The Story Of The Airflow Cars

Covering every decade from the 1920s until now, this book reveals an incredible array of fascinating and advanced aerodynamic designs - cars shaped to cheat the wind or stick to the road. Meet an automotive inventor so weird he'd taken a vow of silence and had to communicate by writing notes... discover one of the lowest-drag cooling systems ever used in a production car... and see how the science and art of car aerodynamics have progressed over the last 100 years. Written with the full cooperation of car aerodynamicists from Porsche, Tesla, General Motors and Volkswagen, the coverage is detailed and accurate. Over 60 individual cars are described - from the tiny Fiat Uno to the mighty Bluebird Land Speed Record car. Learn about wings and spoilers, the Kamm tail and how today's low-drag electric cars are being developed. Be amazed that some cars built over 80 years ago have better aerodynamic figures than many current cars. See rare concept cars from Mercedes, Ford and Chrysler. Researched on three continents and containing more than 450 photos, diagrams and graphs, this book will forever change how you view car aerodynamics. "Someone once said that to know where you are going you need to know where you have come from. Julian Edgar's new book provides car aerodynamicists with a vivid and detailed understanding of how we got here over the past 100 years." Jeff Howell, Visiting Professor Loughborough University and former head of Aerodynamics at Rover, Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors European Technical Centre. "This book takes you on a fascinating and engrossing journey through the history of automotive aerodynamics, highlighting notable milestones in learning and technology, but also bringing real humanity to some of the illustrious names of the field, and adding illuminating context to their work." Rob Palin, lead aerodynamicist on the Tesla Model S "A fascinating and well-researched trip through history that will expand the understanding of anyone interested in vehicle aerodynamics." Jon Young, car aerodynamics enthusiast.

This richly detailed account of one of the most important men in American automotive history is based on full access to both Chrysler Corporation and family historical records. Curcio traces Chrysler's rise through the industry and gives unique insight into this colorful and passionate man. 50 halftones.

Through words and pictures from Breer's own photography collection, The Birth of Chrysler Corporation and Its Engineering Legacy offers a nostalgic look at the industry's early days and provides us with insight into the men that were instrumental to Chrysler Corporation's engineering success. After reading this account of the stellar careers of Zeder, Skelton, and Breer, and the many engineering accomplishments for which they were responsible, automotive engineers will appreciate the great legacy given to them by these men. A book of interest to all automotive historians, design engineers, car enthusiasts, and anyone wishing to learn more about the automobile industry in its early years. Chapters cover: Carl Breer: The Early Years With Zeder and Skelton at Studebaker, 1916-1918 We Create Chrysler Corporation Reminiscences of Early Product Developments at Chrysler Corporation Birth of the Airflow Car Railroad Ride Research Along Airflow Principles The Chrysler Engineering Team and the War Effort Death of Walter Chrysler and a New Regime. Reviews

Now revised and updated, this book tells the story of how the automobile transformed American life and how automotive design and technology have changed over time. It details cars' inception as a mechanical curiosity and later a plaything for the wealthy; racing and the promotion of the industry; Henry Ford and the advent of mass production; market competition during the 1920s; the development of roads and accompanying highway culture; the effects of the Great Depression and World War II; the automotive Golden Age of the 1950s; oil crises and the turbulent 1970s; the decline and then resurgence of the Big Three; and how American car culture has been represented in film, music and literature. Updated notes and a select bibliography serve as valuable resources to those interested in automotive history.

This much needed book is the first to provide a comprehensive history of the profession and aesthetics of American automobile design. The author reveals how the appearance of the automobile was shaped by the social conflicts arising from America's mass production system. He connects the social struggles of American society with the organizational struggles of designers to create symbol-laden substitutes for the American dream. Theoretically sophisticated, lucid and compelling, Auto-Opium will appeal to all interested in the American obsession with the car.

The first comprehensive history of the Chrysler Corporation, this book is intended for readers interested in the history of automobiles and of American business, and for fans and critics of Chrysler's products.

Power, Speed, and Form is the first accessible account of the engineering behind eight breakthrough innovations that transformed American life from 1876 to 1939—the telephone, electric power, oil refining, the automobile, the airplane, radio, the long-span steel bridge, and building with reinforced concrete. Beginning with Thomas Edison's system to generate and distribute electric power, the authors explain the Bell telephone, the oil refining processes of William Burton and Eugene Houdry, Henry Ford's Model T car and the response by General Motors, the Wright brothers' airplane, radio innovations from Marconi to Armstrong, Othmar Ammann's George Washington Bridge, the reinforced concrete structures of John Eastwood and Anton Tedesko, and in the 1930s, the Chrysler Airflow car and the Douglas DC-3 airplane. These innovations used simple numerical ideas, which the Billingtons integrate with short narrative accounts of each breakthrough—a unique and effective way to introduce engineering and how engineers think. The book shows how the best engineering exemplifies efficiency, economy and, where possible, elegance. With Power, Speed, and Form, educators, first-year engineering students, liberal arts students, and general readers now have, for the first time in one volume, an accessible and readable history of engineering achievements that were vital to America's development and that are still the foundations of modern life.

At last - a book for those who like to modify the aerodynamics of their road cars!In this book author Julian Edgar explores a host of practical and low-cost techniques that you can do yourself without spending a lot of money or needing special facilities. Section 1 introduces aerodynamic drag and lift. The language is simple and straightforward - but still includes concepts such as drag co-efficients, lift co-efficients and the different types of drag that affect road cars. Section 2 is devoted to aerodynamic testing - directly measuring aerodynamic pressures, and seeing airflow patterns by the use of on-road wool-tuft testing. Section 3, the largest part in the book, covers aerodynamic modification. Fitting vortex generators, testing different undertrays, reducing drag, using turning vanes in intercooler ducting - all are covered in detail. In addition, techniques are described for reducing wind noise, building an effective engine intake that breathes high-pressure cold air, siting bonnet vents in the correct location, and testing airflow through intercoolers. With nearly 300 full-colour photos and diagrams, this book is practical and down to earth - and uses techniques able to be carried out on the road.

Classic, indispensable introduction to industrial design in the last century.