Project AeroMetro thoroughly underway now.

[hypermiler01]

This project is based on a 93 Metro that was rolled over in a snowbank two years ago.

I have completed the engine rebuild, gathered all of the parts, and am beginning the framing of the body this winter. Fiberglass will have to wait for warm weather again. It will be epoxy resin over pink styrofoam.

[theycallmeebryan]

I think it should look more like this without the large rear fin and the cockpit tailed off to the body's tail.

[hypermiler01]

Nice, but that would require a new chassis.

Version 2 will have a tube chassis and central cockpit with tandem seating, but version 1 is just built on a stock Metro.

[MetroMPG]

The rendering reminds me a bit of a Jaray body (though they tended to taper more in profile at the end of the main body):





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[Cd]

Nice !
Do you plan to taper the back end any ? It seems like you could slope it at a more aerodynamic angle.
If your intention is to have the back end at a height level with the bumper of a speeding vehicle behind you ( might be wise ! ) then you could always have the lights and 'bumper' mounted high, and have the region below it hollowed out.


How do you plan to enter the vehicle ?

[hypermiler01]

I kept the tail up higher for safety and also to prevent lift at 80-90 mph like the Porsche long-tails had.

Currently I can pick the back of the car up off the ground since all of the cutting. Any lift at all would be very bad. The bottom of the car will include a ducted belly pan to try and get a little downforce.

The canopy will be hinged gull-wing style in the middle.

The wheels are 14x5.5" Mazda RX7 alloys, very light, and I am going to try Nokian H tires.

[theycallmeebryan]

90 mph? Are you going for the land speed record in a metro? Did i miss that somewhere?

You should aim for something like the Aerocivic

[RobertSmalls]

The ideal would be a half-teardrop with wheels. The Jaray body looks like it comes pretty close to that. MetroMPG, any idea what the Cd of that is?

So is your new rollcage going to be on-center like in the renders? What will you be using for glazing?

Since you're cutting off the old glasshouse, you're starting with a cleaner slate than most of us get to. Lucky you. I look forward to seeing some pics and data.

[Bicycle Bob]

I presume you are using the epoxy to stay compatible with the styrofoam. If you use a barrier coat of System Three SB-112 epoxy, you can switch to polyester, or to vinylester which has almost the same properties as epoxy. The esters soak in to the cloth about ten times faster, and have a more convenient, controllable cure cycle. For finishing work, they are compatible with Bondo and all the usual time-savers, as well as being about five times easier to sand. I use epoxy where low shrinkage or impermeability are paramount, but for a car body, the cost and labour would be prohibitive IMHO.

[Frank Lee]

Looks like a rather large package for a single occupant...