Road Runner Nest

I was looking at the site where they had the wind tunnel information on the development of the 71 superbird. That got me to thinking, ( I know I was thinking because the acrid smell of burning brain cells was abundant ) Were our cars the first full production cars to be seriously influenced by areodynamics? I know there were short run and package cars over the years, but I mean off the regular production line. If you look at the c/d of the 71-2 door coupe it isn't much worse than the Superbird. Thats what got me thinkin. What do you think?

The FIRST? Nah, aerodynamic considerations in automobile design had been around a LONG time before the '71 b-bodies. Consider the Chrysler AIRflow--definitely designed with aerodynamic consideratons, albeit with '30s understanding and sensibilities...

But there is NO doubt the '71s were definitely designed with racing and air flow in mind... they were meant to be Superbirds in '71 afterall, NASCAR just wouldn't allow it...