Concept Car of the Week: Oldsmobile Aerotech (1987)

In late 1984, Oldsmobile management had so much confidence in the potential of its new inline four-cylinder engine Quad 4, that a small team was assigned to the creation of the Aerotech, a research vehicle designed to demonstrate the engine's performance by setting a new world speed record.

Ed Welburn, then assistant chief designer, was mostly working on the 1988 Cutlass Supreme but his passion for race cars made him the ideal candidate to be handed the assignment by Oldsmobile 2 studio's chief David North.

Inspired by Le Mans racers such as the Porsche 917LH and Jim Hall's Chaparrals, he designed a long, flowing car that immediately seduced design director Chuck Jordan and GM management. "I kept telling them I had other ideas, other sketches" Welburn chuckles. "But they were sold on the first sketch."

Like the Achieva concept two years earlier, the Aerotech was modeled away from prying eyes in an a quiet basement studio.

The first model proved very efficient in the wind tunnel although some areas needed refinement: the nose was rounded, the canopy inclined, the vents moved from the sides to the top and the rear wheel fairings were removed to increase tire cooling at high speed. 

Welburn's original design also called for a long tail, but a short tail, paired with a secondary rear spoiler would provide ideal downforce for Indianapolis' corners where the car was to be driven.

While Welburn was refining the car's exterior, its single seater cockpit designed was being design by William Quan and proved to be even more futuristic. Inspired by both race cars and F16 fighter jet cockpit, it featured bath tub seat, transparent heads up display and foldable lateral screens. This was a car to be piloted, not merely driven.

When the design was finalized, the car's sleek carbon-fiber body was mounted over a March 84C CART chassis similar to the one used on the car that won Indianapolis 500 that year. Power would come from a 2.0-litre version of the Quad 4 and turbocharged to produce a massive 900bhp.

After the first shakedown runs at GM's proving grounds in Mesa, Arizona, the car easily reach 218mph around the banked oval. Not only did it wipe out any doubts within GM – not to mention driver AJ Foyt who didn't believe that such a pretty car could really perform – it also revived everyone's ambitions to beat the world speed record.

Construction of a second Aerotech began at the end of 1985 which differed from the first one by its elongated tail that swept downwards. It also received a second turbo that brought the power output beyond 1,000bhp.

While the short tail version came close to the 251.020 mph closed course speed record held by Mercedes C111-IV prototype, the long tail went on Fort Stockton oval track and after a few practice runs, it averaged 257.123mph with speeds on the straight up to 290mph. The record still stands today.

First seen 1987 Chicago Auto Show
Chief designer David North
Exterior designer Ed Welburn
Interior designer William Quan
Engine Turbocharged 2.3-litre, in-line 4-cylinders Quad 4
Power 900-1,000bhp
Length 4,882mm
Width 2,184mm
Height 1,016mm
Wheelbase 2,827mm
Weight 726kg

Your author, Flavien Dachet, is a UK-based, French-born car designer. You may know him as the purveyor of KarzNshit, a photo blog that if isn't already in your bookmarks, certainly should be.

By Flavien Dachet