Donatini MB 8 – Raul Donatini
It's been more than 10 years as I lugged the photo of this car without having found any information.
And recently, I resumed my research and thanks to an Argentine TV show posted on Youtube, I finally found what I was looking.
La photo in question…
The Donatini MB 8 (For 8 wheels) is a traditional vehicle to try a new technology in suspension and structure. Raul Donatini is the creator and designer.
The suspension of the vehicle was designed by Raul Donatini, this is the result of a lifetime of operation course.Son car development is comparable to the behavior of a three-legged table: all the feet are in contact with the ground at any time, If you remove a foot, the table falls. Most cars operate as a four-legged table, when there is an imperfection in the carriageway, the car still loses grip on one foot (wheels).
A small 3D exaggerated to illustrate the basic principle (from Marc 😉 )
the MB 8 functions as a three-legged table, each foot divided into two legs which in turn are hinged together. The result is a car that has strong adhesion at any time, in addition to other mechanical devices that allow improved suspension cornering (the car has a roll inverter, which transfers the load of the car on the inside of the curve), the MB 8 thus has an independent floating body chassis. The chassis should suffer no twisting through the design of the suspension.
The front wheel covers are static, good aerodynamic solution.
The hind has ideal behavior, it shifts the burden of external to internal wheels wheels, based thereon. Having two tires on the same rim to manage two distinct pressures, which is an important safety factor. the MB 8 is also equipped with a fin.
All studies were conducted before construction 1994. We could not make the patent for lack of economic resources. The drawings were sent to the FIA but we never got an answer.
(Ed If sponsors come by, thanks for them).
Some design elements were used and are used in F1. it hurts to see how they use your work without even saying thank you, considering that we do this as a hobby, we have no money to spend there.
About the engine : The whole car was developed based on the dimensions of a Mercedes Benz turbo diesel five-cylinder. For economic reasons, this engine was sold. Currently, it is equipped with a Mercedes Benz M116 engine (V8) with a carburetor Holley 40-40 adapted.
We are currently restoring the car, it was loaned to several exhibitions and was damaged again.
The project multiroues Raul and Federico are completed, other vehicles are in study 2013.
If you wish it, you can contact them by email :
Raul Donatini
Federico Donatini
24/08/2018 Update…
It’s in February 2013 that I had managed to have Raul Donatini in my Facebook friends and I had sent him a long message at the time explaining who I was and what I expected from him…
And it's in 2018 that he answered me, it’s true that it’s not always easy to understand the Facebook interface, especially since we are not very young…
So we were able to trade Raul and I, in Spanish and in private messages. Recently he sent me his drawing boards, the ones he used to design the MB8. I present them to you exclusively. I also add several new photos.
Thank you Raul Donatini !
Its designer says that this is a city car with the features of a formula 1.
The 4 front wheels gives it an exceptional handling, and the 2 time 4 rear wheels provide him ideal behavior, the load is perfectly distributed between 8 wheels and there is moreover a double safety factor.
Construction this car out standards was realized by craftsmen, the vehicle was started in 1994 and completed in 1998. But the project was initiated in 1976 .
You will notice a peculiarity, the left front part includes an additional double headlight.
There have been several versions, of many colors and shapes on the same chassis.
Technical specifications of the Donatini MB8 :
Origin : Argentine.
Frame : Steel monohull.
Body : Sport Fiberglass
Doors : 1 non-automatic, it must raise at 2 people.
Front suspension : Independent with double parallelograms.
Rear suspension : Type Mercedes-Benz.
Direction : Power assisted rack with plate corrector.
Aerodynamic : Minimum front resistance with a rear spoiler.
Engines : Optional, V8 and box. Prepared to host motorizations up to 650 HP.
Length : 446 cm.
Width : 198 cm.
High : 116 cm.
Weight : 1,356 kg.
Current engine : Central Mercedes Benz M116 (V8), Holley carburetor adapted 40-40.
Distribution : SOHC, 16 valves.
Displacement : 4,2 Litres, 3499 cm3.
Power (HP) : 200 to 5800 tr/mn.
Couple (MKG) : 286 Nm (29.2 kgm) to 4000 tr/mn.
Speed : 290 km/h.
Training : Propulsion.
Cooling : Water.
Top speed : Depending on the engines. Current engine of 290 km/h.
Prototype : Equipped with a Mercedes Benz differential and V8.
wheels : R15 / 55/14 High speed, 4 steerable wheels on the front, 2 double rear wheels, with an exclusive design rim for 2 tires.
brakes : 6 discs, 4 before and 2 back.
Notes :
The body is floating, without conventional springs or damper connected to the body, with an exclusive design just like the suspensions and the front roll reverser.
The wheel covers do not turn, they are static to improve the aerodynamics of the car.
Total value : 200.000 USD.
Value without mechanics : 150.000 USD.
The video in question :
A few family photos in front of the MB 8, exclusive on SixMania, courtesy of Federico Donatini.
Mercedes-Benz V8 engine
Beautyful car and Raul Donatini a very good man. Thanks to you.