Local Motors is a company which plans to blow us all away at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago, Illinois, on September 8-13, 2014. There they plan on 3D printing an actual car, within the 
Back in April, to bring attention to their 3D printing aspirations, Local Motors decided to launch a 3D Printed Car Design Challenge, in which they asked the public to design their own 3D printable cars. After six weeks and 207 entries from designers around the globe, Local Motors has announced seven winners who will share $11,000 in cash prizes. Six of the winners were chosen by an independent judging panel, while one winner was picked based on the public’s vote. Let’s take a look at the top designs.
Grand Prize – Judges Pick: Strati
The top prize went to Michele Anoé from Italy, with his 3D printed car, ‘Strati’. The design of this vehicle was very unique, using varying angles to give the car a rugged dune buggy-like feel. The seats of this car are also 3D printed, are removeable, and can be customized for the driver and passenger. It had “excellent balance between innovation, complexity (good 3D lines) and practicality (retractable roof),” said Dr. Lonnie Love, one of the judges on the panel and director at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Anoé will walk away with $5000 in cash, a ticket to the IMTS, and his design will influence that of the actual car which Local Motors plans on printing in September.
1st Place – Awarded to highest voted design by the community: Internal Strut Frame
The top community vote went to a man named Greg Thompson. Many within the community had predicted this design to win the $5000 prize, however, judges opted for the Strati. What makes this design so clever is the use of vertical struts which support the upper parts of the vehicle, allowing for a lighter car, but extremely strong frame. This vehicle is a bit more sporty than that of the Strati. Thompson took home $1000 in cash for his design.
$1,000 Consolation Winner – AeroBlade
$1,000 Consolation Winner – 3DPCX
$1,000 Consolation Winner – Supernova
$1,000 Consolation Winner – Mirage
$1,000 Consolation Winner – E-Spider
Congratulations to all the winners. There really were some amazing designs which should have won, if it were not for the fact that there were only so many prizes to be given out. The full gallery of designs submitted for the 3D Printed Car Design Challenge can be found here. What was your favorite design? Let’s hear your opinion at the Local Motors 3D printed car forum thread at 3DPB.com