Schlörwagen

A scale model of the Schlörwagen in a wind tunnel

The Schlörwagen (nicknamed "Egg" or "Pillbug").[1] was a prototype aerodynamic rear-engine passenger vehicle developed by Karl Schlör (1911-1997) and presented to the public in 1939.

Schlör, an engineer for Krauss Maffei of Munich, proposed an ultra-low drag coefficient body as early as 1936.[2] Under Schlör's supervision at the AVA (an Aerodynamic testing institute in Göttingen) a model was built.[3] Subsequent wind tunnel tests yielded a drag coefficient of only 0.113.[1] incredible then and still extremely impressive today.[3] For a functioning model, a Mercedes-Benz 170H chassis,[1] one of their few rear-engine designs, was used. The aluminum body was built by the Ludewig Brothers of Essen. Subsequent tests of the motorized model showed a slightly higher but still impressive drag coefficient of 0.186.[2] A year later it was unveiled to the public at the 1939 Berlin Auto Show.[2][1] The project was shelved with the onset of World War II and mass production was never realized.[2] The model was later taken to Russia and fitted with an external propeller engine.[3] The whereabouts of the sole functioning model remain unknown.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Christopher, John (2013). The Race for Hitler's X-Planes. The Mill, Gloucestershire: History Press. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-7524-7711-4. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Lord K" (November 18, 2011). "Lord K's Garage #113: The Schlörwagen". Archived from the original on May 29, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "170V und 170H einmal ganz anders !". MB-EXOTENFORUM - Sonderkarossen/Umbauten/Tuning (in German). Archived from the original on February 1, 2014.