Schlörwagen
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.[1][2] The project was shelved with the onset of World War II and mass production was never realized.[2] In 1942, the prototype was fitted with a captured soviet propeller engine.[3] The whereabouts of the sole functioning model remain unknown.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 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.
- 1 2 3 4 "Lord K" (November 18, 2011). "Lord K's Garage #113: The Schlörwagen". Archived from the original on May 29, 2013.
- 1 2 3 "170V und 170H einmal ganz anders !". MB-EXOTENFORUM - Sonderkarossen/Umbauten/Tuning (in German). Archived from the original on February 1, 2014.