just might manage to deal with the plans for an electric starter. Just barely. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-show-up-in-1900-with-a-complete-set-of-plans-for-a-2000-car/595951/23 "2011-09-15T02:21:31Z")
It’s not just electronics. The process for making laminated glass wasn’t discovered until 1903 – and then only by accident. They couldn’t even have made the windshield for your car. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-show-up-in-1900-with-a-complete-set-of-plans-for-a-2000-car/595951/24 "2011-09-15T02:57:56Z")
If you eliminate the idea that they would try to recreate that specific modern car, and instead focus on what the specs would educate them about how to make an efficient and powerful motorised vehicle, which they’d have to severely adapt to fit the state of their art, what would the result be then? ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-show-up-in-1900-with-a-complete-set-of-plans-for-a-2000-car/595951/25 "2011-09-15T04:00:08Z")
The biggest problem would be the lack of ways of manufacturing microprocessors and modern plastics. Maybe you could accelerate the design of the modern car to the late 1970’s at best. Also, be wary of the things you show Edison, least he finds them valuable enough and you find yourself waking up in the middle of the river wearing cement shoes… ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-show-up-in-1900-with-a-complete-set-of-plans-for-a-2000-car/595951/26 "2011-09-15T04:02:15Z")
:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-show-up-in-1900-with-a-complete-set-of-plans-for-a-2000-car/595951/27 "2011-09-16T17:45:44Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > If you eliminate the idea that they would try to recreate that specific modern car, and instead focus on what the specs would educate them about how to make an efficient and powerful motorised vehicle, which they’d have to severely adapt to fit the state of their art, what would the result be then? They wouldn’t be able to understand the specs. Most of the specs are written to various standards put forth by [standards bodies](http://metals.about.com/cs/standardsorgs/), like ANSI, ISO, SAE, etc. Ever see an oil can that said “SAE 5W 30”? That makes no sense unless you understand that SAE is the Society of Automotive Engineers and they’ve published a spec with detailed info about what meets that standard and what doesn’t. The plans are not meant to be used in a vacuum. Imagine if you traveled back and told them about the Internet. You’d have to give them the background on computing, networking, and a bunch of other stuff before they would really understand it. It’s the same thing with the plans and specs for a modern automobile. They’re full of references that everyone understands inside the industry but they’d be hopelessly incomprehensible to anyone who hadn’t had training on the standards and how they work. Enjoy, Steven [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-show-up-in-1900-with-a-complete-set-of-plans-for-a-2000-car/595951.md?page=1)