Vintage Aero Question

[RoadHazard]

In looking at late-60s Formula 1 and Formula Junior cars, they all have the traditional cigar shape with the central air inlet in the nose. My question is, where does that air exit? I don't see a corresponding air outlet anywhere near the nose, except in a very few cars that have ducts on the top of the nose.

Does the air exit to the left/right by the wheels? Under the nose? Straight through the chassis/cockpit? The air's gotta go somewhere.

[Peter Olivola]

In many cases it exits on both sides of the car immediately ahead of the front wheels. One of the first aero improvements was to duct air out of the radiator on top of the bodywork. Some cars have longitudinal openings. Others used fairly substantial holes and even incorporated a leading edge lip to induce additional low pressure to improve cooling efficiency.

In looking at late-60s Formula 1 and Formula Junior cars, they all have the traditional cigar shape with the central air inlet in the nose. My question is, where does that air exit? I don't see a corresponding air outlet anywhere near the nose, except in a very few cars that have ducts on the top of the nose.

Does the air exit to the left/right by the wheels? Under the nose? Straight through the chassis/cockpit? The air's gotta go somewhere.

[Brian]

Often the oil tank was directly behind the radiator, and had a vee shape to direct the air to the outlets in the body, where the suspension mounted. Not all that sophisticated, but it worked fine. A major issue with those cars can be getting the oil pump to prime with the long pressure in line from the front tank, and heavy thick cold oil. Jacking the front of the car up by a foot or so and cracking the line at the pump works.

Brian

[Stan Vann]

I've got a old 1970 Caldwell D9 FF1600. I installed a aluminum V shaped deverter just behind the rad to direct the hot air flow out the openings on each side of the body, just behind the front suspension. There are a couple of dive planes just above these exits that may create a low pressure area there too. Before the hot air just crashed into a aluminum bulkhead where the brake cylinders live. I never did any back to back testing, but it looks right.

[ric baribeault]

isn't vintage aero like jumbo shrimp, or military intelligence, or...

[RoadHazard]

isn't vintage aero like jumbo shrimp, or military intelligence, or...

Well, yes, that's true. They were built according to the pretty = fast school of design.

On a related question, were the nose sections of these cars made from fiberglass? The main body panels must have been metal because you can see the rows of dozens of little rivets. But the nose sections seem to have no riviets at all, suggesting they're made from a different material. Besides, it would be almost impossible to form a single piece of metal into the shape of a Lotus 49 or Brabham BT7 nose.

[DanW]

From the Lotus 25 onward (1963), the F1 cars were monococque tubs based on aircraft structures of the time.

Most noses of the of the period were fiberglass.

[ric baribeault]

i agree. they were gorgeous. nothing is prettier to me than a 70's F1 car....well almost anything.

[FWSchroeder]

Ric,
You never disappoint, hope things are going well.
Fred

[Garey Guzman]

i agree. they were gorgeous. nothing is prettier to me than a 70's F1 car....well almost anything.

Is that the significant other? Her hands are already dirty so I guess she's ready to help prepare the car!

[ric baribeault]

hi fred. extremely well, considering all i'm doing is karting right now. needed the break after a very disappointing last year. a lot of traveling. just got back from russia for obvious reasons.