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

[redneck]

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Hewson Rocket- 1946

In early 1940, Rudy Stoessel, Paul Erdos, and Burt Chalmers opened a small body shop in Hollywood called Coachcraft, Ltd., and began building custom bodies for movie stars and wealthy locals. In 1945, William Hewson raised capital to form the Hewson Pacific Corp., and planned to produce the “Hewson Rocket” and sell it for $1,000. Stoessel fabricated the body shape and Erdos welded the aluminum panels together. Hewson’s idea was to give the body form a very aerodynamic shape with no projections anywhere–headlights covered with glass, tail-light lenses flush, and no outside door handles. As Hewson’s capital was depleted by the time the car’s body was finished, Coachcraft kept the car in their front showroom until it was auctioned off in 1959 to a used car dealer in Minneapolis for $650. Coachcraft survived until 1966.

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[freebeard]

A quote but no link? I'm curious if it was a runner when it sold for $650.

[kach22i]

This could be the original link, similar photos and text.

Hewson Rocket- 1946 - Lane Motor Museum

Stoessel fabricated the body shape and Erdos welded the aluminum panels together.

Welded the aluminum (1945), maybe a technology from WWII?

I was under the impression that the flux for making aluminum welding practical was a more recent development.

This picture from another source is provocative.

1946 Hewson Rocket - Conceptcarz


More information from the above link:

The mid-engine is a flathead Ford V8 coupled to a three-speed manual transmission and a top speed of 90 mph.

Hewson's capital was depleted by the time the car's body was finished and he did not have the $16,000 owed to Coachcraft. They kept the car in their front show-room until it was auctioned off in 1959 to a used car dealer in Minneapolis for $650.

I'll just copy the whole thing..........more pic's in link:
1946 Hewson Rocket Images. Wallpaper Photo: 46_Hewson_Rocket_Slvr_DV-07-AI_e05.jpg Wallpaper

Coachcraft, Ltd. was formed by three ex-employees of Howard 'Dutch' Darrin when he sold his California business to Packard on August 1st of 1939. The names of these three individuals were Burt Chalmers, Rudy Stoessel and Paul Erdos. They established their business at 8671 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood, California in 1940. They catered to craft to a wide variety of vehicles, from common, low priced vehicles, to rare, luxury cars. The designs they created would have a lasting impact on the automotive community. They were regularly featured in magazines and were highly sought after by the rich and the famous.

In 1945, William Hewson raised capital to form the Hewson Pacific Corp. and planned to produce the 'Hewson Rocket' to be sold for $1,000. Stoessel fabricated the body shape and Erdos welded the aluminum panels together. Hewson's idea was to give the body form a very aerodynamic shape wîth no projections anywhere - headlights covered wîth glass, tail-light lenses flush, and no outside door handles.

The mid-engine is a flathead Ford V8 coupled to a three-speed manual transmission and a top speed of 90 mph.

Hewson's capital was depleted by the time the car's body was finished and he did not have the $16,000 owed to Coachcraft. They kept the car in their front show-room until it was auctioned off in 1959 to a used car dealer in Minneapolis for $650.

See the attached for a less jarring windscreen proposal, more Porsche 356 like.

[freebeard]

Well, if it is at the Lane Motor Museum, it's found a good home. They built the Dymaxion I replica.

Isetta stance, Porsche-like fan/generator on a flathead Ford; what's not to like?

[freebeard]

http://www.newssuno.com/bmws-vision-next-100-is-a-wild-shapeshifter-from-the-22nd-century/

This BMW Vision Next 100 Concept has flexible exterior fenders like the Ford Probe but with triangular scales embedded in the surface. The interior beyond gimmicky, but this I like. I'm not sure why the end of the axle moves sideways.

[kach22i]

Dodge M4S (Dodge PPG Turbo Interceptor; 1981, 1984)



This bumper car inspired Colt has fully enclosed wheels.

Street-legal bumper car makes the road your carnival - CNET


eBay Find: A Street-Legal Bumper Car
eBay Find: A Street-Legal Bumper Car - Street Legal TV



DER 1984 DODGE COLT BUMPER CAR HITS THE STREETS
Der 1984 Dodge Colt bumper car hits the streets | dailybri

[NeilBlanchard]

Originally Posted by freebeard

http://www.newssuno.com/bmws-vision-next-100-is-a-wild-shapeshifter-from-the-22nd-century/

This BMW Vision Next 100 Concept has flexible exterior fenders like the Ford Probe but with triangular scales embedded in the surface. The interior beyond gimmicky, but this I like. I'm not sure why the end of the axle moves sideways.

I think the scales prevent the surface from compressing.

I am glad they are thinking along these lines, but this solution seems really fussy.

[Frank Lee]

...this solution seems really fussy.

That's the BMW way!

[aerohead]

I'd want to be very careful negotiating a curbside parking situation with those 'low' wheels/skirts protruding from the body like that.It's challenging enough not to strike the curb with the wheels flush to the body sides.
A very expensive repair!
Ice storms would make things interesting as well.

[RedDevil]

Those will neatly trim the bushes next to the parking spot.