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Nov 10, 2023

Watch This Strange Wagon

Torture test for this electric Model 3 involves ten-feet wagon wheels and

Torture test for this electric Model 3 involves ten-feet wagon wheels and driving up side down, but at least ground clearance wont be an issue.

When the world thought it had seen everything a Tesla was capable of, Whistlin Diesel raised the bar. Taking a brand-new Model 3 and installing ten-foot-tall wagon wheels on it may not be the first thing on everybody's to-do list, and although the electric vehicle undegoes other abuse and durability tests, watching it drive upside down is really something else. Fans of Tesla may want to look the other way as things don't end well for the Model 3. Doomed from the start, those familiar with Whistlin Diesel are probably aware that this Tesla did not stand much of a chance, but it indeed went out with a bang. If a Tesla can do this, is there anything the luxury electric sedan can't do? If there is, these guys will find out and film it.

Viewers can tell the Tesla is in for a rough time almost immediately. As the car pulls into view for the first time, a set of brackets appear on the front and rear bumper and are likely welded to the car's frame. In addition to the brackets, five-point racing harnesses have been installed in the driver's seat. After driving away with a parking boot anchored to the front wheel and some extreme brake testing, things really started to get interesting. The Model 3 gets driven through a garage door into a shop and parked between one hundred and fifteen inches by two-inch wagon wheels. Fitment industries supplied the wheels that look comical next to the Tesla because they extend above the roofline. Those brackets extending through the bumper come into play next as the Model 3 gets lifted using a forklift. Not the standard method of raising a car, but these aren't regular wheels. With the Tesla now about five feet up in the air, they park a red Ferrari underneath the EV to show how high off the ground it actually is. One thing that may have needed to be taken into consideration is opening the doors. Because of the wheels' diameter and the doors' proximity to the wheels, they only open about ten inches. Using an excavator this time around, the Tesla gets hoisted upwards and flipped over. With the roof only inches from the ground, the Model 3 makes its maiden voyage upside down.

Related: Check Out This Near Mint Four-Ton Tesla Model Y Fall Into A Sinkhole

There is no doubt that all Teslas are pretty advanced when it comes to technology. There are sensors and warnings for everything inside and outside the car. Safety features are also a big part of the Tesla brand, and with autopilot being an option, it's hard to imagine the vehicle operating if it thinks it may be upside down. Despite these facts, the Model 3 is successful. The car was modified to assist in flipping it over, and we are unaware of any safety features or sensors that were disabled to allow this stunt. The most significant advantage of using the Model 3 for this type of activity is that they are equipped with a standard-style coil spring suspension. Other Tesla models, like the Model S, are equipped with an air suspension and height sensors on each air shock. The sensors send a signal to the car's computer and allow it to self-adjust based on the input from the sensors. On the newest Model S, a jacking mode must be enabled before lifting the car for repairs, as the suspension adjusts even when the vehicle is powered off. Flipping a car that is equipped with air suspension would likely trigger a fault code and disable the vehicle, not allowing it to operate. All other sensors in the Model 3 probably functioned as expected. The front and rear detection sensors are only meant to identify objects within a certain distance, and height would not affect how they read. The same goes for lane detection and side impact sensors. Although at a different height, their only function is to warn the driver of objects that are close to them. Another benefit of attempting this with an electric vehicle is that no fuel or oil is needed to run the car. Fuel and oil pumps are meant to pull from the bottom of the oil pan or fuel tank in whatever vehicle they are in. Flipping a production vehicle with an internal combustion engine would starve the engine of fuel and fuel and allow the oil into the valve cover and through whatever intake or exhaust valve was open at the time. Although most systems could be modified to enable the operation to continue while inverted, in this case, all that was needed was a set of ten-foot-tall wagon wheels.

Related: Here's What Happened To The Tesla Model 3 Pickup Truck From 2019

Regardless of how expensive or advanced certain vehicles are, people always want more out of them. Whether it's putting their personal touch on it or using it in a manner in which it was not intended, vehicles are constantly put to the test. Teslas are frequently sighted at drag strips and road courses. Some have opted to strip down the interiors to shed weight to lower their times; others have added wheels or modified the suspension to achieve a specific look. Vinyl wrapping is also very popular with Tesla for those who want to set their car apart from the crowd. Some of the more extreme examples include a video of one driver getting a Model S airborne over a large hill and ultimately crashing after the car hits the ground. Another overzealous owner decided to take his Tesla underwater. After filling the vehicle with weights and covering all seams and openings with a plastic barrier, the car makes it through an artificial pond with water up to the roof line. While not its intended use, the vehicle design can withstand inclement weather and wade through small amount of standing water. While everything mentioned here is a way to push the envelope with Tesla's, or any vehicle for that matter, driving one upside down on massive wagon wheels is definitely a first. Searching yielded a few other stunts attempted, but all performed right side up. It is not known how this Model 3 operated after being upside down, as shortly after being right, it was driven into a tree, and the video ended. Even if this Model 3 required repairs after being driven upside down, it is the only one to have done so successfully. It's hard to imagine the Tesla was purchased strictly for this purpose, so it may return. It will be interesting to see if any Tesla owners try to raise the bar in the future with any other wild ideas.

Ryan Simms has been been an automotive enthusiast for his entire life. He purchased his first car, a 1968 Camaro Camaro at age 12. Since then, he has never stopped buying, rebuilding, and modifying anything with a set of wheels. With professional experience in welding and fabrication, engine building, and drag racing, he now enjoys sharing his passion and experience with other like-minded gearheads. When he's not writing about cars, he can be found in the garage working on one of his many project cars.