Photo J.T. Nesbitt/Bienville Studios Magnolia Special Roadster.
Running on Natural Gas, Magnolia Special Roadster Completes Cross-Country Drive
“No computers were harmed during the construction of this car,” said J.T. Nesbitt, the creator of the Magnolia Special, a back-to-basics and entirely hand-built sports car powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).
LV Note: What?! No computer?! But … But … How does she write her blog?! I need to talk to this Magnolia. She must have a typewriter on board.
“I like things that are mechanical, they have a more human connection,” Mr. Nesbitt said … The chassis is a boxed steel frame, with a 4.2-liter, inline-6 cylinder engine sourced from a Jaguar XJ6.
LV Note: A more human connection? Hmm.
Almost every feature is unique to the car. There are custom-built hood hinges, as well as a leather panel on the dash that obscures buttons for the headlights and other vehicle functions. More immediately obvious are the polished side tanks. Located on either side of the body, they’re where much of the Magnolia Special’s CNG is stored; there are additional tanks at the rear. When fully topped up with fuel, range is estimated from 600 to 700 miles, depending on driving conditions.
“The car performed magnificently. It had no mechanical issues,” said Mr. Nesbitt in a telephone interview from Los Angeles. In total, the trip took 89 hours from Manhattan to “the city limits of Los Angeles,” more than a full day longer than he anticipated.
LV Note: Of course she did. Yay Magnolia! Without a top, windshield wipers or side glass, clearly you were the one in charge, showing your driver and passengers the way.
“I forgot to activate one of the fuel tanks, that cost us two or three hours,” he said. Another delay occurred in North Carolina, where the promise of a 24-hour CNG station didn’t quite live up to its billing. “We spent five hours shivering in the night. But you muscle through it,” he said. In total, the car was refueled 10 times during the trip.
LV Note: There’s that human connection. To err is huma… Oh never mind.
Asked if he had plans to put the Magnolia Special up for sale or to simply store it, Mr. Nesbitt paused before answering.
“The thing runs good, man,” he eventually said. “I didn’t build it just to put it behind glass.”
LV Note: Well. Extra points for that last statement, sir. Magnolia, call me. I need to hear about your cross country trip, and how on earth you managed to blog with just your onboard typewriter, or whatever. I’m preparing for my own cross country trip! They didn’t build me just to put me behind glass, either, you know.
