Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: dakazman on Wednesday,October 31, 2018, 11:40:40 AM
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A friend sent me this picture. I like the look it gives the front spoiler.
BUT,,
Having any spoiler in front worries me driving on streets with speedbumps and parking head-on.
I also noted a lot of deep gouges in the front valance and adding something lower your just asking for trouble.
Dakazman
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What about the air cooling the front discs?
If you mess about with the airflow, several things have to be considered.
The bookshelf on the engine cover will reduce the top speed nicely.
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I especially don't like the "bookshelf" but I find the front spoiler interesting. I'm not saying I'm a fan, but it is nicer than a lot of front spoilers I've seen. Alex makes a good point about brake cooling.
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When I first saw the photo I wondered if the lower side sections weren't spoilers but ducts to feed cold air to the brakes ? Otherwise I don't really see the point of it, unless of course you need a snow clearance device for winter.... :)
As for the rear spoiler, I think we can all agree that's there for show purposes. If it managed to generate any significant downforce I could see stress crazing all over the rear lid and how much would actually end up on the rear wheels is anyone's guess. Unless of course there's some hardware that's not immediately obvious from the angle of the shot ?
Brian
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Google Image search thinks it is a Jensen Healey.
I am not sure whether that is a compliment or an insult.
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/23/healey/
From the adverts, I don't think it is a compliment.
Maybe they will be future classics.
At least it has a Lotus 907 2 litre engine. I think that ended up in a lot of later Lotus, Elite, Excel, Esprit, Eclat in 2.2 litre form.
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I would say this car has a japanese mod look to it. I would never argue that there are benefits to adding little spoilers and a big wing unless you actually test it in a wind tunnel or by recording track times. Ultimately more of a personalization that looks sporty. Looks ok in my books but I'm sure its not to everyone's taste.
Ross
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Good eye Rosco, Japanese it is. 👍
I was just asking about the forward lower spoiler. I’m not a fan of the aft fin.
The design looks functional, replicating vortex generaters that guide air along the surface from stalling at lower speeds. Instead of stalling and acting as a speed brake.
Any cool air routed to the brakes would be a plus and diverting the heated radiator air but that can be put off for another discussion. I like the stock look on street vechicles. Racing I think we all expect some sort of aerodynamic improvements. I can’t remember what racing team took the airflow from the underside of the car , in theory causing a vacuum while in the turns .
Dakazman
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. I can’t remember what racing team took the airflow from the underside of the car , in theory causing a vacuum while in the turns .
Dakazman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd9Y-s2_3yk
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Here's a video about and with the actual cars narrated by Colin's son, Clive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovlrlrz8J6M. It also doesn't have the alarmism about breaking the seal when driving over curbs - something that was theoretically a problem but in practice, was not.
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BDA, I was just going to post that same Video. Loved it two interconnected chassis...amazing.
4129 , thanks for jogging my memory . Lotus definitely was an innovator in the world of racing.
Dakazman
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. I can’t remember what racing team took the airflow from the underside of the car , in theory causing a vacuum while in the turns .
Dakazman
Actually Jim Hall's Chaparrall 2J was probably the first ground effects car in 1970. That car had skirts and a vacuum fan. However it was Chapman who used the underside of the car as a venturi to decrease air pressure.
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I was going to mention Jim Hall and the Chaparral 2J - I believe the VERY first ground effects car. It was made illegal because the fans were considered a movable aerodynamic device. Chapman was the VERY first to develop a passive ground effects car. In '77, the Lotus 78, the initial development, was dominant but in spite of the fact that Mario won the most races that year, he did not win the championship. In '78, Mario and Ronnie Peterson were dominant. Mario won the championship - the last American to win an F1 race much less a championship.
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I was going to mention Jim Hall and the Chaparral 2J - I believe the VERY first ground effects car.
IMHO more of a vacuum effect car than a ground effect car.
Chapman got something for nothing, which must have brought an enormous smile to his wallet face, whereas the Chaparral used electrical energy to drive the suction fan.
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It's a street car. I like it.
About 10 years ago a bunch of guys on the HybridZ forum pitched in and rented a wind tunnel to test various bolt on items, a few air dams, rear spoilers, headlight covers, hood vents ect. I don't remember what worked best, it is probably still posted though. Spoilers and are dams do work. If brakes fade, it's not the spoiler.
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No one has mentioned the vents in the bonnet? I personally don’t like any water coming into car in the area above my legs.
Dakazman
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I can't argue with that distinction. Of course, John Barnard built for Jim Hall what was essentially a Lotus 79 for Indy and won with it. Sort of going full circle in a way.
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No one has mentioned the vents in the bonnet? I personally don’t like any water coming into car in the area above my legs.
Dakazman
Neither did Lotus.
They even put a rubber thingy where the front plenum chamber cover lock goes into a metal keep by the centre of the windscreen, to stop water dripping in there.
Most windscreens leak though.
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If the part added to the car doesn’t have a purpose I’m not a fan of adding anything. My track Exige S car’s had lots of aero, all very functional. Making your car look like a “racer” is not my thing. By the way, that wing would have no functional purpose at all except as an air brake and slow you down.
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Corvettes use this spoiler for racing and street . Mine looks and may be functional however I don’t feel any difference and don’t notice any fuel savings.
Dave
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Of course a lot depends on how fast you're going and how sensitive you are. Chevy claimed the little "duck tail" of the Mako Shark Vette (don't know the C#) actually produced downforce at 100mph. If it actually did, I very much doubt anybody could tell because it couldn't have been much.