Learning something new everyday

Kinja'd!!! "Maxima Speed" (maximaspeed)
08/14/2018 at 21:00 • Filed to: None

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The above vehicle is the Mobility Vehicle One (MV-1), a specially built taxi vehicle, designed to provide mobility options for the wheelchair bound. The vehicle is American made was first designed by the Vehicle Production Group using a loan from the Department of Energy, the vehicle was actually produced by AM General in Indiana. At some point the Vehicle production group ceased to exist, AM General then acquired the rights to build it and stated a new company, Mobility Ventures, which is manufacturing them to this day. Photos of the interior reveal a spacious interior with plenty of room for wheelchairs, people, and presumably cargo if you were to get inventive.

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The MV-1 is equipped with a Ford 3.7 V6 engine with an atrociously bad 14 City/ 16 Highway mileage, and a 6 speed automatic transmission. The interior is spacious enough that it make me wonder about the possibility of a rural taxi/parcel delivery service which multi-tasks into multiple roles. When I saw it for the first time today, it appeared to be operating in the role of a university shuttle. Anyways, here is the link to the current website incase you wanted to look more into the details of this odd little slice of American automotive trivia.


DISCUSSION (13)


Kinja'd!!! Ash78, voting early and often > Maxima Speed
08/14/2018 at 21:07

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Cool truck. About once every 6 months someone comes on Oppo with a post like this.

I first saw one about 3-4 years ago and was convinced it was some crazy Chinese SUV.


Kinja'd!!! Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > Maxima Speed
08/14/2018 at 21:12

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There are a few in my area. They’ve got a large Element/Compass vibe going on. I have always admired them because of the complete utilitarian  design.


Kinja'd!!! HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Maxima Speed
08/14/2018 at 21:23

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The first time I saw one was in Milwaukee about 6 years ago. I was very confused because it looks like a Honda Element  but a bad CGI animated show version. That is also 5/4 the size. 


Kinja'd!!! jimz > Maxima Speed
08/14/2018 at 21:45

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if you think the gas mileage is bad with the 3.7, you should have seen it with the original 4.6 2 valve wheezer.


Kinja'd!!! BigBlock440 > Maxima Speed
08/14/2018 at 22:02

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TIL: They now come with a V6


Kinja'd!!! McMike > Ash78, voting early and often
08/14/2018 at 22:05

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About once every 6 months someone comes on Oppo with a post like this.

I’ve seen it posted just as often on other automotive forums. Four out of five times, this is the car in the “What kind of car is this?” threads.


Kinja'd!!! Rico > McMike
08/14/2018 at 22:52

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Always blow my mind because I see them almost every day.


Kinja'd!!! Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Maxima Speed
08/14/2018 at 23:23

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Honestly surprised you haven’t seen one before. NOACA bought a bunch of them for various mobility assistance and senior programs around here.

Related FunFact: the MV-1 is actually cheaper than a wheelchair converted minivan or SUV.


Kinja'd!!! razorbeamteam > Maxima Speed
08/15/2018 at 00:15

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These are used as cabs in Chicago. I’ve ridden from ohare several times in one of these. They are huge inside! I thought they were CNG for some reason, but I guess not. Every time I’ve gotten one in the cab line, the driver goes full race car  and you get thrown around because there’s nothing to hold onto and the seat is really high. 


Kinja'd!!! Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Maxima Speed
08/15/2018 at 00:56

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I wonder if you can transport (some) motorcycles with this...?

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Kinja'd!!! Maxima Speed > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
08/15/2018 at 02:39

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I’m in the South- East part of the state, and I’m never in Athens where I saw this . I always go to Marietta or across the river to Parkersburg/Vienna. I love Marietta, I dislike Parkersburg, and I  loathe Athens.


Kinja'd!!! Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
08/15/2018 at 07:09

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We have one locally.

Outside of seeing that one on occasion, I have never seen another one anywhere else.


Kinja'd!!! VRFlyer > Maxima Speed
08/15/2018 at 16:41

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My 80-something year old neighbor uses one of these from COTA. They look goofy.