Here's a thread I can add to over time which shows a historical development of low-drag automobile test models or actual 'running' vehicles.
I'll try and keep them in chronological order.
NOTE: Low-Drag is defined as Cd 0.25 or lower for the sake of this thread.Sorry I didn't make this qualification at first.
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1850,derigible,Pierre Julien,1st longitudinally asymmetrical (teardrop) body.
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1865,Air resisting train,Samuel Calthrop
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1922 'pumpkin seed',Paul Jaray,Zeppelin Works,Germany,Cd 0.13.Based upon a streamlined half-body.First use of a 'diffuser.'
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1922 streamline half-body,Wolfgang Klemperer, Cd 0.15
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1924,patent illustration for streamlined car.Persu.
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1933 wind tunnel model,Walter Lay,University of Michigan.Cd 0.12.
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1933 R.H.Heald,U.S.Dept. of Commerce,Bureau of Standards,Cd 0.20
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1934 Dymaxion Car,R. Buckminster Fuller, Cd 0.25 (estimated)
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1934-1/2 Chrysler De Soto Airflow test mule,Carl Breer,Cd 0.244.
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1935 (circa) 'Kamm' car,wind tunnel model,Baron Reinhard Koenig-Fachsenfeld
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1935 DKW Meisterclasse, Jaray-bodied,by Sighard F.Hoerner,Cd 0.245.
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1935-6 Elliott Gray Reid,Stanford University,Cd 0.15
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1937 AVA G'o'ttingen Sch'o'r wagen (pilbug car),Cd 0.186
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1938 Mobil Special,Reid Railton,Cd 0.18
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1938 AVA G'o'ttingen 'Lange' car,Cd 0.14-0.16 (1/5-scale smooth model with zero features)(Cd 0.16 by Hucho et al @ Volkswagen tunnel)
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1957 MG EX181,land speed record car,Cd 0.12
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1963 tractor trailer,Walter H. Korff,Lockheed, Cd 0.20
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1969 Composite wind tunnel model 'recipe' car,R.G.S.White,MIRA,Cd 0.245.
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1978 D-B M-B C-111 III,long tail, Cd 0.178
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1978 D-B M-B C-111 III,short-tail, Cd 0.195
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1978 D-B M-B C-111 III,no-tail, Cd 0.237
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circa 1980 NASA van,long tail, Cd 0.238
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circa 1980 NASA van,truncated tail, Cd 0.242
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2000- HONDA 1st-gen Insight, Cd 0.25
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Toyota Prius, Cd 0.25
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2006 Daihatsu UFE-III, Cd 0.168
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2012 Ford Probe-X ,Cd 0.152
