Old school original VW Beetle aeromods: "Herrod Helper" rear spoiler - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

MetroMPG · 03-11-2009, 10:44 PM

Every once in a while, Phil (aerohead) spits out some interesting aero factoid in passing in a thread that sends me out into the internets, searching for more info. This is another example of that.

We've all seen Ernie Roger's New Beetle bug wing:

Ernie calculated it improved his drag coefficient from .38 to .28 and fuel economy by 5-8%, depending on speed.

I forget which thread it was that Phil said something like, "yeah, old news. VW's had aftermarket drag reducing spoilers back in the day" (paraphrasing). (Not diminishing Ernie's efforts, just pointing out that others were trying to "correct" the Beetle shape in the past.)

"Herrod Helper"

From: TheSamba.com :: VW Dictionary and TheSamba.com :: View topic - Herrod Helper

Apparently, it was originally sold through JC Whitney, and mail order, and for $12.95, promised:

better mpg
greater top speed
reduced noise
better handling
"releases that 300 foot column of vacuum you are now towing around"
a "racy look"

The only thing I couldn't figure out was why they called it "Herrod Helper".

MetroMPG · 03-11-2009, 10:47 PM

Oh, found the thread where Phil referred to this spoiler: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...lips-2685.html

aerohead · 03-12-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Oh, found the thread where Phil referred to this spoiler: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...lips-2685.html

Darin,I can only guess, that a fella by that name came up with it.That's really fun that you could track down the ad.The internet's amazing!

Big Dave · 03-12-2009, 10:50 PM

The ad says: "...guaranteed to outlast your Beetle."

alohaspirit · 03-13-2009, 02:22 AM

wheres the ecomodder thread for that new beetle wing?

Frank Lee · 03-25-2009, 11:26 AM

This month's Hot VWs' "Project Mileage Motor Part 17" series "tests" the Herrod Helper.

MetroMPG · 03-25-2009, 11:56 AM

I take it (from the quotes) you're not confident in their "test" methodology?

Frank Lee · 03-25-2009, 11:58 AM

They run a test loop out on the road, usually once but in this case twice, then report to two decimal places. Way too small of a sample for making claims. No A-B-A either.

Still, they are brushing 40 mpg without special driving techniques it seems.

rmay635703 · 03-25-2009, 12:13 PM

I wonder if that would help my Subaru 360, which is nothing more than a fancy small VW bug except I have a grille accross the back side of the car

My Subaru pushes 40mpg in town at 15 degrees with a fuel leak and exhaust leak. Perhaps I can do better with this thing

aerohead · 03-26-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmay635703

I wonder if that would help my Subaru 360, which is nothing more than a fancy small VW bug except I have a grille accross the back side of the car

My Subaru pushes 40mpg in town at 15 degrees with a fuel leak and exhaust leak. Perhaps I can do better with this thing

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