Posted on 06/21/2018 2:18:38 PM PDT by Rummyfan
It’s not incredible that so many cars look so similar. It’s incredible that cars look different at all.
Maybe you’ve seen it: three lanes of midsize crossovers that could trade badges and nobody would notice. Those shapes are dictated by interior space, powertrain packaging, federal regulations, and production feasibility. But most of all, they’re designed for aerodynamic efficiency. When we started asking manufacturers around the country how that works, we realized that it’s not incredible that so many cars look so similar. It’s incredible that cars look different at all.
There is a basic tension between aerodynamic engineers and car designers. Each side will say that their missions are in harmony, that good design should not preclude good aerodynamics, and that aerodynamics should not limit design. But that’s not really true. The wind doesn’t care whether your grille is distinctive, or even whether you have one at all. The wind wants your car to look like a raindrop, and anything else is a compromise. Yes, every percentage of miles per gallon or range per charge matters, but visual distinction sells cars.
(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...
Ah, the Loewy coupes.
I’ve always liked those things. What most people don’t realize is that they are front-drive. Since they’re basically a Toronado with a weight problem, there are lots of possibilities for swapping out the original Olds 455 slug for something with more oomph, and probably better efficiency.
That crash was actually caused by pressure buildup inside the wheel arches, not low downforce.
These days, all LeMans cars are required to have openings in the tops of the wheel arches to allow the pressure to escape.
The reason the Ferrari has the same CoD as the Mini is that while the Mini is trying to get the best fuel economy, the Ferrari is producing hundreds of pounds of downforce at speed to keep it glued to the road. Downforce = drag.
The amazing thing is that even with all that downforce, it is actually cleaner at cutting through the air than the Mini, due the Ferrari’s smaller frontal area.
Put some chains on it and it looks like it would do well plowing snow.
Actual raindrops are spherical in shape.
It was also used my the US Army as the basis for the EM-51 Urban Assault Vehicle.
Holy shyte. When I was in kindergarten in 1961 someone’s parents had one of those things and it scared the crap out of me for some reason.
Still don’t know why but the pic you posted caused me to pucker up.
#1 He had his brakes on.
My dad had one of those
My sister and I rode on the back shelf.
He would pull the motor out of it and work on it on the kitchen table.
Fantastic! LOL!
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Actually, single chasis heavy vehicles can safely travel at high speeds, and tend to be quite easy to drive unless they have been damaged or tampered with.
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LOL! Back when the TR7 came out I was working in a Import only Parts Store and one drove past on the service road. The owner was there at that moment, as We all watched it go by He turned to the rest of Us and said “Gentlemen THAT is the shape of the new dollar bill.”
He was right. We sold parts out the wazoo for them. Mostly engine and cooling system plus tons of brake and clutch hydraulics.
Chicane's (or as I call them $&!t cans) ruined many a Race Track IMO
If you looked at Chilton Manuals for the 60’s and early 70’ , the front section ID for vehicles was the grill & headlight configuration of the vehicle in question.
My Fit is actually a pretty roomy car for its size, since the center-mounted fuel tank allows for remarkable space packaging.
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