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GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
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GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
I've always enjoyed seeing old automobiles at car shows, auctions and a few owned by friends. Aerodynamic development since the beginning of the automobile a particular favorite hobby.
I started collecting photos a while ago when researching the Firebird concepts. That collection is neat but disjointed. Here I will follow a timeline of sorts. GM constantly redesigned the same concept cars over and over again. Making small changes over the years.
I will break up the photos over 3 time periods.
Pre World War II will cover the earliest experiments. This section will contain mainly non GM Land Speed experimental vehicles but includes some surprising and legendary GM experimental cars with stories to match.
Post War to the end of the 2nd Gens. This will include most of the experimentals across GM's various divisions during their design golden age.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
This add from the 80's is a fun way to start
But really it starts with the first of GM's speed record racers.
The 1903 Oldsmobile Pirate. This beauty reached a speed of 54 MPH with a 1 cylinder engine generating 7 HP. A brilliant use of power to weight ratio. One tank was for gas the other oil.
Not much for aerodynamics (the two tanks and a good lean forward) but you have to start somewhere.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
Before this, aerodynamic design was in use from the beginning of official speed record attempts. Being mostly steam and electric cars dominating the field through 1906.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
As you can see. Gas powered autos were at a disadvantage with huge radiators in front and the soon to be massive engines. Ever careful of weight, they slowly began add features and all Speed cars moved designs towards the cigar or bullet shape common by 1910.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
From this point on aerodynamic design ideas start taking real shape as Land Speed Records were much harder to achieve the more record speeds climbed higher and higher.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
Up until the 1930's driving aerodynamic high horse powered cars was for the pioneers of speed. One off racers on dirt, brick or the more popular sand beach as close to the edge as possible for the most compact sand.
That is until the Babs car broke the record, and soon after, crashed and rolled. Beheading the driver. They dug a whole in the sand and buried it after it stopped burning. 40 years latter, the car was dug up and restored.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
Cars built for sale to the public only began in the 30's. This was mostly due to the poor conditions of the public roads. What good is aerodynamics if you can only go 30 or 35 because of it. Most were really designed that way for looks ( Art Nouveau ) than for function. It would take until after WWII before roads were good enough that real demand for performance could drive sales.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
Thanks for sharing, I knew some of these but many are all new to me. Some really crazy ideas in there.
Originally Posted by bjpotter
Cars built for sale to the public only began in the 30's. This was mostly due to the poor conditions of the public roads. What good is aerodynamics if you can only go 30 or 35 because of it. Most were really designed that way for looks ( Art Nouveau ) than for function. It would take until after WWII before roads were good enough that real demand for performance could drive sales.
In the 30's it would be Art Deco. Like the architecture of Miami or the Empire State Building.
Art Nouveau is more late 1800s early 1900s, it's very floral and plant like.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
It always amazes me to look at old pictures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and to see what people were wearing. From low income stable boys to oil barons seems everyone wore tweed coats and vests and ties. Everyone dressed up and very few were without a flat cap or fedora hat.
That was expected whether you were putting together a matchless engine or watching the Kentucky derby, you just dressed up.
Seems as though that expectation was falling out of favor by the end of WWII and has devolved into what we have today....pajama pants and slippers at the grocery .store....sad.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
If the last one looks similar to the VW, so did the court system.
Hitler wanted a peoples car for germans and comanded Porsche to design one. He simply copied Jarays design, changed the rear and took credit for it. Tatra sued but Hitler told Porsche not to worry. He was about to take care of that problem for him. He took over Czech and gave Porsche the tatra factory. End of lawsuit until after the war!
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
Before the war German engineers were pushed to create the fastest and best of everything to show off **** power and prestige. They again copied others and then improved the designs to try and capture Land Speed Record fame.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
One strange fact during the war was that both GM and Ford continued to run their divisions and factories in Germany. An agreement between the ****'s and both companies allowed for this if the factories did not manufacture armaments for the war. They both made utility vehicles that were used by the ****'s but only in support rolls.
Opel, GM's division gave one more try at speed records with a new version of the Rak II rock propelled car with wings.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
I'm going to close out this section with a photo of the last Le Mons race before the war. The contrast between old and newer design I find interesting.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
I can appreciate the history of aerodynamics, but I don't see anything third gen related here. I'll keep this open for now, but it needs to be on topic.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
Thanks Scott.
The first part was always the weakest towards that goal. It shows the trial by error approach to design that dominated the age. The story moves along much quicker and to the point now. 1956 being crucial for what would become the explosion of ideas that brought us the 3rd Gen Firebird
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
Post WWII GM spent the first few years rehashing ideas from before the war. Harvey Earl and Bill Mitchell were about change everything.
Many GI's coming back from Europe wanted sports cars like they were seeing and driving over there. Jaguar, Morgan and others were low and light weight.
GM responds with the 1952 Corvette Concept and all its variations up to the Biscayne.
This is the last time GM designers followed others.
Re: GM Aerodynamics-Influences leading To The 3rd Gen Firebird
In 1956 the Corvette SS XP 64 and Sting Ray Concept was born in Clay. GM was now using full sized wind tunnel technology. To me this is where the true beginnings of 3rd Gen Firebirds started. Low to the ground a sloping front end and rising curved fenders to allow tires higher in the body.
1956 Wind Tunnel experiments with the XP 64 Corvette
02-25-2016, 12:42 AM
