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

[Varn]

Too steep of glass can lead to very poor vision.

Here is one that I own. I keep talking about putting in an engine but it may be the only one in the country. It remains pedal powered.

[NeilBlanchard]

Varn, is that front or rear steering?

[trikkonceptz]

The Tucker by the way is still available, now as a hotrod with modern suspension and powerplant, but the car looks exactly the same .. The price tag however isn't. Only costs $230K now ...

[Varn]

Ah my trike is rear wheel drive with about 12 feet of bicycle chain and the front tires brake and steer.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Varn, is that front or rear steering?

Rear-wheel steering has been tried on some velomobiles because it's far easier to transfer the pedaling power to the front wheels, but was found to be unstable.

To keep them practical, their wheelbase is relatively short, and rear-wheel steering gets rather twitchy at speed.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

The Citroën has covered front wheels, too! Do they hinge out like the AeroCivic?



Citroën Eole concept car

I think the concept called for the front wheel spats to angle out Aerocivic style but the Eole was not a runner just a concept. Like most of these concepts it was made by hand using body filler on top of a CX chassis so it would have been very heavy.

Although Citroennet say it tested active suspension I think the real tests were done on CX and Xantia mule models, but they did come up with the Activa running prototype Coupe which was a rebodied Xantia.

Promotional video of the Activa (including 4 wheel steering) and horse action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQnTN-9Sj3Y

There was a 'for sale' version of the Xantia Activa which had the active suspension system (without 4 wheel steering). It gave superb grip and ride even compared to the normal Xantia with the hydro suspension system which was already better than most cars and quite good looking.

Then they made the C5 which fell down the ugly stairs. Several times.



The inside is better than the outside, mainly as you can't see the outside from in there Shame as it is a good drive and the estates are pretty useful. Just not pretty.

[Piwoslaw]

Since we're back to Citroëns again, here's a gem. The Citroën SM.



Worth noting are the wheelskirts and boattailed rear:



And the clear plastic covering (basjoosing) the license plate and headlights





The SM was also sold in the USA, but unfortunately with a much uglier (aerodynamically) front:



There's an SM body on eBay if anyone is looking for a project car.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

The SM was also sold in the USA, but unfortunately with a much uglier (aerodynamically) front:

Sealed beam headlamp rule strikes again.

I would nominate the 'Aero' Audis of the 80s and early 90s.

Audi 80/90


Audi 100


The 100 was of course copied by ford in the Taurus


Although perhaps less so by the Granada / Scorpio

[NeilBlanchard]

"Push-Button Car" Dan Lalee, 1938.

Look at this car! It has articulated front wheel skirts!





http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...p-convertible/

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by trikkonceptz

The Tucker by the way is still available, now as a hotrod with modern suspension and powerplant, but the car looks exactly the same .. The price tag however isn't. Only costs $230K now ...

Tucker Torpedo scored Cd 0.39.