German experimentation with low Cd automobiles in the 1930's

[freebeard]

I always wanted to chop an early Type II (They used to cost $25 ) by taking the side window out completely—just drop the drip-rail right onto the beltline. Maybe quarter the body instead of the roof to reduce frontal area another 2sq ft.

Then set the driver seat down between the wheel wells and cut a hole in the roof for an open cockpit windscreen and fairing.

For occult reasons it would be named 'Speedy Express'.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

I've had them on my Photobucket library since then.

Neil, you can add this drawing to your library now.

The Schlörwagen or

[NeilBlanchard]

The packaging of the engine in the Persu design is better than in the Schlörwagen. And the comment by Bart on that article mentions a rumor that the Schlörwagen was moved to England in 1947.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

The packaging of the engine in the Persu design is better than in the Schlörwagen.

My failure to completely read the article lead me to assume the drawing was of the Schlorwagen, I stand corrected, the drawing is of the Persu design.

Interesting commentary, glad I've finally read the text.

The Schlörwagen or

But while it’s efficiency was undeniable, contemporary road tests revealed an unfortunate susceptibility to crosswinds, a characteristic it had in common with the Volkswagen “Beetle”. As with the ubiquitous “People’s Car”, this might have had more to do with it’s suspension system and rear engine placement than with it’s shape, but it had a real stability issue, nonetheless.

........................Our curiosity was piqued by the patent drawing we discovered of a very similar car from more than a decade earlier by an obscure Romanian engineer named Aurel Persu. While Schlör’s design bears an uncanny resemblance to it, this was more likely attributable to the unchanging laws of physics rather than any conscious attempt on his part to steal the idea.

One of Aurel Persu's other projects for context.
Suntem Romania ! : 100.Minti romanesti 3 : Aurel Persu,inovatorul automobilului aerodinamic. .( modern )

[orange4boy]

Ha Ha, Uncanny resemblance? Dude should check his glasses. Or perhaps he meant it looked less like a can.

"look. It has 4 wheels... and windows... By Jove, this car looks exactly like Schlör’s design! It's uncanny!

It's actually just a very large rollerskate.

[kach22i]

I've looked for an actual prototype based on the Persu patent drawing which looks so much like the Schlorwagen that it could be mistaken for it at first glance, but nothing so far.

Below is a link to the patent, seems to be written as a first attempt to "enclose the wheels".

Patent US1648505 - Streamline power vehicle - Google Patents


You can tell from the plan view (above) that it's not on a rectangular platform as the Schlorwagen is (below).

Schlor Pillbug Photos by NeilBlanchard | Photobucket


It appears that Persu kept his mid-engine layout on his later vehicle which I posted for "context", not to be confused with "comparison".

Persu - The Rain Drop Car
Persu - The Rain Drop Car

Persu is regarded by some as the builder of the first aerodynamic-shaped vehicle in history (most regard Paul Jaray as the one who started the streamline design language in cars).

Engine type of Persu's Streamliner mentioned here:
https://plus.google.com/114605547533...ts/PVGQbKUdfco

2010 Ecomodder thread on Persu's car:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ner-12319.html

[NeilBlanchard]

The plan drawing shows that the Persu car is probably significantly lower drag than the Schlörwagen. The cooling drag of each is one of the big reasons the Schlörwagen didn't have Cd that it theoretically had. The handling of the Persu is very likely to have been better.

Question is, did the Persu car ever get built?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by kach22i

One of Aurel Persu's other projects for context.
Suntem Romania ! : 100.Minti romanesti 3 : Aurel Persu,inovatorul automobilului aerodinamic. .( modern )

Found some drawings on this "other" project.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...HTko-Yqb0RXJsQ


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...j0xt8fgcLWuXkA


Reminds me a little of one of the Lohner Porsche's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohner-Porsche

The enormous Lohner required 1.8 tonnes of batteries consisting of a forty-four cell 80 volt lead-acid battery, all housed in a spring-suspended battery container to protect the fragile cells. The 4 electric motors (hub) weighed a total of 1280 pounds, contributing to a total vehicle weight of over 4 tonnes on its Continental pneumatic tires.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Question is, did the Persu car ever get built?

The Persu patent as drawn did not get built as far as I can tell.

It evolved into the "roller skate" looking thing.

The book link and other articles links are a good read, but I've read them very quickly and must go back.

The book claims the Persu cornered well, I think it said a top speed of 50 mph, and cornered at 36? No rear differential is accredited to the good corner capabilities from what I've read.

EDIT-1: this translation from Czech (link below) leaves something to be desired, but is interesting.

Persu (1922-1924)

Patents

The German patent applied PERS service on 13th November 1922, but received it until nearly two years later, on 19 September 1924 under number 402,683th The paper is concerned "car with four wheels mounted inside the aerodynamic body shape" . The fact that the original vision pioneering engineer was a little different drawings indicates the four-digit car with the engine under the floor of the U.S. patent, which was granted under number 1,648,505th Its dating is much later, was joined to 8 listopadu 1927th It displays work with really extremely narrow rear track but actually remained only on paper and not in this form never realized. He was about to buy Ford and General Motors, but neither of overseas giants not guarantee the vehicle's production, so the inventor would not consent.

The patent form was never realized...........so sad.

Persu (1922-1924)


EDIT-2
LARGER FATTER TIRES PLUS MORE DRAWINGS, POSSIBLY LATER ONES - REAR ENGINED NOT UNDER FLOOR OR MID-ENGINED.
Persu: ¡Exigid coches de menor consumo!



http://www.escuderia.com/persu-aerodinamico-1922/

That same year World War I broke out, and the Romanian engineer returned to his native country, where he worked as professor emeritus in mechanical section, both static and dynamic, the Institute of Electrical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry. Apparently it was in those years when he finished his first car with electric motor, which today do not know much ... After the war turned back to Berlin.........

[freebeard]

Does the Persu design have a flat-12 engine or two inline-6s? It seems over-powered either way.

The cooling system reminds me of Viktor Shauberger's biological submarine: