Can anyone recommend an automobile to survive an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attack?

ReveBM | 05/13/2002 | ReveBM

[ReveBM]

Can anyone here recommend a particular model of auto that should theoretically be able to survive an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attack? I am assuming in this case that the car would be far away from the nuclear explosion to not be affected by direct blast damage. If you could mention a particular model and model year, and any other things you would note about why this car would run in the period following the attack. I prefer more modern cars that I can actually afford, as opposed to Model T's.

Also, does anyone know of body shops that can "harden" a car against EMP? I assume this would involve removing all of the computer chips from the car and replacing them with "hardened" chips if those exist.

Does anyone know of any outfits that sell "hardened against EMP" appliances available to a retail consumer?

I suppose I could just take the "hard" path and wait for an EMP attack and hope that it only effects a limited area of the United States (perferrably not near where I live). Then I would have to wait for remaining private industry to crank up and sell products shielded against EMP.

[antivenom]

Dude...go buy some tinfoil...wrap your car...and make a matching hat....

[varon]

Get a pedal-powered kiddy car. Not much room but start every time ;-)

[AppyPappy]

Anything British, An EMP attack has a 50% chance of making the car run better.

[ReveBM]

Can I use Reynolds Wrap (TM) or do I have to get some other special kind of tinfoil?

[TomServo]

Can anyone here recommend a particular model of auto that should theoretically be able to survive an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attack?

Yeah, but they're called bicycles.

[OBAFGKM]

A Model A should survive nicely.

[Constitution Day]

Let's see if this thread can survive such an explosion first.
Just for experimentation purposes, you know.

[John Jamieson]

Ditto. This guy is much more likey in a regular car accident.

[MichaelP]

EMP shielding is little more than a faraday cage. That is metal cladding to direct the charge around what is to be protected. Therefore, a car should be fairly well protected already...

Mike

[Tony in Hawaii]

Well, cars still had point-type ignition systems in the early 1970s. Those should be OK, and the Chrysler electronic ignitions from about 1973-80 (except Lean Burn) have easily replaceable control boxes.

[justshutupandtakeit]

One of those pedal cars like I had when a little boy would do fine.

Why worry about a car? Where are you going to get the petrol, mate? The pumps have chips too. You would have the only working car in the country but nowhere to drive it since the streets would be blocked by abandoned cars and trucks and no place to get gas.

[Talkwire]

[KSCITYBOY]

Yes it's the 1996 Pontiac Bonneville - It is impervious to the electro magnetic pulse created by detonation of a nuclear device. I happen to have one in my garage I'll sell you. Remember not just any 1996 Bonneville will do it must (I repeat) MUST have a spun rod bearing to stand up to EMP.

[Poohbah]

Also, does anyone know of body shops that can "harden" a car against EMP? I assume this would involve removing all of the computer chips from the car and replacing them with "hardened" chips if those exist.

Actually, it would involve placing a Faraday cage inside your engine compartment.

Radiation-hardened chips have a miniscule production rate, as they are very expensive to make and are only economically useful in areas where it is KNOWN they will be exposed to high radiation flux.

Does anyone know of any outfits that sell "hardened against EMP" appliances available to a retail consumer?

Ones that really sell these things, or ones that SAY they're hardened against EMP?

I suppose I could just take the "hard" path and wait for an EMP attack and hope that it only effects a limited area of the United States (perferrably not near where I live). Then I would have to wait for remaining private industry to crank up and sell products shielded against EMP.

Actually, any EMP powerful enough to reliably kill your car is likely to be strong enough to bake your brains as well...

[antivenom]

NOOO...has to be TIN foil NOT aluminum foil...sheeessshhh...

[Eaglefixer]

Any car with points and no computer box will be EMP resistent. Most of the about pre 1975 cars were such cars. about 1976 they started to include different levels of solid state components in the ignition systems.

My 1971 Mustang Mach 1 is such a car and is stinkingly fast.

[July 4th]

Build a box for your car made of foot-thick lead on all sides, and cover it in another foot of concrete. Park your car inside. Voila!

Seriously...where do you think you're going to get gas if there's an EMP attack? And you had better bulletproof the car too, since if yours is the only one running after the attack, someone else is going to want it. Don't waste your time.

[Captainpaintball]

I think you are acting a litte too hasty at this juncture, BUT...this information should be discussed with the same seriousness as any other topic on this forum.

I doubt the average mechanic even knows what an EMP is, so the chances of one being able to fix it is slim and none. I'll ask some mechanics today, though, when I go to work!

If this a joke post, let me remind you...China has nukes and the delivery sysyem to send them over here! (Thank you klinton!) And in the news today, Russia is planning to resume "nook-yoo-lar" (as bush pronounces it) testing soon. Put North Korea, Iraq, and Iran in the picture, and your question gains more validity.

[Lanman]