How do you construct a candle powered car?

Question

there are no real restrictions on the size or shape of the vehicle. It cannot contain any sources of stored energy such as springs or compressed fluids. The maximum number of birthday candles is ten. candles may be physically cut, formed or changed, but in no way shall any chemical transformations take place. The lighting of the candle procedure shall not be a heat transfer greater than necessary to simply light the candle. Furthermore, the lighting of the candle will be the only outside energy that may be transferred to the vehicle. (i.e. the car cannot be given an initial push). Your budget for materials is $50.00.

Answer 1

There is a candle-powered boat:

http://www.grand-illusions.com/acatalog/...

You could use the same concept to design a candle powered car. Although, I think the water played a major role in the operation of the boat by cooling off the components. If the simple steam engine is overheated, it probably won't work.

Answer 2

I'd have to build this to make sure it worked, but it is a start.  The rules don't say you can't buy pre-made components.  So....

Go to a magic shop or a place like Spencer's Gifts and buy one of those gadgets that is sort of barbell shaped that has a low boiling liquid that will boil when you hold it in your hand.  Hold it and all the liquid moves to the bulb on the other end.  Let it cool and the liquid returns to the bottom.  This gives you a source of heat powered shifting weight.

Design a rocking platform with a crank-shaft to hold the gadget .  Candle goes on the end that you would hold in your hand.

Theory of operation:

Heat gently with a candle, liquid boils and moves to other end, heated end rocks up away from candle, cools, rocks back down driving crank-shaft moving car.  

Build it light and it should work.

Or

Build a small boiler and make a steam jet powered car

Good luck!!