Random UnAerodynamic Cars and Trucks Thread
 

We spend a lot of the time in the forum exploring what it is to be "aerodynamic".

At times it might be helpful to explore and examine the "un-aerodynamic" to remind ourselves what we best avoid in order to be successful in our ecomodding endeavors.

A few recent examples which have amused and bemused me.

1963 Studebaker Westinghouse Pickup Truck Concept
1963 Studebaker Westinghouse Pickup Truck Concept - HowStuffWorks
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1442603481.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1442603551.jpg



The 1963 Studebaker Westinghouse Pickup Truck Concept Car Project - HowStuffWorks
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1442603605.jpg
http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/1963-stud...cept-4.jpg.jpg

http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/1963-stud...cept-5.jpg.jpg
1966 -- The End of the Road for Studebaker Vehicles - HowStuffWorks


dual-engine | Hemmings Daily
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1442604626.jpg

un-
 

http://media2.newsnet5.com/photo/201....0_640_480.jpg
This isn't the actual one I saw, but the last place I worked in Indiana painted one of these beasts black for swat

I'll repost the last one I put in the other thread, because although it's better than a stock Unimog, overall it's a basket case.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1442350859.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1442350869.jpg

https://www.google.com/search?q=neverwas+haul

https://soapboxdespot.files.wordpres...pg?w=299&h=300

What's that dust cloud on the horizon? Mad Max cars?

http://www.automechanicschools.net/w...hedralcar1.jpg
http://www.automechanicschools.net/blog/weird-car-modifications/

There's a Beetle in there somewhere.

That first vehicle, it also made the Pelican Parts forum recently. I would have posted it, but like the plan view too much. I'm a sucker for rounded front edges I guess.

Regarding UnAerodynamic v's NonAerodynamic terms, the moderators are free to correct my English at any time, I will take no offense.:)

Wow, I actually do really like the Stude, but i am a sucker for a Studebaker of any kind.

kach22i -- That's because I follow along behind you in the Pelican Parts thread. I'd seen the two you posted here, there.

iamnotahippee -- my first car

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...studebaker.jpg

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...studebaker.jpg

The 2nd one is called Stupidbaker (money and a sense of humor). I know, I know, way off-topic for the thread. Sosume.

You see some fine unaerodynamic cars at Burning Man...
http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1442906170


-mort

That Studebaker truck looks like a toy.

Last Sunday was the Orphan Car Show in Ypsilanti, Michigan, lots of old Studebaker's there, including a couple of pick-up trucks.


RE: 1963 Studebaker Westinghouse Pickup Truck Concept

"Cab Over Engine" designs fascinate me as much as engine under seat, rear-engine, and mid-engine designs.

I even like that late 1980's engine behind driver's seat Toyota mini van.

http://www.amzcar.com/wp-content/upl...7ukg-Free.jpeg
http://www.auto-facts.org/images/198...s-21293705.jpghttp://datsun510.com/photopost/data/...n-03-0068B.jpg
http://www.flemingsultimategarage.co...115_main_f.jpghttp://aaronsenvironmental.com/wp-co...ind-tunnel.jpg

( Pointed noses and smoke trails don't really mean much. )

Coefficient of drag for 240Z??? - Miscellaneous Tech - HybridZ
Such beautiful lines on what is that a 240-Z?

Somewhere I have a C of D link bookmarked with many cars listed, did a search and the best I could find is the above.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_coefficient
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...rag_of_Car.jpg

Tamerlane's Thoughts: Coefficients of drag of old cars
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KleNbTAUdE...0/CIMG1496.JPG



EDIT: .41 to .42 isn't all impressive for this VW (better than the Z's near .48), and I assume it has a more or less flat floor pan too. I'll admit that a bit perplexed by some of this.

T3 Aerodynamics
http://home.comcast.net/~jaransonT3/...onT3/aero3.gif
Vw Sp2 1974 Azul/Blue
Vw Sp2 1974 Azul - Ano 1974 - 94000 km - no MercadoLivre
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1443020274.jpg

MORE random pics...... - Page 3619 - Pelican Parts Technical BBS
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1443016095.jpg

Still better C of D than a brick though, right?

I was showing brick-like vehicles when I started this thread, suppose we could or should keep to that theme?

It's your thread of course, but that would exclude thin-fendered, wedge shape vehicles.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IheQCcmef4...0/DSC_0164.JPG

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/09/von-dutchs-toad-made-of-old-road-signs.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw0aV2wFgN...0/DSC_0152.JPG

Not at all, show whatever sucks, but it is disappointing to see my beloved 240Z pictured. I don't drive it for mileage though; it's a track racer and the bad aero helps me take load off my brakes entering the turns.

Hi my motorhome must come under the heading UNAERODYAMIC but freebeard has given me some pointers to help clean it up. Look at my profile and hope it has photo of it.

So what's worse, a Cd of 0.42 and A of 20 (rough guess for 240Z area) or Cd of 0.21 and A of 50 (typical SUV area)?

A 0.21 Cd SUV might be a stretch limo with a fineness ratio of 2.78:1 or whatever.

I guess the Clark Cortez I owned qualifies as a brick ...with an 8" bevel on the windshield edges.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...2-p1010018.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...a-camper-3.jpg

How about that one ?

I'd love to see this disaster in a windtunnel.

YKYAEM when you see a backhoe, and think about boattail deployment mechanisms

Random TRANSPORTATION pictures - Page 1573 - Pelican Parts Technical BBS
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1443054666.jpg
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7120/7...7f399f48_z.jpg

Just some more variety.

