Tag Archives: Design

Streamline Madness! A Gallery of Automotive Aerodynamics in Print Ads

November 11, 2020 admin

1932 Rockne

Instead of fumbling with task of explaining the concept of aerodynamics myself, I will simply lift some copy from the Porsche 924 ad seen below. Per Porsche:

Air resists the movement of a vehicle passing through it. Resistance increases with the square of the vehicle’s speed: twice the speed produces 4 times the resistance. The engine power required to overcome this drag increases with the cube of the vehicle’s speed: twice the speed requires 8 times higher power. Thus, even a small reduction in drag can result in a large increase in fuel economy. Dr. Ferdinand Porsche was among the first to reduce drag through body design. The Porsche 924 benefits from 70 years of Porsche aerodynamic development. It’s drag coefficient is a low .36. And it requires only 15 hp to cruise at 55 mph.

[embedded content]

Two observations about the Porsche text. First, it’s clear Porsche copywriters don’t like commas. Second, this blurb ignores the 1921 Rumpler Tropfenwagen—a vehicle largely understood to be the first intentionally aerodynamic car. And, it boasted a better coefficient of drag than the 924. You can read all about the Tropfenwagen here.

The 1921 Rumpler Tropfenwagen is generally understood to be the first intentionally aerodynamic automobile.

Looking back, it’s clear that long before carmakers were making effective use of aerodynamic design, they were laying claim to having harnessed the virtues of low-drag silhouettes. For your consideration, we have amassed a gallery of classic ads, each of which touts the benefits of streamlining and aero design in some fashion. Check them out, and let us know which is your favorite. For the record, the Tatra ad—which is an ad, not a brochure—is absolutely my favorite.

More classic ads

1930 Tatra

1930 Tatra Ad

The Cars of Metropolis

1932 Rockne

1932 Rockne Ad

Market Crash Madness! A Gallery of Depression-Era Car Ads

1934 Chrysler Airflow

1934 Chrysler Airflow Ad

Amazingly Innovative Cars . . . And Why They Failed

1934 Kestrel

1934 Kestrel Ad

Eclectic Collectibles: 2018 Mecum Chicago Auction Gallery

1934 Hupmobile

1934 Hupmobile Ad

Photo Feature: 1933 Hupmobile K-321 Convertible Coupe

1935 LaSalle

1935 LaSalle Ad

Designer Madness! Fashion in Classic Car Ads

1949 Nash

1949 Nash Ad

Plaster Master: Salvaging a Nash Styling Model

1952 Willys

1952 Willys Ad

Photo Feature: 1941 Willys 441 Station Wagon

1956 Plymouth

1956 Plymouth Ad

Photo Feature: 1960 Plymouth Fury Hardtop Coupe

1968 Chevrolet

1968 Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette Ad

1976 Plymouth

1976 Plymouth Arrow Ad

Forgotten Functionality: Recalling the 1994 Eagle Summit Wagon, Mitsubishi Expo, and Plymouth Colt Vista

1978 Toyota

1978 Toyota Celica Ad

Aichi Madness! 10 Classic Toyota Ads

1980 Porsche

1980 Porsche 924 Ad

Review Flashback! 1973 Porsche 911

1981 Buick

1981 Buick Regal Ad

Cheap Wheels: 1979 Buick LeSabre Palm Beach

1981 Buick

1981 Buick Regal Ad

Dynaflow Madness! A Gallery Of Classic Buick Ads

1983 Pontiac

1983 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Ad

5 Most-Powerful American Cars of 1980

1983 Mercury

1983 Mercury Cougar Ad

What Was the Mercury Cougar Bostonian Edition?

1984 Audi

1984 Audi 5000 Ad

Gallery: Cool Cars at Fun Places

1985 Ford

1985 Ford Thunderbird Ad

Review Flashback! 1984 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

1986 Ford

1986 Ford Aerostar Ad

Click below for enlarged images

Follow Tom on Twitter

Listen to the very entertaining Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

Automotive Aerodynamics Gallery

Written by: Tom Appel on November 11, 2020.

Forgotten Concept: Ford SYNus

October 27, 2020 admin

Ford SYNus Concept

This is an installment in a series of posts looking back on show cars that we feel deserved a little more attention than they got. If you have a suggestion for a Forgotten Concept topic, please shoot us a line or leave a comment below.

Ford SYNus Concept

First Seen: 2005 Detroit Auto Show

Description: Compact crossover

Sales Pitch: “An urban sanctuary.”

More Forgotten Concepts

Ford SYNus

Details:

First seen at 2005 Detroit Auto Show, the SYNus Concept was a compact crossover that featured a tough, armored-vehicle exterior with a comfort-themed cabin. The vehicle was a collaboration between Spanish designer Jose Paris (exterior) and industry veteran Joe Baker (interior).

