Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5
Probably many cars would be more efficient if driven backwards. The hood and engine bay of a car make for a natural taper best utilized in the rear of the vehicle. If we didn't need crumple zones (accidents so rare as to be unnecessary to engineer for it), maybe we'd see cars designed with a more blunt front end with a taper to the rear.
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After pondering a flight of aircraft, Carl Breer considered their shape, with respect to efficiency, eventually leading to the development of Chrysler's 1934 Airflow series automobiles.
Model wind tunnel testing revealed that their DeSoto sedan had lower drag backwards. And as a publicity stunt, leading up the the debut of the Airflow, they hired race car driver Harry Hartz to drive a 'backwards Plymouth', coast-to-coast to to run the concept home with American motorists. The 'backwards' car had a higher top speed and better fuel economy.
Mythbusters tried this with a Porsche 928. I haven't seen the episode.
In 1996, Ford Thunderbird, Winston Cup Series, NASCAR, team owner, Robert Yates commented in a CIRCLE TRACK Magazine article that, their cars, as 'teardrops', would go much faster backwards.
