How to Design a Rubber Band Powered Car

Brainstorm the design of your car. Think about how you want the base to look, and draw a rough diagram on a sheet of paper.

Draw and design the base for your car. You can make the base any size or shape that fits your design, but make it at least 3 1/2 inches wide by 6 inches long.

Mark the center of the back of the car. Draw a 1/2-inch-wide notch at the rear of the base, that extends about 1 1/2 inches toward the front.

Cut the car base, and notch, out of the cardboard.

Flip over the car base and glue the two straws to the bottom. Place one straw toward the front, and the other toward the back, crossing the notch. Make the two straws parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the side of the car.

Cut a gap in the straw crossing the notch.

Cut the dowel in half to form two axles.

Glue one of the wheels onto a dowel axle. Repeat with another wheel and remaining axle piece.

Slide the axles through the straws, and glue the other wheels in place on the exposed ends of the axle. Test the axles to make sure they turn.

Flip the binder clip to the open position and squeeze one of the arms to pop it out of the clip.

Slip the arm into your elastic band, and then put the arm back on the binder clip.

Clip the binder clip to the front center of the vehicle and flip the arms to the closed position.

Glue and staple the elastic band to the exposed part of the axle that shows through the notch. Wait a few minutes for the glue to dry to make sure you have a strong connection.

Draw the sides and top of your vehicle, if it's part of your design, on some more cardboard. Try to draw them as a single piece, or add tabs--1/2-inch flaps on the edges of each piece. Cut these pieces out and glue them onto your car.

Place the car on the floor and roll it backward, so that the elastic band is wound around the rear axle. When you release the car, the elastic band will pull taut and pull the vehicle forward.