1922 Rumpler "teardrop" limousine

[JulianEdgar]

Originally Posted by sgtlethargic

How so, when the Gen1 Honda Insight is 0.25?

Yep, and the Insight is now 20 years old. 0.28 is nothing special at all today.

Would you say the car necessarily has a higher drag coefficient? I could see a scale model missing some drag that the fully functioning car has. But are scale models inaccurate due to size?

Drag coefficient testing of models is notoriously inaccurate.

The Wikipedia page claimed it was the lowest drag car for 30 years. It seems that low number would've been challenged in that time, but then again, maybe not.

Some people believe all sorts of numbers!

[sgtlethargic]

Originally Posted by JulianEdgar

If it doesn't matter if it is legal / a production car / etc, have a look at the Ford Probe concept cars for proper passenger-carrying cars with very low drag. I like this one particularly:

And I think its 0.153 Cd and 1.904m^2 frontal area are believable. (See SAE paper 831000)

The numbers are good; the style isn't. I had an '89 Probe for awhile and they look better than that does. I appreciate you posting it, though.

I don't need room for passengers. I don't know why you used "proper."

[sgtlethargic]

Originally Posted by freebeard

The FIAT Turbina is a good call. A 'productized' version of the Redhead or Bluebird-style Bonneville cars.

I'm leaning toward a a similar style design with more room for the driver than a tiny cockpit has.

[freebeard]

So.... More like this then?



aerohead and I used to speculate about what would have happened in the 1970s if the fiberglass kit car craze had offered up a Volkhart-Sagitta clone when Beetle chassis filled the wrecking yards. (My 2nd Beetle was a 1957 body on a 1966 chassis).

People were doing things like a steam engine (Mercury outboard block) back then.

Back To The Future wouldn't have had a DeLorean.
_______________


edit: I notice you don't need passenger space, so more Porsche Type 64?

Here's some inspiration: http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=94539

In 2014 one of Runge's Frankfort Flyers sold for US$84,900.

Seller's notes: "Hand hammered aluminum sports racer reminiscent of the post WWII "aircraft racers" of Germany."
....
I build my cars in fashion with this era of motoring history. hammering out sheet aluminum over tree stumps and shot bags. followed by wheeling to finish.

This auction is for the commissioned build of car 3/5 of the "Frankfurt Flyer" in Spyder design. I personally designed and build the car entirely by hand in my barn in Minnesota. My cars are built specifically around the driver and his/her driving style. height/weight and personal preferences. The price of this auction includes:

Check out the pix:

[jakobnev]

I'm thinking these wheels could be improved:



Instead of moon discs, wheels that are slightly "propellery" outwards in the front and inwards in the rear (not so that the they force the air, just so they allow it to pass as it wants) might do better.

[freebeard]

I guess I should have reduced this in size before I squirreled this away.



Here's what you're faced with with an open wheel.

Wire wheels were eventually replaced by solid disks. Of course wires are all drag, cast impeller wheels might have some benefit.

Boat tailed cycle fenders?

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by sgtlethargic

That's cool. What about the aerodynamic strategy(ies) used?

The greenhouse of the limousine mimics that of Rumpler's aircraft of the day.
The 'skiff'-shaped main body mimics underslung, Zeppelin airship gondolas.
There were a few of these 'boat-shaped' cars constructed over time.
PS the Rumpler open touring car of 1921 had Cd 0.54.

[freebeard]

OP — Have you seen this yet?



My Very Light Volkswagen design has a Tropfewagen tail and separated pantloon fenders. The windshield looks one-piece but would actually be three.



This has the advantage of flat glass and CyberTruck aerodynamics. It comes from Dick Dean's monocoque dune buggy, the Shalako:



https://www.themiamiautomuseum.com/g...3/503_p6_l.jpg

edit:

Also, don't forget the Mercedes-Benz Tropfenwagen.


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/...f15ae511_z.jpg