Oldsmobile Aerotech

Oldsmobile Aerotech
Overview
Manufacturer	Oldsmobile
Also called	Aerotech ST Aerotech LT Aurora Aerotech
Production	1987–1992
Assembly	Lansing, Michigan, United States
Designer	Ed Welburn (1985)
Body and chassis
Class	Development prototype
Body style	1-door coupé
Layout	Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Platform	March 84C CART (modified)
Powertrain
Engine	2,260 cc (137.9 cu in) turbocharged Quad 4 2,260 cc (137.9 cu in) twin-turbocharged Quad 4 3,995 cc (243.8 cu in) Aurora V8
Transmission	5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,827 mm (111.3 in)
Length	4,882 mm (192.2 in)
Width	2,184 mm (86 in)
Height	1,016 mm (40 in)
Curb weight	726 kg (1,600 lb)

Oldsmobile Aerotech engine at the R. E. Olds Transportation Museum

The Oldsmobile Aerotech was a series of experimental high-speed vehicles manufactured between 1987 and 1992 incorporating the latest in performance technology with the intention of breaking multiple automobile speed records. The first Aerotech was driven by four-time Indy 500 winner A. J. Foyt to a world closed-course speed record of 257.123 mph (413.788 km/h) on August 27, 1987, at the 7.712-mile (12.411 km) test track near Fort Stockton Texas. Prior to this, on August 26, 1987, the car had posted a top speed over a mile of 267.88 mph (431.10 km/h).

History

Development of the Oldsmobile Quad 4 engine started at the end of 1984. This straight-four engine has four valves per cylinder and dual overhead camshafts — the first time a volume production engine designed entirely in the US had these features. Oldsmobile described the engine as highly fuel efficient and powerful. The Quad 4 produced 150 hp (112 kW) and 160 lb⋅ft (217 N⋅m) of torque in its initial standard configuration.

The engineers behind the development of the Quad 4 engine were eager to showcase the engine's capabilities. Under the leadership of Ted Louckes, head of the Quad 4 engine program, they convinced top management at General Motors to develop a research vehicle which would demonstrate the engine's true potential. In 1985, a group of engineers under the leadership of Louckes was formed to develop just such a vehicle, called the Aerotech. Its sleek carbon fibre bodywork kept both weight and drag to a minimum. Ed Welburn, then assistant chief designer at the Oldsmobile studio, led the design effort.

The chassis was a modified March Engineering 85C CART chassis, similar to that of the 1985 Indianapolis 500 winning car. The first two Aerotechs were powered by DOHC four-cylinder engines that were not based on production Quad 4 parts, but on a set of engineering parameters derived from the engine, which Oldsmobile referred to as the "production architecture." Under this scheme the derivative engines had to keep the Quad 4's four-stroke combustion cycle, double overhead cams, multi-valve cylinder head and, significantly, 100 mm (3.94 in) bore spacing. Batten Heads of Detroit developed the Batten RE engine with a single turbocharger with an estimated output that ranged from 750 to 900 hp (560 to 670 kW). This engine was used in the short-tail (ST) car. Fueling Engineering of Ventura, California developed the twin-turbocharged Fueling BE engine producing an estimated 1,000 hp (750 kW), which was installed in the long-tail (LT) Aerotech.

The initial design sketches of the car were inspired by Le Mans winning race cars such as the Porsche 917. Completed in early 1985, the design was quickly approved by GM's top management, and the first mockup was finished shortly afterwards. Wind tunnel testing showed that the shape was aerodynamically efficient but would benefit from a few enhancements suggested by Max Schenkel, an aerodynamicist at General Motors who also served as a staff engineer on the Aerotech project. After extensive wind tunnel testing at General Motors' Technical Center at Warren, Michigan it was decided to alter the design by rounding off the nose and refining the canopy design. The air intakes were also moved from the sides of the car to the top of the fenders. Welburn had originally wanted the car to have faired-in wheel wells but Goodyear engineers working with Oldsmobile had concerns about excessive heat buildup in the covered space.

The car's underbody incorporated adjustable panels that could change the amount of airflow that flowed through the car's underbody tunnels. This system not only generated large amounts of downforce but also allowed the engineers to optimize the system for different race tracks.

