Back in history: Streamlining to optimize mpg with the Chrysler Airflow
There's a simple yet oft-forgotten law of physics that says the faster an object moves, the higher the pressure against its movement is - that is, more energy is needed to counteract this air pressure in order to maintain and increase speed.
This was a rather new field when Chrysler developed the Airflow models in the early thirties. The cars were fully designed following aerodynamics and tested in a wind tunnel. Despite the commercial efforts, such as the video you can watch if you follow the Read link, the car was a failure because the global result turned out to be odd for the average consumer.
Nevertheless, the cars could make 18 mpg with an I-8 engine, whereas most of the cars at that time barely could make 8-10. This was a lesson later applied to most of the cars and gave such groundbreaking models as the Citroën DS or the Studebaker Avanti. Almost every car made today is wind-tunnel tested to improve efficiency.
[Source: Greatcarstv.com, h/t to Chris]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
J. D. Rowell 1:45PM (3/28/2008)
Yes, Chryler (and DeSoto) Airflow cars got better gas mileage than their competitors, but the difference, on a fair comparative basis; weight, HP etc.) it was not double, as you state, but more like 50-60% better. And that was if the Airflow had overdrive, which almost no other cars had then, even as an option. Without overdrive the Airflow's advantage was more like 30-40%,although, of course, at really high speeds the Airflow's advantage was the greatest.
Reply
BC 1:14PM (6/25/2007)
Aerodynamics certainly contributes to fuel economy, but if I recall, the Airflows had a unibody construction and were lower weight too.
More rare, but fantastic early examples of automotive streamlining are the pre-war Tatras. The Airflows are stodgy by comparison!
Reply