Engineer-A-Car is a place to explore mechanical and electronic systems through automotive-adjacent work, with an emphasis on systems thinking, restraint, and respect for physical machines.
I’m Halldór Stefánsson — an engineer with a background in mechatronics — interested in how modern electronics and software can be integrated into mechanical systems without erasing their character.
Much of the work documented here is centred around a long-term project: the thoughtful modernisation of a 1972 MGB GT. The goal is not to “upgrade” the car in a superficial sense, but to design reversible, well-considered systems that coexist with the original engineering rather than replace it.
This site is not a tutorial platform or a product showcase. It’s an engineering notebook made public.
What’s documented here
System design notes
Architectures, trade-offs, constraints, and failure modes when combining mechanical systems with electronics and software.
Project logs
Incremental work on automotive-adjacent systems — from early design and simulation to integration and iteration.
Foundational material (archived)
Earlier writing on automotive fundamentals, embedded systems, and communication protocols. Still relevant, but no longer the main focus.
How to read this site
Expect:
- Design decisions explained plainly
- Incomplete work and open questions
- Emphasis on why something is done, not just how
- Minimal polish and no hype
The intent is clarity, not performance.
If you’re working with mechanical systems and are curious about integrating electronics thoughtfully — or if you care about engineering that ages well — you may find something useful here.
Thanks for reading. Let's build something interesting.
— Halldór