Flatpack isn't just for reasonably-priced Scandinavian furniture, and we've previously reported on a bridge, hurricane-proof home, and even a truck that comes in flatpack form. The PlyFly Go-Kart is a gasoline-powered flat-pack kart that can be assembled in just a few hours, while promising speeds of up to 25 mph (40 km/h).
The PlyFly is the work of The FlatWorks, a wooden kit company, and comes in two types: a 2.5-horsepower and a 4-horsepower model. The more powerful of the two is significantly faster at 25 mph (40 km/h) compared to 17 mph (27 km/h), and can run for 2.5 hours from a single tank of gas, compared to an hour for the smaller engine.
Both engines are 4-stroke Honda clones assembled in China, and meet US emissions requirements. The total weight for the karts comes in at 56 kg (125 lb) for the 2.5 horsepower model, while those extra 1.5 horses bring the faster kart up to 61 kg (135 lb). A company rep told Gizmag that the more powerful engine will provide a nippy ride for users weighing up to – and possibly in excess of – 113 kg (250 lb).
The PlyFly Go-Kart is constructed from 19 mm (0.75 in)-thick Baltic Birch plywood and measures 101 x 58 x 142 cm (40 x 23 x 56.5 in). It ships in three boxes and assembly time is rated at around five hours with basic tools, though presumably it could take longer if you're the kind of person that spends an entire weekend struggling to assemble an Ikea table.
The kart features rack and pinion steering, an adjustable seat, a smartphone mount for capturing action video footage, a disc brake system, and a safety flag to increase visibility. It also sports foam-filled tires, which a company rep told us proved far more robust than pneumatic tires during testing.
FlatWorks has turned to Kickstarter to raise funds in order to bring its prototype PlyFly Go-Kart into full-scale production. If you want to back the project and hopefully receive a model in mid-2015, as of writing the cheapest pledge point remaining is US$745 for the 2.5 horsepower engine model, while the 4 horsepower engine will set you back $845.
The pitch video below shows more information on the project.
Sources: The Flatworks, Kickstarter