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

[Frank Lee]

Calvin's car has motorcycle forks.

[NeilBlanchard]

Yes, the Calvin Bridges' Teardrop Car has motorcycle forks - I think for a reason, and that is to make more interior space available. And it points to the overall challenge of packaging in aerodynamic volumes; which are unfamiliar to most designers.

The Calvin Bridges' car has something in common with the Stella solar car and the Schlörwagen - the windshield is right at the very front of the car, and this is a challenge to the designer. The sightlines for the driver, and the use of space for the people is difficult to work out. The Schlörwagen has the driver in the center between the wheels, and the Calvin Bridges' is a left side driver position:



It also mentions that the Calvin Bridges' Teardrop weighs 700 pounds and gets ~70MPG.

The Arrowhead car had the driver in the center:


Another important issue is the Cg - the Calvin Bridges' car mentions that half of the weight is on the rear wheels, and that the Cg is ~20" above the ground. The Schlörwagen and the Arrowhead and the Dymaxion had the engine in the rear, which exactly where you do not want the heaviest piece in a three wheel vehicle. The Schlörwagen is a four wheel design, but apparently it was *not* a good handling car.

Cooling an ICE is another important design consideration, especially with the engine located in the very back of the car. The Tatra is another example of this.

So a low drag teardrop, three wheeled design that uses an ICE drivetrain has some serious design challenges.

[NeilBlanchard]

Every time I do a Google Image search, I run across something that I have not seen before:

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Every time I do a Google Image search, I run across something that I have not seen before:

That is the 21st image in the link I posted as well.

mrscharroo most interesting photos on FlickeFlu

No right clicking on that site, but a Google search for "teardrop car" will turn it up to a savable jpg.

The caption says it a Goliath 700-GP record car 688cc 1951.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrscharroo/6964655227/

This 3-wheeled Goliath racing car has set 38 still standing world records in the under one-liter class. Very impressive, but realize that in the era of microcars the records were rather non-standard, such as 2-hour / 3-hour / 4-hour etcetera duration or 300 mile / 400 mile / 200 km / 300 km etcetera records for under one-liter cars. There were dozens of such world records to settle (just define a new goal) or to break.
Is there somebody who can recall some of the Goliath records?

Another Goliath product.
http://iedeiblog.com/2011/04/18/unkn...-gp-700-sport/




http://worldcarslist.com/page/goliat...0/default.html


http://autouniversum.wordpress.com/2...uel-injection/

[NeilBlanchard]

A bit more information on Dr. Calvin Bridges' Teardrop car:

The Lodi Sentinel - Google News Archive Search
http://retropotamus.blogspot.com/201...-teardrop.html
http://www.popsci.com/cars/gallery/2...to-diy?image=4

Another picture from the same Flickr stream of a textbook Jaray design by Audi:

[DIMS]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Calvin's car has motorcycle forks.

Yeah you can really see form this pic
Calvin Bridges's Tear-Drop 1936 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[kach22i]

[QUOTE=NeilBlanchard;379697]
Archive Gallery: A Century of Vehicular DIY | Popular Science/QUOTE]
While clicking my way though their gallery of DIY vehicles I found this.
Archive Gallery: A Century of Vehicular DIY | Popular Science

Fast Car: December 1938
This car was built by, Mylio Ozuk, a high school student from Chicago who apparently had free access to a spare parts supply. Inspired by several advanced designs for cars of the future, Ozuk placed the motor and radiator in the back of the vehicle so he could have a clear view while driving. He also applied a streamline design for speed (exterior shell not shown) and claimed that his car could break 130 miles per hour. There's no word on whether Ozuk's claims were actually tested and proven, but we're willing to believe that this kid enjoyed a few thrilling joyrides in his time.
Read the full story in "Home-Built Car Hits 130-Mile Speed"

streamliners and teardroppers | Hemmings Daily



alt-power vehicles | Hemmings Daily


1954 Borgward Hansa 2400
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/07/page/8/


http://www.curbsideclassic.com/autom...-size-matters/


Automotive Aerodynamics: Drag Area – Size Matters

[DIMS]

another good link
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/autom...t-1-1899-1939/

[Sven7]

As long as we're on a German kick...



Also, it is interesting to point out the lineage and connections here. The above is a Wanderer. Wanderer's motorcycle division split off in 1929, creating Jawa, which made the 700 Coupe. Paul Jaray made a few variations on that chassis over the years.

Wanderer was later combined with Horch and Audi under the Auto Union name, with the four names signifying the four rings in its logo. We are all familiar with Auto Union's early streamlined race cars, and in the 1960's Auto Union became the Audi we now know. Of course Audi continued the tradition, eventually inspiring the first generation Ford Taurus through its 100.

Soon I'll be able to remember all that on the first try!

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Every time I do a Google Image search, I run across something that I have not seen before:

I've only a grainy black and white image of this 'car' in a book,setting a speed record on a banked track.
Goliath was part of Borgward,Germany.
It's nice to see it' up close and personal',thanks!