1959 Ford Levacar Mach I (Levicar)

The first, full-scale Levacar, the newest development in wheel-less, air-propelled vehicles, was introduced today by Ford Motor Company at the Rotunda in Dearborn, Mich.

Compressed air, emitted through small holes in three levapads on the under side of the vehicle, provides a friction-less ride in which the Levacar slides on a film of air a fraction of an inch above the surface.

Electric controls enable the driver to levitate, start and stop the car by push buttons. Only 15 horsepower is required to levitate and Just 1.5 horsepower to propel the car through space at 15 miles an hour.

Called Levacar Mach 1, the vehicle will be a principal feature of the Rotunda's summer show, "Hew Adventures on the American Road." First public demonstrations of the Levacar will be made Thursday, May 21, in conjunction with Ford's fourth annual public stockholders' meeting.

Dr. Andrew A. Kucher, vice president - engineering and research, and Mr. George W. Walker, vice president and director of styling, demonstrated and explained the revolutionary auto in a special showing for the press today.

"This vehicle," Dr. Kucher said, "is the first Levacar we have built in which the operator rides and has full command over both levitation and forward speed.

"Besides making an interesting public demonstration in the Rotunda, the car will be used for experiments in our continuing development program."

Dr. Kucher said the Levacar Mach 1 demonstrates the feasibility of a jet-propelled, air-levitated vehicle for high speed ground transportation. "Projected up to speeds of from 200 to 500 miles per hour," he said, "the system is adaptable to public transportation between cities."

He likened this new mode of travel to present air transportation for distances of from 100 to 1,000 miles, but claimed greater safety and convenience for the ground system.

The next step in the Ford Levacar program, Dr. Kucher said, may be the building of a six- to eight-passenger vehicle to operate at about 200 miles per hour on rails.

Styling of the Levacar, which represents a further progression in levitation development pioneered by Ford's engineering and research staff, was performed by Ford’s styling office directed by Mr. Walker.

Levacar Mach 1 is constructed of aluminum and finished in flame red and white colors. The interior has white leather upholstery. The driver is enclosed by a transparent canopy that affords maximum visibility.

"The styling of the Levacar is designed to reflect the function of the car as well as its personality," Mr. Walker explained. "The high visibility provides a feeling of airiness that is in keeping with the principle of its operation.

"Though in its present form this is a one-passenger car, it points the way to a new concept in transportation."

At the Rotunda the Levacar travels on a platform 34 feet in diameter.

The car weighs about 450 pounds, is 94 inches long, 48 inches high and 54 inches wide. Its three levapads are each seven inches in diameter and require about 50 pounds of air pressure per square inch. The levitation can he regulated according to the weight of the occupant.

Ford's engineering and research staff first demonstrated its application of levitation on April 1, 1958, with a three-foot model Levacar and a Levasoooter. Levacar Mach 1 represents the first full-scale vehicle utilizing the concept proposed by Dr. Kucher more than 30 years ago. The model Levacar also is included in the new Rotunda display and travels on a circular highway above Levacar Mach 1.

Ford engineers in laboratory testing have achieved speeds of greater than 600 m.p.h. with air-propelled vehicles, approaching Mach 1 — the speed at which sound travels; 750 m.p.h.

In actual application a Levacar would have its own turbojet engines. Solely for demonstration purposes, the Rotunda Levacar utilizes a connecting arm from the compressor to supply air and guide the ear on its platform.