Streamlining: The 1930s...

great thread! subscribed. More please.

 

A few more....

 

The 1948 Norman Timbs Special with a mid engine Buick





Cadman

 

Here's another photo...

 

From Hemmings

"Designed by Austrian engineer Hans Ledwinka, the T87 was one of Tatra’s first forays into aerodynamic automobiles and was based on the philosophies and input of early aerodynamicists Edmund Rumpler and Paul Jaray. Its resulting drag coefficient of 0.36 may not seem all that impressive today (it’s the same as a late 1990s Ford Escort and no better than an AMC Pacer), but was astounding for 1936, the year Tatra introduced it. Beyond the aerodynamic shape of the car, it also featured a backbone chassis, fully independent suspension, and a rear-mounted magnesium-alloy air-cooled 85hp 2.9L overhead-camshaft V-8 that could propel the T87 to triple-digit speeds. During the German occupation of Chechoslovakia during World War II, many a Nazi senior officer appropriated T87s for their luxury status and high-speed potential, but legend has it that more than a few of those senior officers met their fates when they attempted high-speed turns in the T87 and found that it didn’t handle in the same manner as the front-engine cars they were used to. Nevertheless, Hitler himself is said to have appreciated Ledwinka’s design so much he had Ferdinand Porsche emulate it when designing the Volkswagen, a claim supported by Tatra’s successful 1961 lawsuit against Volkswagen." __________________

 

Frank Kurtis contributed a lot to the art-deco style with these cars, all around the '32-'35 time frame, except for the Lincoln Zepher, done just prior to WW2.

 

It's odd to me that those Zephyr convertibles ^^ are so scarce. I personally think that they're at least as good looking as the Continentals, but I have only seen about three in my entire life -- contrasted with hundreds of Zephyr 3-windows, and probably a thousand or more Continentals.

 

Streamline Design incorporated into not just cars but everyday household applicances, office equipment, tools,aircraft and the like is my favorite form of Industrial Design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTyTb1Ejzvs

Absolutely stunningly beautiful.....

 

Reduced speed reduces gas use @ the national level w/o consideration of the value of your time that is lost. For most of us the few $ saved at the pump isn't all that important vs what we could be doing @ our destination. The Govt simply looks @ the fact that 55 MPH vs 70 will reduce gas consumption by X billion gallons a year.

 

Hey George, do you feel that the Govt is also interested in reducing their tax and excise revenues collected by encouraging you to drive more slowly?

If what you are saying is true, then would'nt they be banning all HP vehicles and their use, motorsport and indeed any cars with V8s or drivetrains that consume MORE fuel?

I doubt it champ.

Rat

 

They'd take a bigger tax hit if people actually quit smoking. Think they're just looking @ the amount of $ going overseas to buy oil.

 

ibtl

 

Here is a prototype car built by Bendix in 1934 if I recall right. Not a very good photo, but it'll give you the idea.

Taken at the old Studebaker Museum in South Bend, IN in 2002 or so.

 

The blog video link is private now. Is this the same video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi7zSWwdOgE

I really like this drawing of the JAWA 700:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27862259@N02/7083003075/

 

Where are the Chrysler and DeSoto Airflows?

 

There's an exhibit at the Petersen now on Aerodynamics, and they have some pretty interesting cars in the show. I think the exhibit ends in May.

 

I haven't been, but the Mullin Museum in lovely Oxnard has some too.

http://www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com/