#persu streamliner

[les-belles-mecaniques]

Persu Streamliner, 1922 1923

[lui-z]

Persu Streamliner

Aurel Persu was one of the first men to understand the importance of aerodynamics. Persu was inspired by the simple raindrop, and wanted to create a vehicle which had a similarly low drag coefficient. His masterpiece was the 1923 Persu Streamliner, a teardrop  shaped vehicle with aerodynamic bodywork and wheels which were set within the body – as opposed to sticking out, like on most other vehicles of the time. Powering the vehicle was a 1.4 litre four-cylinder engine which produced just 20 horsepower. Yet despite such a feeble powerplant, the slippery profile of the vehicle allowed for a 50 mph top speed.