Buick Wildcat 1985
 

Hi I don't know if this has been discussed but what is the drag and frontal area of this car?

Don't have an answer for you. But thanks for the memory. I remember reading about that car back in the day. I sure did want Buick to build it.

Overall width: 72.3 inches
Overall height: 43.7 inches

72.3 x 43.7 = 3160 x .84 = 2654 / 144 = 18.4 sq ft estimated frontal area. The greenhouse angles in more than most but then the tires might be fatter than most so who knows which way the formula should be adjusted.

Another web source places it at 18.6 sq ft but that's just another estimate.

Various web sources give Cd at .27, .28, and .32; for the .27 and .28 it was not stated if those were estimates or figures given by GM. The .32 was estimated.

It's a beauty and I sure would like to have it in my driveway, especially since it has one of my favorite engines, the 3800 V6.

.32 eh? Any suggestions for improvements?

For some reason I trust the .28-.29 values more.

At any rate, my suggestion for improvement would be to trade it in on an Aerotech.

i like this one better

The Wraith Car (based on the Dodge M4S Turbo Interceptor)

Where is this going anyway?

I loved the Wildcat and similar GM cars of that era.

Website with more Wildcat information (Russian - .ru):
1985 Buick WildCat -
http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/c...Concept_03.jpg

Yeah, the Pontiac Stinger and Banshee, and the Camaro were nice too, and especially the Pontiac minivan which in concept was soooo cool and in production was soooo yuck.

BWAHAHAHA- they make such a big deal about the "technological and design breakthrough" of the rising canopy and steering column... not only does that ignore the old Isetta, but even more closely GM's own 1967 Astro I. :rolleyes: Ahhh, marketing hype.

Somewhere in storage I have a NAIAS acquired poster of the 1986 Corvette Indy concept.

It's a hand drawn marker type sketch on thick paper stock which they were handing out for free. I had it on my old apartment wall for years, brings back a lot of memories from back in my bachelor days.

On a related note, I have a framed, very nice rendering of a Vector from back in the day hanging in the office. Wow has that been there a long time! :eek:

I have my own Vector story if we really want to hi-jack this thread properly.

Exotic Cars Photos by kach22i | Photobucket
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...ound-Sq-Lk.jpg

Of the mid 1980 GM concepts, I think the Wildcat was the purest, the most unadorned.

Maybe the shorter front and rear overhangs and lack of wings/spoilers just made for a lighter more nimble looking design.

Looks like fun!

It isn't hard to tell the odd one out is it :D

I love how so many concept cars have huge greenhouses. Big enough to turn the interior into a sauna in anything but the middle of winter...

Needing an immense A/C system does not make for overly efficient driving. ;)

-soD

immense
 

In the 1980s,the Mercury Sable was using NASA-inspired low-emissivity coatings on the windshield to lower solar gain.I think it's replacement cost was $2,300.Ouch!:eek:

So would this benefit from a boat tail like some of the other concepts mentioned on here? What about a rounder front end instead of that ground effect?

The problem with concept cars I've looked into before is that they are mostly about what's happening up top (the visual), and not so much the function.

With mid-engined concepts from the 1960's-1970's the airflow underneath was neglected and got all messed up (via engine bay openings below), raising Cd numbers. I suggest seeking out images of the belly, perhaps a plastic model photo would reveal a lot and answer your question snakub.

As far as the nose being less pointy, we have assumed in aero-template exercises that the front half of the car no matter what the shape is (within reason) will get the desired attachment and pressurization of air for the flow of air around the body to form.

In my opinion, if the engine and transmission were not over the real axle, the underbelly could sweep upward eliminating the need for a boat-tail. However, we have what we have and yes a longer tail would help in this case.

Example: Oldsmobile Aerotech concept car
Oldsmobile Aerotech concept car photos
http://gomotors.net/photos/9d/5b/mw-...ms_0c9e1.jpg?i

More Aerotech:
http://deansgarage.com/2011/1987-oldsmobile-aerotech/
http://deansgarage.com/wp-content/ga..._at_speed2.jpg

Wildcat Concept:
http://www.supercars.net/cars/273.html
http://www.supercars.net/gallery/119513/1918/807983.jpg
EDIT: On a second look, airflow over the exposed engine could be problematic. However, a simple cover would fix that.
http://www.supercars.net/cars/273.html
http://www.supercars.net/gallery/119513/1918/807984.jpg

benefit
 

I think Kach22i hit the nail on the head.That it was all about the 'look.'
I've not seen the belly of the Wildcat but suspect that it's a bottom breather as far as the cooling system goes(like Trans Am Firebird and Corvette),and that slot under the nose is for cooling airflow to the embedded inlet duct.So we might forgive the nose as is.
If it were designed for low-drag rather than 'bling' they might have reduced the rear track and given the body the 'raindrop' shape of the Impact/EV1,with plan taper of the body to match that of the greenhouse.This would start the boat-tailing at mid-door,leaving a significantly smaller wake.For its length,it would have fairly small booty.

FYI: a nice site on the Aerotech development.

Green Hotel : Bangkok Thailand | www.greenbkk.com reservation@greenbkk.com: GreenBkk.com Auto | Ed Welburn Drives the Oldsmobile Aerotech
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5to8RdZk78...4/s1600/03.jpg

Aerotech article
 

Thanks kach22i,it's a good article.
If memory serves me,on the 267-mph average run,A.J.Foyt went as fast as 283-mph on one of the passes.He thought the car would go closer to 300-mph,but he was already being blown around the track at Ft.Stockton and made no attempt.There is no barrier there to contain a car and if you lose it on a curve it's a bad seen.Don Schroeder,who tested my CRX was killed there testing a special Mercedes-Benz.
Running these things on good dry salt at Bonneville would help us know their actual top speed potential.Maybe safer too.