I have seen a few of these in the wild. What is the Cd of a brick again?

http://vogeltalksrving.com/wp-conten...us.a09-560.jpg

Sure, but I guess you missed the point I was trying to make, which is that the best possible aerodynamics won't compensate for too big a cross section.

As for the tractors &c, what point to aerodynamics when your top speed is maybe 10 mph?

Yes it needs a 460ci engine just to go 55 mph.

I tried looking that up yesterday because the same question popped into my head. I didn't come up with much, but this morning I looked at this page.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_coefficient
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...4ilf1l.svg.png

A brick is not listed, but a cube is, and a long cylinder is.

I'm going to guess somewhere near 1.0 is the Cd of a brick.

EDIT: Found some other stuff, not so sold on some of it's accuracy.


I remember posting information on "Blunt Bodies" in the forum a few years ago, some of them with close proximity to the ground.

EDIT-2: FYI - I think bricks are called square cylinders.

Got that from here:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...17931011004327

And got that from the thread I remembered:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...y-11592-8.html

EDIT-3:

http://www.calqlata.com/proddetail.asp?prod=00021
http://www.calqlata.com/prodimages/A...Drag%201-1.PNG
There ya go, just over 1.0 as projected/assumed earlier.

I should note that proximity to the ground is a pretty big factor not to be ignored.

MORE random pics...... - Page 3619 - Pelican Parts Technical BBS
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1443040353.jpg

Three words "art deco toaster"

It appears from the Wikipedia chart that the brick does better in a 45° cross-wind.

The SP2 is weird with its square front-end in contrast to its smooth rear end. Have you ever seen one live? I still see some once in a while.

I'm not sure if I have, I'm getting old in the head.

I did see a cousin of it in 2011, the Puma.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...e-27014-3.html
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...w/DSCF1072.jpg

http://www.holdenplantrentals.com/up...t_2010_002.jpg

Nice and sleek, until the air get trapped in that area behind the cab !

This one doesn't count - it's not street legal :

http://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/Cate...0059312?$cc-g$

I've been unsuccessful at finding a picture of a city maintenance truck with their signage up, but I know we have all seen them.
It's a giant flat sign on the bed of the truck that rotates. It has a flashing arrow to alert motorist of construction ahead.
Unfortunately, I see plenty of these trucks driving along with the sign still up, versus folded down.

Brick Cd
 

Cd 0.88 if its on wheels.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ead2/Scan1.jpg

I think that the Winnebago I posted earlier is about the worst I have seen.

By the way, the tractor that was posted here is ...well...beautiful ! ( did I just call a tractor beautiful ? )

So Aerohead, which is worse - a brick like vehicle like the Winnebago, or something like this : http://4wheelonline.com/images/article/jeep-lift1.jpg

My guess is on the Jeep.

Scratch that - I'm certain of it !

4-Wheel Online
 

I couldn't get to the 4-wheel link,but I'd say that the Winnebago would seem like a Mako Shark compared to some 4-wheelers I see around.
Cd 0.7+ drag coefficients.
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...titled15_2.jpg

4wheelonline is blocking your hyperlink, so I use my imagination: Full External Roll Cage w/ Brush Guard.

To be fair to the Mitsubishi, the cab is generic. And I think if the Cat had a Template-conforming load it would be pretty good —it's got a diverter in front, the problematic bits are tucked up under an overhang, and even a full length side skirt.

You should see the tractor I linked in the other thread.

Agrale TX-1600
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sRMGLHi38L...Imagem0422.jpg

Some random Mercedes-Benz class 7 rig
http://spb.fotolog.com.br/photo/59/4...29757859_f.jpg

Volkswagen Constellation-series truck, A.K.A. "Sponge Bob" due to the square shape of its cab
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ckNKzMB4l5.../Photo8755.jpg


And it's still better than the cabs used in the Ford Cargo and in those Brazilian-made Peterbilt/Kenworth cab-forwards.

Ford Cargo with the late-2000 facelift
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z0kvddNihw.../Photo6612.jpg

VW trucks still use the same cab featured in the Brazilian Peterbilt and Kenworth cab-forwards
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y1W3B3B7Yl.../Photo4730.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTsxKxoQTZ.../Photo6848.jpg

The fineness ratio and small changes to a basic "Bus shape", are to be respected.

I'm learning something from this topic.

EDIT: found this debatable graphic and claims.

http://www.icbus.com/bus/articles/greenshields
http://www.icbus.com/~/media/Navista...CD441CBC1E15A6

EDIT-2: more....................

http://midwestenergynews.com/2012/08...e-efficiently/
http://e67ti2w9ws71al8xmnhsozd3.wpen...eenshields.jpg

http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2014/08/12/smart-science
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/sites...ohen%20014.JPG
I like this comment:
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2014/08/12/smart-science
http://americanprofile.com/articles/...-bus-retrofit/
https://pgoaamericanprofile2.files.w...0&h=405&crop=1

I think they would get better use of that shield if they cut it off at the high point, and attached it to the back top edge of the bus.

I like the idea, but Aerohead has answered this same question many times in the forum and said the additional frontal area just doesn't pay off. At least that's what I recall, will stand corrected if my memory is bad.

A better solution would be a half-round over the 'School Bus' sign and flashing lights.

Yea, but that probably would not net the lad +$60,000.............things which look like they should work, typically make more money that those things which really do work.

Perception is everything in marketing, and this kid has a good marketing scam going. I suspect his parents may have something to do with that, just a guess.

The current generation of Brazilian buses is aerodynamically better than those stereotypical American schoolies, even though they're usually forward-control.