1938 Phantom Corsair

[robertwb70]

Did a search and didn't get any hits on this one, it looks pretty slick to me regardless of it's actual aerodynamics.
Maybe someone has some info on it?

Google image search- 1938 phantom corsair - Google Search

[Zerohour]

I would rock that car now. Where has automotive industry gone wrong? I heart to have a vehicle that looks proper in moon hubcaps and white walls.

[skyl4rk]

Thank you for that pic, I had not seen that car before.

Very nice.

[bikin' Ed]

That would make a great Miata kit!!!

[bhazard]

"electrically operated four speed gearbox"

"front wheel drive"

"fully independent suspension"

"adjustable shock absorbers"


... in 1938?!

[robertwb70]

Wikipedia says it weighed 4500 lbs, had 190 HP and could go 115 MPH?
Sounds like it was gearing/RPM limited?

[Zerohour]

4500 pounds on unbelted radials from 1930's, If it did hit 115mph it didn't do it for long. Also there is a large issue of balancing internals and harmonic dampening. This certainly wasn't as evolved as it is with today's engine.

And I don't think the adjustable shock absorbers were turn knob Koni's, or push button either. They probably had fluid ports to change fluid amount/pressure inside the tube.

Electronic trans probably mean the gear changes were actuator driven. Possibly a push button system from inside the car.

I find conflicting information on the car...it says it was supercharged, but this site said it was NA with Stromburg Carburettor.

General specifications
Country of origin United States
Numbers built N/A (Prototype)
Produced in 1938
Body design Rust Heinz / Maurice Schwartz

Engine
Configuration Lycoming 80º V 8
Location Front, longitudinally mounted
Displacement 4.729 liter / 288.6 cu in
Bore / Stroke 89.0 mm (3.5 in) / 95.0 mm (3.7 in)
Valvetrain 2 valves / cylinder, OHV
Fuel feed Stromberg Carburettor
Aspiration Naturally Aspirated

Drivetrain
Chassis/body body on steel frame
Front suspension independent, semi-elliptic springs, shock absorbers
Rear suspension rigid axle, semi-elliptic springs, shock absorbers
Steering worm-and-nut
Brakes hydraulic drums, all-round
Gearbox Electric 4 speed Automatic
Drive Front wheel drive

Performance figures
Power 190 bhp / 142 KW @ 4000 rpm
BHP/Liter 40 bhp / liter

[Zerohour]

[MorphDaCivic]

I saw this car at the Harrah's car museum in Reno last spring. Awesome car! Awesome car museum if your ever in Reno.

[The Toecutter]

7 inch tall tires on a 16 inch rim gives a total wheel diameter of ~28”(counting tire sag; 30” without sag). With 4th gear of 0.64 and a final drive of 4.70, this yields 116 mph at 4200 rpm. Its gearing is probably correct for its max speed.

What is a good estimate of the rolling resistance coefficient of those old bias ply tires? How efficient do you think the transmission might have been back then? Power draw from DC generator? I’d love to get an approximation of the car’s CdA. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cd was in the low 0.3 range; it has a frontal area ~24 sq ft judging by the height and width.