Aerodynamics at the new LeMay Museum

[Vman455]

I was back home for the weekend, which just happened to coincide with the grand opening of America's Car Museum in Tacoma. One of the exhibits there featured three cars from the GM collection:







Needless to say, I whipped out my camera phone and started taking pictures. I've seen an EV1 before, more than a dozen years ago now, but never really had the chance to get a close look at some of its aerodynamic features; ditto the Volt. It was especially interesting to compare the two.

Pronounced plan taper:



...and, not so much:



Sharp edges at the backs of both cars:





The EV1 has a completely smooth underside:







...as did the Impact.



The Volt relies on a very deep airdam to keep airflow from passing under the car:





Almost a full upper grill block on the Volt, too.



There are also a first-gen Prius and Leaf back there:



There were other interesting cars as well. Strakes on the mirror of the Lexus LF-A:



One of my favorite cars:



Shock absorber from a 1932 Indy car:



And, an organ pipe on a 1917 Pierce Arrow. I couldn't figure out what on earth this was for!

[Cd]

Thanks for that shot of the back end of the Impact .

( BTW In a survey, " Impact" was voted as one of the worst names for a car. Way to go on first impressions GM ! )

I had never seen that angle low and behind angle before. That and the other images you posted really seem to confirm the idea that GM intentionally " uglied up " the design before they released the EV-1.

The original design looks sleek and balanced , versus bloated and drab.

As I mentioned in previous threads, the front end of the EV-1 looks as if the car got hit in grille and now has a fat lip.

[Vman455]

The color helps it, too, and the taillights really improve the rear end.

[skyking]

Thanks, Vman!
I was on other business that day, and heard something on the street I had never heard before. It was a 30's roadster of some sort, pulling out of a service station across from me.
The sound was pure turbine! It had an APU or maybe an Allison 250 under the hood, and was likely on the way to the opening that day. I would guess it could not pass many diesel filling stations along the way. Definitely not eco-modded

EDIT: I found it!
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z...-Roadster.aspx

[oil pan 4]

I will put that one in my bucket list for sure.

[fusion210]

Thanks for the pics, I would have been all over the impact!

[redneck]

And, an organ pipe on a 1917 Pierce Arrow. I couldn't figure out what on earth this was for!

Looks like a exhaust whistle to me. They were used as a alternative to a horn.

>

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by Vman455

The color helps it, too, and the taillights really improve the rear end.

...in this view, the rear window reminds me of the early 1950's Studebaker rear windows (my parents had a 1951 with the bullet nose).

[Sven7]

Yuuup!

The under body panels on the EV1 are indeed a thing of beauty. Did you notice the lower inlet for the radiator?

[NeilBlanchard]

I'll bet that the Cd 0.19 that we all think is for the EV1, is actually for the Impact. No mirrors and the rear wheel strakes, etc. The EV1 is actually Cd 0.20, I think?

If possible, can we get some full profile pictures of the Impact? It definitely looks better than the EV1 -- subtle styling differences help it lose the dowdy look of the EV1. Case in point: