The ConvAirCar was designed by the American Industrial
designer Henry Dreyfuss in 1947 for the aviation company
Consolidated-Vultee.
As far as flying cars go the ConvAirCar was about as true
to the name as possible. It quite literally was a car
which towed its wings and engine/propellor unit behind
it when on the road, and when at the airport the car bit
is connected to the airplane bit and off you go.
While the original idea, considering its age, was quite
brilliant. Unfortunately a crash which occurred only 3
weeks after its first flight, and the resulting negative
media quickly put any potential investors and customers
off the project.
The car section of the ConvAirCar comprised of a lightweight
fiberglass body wrapped around a four-seat platform. Power
came from a rather weedy 25 horsepower Crosley engine.
The aircraft section featured a 190 horsepower Lycoming
aero engine. |
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