Random Aerodynamic Oddity of the Day Thread

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

The shape of the rear fenders of this Argentinian Falcon caught my attention. Not sure how it could improve aerodynamics.

[Bicycle Bob]

Those are nacelles for jet exhausts, plugged with tail lights. See the Ford show cars and Galaxie for the originals.

[ChopStix]

I like it!

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob

Those are nacelles for jet exhausts, plugged with tail lights. See the Ford show cars and Galaxie for the originals.

I took Driver's Education in an 1960 4-door.


http://www.carstyling.ru/en/car/1954_ford_fx_atmos/


1955 Ford Mystere - Concepts

Looking around for that, I discovered the 1956 Ford Thunderbird Mexico.
1956 Ford Thunderbird Mexico - Concepts
It never progressed beyond a 3/8ths scale model.

As [Alex] Tremulis put it: "I have always considered the Mexico as a milestone. It opened the door to the windtunnel for the first serious investigation of the new aerodynamic art of the automobile. For many years when I thought I was on the verge of selling a wind tunnel program I was always shot down with arguments such as - 'But Alex, remember the Chrysler Airflow'. Some even referred to it as the 'Airflop'. Others presented arguments such as....

Alex is foreshadowing Luigi Colani.


What do you make of this?



Sort of a sliding sunroof over the back seat and a T-top over the front?


http://www.carstyling.ru/en/car/1991...agen_vario_ii/

[Piotrsko]

Looks more like a partial roll cage gone Hollywood

I'm not old enough, but did those 50's tailfins do anything in a bad crosswind?

[freebeard]

The result was variable, Chrysler corp (after 1956) had the most effective ones. 1946 Cadillac and 1959 Chevrolet not so much.

much goodness: Just A Car Guy: aerodynamics

The 2nd entry, from Oct 2018, has an Ecomodder video.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

I'm not old enough, but did those 50's tailfins do anything in a bad crosswind?

I'd predict no noticeable difference on my '59 if the fins were lopped off.

Speaking of which, I've always been confused about the mechanism for the BAT cars' aero success regarding their fins. I can't figure how they work to lower drag and actually it seems to me that since vehicles are operating in crosswind conditions almost always, those huge fins would add sail area and leave trailing wakes. So like the '59, I wonder how they'd test sans fins.

Speaking of testing, perhaps the published Cd figures are erroneous? Bad figures have been put out there more than once...

[freebeard]

Isn't that a Chevrolet? The slabsided Mopars and Cadillacs OTOH:


https://heacockclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/8-1-1.jpg

I compare the early BATs to the Sunbird/Road Runner with the towel rack wing. That's a high-aspect airfoil with a lift-reducing wing. The BATs had no trunk lid clearance problems and less downforce. Luigi Colani would roll those fins in just because he could, and I think the slot midspan has some effect in crosswinds. Any vortexes shed are held closely into the wake.

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I'd predict no noticeable difference on my '59 if the fins were lopped off.

Speaking of which, I've always been confused about the mechanism for the BAT cars' aero success regarding their fins. I can't figure how they work to lower drag and actually it seems to me that since vehicles are operating in crosswind conditions almost always, those huge fins would add sail area and leave trailing wakes. So like the '59, I wonder how they'd test sans fins.

Speaking of testing, perhaps the published Cd figures are erroneous? Bad figures have been put out there more than once...

AFAIR, the primary purpose of the BAT fins was to manage surface area vs distance from the front. That turned out to be a dead end.

[Frank Lee]

To move the center of pressure back?

Forgot to post earlier that I was also wondering- if they were on to something- why there were no successors.