Project AeroMetro thoroughly underway now.

[Frank Lee]

[RobertSmalls]

More aerodynamic heading backwards than forwards.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

The ideal would be a half-teardrop with wheels. The Jaray body looks like it comes pretty close to that. MetroMPG, any idea what the Cd of that is?

So is your new rollcage going to be on-center like in the renders? What will you be using for glazing?

Since you're cutting off the old glasshouse, you're starting with a cleaner slate than most of us get to. Lucky you. I look forward to seeing some pics and data.

I believe Alex Tremulis credited Jarays smallest Kombinationform car with Cd 0.23.I'll dig it out and double check.

[aerohead]

Old Tele Man shared the paper on the Dodge Daytona Charger with me.
The front airdam on that car dropped the Cd from 0.35,to 0.29.
Even with a full bellypan you don't want air going under the car.I learned this one at Bonneville.
I'd seriously recommend that you include a front dam.It will lower drag and significantly improve stability at speed.
Also,be careful of your ground clearance and departure angle.The nose looks good clearance wise,but the center of your inter-wheel span needs a min 10-degrees,measured down to the tire/ground intersection.
You also need 10-degrees at the tail.I don't have a protractor handy,she looks kinda low.
Lastly,the state may require you to have a laminated safety glass windscreen and wiper like James Bede ran on his motorcycle/car.
Images look great!

[hypermiler01]

I cut the springs, so it sits 1.5" lower than stock. It has enough clearance for speedbumps. If there is a front airdam, it will need to be rubber.

Here I have lowered the front stagnation point. The headlights are from an Acura RSX (already purchased) so the front will also be influenced by that. The taillights are Honda Prelude.

The hard points that I am designing around are the original four engine compartment walls and the rear strut towers.

For in-town commuting most of the year, it will be used as a convertible with no windshield. If I get in trouble for the canopy windshield, I will cut off the front and put in a glass panel, P-51 style, although the acrylic is several times safer and more impact resistant than "safety glass".

[botsapper]

Here's a fun & inspirational reference pic as we encourage your build. At first glance it reminded me of one of my favorites, The Alfa Romeo Duetto. The Pinninfarina design was an instant (The Graduate) cultural classic. It's beautiful nose tapers on a single line all the way to it's relatively long tail. The RSX's headlights kinda dictate the nose shape and hood line. I could see a front hinged clamshell hood to keep a clean aero nose, avoiding leading edge cut lines. The body sides will have very pronounced rounded side bulges to accommodate the front wheel/tire clearances. Your Bede-style canopy must blend to the 'passenger' tonneau cover. Will you have a slide back or rear hinged fighter plane canopy? The single wiper sweep may require some custom fab.
Good luck as we eagerly wait & see your progress.

[Cd]

Damn you're good botsapper !

[Tango Charlie]

That's incredible, botsapper!

Hypermiler01, Could you get away with a single mirror on top of the canopy, like the fighters in WWII?

[vtec-e]

Will the radio play Top Gun music?
I'm subscribed to this thread. Best of luck Hypermiler01.

ollie

[Christ]

"Safety Glass" on cars was introduced to specifically NOT be shatter resistant. If you go into a lake and can't break a window, how the hell do you get out of the car?

It's fairly easy to break the windshield and kick a hole in it that you can tear into a larger hole. I wanna see you do that with Acryl.

Nice design, though.