Concept Car Of The Day: 1986 Oldsmobile Aerotech - AllCarIndex
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The Oldsmobile Aerotechs were a series of experimental high-speed vehicles created between 1987 and 1992, incorporating the latest in performance technology with the intention of breaking multiple automobile speed records. The first such car 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 27 August 1987 at the 7.712-mile (12.411 km) test track near Fort Stockton Texas. Before this achievement, on 26 August 1987, the car had posted a top speed over a mile of 267.88 mph (431.10 km/h). The car consisted of a March Indycar single-seat chassis enclosed in an extremely efficient aerodynamic body shell. It was powered by a highly turbocharged version of the 2-liter Oldsmobile Quad 4 engine. The design of the Aerotech included the capability of adjusting underbody sections to control the distribution of downforce, front to rear. Oldsmobile produced three versions of the original Aerotech to prove the capabilities of the company's Quad 4 engine - two were short-tailed (ST) versions and one was long-tailed (LT).
Between 7 - 15 December 1992, another version of the Aerotech, this time powered by a 4.0-liter Oldsmobile Aurora V8 engine and fitted with lights, 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 accomplished by a team of drivers working 24 hours a day for 8 days, all set at the Fort Stockton test track.
The engine and performance specs of the Oldsmobile Aerotech were impressive - with a mid-engined position, Oldsmobile Quad 4 engine with single or twin-turbo, 1993cc capacity, and a power output of approximately 850-1000 hp. The top speed of the Aerotech reached 455 km/h. The dimensions of the vehicle were also noteworthy, with a length of 4880 mm, width of 2180 mm, height of 1020 mm, wheelbase of 2830 mm, and a weight of 726 kg.
The Oldsmobile Aerotechs remain a testament to innovation and ingenuity in the world of high-speed automobiles, pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible.