Welburn's original design incorporated a long tail inspired by the Porsche 917LH, which ran counter to Louckes' plan for setting a closed-course record on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A long-tail version would hinder the car's handling despite providing a lower coefficient of drag. A short-tail version coupled with a pedestal rear spoiler was deemed more feasible.

Construction of the first car was completed by the end of 1986, and was tested by Foyt at the General Motors proving grounds at Mesa, Arizona. Although skeptical about the car's potential as first, Foyt managed to take the car to 218 mph (351 km/h) on the test track. He is said to have admired the car for its stability at high speeds.

As development neared completion, General Motors' senior management declined to allow the record attempt to be held at the General Motors Brickyard test track. The development team then chose to test the car at Fort Stockton test center located in Texas.

After successful runs at the General Motors proving grounds, the development team decided to test Welburn's long-tail design as well. Construction of a second car with this configuration had begun in late 1985. The second car was almost the same as the first but featured elongated rear bodywork tapering downwards and a different engine, replacing the 2.0-liter single-turbocharged Batten RE with a twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter BE engine built by Fueling Engineering. The new engine proved to be even more capable than its predecessor, generating a maximum power output in excess of 1,000 hp (746 kW).

The Aerotech name was later reused for two Oldsmobiles unrelated to the experimental speed record cars. In 1989 the Oldsmobile Aerotech II was shown at the North American International Auto Show. This concept car was a Quad 4-powered sports coupe with a straight, wagon-back roofline. 1989 was also when the Oldsmobile Aerotech III debuted. This car was essentially a preview of the forthcoming 1990 Cutlass Supreme sedan, with power from a supercharged Quad 4 producing 230 hp (170 kW).

Land speed record runs

On August 26, 1987, the development team tested the two completed cars on the Fort Stockton test track in the presence of FIA officials. Initial tests with the short-tail version of the car resulted in an average speed of 250.919 mph (403.815 km/h), falling just short of the closed-course speed record set by the Mercedes CIII-IV development prototype. As the team adjusted the car's aerodynamics, Foyt tested the second, long-tail car. The long-tail version proved to be even more capable than its short-tail sibling, allowing Foyt to reach a top speed of 275 mph (443 km/h) in the flying mile after some practice runs.

Foyt set a new speed record with the long-tail version the next day, averaging 267.399 mph (430.337 km/h) after flying-mile runs in both directions of the track. Subsequent runs made with the now modified short-tail version resulted in a new closed-course speed record of 257.123 mph (413.799 km/h), beating Mercedes' record by a large margin.

The speed records resulted in considerable publicity for Oldsmobile, and helped improve sales. The Aerotechs made several appearances at autoshows across North America. A non-functional mockup with a makeshift interior also made appearances at various circuit races.

Aurora Aerotech and endurance runs

Between December 7 and 15, 1992, a third Aerotech was built, and the two earlier cars were brought out of storage and made ready to run with the addition of functional lights. All three cars were now powered by 4.0-liter Oldsmobile Aurora V8 engines. The three cars broke 47 speed endurance records, including the 10,000- and 25,000-kilometer world speed records. Other national and international speed records ranging from 10 kilometers to 24 hours were achieved by a team of drivers working 24 hours a day for 8 days. These records were also set at the Fort Stockton test track.

Welburn was given the opportunity to personally drive the Aurora Aerotech in December 2010. During that run the car was limited to 61 mph (98 km/h) to prevent damage to the internal components.

Aerotech Go-Kart

Approximately 70 go-karts were produced with Aerotech-style bodies as promotional items for display in Oldsmobile dealerships. Built by Bird Engineering, the karts have steel tubular chassis with fiberglass bodies painted two-tone silver with red accents. Power goes from a 3 hp (2.2 kW) Briggs & Stratton single-cylinder engine through a centrifugal clutch and drive chain to 6 in (150 mm) wheels. Braking is by a single rear drum.

See also

• Oldsmobile Aerotech II
• Oldsmobile Aerotech III

External links

• "1987 Oldsmobile Aerotech Concept Car". auto.howstuffworks.com. HowStuffWorks. November 11, 2007. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
• John Davis (April 28, 2020). Olds Aerotech | Retro Review. MotorWeek – via Youtube.