Capra (Romania) - AllCarIndex

Virgilius Justin Capra (born February 22, 1933, in Magureni, Prahova County) was a Romanian professor, engineer, inventor, and philosopher who became one of the most prolific inventors of contemporary Romania. His innovative work focused on creating highly efficient, eco-friendly vehicles and personal mobility solutions. His inventions revolved around the concept of individually tailored portability, contributing significantly to the field of green technology.

Here are some of Capra's most remarkable automotive creations:

Jet Backpack: One of Capra's early inventions, this backpack allowed for individual propulsion. He created his first version in 1956, pioneering personal jet propulsion technology.

Troty (Foldable Electric Tricycle): An eco-friendly electric tricycle designed for personal transport, Troty was compact, foldable, and efficient. It represented Capra’s vision of lightweight and portable transportation for urban mobility.

Oblio 3C: A hybrid between a scooter and a mini car, Oblio 3C was a tiny electric-powered automobile. Its unique design made it a cross between two different vehicle types, focusing on small size and energy efficiency.

Soleta: One of the smallest cars in the world, the Soleta had an astonishing fuel consumption of only 0.5 liters per 100 kilometers. It was designed to be extremely fuel-efficient, demonstrating Capra’s dedication to creating vehicles with minimal environmental impact.

Virgilius: This two-wheel, jet engine-powered car consumed just 1 liter of fuel per 100 kilometers. The design showed Capra’s continuous innovation in making ultra-lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles.

Overall, Capra's designs were groundbreaking in terms of their sustainability and innovation. He built 130 inventions in total, including 72 extremely economical automobile prototypes, 7 flying devices, and 15 unconventional engines. His cars were often built from discarded materials, and some weighed 15 times less than standard vehicles, showcasing his ingenuity in creating lightweight and energy-efficient solutions.