Old school original VW Beetle aeromods: "Herrod Helper" rear spoiler

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by aerohead

rmay,is that the tiny car I could lift the front end off the ground in the 1960s?

Yes, they were mainly imported in the late 60's & 1970 along with the real mystery vans AKA Subaru Sambar 360s

They weigh 920lbs front end is maybe 300lbs

[alohaspirit]

where do i find more info on this?

[metromizer]

The Herrod Helper has been around for a long time... I think they might have started out in the 60's as a sort of joke, like this windup keys. But some of my VW drag racer buddies claim better handling at over 80mph with one. I've never tried one, the VW racecars I've driven all had nothing, or something more elaborate.

It makes sense however, any small improvement like a Herrod Helper might make driving in a cross wind at freway speeds less, umm, what's the word I'm looking for :white knuckle". A beetle is airplane-wing-ish shaped, the rounded roof in combination with a semi-flat belly pan does in fact lift at high speeds. Anything to spoil the lift effect does in fact make the car more stabil at higher speeds (I'm qualified to say, I've gone over 130mph at the dragstyrip in more than on air-cooled VW). Better mileage might be a stretch, Dean and RK Smith at hotVW's will have to do a real test to convince this long-time air-cooled VW driver.

[binarycortex]

Originally Posted by alohaspirit

where do i find more info on this?

you can find more info on www.max-mpg.com, interestingly enough when i hit the button to quote you the picture is directly linked from the site

[Thalass]

You have a Subaru 360!?!

*worships*

The closest I've come to one of those is in Gran Turismo! haha

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by alohaspirit

where do i find more info on this?

I just wanted to mention,that if the endplates of the rear wing were extended up to the top of the rear window,and an intermediate horizontal wing( like Ford's Sierra concept car and Merkur XR4Ti) positioned equidistantly between,with it's trailing edge following MetroMpg's aerodynamic template line,the Beetle would probably demonstrate even lower drag.Just a hunch.

[binarycortex]

Originally Posted by aerohead

I just wanted to mention,that if the endplates of the rear wing were extended up to the top of the rear window,and an intermediate horizontal wing( like Ford's Sierra concept car and Merkur XR4Ti) positioned equidistantly between,with it's trailing edge following MetroMpg's aerodynamic template line,the Beetle would probably demonstrate even lower drag.Just a hunch.

Agreed. It might look better too. Just ask Bucky.

When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty but when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong. -Buckminster Fuller

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by binarycortex

Agreed. It might look better too. Just ask Bucky.

Yeah,I'd defer to Mr.Geodesic Dome/Dymaxion Car any day.What a guy!

[alohaspirit]

i saw the site but i was wondering if there was a thread discussion

at least i hope there was!

[alohaspirit]

is there a place to buy?

or more pictures that show whats it made it or maybe installation?