Alcoa uses plastic to create lightweight hybrid truck tailgate - News - Brief Article
American Metal Market, March 26, 2002 by Al Wrigley

DETROIT -- True to its promise to become more involved in automotive component design, even if it means promoting materials other than aluminum, Alcoa Inc. has created a lightweight tailgate for pickup trucks and crossover vehicles with cargo boxes.

Pittsburgh-based Alcoa said the aluminum-and-plastic tail gate design would save automakers about 45 percent in weight. Alcoa hopes the five auto companies building pickups in North America will adopt the new aluminum-and-plastic design for use on their vehicles as a consumer-friendly feature that also will contribute to improved fuel economy.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...10/ai_84309334

 

i've e-mailed alcoa.
told them i wanted one...
then asked if they had any samples that i would be happy to test them.

i bet they'll send me a sample right out.....LOL LOL

 

update,
i received 2 e-mail replies from Alcoa.
my inquiry/request has yet to reach the correct Alcoa dept...

good news is that they didn't laugh at me or blow me off immediately....

my guess is that one of these tail gates will cost about 400 bucks...

 

tell em you want two... so you can get a wider spread on the "testing" I'll pay shipping from your house to mine... LOL

 

a tail gate just as strong but 45% lighter makes alot of sense to me.....

if they e-mail me back i'll tell 'em you want one too....