The bank-vault-esque exterior included bullet-resistant glass and armored shielding for the windshield and side glass which appeared when the vehicle was in “Lockdown Mode.” The modern cabin featured seating for four, and included a hideaway rear bench seat and front bucket seats that could be rotated 180 degrees to face the rear of the vehicle. In place of a rear window, the SYNus featured a large TV monitor.

The SYNus’s drivetrain, borrowed from the European Ford Mondeo, was a 2.0-liter “Duratorq” turbodiesel engine coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission.

Pronounced “sin-u-ehs,” the SYNus name was a pairing of syn—sort for synthesis—and us—for urban sanctuary. Ford had initially considered calling the concept Armadillo, but discovered that Fiat had used the name for a concept in 1996.

Review Flashback: 2001 Hummer H1

Ford SYNus

CG Says:

It’s hard to pick the best dystopian landscape for this rolling exercise in vehicular paranoia, but I’m going to go with that of Robocop. I saw this vehicle in the flesh when it first made the rounds, and still wonder how a concept car designed for the bleakest of realities made for good, happy, move-the-sheetmetal fun. Strange that Ford stopped with the armor cladding. Why not include a solar-powered dehydrated-meal reconstituter, and a water purification system? I am happy to report that nothing this depressing or paramilitary-looking has made its way into Ford showrooms since the SYNus debuted, so we’ll just call this odd exercise a one-off and forget about it.

Cars of Cuba: A Gallery

Ford SYNus

Click below for enlarged images

Listen to the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

Follow Tom on Twitter

Ford SYNus Gallery

5 Vehicle Shopping Tips for Tall Guys

Ford SYNus Concept

Written by: Tom Appel on October 27, 2020.

Forgotten Concept: Toyota CX-80

October 6, 2020 admin

Toyota CX-80 Concept

Toyota CX-80

First Seen: 1979 Tokyo Auto Show

Description: Compact hatchback

Sales Pitch: “Practical urban transport of the future.”

More Forgotten Concepts

Toyota CX-80

Details:

First seen at the 1979 Tokyo Auto Show, the CX-80–also known as the FCX-80–was a compact hatchback designed, per Toyota, “…to respond to contemporary changes in the way people view automobiles.” Though it is unclear what changes the CX-80 was created in response to, the design emphasis seems to be on comfort and utility. The CX-80’s glassy, slim-pillared greenhouse would have been a boon to outward visibility, and the large, angle-hinged doors were designed to created a large passenger opening even in tight parking environments. A front-wheel-drive layout allowed the CX-80 a completely flat cabin floor.

Technical flourishes included a digital instrument cluster and push-button transmission operation. The right-hand-drive concept was shown primarily at Asian-market shows, and was displayed along with another concept, the Family Wagon.

Forgotten Concept: Karmann SUC

Toyota Family Wagon

CG Says:

Apart from the very small and downmarket Starlet hatchback, Toyota rolled into the Eighties without a two-box small car on the order of the Dodge Omni or Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit. The CX-80 was likely Toyota’s attempt to test the Asian waters for interest in a design that had already proven popular in Western Europe and North America. The clean, sharp design is fun, but I am baffled by the extra-low, legs-straight-ahead seating position. Kudos to Toyota design folks for the instrument-panel display; the digital presentation is not far different from those seen on several head-up display (HUD) units currently on the market.

Forgotten Concept: Porsche C88

Toyota CX-80

Listen to the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

Follow Tom on Twitter

Toyota CX-80 Gallery

Written by: Tom Appel on October 6, 2020.

Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast, Episode 44: Pontiac’s Screaming Chicken, 2021 Ram 1500 TRX

August 28, 2020 admin

Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

Whether you drive a car, need a car, or just occasionally bum a ride with friends, you’ve come to the right place. Join the editors of Consumer Guide Automotive as they break down everything that’s going on in the auto world. New-car reviews, shopping tips, driving green, electric cars, classic cars, and plenty of great guests. This is the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast.

Episode: 44

Broadcast date: August 30, 2020

Guest: John Biel

Pontiac’s Screaming Chicken, 2021 Ram 1500 TRX

Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the recent unveiling of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, a ultra-performance off-road pickup truck with a 702-hp supercharged Hemi V8 engine. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the October 2020 issue, including a profile on GM designer John Schinella (one of the creators of the Pontiac Trans Am “screaming chicken” hood graphic) and an overview of the dashboards of the 1930s. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on optional-equipment prices, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a first-look article on the 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro.

The Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast is broadcast every Sunday on Chicago’s WCPT AM 820 at 1:00 PM CST.

Discussed this week:

Collectible Automobile Magazine

1979 Pontiac Trans Am

Test Drive: 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro

More Consumer Guide Test Drives

Follow the crew:

The CG Daily Drive Blog

Car Stuff Facebook Page

Consumer Guide on Twitter

Tom on Twitter

Damon on Twitter