Interesting Aerodynamic Cars (Mike Vetter's ETV, also Avion)

[sgtlethargic]

There's some interesting stuff here:

https://localmotors.com/arpa-e/litec...lenge/entries/

https://localmotors.com/RomainM/dryade/

[freebeard]

I don't think this is worth it's own thread (because too much downforce) so I'll drop it here.

The Secrets of IndyCar Aero Kits

An interesting write-up on the changes to Indycar rules for 2015, comparing Chevy and Honda's approaches.



It goes over many of the odd protuberences on the differing designs. For instance, the winglet on the front airfoil of the Chevy:


Equal time for Honda:



One thing I've never seen explained is the half-tubular corrugations on the bottom of the airfoil that they both have. Maybe they are for strength. There certainly is a lot of leverage on the attachment point both cross-wise and length-wise.

There is a lot of concern about what happens to all those little pieces when two cars make contact.

[sgtlethargic]

Originally Posted by freebeard

...
I think better of the Nash Airflyte lately. Unibody in '41, the first really modern heating and ventilating, the Unipod instrument cluster, right-sized grille opening...

I was behind a Nash somethin-or-other on the freeway, today. There was one in the last town I lived in. I think it was an early 50's, and had fold-down seats to make it like a bed inside. There was an early 50's Hudson Hornet near my folks' house, maybe 20-25 years ago- all stock. That started me liking Hudsons. If I find one at the right time and maybe run it on propane and make some aero/mpg improvements ...

[freebeard]

STEP DOWN HUDSON

The design that Andrews and crew developed was just over 60 inches (1,533 mm) high, the lowest in America at the time, and some 5 inches (127 mm) lower than some of its contemporaries. With its high beltline and low roof, it looked like it had been “chopped” by the new California custom shops. It also looked thoroughly aerodynamic, which it was to a point. According to wind tunnel tests conducted by Hudson’s rival Nash, it had nearly 20% less drag than contemporary notchback sedans, although it wasn’t significantly better than other fastbacks despite its lower frontal area. (It was also inferior to the Nash Ambassador, which was actually designed using wind-tunnel testing.)

http://www.allpar.com/cars/adopted/hudson-hornet.html

In 1950 Hudson and Oldsmobile dominated the racetracks.

The Hornet one of the hottest vehicles on the road thanks to its 262-cubic-inch inline six, bored out to 308 cubic inches; it also found itself to be one of the hottest cars out on the race tracks. The Hornet had a low center of gravity, and stock-car racers in the 1950s took advantage of that, the dual carburetion (Twin-H Power, available as an option in 1952), and the robust L-head (H-145) engine. Surrounded by high-compression V8s from Cadillac and Oldsmobile and low-compression V8s from Ford, the Hornet still dominated stock-car racing in the Fifties, largely because it could easily out-handle competitors.

Twelve of 13 AAA events in 1952 were won by Marshall Teague, who became synonymous with Hudson performance in that era; he claimed 112 mph in the Hornet. In the NASCAR Grand National Series, 27 of the 34 races in the 1952 season were won by a Hudson; 22 of 37 were won by a Hudson in 1953, and 17 of 37 in 1954.
...
Winning 40 out of 48 events, the Hornet had an 83% winning percentage.

The Hornet’s superior handling came from its chassis’ low center of gravity, thanks to its stylish and functional “step-down” design; its floorboards were lower than the door sills.

Twin H-Power was first offered as a parts-counter kit in November 1951. It became a factory option on Hudson Hornets in mid-January 1952 and was also offered for the compact Jet in 1953 and 1954. On Hornets, Twin H-Power was good for an extra 15 horsepower (11 kW). It was not available on Pacemakers, but since the Pacemaker’s 232 cu. in. (3,798 cc) six was essentially the Hornet’s engine with a smaller bore and stroke, adding it was not difficult.

http://ateupwithmotor.com/model-histories/step-down-hudsons/

The pressure-lubricated 6 had more displacement than the splash-lubricated inline 8.

In 1951, Barit opted to develop a new compact model, the Hudson Jet, which he hoped would make Hudson more competitive against the “Low-Priced Three.”...suffice to say that Hudson sunk some $16 million — the last of the company’s cash reserves — into its development, which proved to be a fatal mistake.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by sgtlethargic

There's some interesting stuff here:

https://localmotors.com/arpa-e/litec...lenge/entries/

What a freaking gold mind of wonders, thanks for posting this.

I'm sort of fond of the car which floats myself.

[freebeard]

Agreed it's a gold mine, but it's really hard to find the good stuff. It varies from pencil sketches on a napkin, to actual running 3D-printed cars.

For instance the proposal to make a stock Model T Ford with a one-molecule thick graphene body. That's just nuts—they could as easily start with the Volkhart-Saggita.

The example you picked has a mix of some unlikely rotary engine, a page cribbed from the Edison2 and the picture you liked of a foam plastic tricycle. They actually exist in the quantities shown but are not part of this proposal. An example was demonstrated on EVTV, as is is an electric vehicle. I tried searching in evtv.me to find the episode without success. It was maybe 3 or 4 episodes back, but they are 2 hours long.

They are available with a electric motor on one, or both, rear wheel[s] and variable battery packs. Most of the body is foamed plastic so you can bounce them off pedestrians.

I can't remember the name.

[sgtlethargic]

Originally Posted by kach22i

What a freaking gold mind of wonders, thanks for posting this.

I'm sort of fond of the car which floats myself.

You're welcome.

I'm working my way through the entries, just looking at what shapes appeal to me. The LiteRod is pretty cool. The NuBe shape (the green part pointed to in the picture) is *****in!

Edit: Added a picture showing what I'd consider the front of the NuBe shape I like.

[kach22i]

MORE random pics...... - Page 3365 - Pelican Parts Technical BBS

Originally Posted by kach22i

HyperRocket: 125 mpg, 100+ mph 3-wheel motorcycle


Vern’s Aero-Cars | flycorvair

Random TRANSPORTATION pictures - Page 1468 - Pelican Parts Technical BBS

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

What is that Blue Turbo "S" doing there??

More info on the Geo-Metro Trike:
http://flycorvair.net/2012/01/29/verns-aero-cars/

Our friend and welder, Vern Stevenson, has had a lifelong love affair with all things mechanical. He has built a number of different aircraft, mostly light single-seaters. His hangar is just down the way from ours, and a tour of it is an education of how much a man with imagination, skill and some material can do.

[freebeard]

Which one is the Blue Turbo "S"? I don't see any Porsche.



I always liked this one. I see it has a little winglet to aid in ingress/egress.

What is that slick-top police car doing there??

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Which one is the Blue Turbo "S"? I don't see any Porsche.

I think the note was for the 944 Turbo "S"....hood up, white sign in front of it.
Porsche 944 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the 1987 model year, the 944S "Super" was introduced.

Also known as a 951.

See the posters "Garage".
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/dto_g...hicle_id=11208