Peterson Museum to host aerodynamics exhibition

Dydia DeLyser & Paul Greenstein
A 1941 Tatra T-87.

The Petersen Automotive Museum is staging an exhibition called Aerodynamics: From Art to Science, running from late June 2012 to May 2013. With an array of cars that neatly brackets the aerodynamic era from early guesswork to highly researched empirical data, the Museum provides visitors with excellent insight into the progress of this important technology.

As gas prices have risen, the reduction of aerodynamic drag has become a key aspect of modern automotive design. The Petersen exhibition booklet explains: Aerodynamic drag on a medium-sized car accounts for approximately 80% of total road resistance at a speed of 60 miles per hour. 

The exhibition will feature cars from throughout the history of aerodynamic experimentation. The 1928 Martin Aerodynamic with its vertical windscreen may not conform to most people's ideas of a low-drag car, but its integrated wheel housings and overall shape are a far cry from the cycle-fendered cars of the day.

Chrysler's celebrated Airflow is also on display, its quoted drag coefficient of 0.5 telling visitors just how far we've come. The Chevrolet Volt has a drag coefficient of .28. 

Naturally, no display would be complete without a 1940 BMW 328 MM, the car that made the Kamm tail an automotive byword. It was on this car that Dr Wunibald Kamm proved that a cut-off tail reduced turbulence and drag behind a vehicle, providing the BMW with an incredible drag coefficient of 0.25.

There are other milestone streamliners; the 1937 Airomobile, the 1955 Ghia Streamline X “Gilda”, the 1992 Oldsmobile Aerotech, which was a formula race car chassis with a sleek new body dropped onto it. Also among the exhibits are cars that use aerodynamic science not only for low drag, but for handling and stability improvements.

The Bugatti Veyron on display is shown with its active rear wing deployed. The wing provides the car with stabilizing down force, but also acts as an airbrake. 

The exhibition will run from May 16, 2012 to May 27, 2013.