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Wed Dec 20, 2023 5:25 pm

Can you identify the one?

Wed Dec 20, 2023 5:31 pm

With a front grill, I'm not seeing a VW at all.

Volkswagen had no exclusive on that body shape.

Wed Dec 20, 2023 6:24 pm

Agreed, just like cars all look the same now they all looked like that one in the mid to late 1930's.

Wed Dec 20, 2023 6:33 pm

It is the "Starcar" named after it's 5 cylinder radial engine. This was a mockup built by Chrysler in 1935. Dr. Porsche toured Detroit in 1936 and saw it. Draw your own conclusions.

Thu Dec 21, 2023 2:41 am

the star coupe is shown at the end of this thread about design influences https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

this thread also looks at contemporary 'beetle' designs https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

that's why Battle for the Beetle - by Ludvigsen is such a good book as it looks at what other manufacturers and countries were doing

Thu Dec 21, 2023 3:56 am

Steve M. wrote: It is the "Starcar" named after it's 5 cylinder radial engine. This was a mockup built by Chrysler in 1935. Dr. Porsche toured Detroit in 1936 and saw it. Draw your own conclusions.

Why would a car of that size need a 5 cylinder radial engine, especially with that much reduced frontal area vis-a-vis engine cooling? About the most inappropriate engine you could imagine.

Thu Dec 21, 2023 4:46 am

Martin Southwell wrote: Steve M. wrote: It is the "Starcar" named after it's 5 cylinder radial engine. This was a mockup built by Chrysler in 1935. Dr. Porsche toured Detroit in 1936 and saw it. Draw your own conclusions.

Why would a car of that size need a 5 cylinder radial engine, especially with that much reduced frontal area vis-a-vis engine cooling? About the most inappropriate engine you could imagine.

Not too dumb at all, the idea was to shorten the engine and move the center of gravity forward, while maintaining a powerful package as light and small as possible. Remember, it would be a small capacity engine, not like a big Pratt and whitney. Porsche experimented with a 3-cylinder radial for the Zündapp type 12 project.

The concept turned out too complicated and impractical, Porsche proved that a 4 cylinder boxer was the best compromise. Unlike the Tatras, the beetle is all about compromises.

Thu Dec 21, 2023 4:49 am

Ford was also experimenting with X shaped (watercooled) engines in the 1930s ( before the advent of their famous Flathead V8 ) and Ford was building full aeroplanes (Trimotor) at the time (using Wright and Pratt/Whitney radial engines). So it makes total sense that Chrysler would work on similar radial engines, to keep up with their competitor. Also remember when Chrysler changed from a very conservative 1933 production model sedan to the strikingly beautiful and aerodynamic 'Airflow' in 1934. Back then everything was about reducing drag and building aviation inspired automobiles. Remember that also the Kdf prototypes and later on the transporter were wind tunnel tested for improved efficiency..

Thu Dec 21, 2023 5:16 am

of course you can always go large if you like :lol:

Thu Dec 21, 2023 5:28 am

allsidius wrote: Martin Southwell wrote: Steve M. wrote: It is the "Starcar" named after it's 5 cylinder radial engine. This was a mockup built by Chrysler in 1935. Dr. Porsche toured Detroit in 1936 and saw it. Draw your own conclusions.

Why would a car of that size need a 5 cylinder radial engine, especially with that much reduced frontal area vis-a-vis engine cooling? About the most inappropriate engine you could imagine.

The concept turned out too complicated and impractical, Porsche proved that a 4 cylinder boxer was the best compromise. Unlike the Tatras, the beetle is all about compromises.

One line above 'The concept turned out too complicated and impractical' just about sums it up.

Thu Dec 21, 2023 7:28 am

Martin Southwell wrote: allsidius wrote: Martin Southwell wrote: Steve M. wrote: It is the "Starcar" named after it's 5 cylinder radial engine. This was a mockup built by Chrysler in 1935. Dr. Porsche toured Detroit in 1936 and saw it. Draw your own conclusions.

Why would a car of that size need a 5 cylinder radial engine, especially with that much reduced frontal area vis-a-vis engine cooling? About the most inappropriate engine you could imagine.

The concept turned out too complicated and impractical, Porsche proved that a 4 cylinder boxer was the best compromise. Unlike the Tatras, the beetle is all about compromises.

One line above 'The concept turned out too complicated and impractical' just about sums it up.

Realized only after they made a few prototypes. The beetle engine is quite advanced for the day, with overhead valves and pushrods, at a time when the small Fords and Opels had side valves and consisted of about 50 parts. A 5 cylinder radial would not have needed many more parts. Each 250 cc cylinder would have been lifted from a small motorcycle, the crankcase of a radial is simplicity itself. But Porsche put the engine in the back, while Chrysler seems to have an idea to put it up front. Where the novel engine would not have made that much of a difference.