As early as 1910, astonishing ideas emerged for adapting the body shapes of motor cars to the airflow. The generally growing enthusiasm for aviation, but also the 1909 Aviation Week in Reims, a major event that attracted worldwide attention, exerted an influence. Wing and teardrop shapes became an inspiration for technicians and inventors.
At that time, however, directing the airflow around the body of the car was not intended to increase speed, but primarily to reduce the amount of dirt swirling up from the generally unpaved roads.
In the 1920s, technicians and aircraft engineers recognized aerodynamics as a scientific topic for reducing air resistance and fuel consumption as well as improving the long-distance capability of automobiles. However, it was not until the second half of the 1930s that an impact on series production in automotive engineering was gradually observed. In the meantime, other areas of transportation also relied on aerodynamics and streamlining as an argument for progress and modern mobility. Several designers provided significant impetus in the field of automotive aerodynamics in the 1920s and 1930s. In addition to Rumpler and Jaray, these included Baron Reinhard von Koenig-Fachsenfeld, Emil Everling, Wunibald Kamm and Karl Schlör von Westhofen-Dirmstein.
However, it was anything but easy for them to gain acceptance for their ideas. Their aerodynamically designed bodies, based on scientific findings, deviated too much from the prevailing ideas of customers and manufacturers about the appearance of an automobile at the time. But the rethink began. New research and design methods, such as wind tunnel research, contributed to this.
Racing in particular should not be overlooked. As consistently as research results were successfully implemented there, they were slow to be accepted by buyers when transferred to production vehicles. Unique and rare vehicles - also within the spectacular permanent exhibition - illustrate the pursuit of efficiency, sustainability and design in various facets.
Focus on the pioneering era
The special exhibition at the August Horch Museum in Zwickau and then at the Audi museum mobile in Ingolstadt from 10.03.-22.10.23 is dedicated to precisely this development, which was driven forward by those important figures in aerodynamic research in automotive engineering up to the Second World War.
13 large exhibits, 26 models and 6 experimental/media stations document this journey from the quest for the ideal form to experimental objects and the pseudo-streamline. In particular, racing is not to be missed.
As consistently as research results were successfully implemented there, they were only slowly accepted by buyers when transferred to series vehicles for the reasons mentioned above. Unique and rare vehicles - also within the spectacular permanent exhibition - illustrate the combination of efficiency, sustainability and design in various facets.
In times of increasingly scarce resources and the promotion of electromobility, the ideas and considerations of that time are more relevant than ever. As a special offer, a master coachbuilder regularly works on the creation and completion of a streamlined shape live in the exhibition.
Exhibits
Large exhibits of the following vehicles are on display:
- Audi UW Jaray streamliner from 1934 (2012)
- Audi Jaray, foam model, 1:1, from 1923 (2023)
- Auto Union Type C, streamlined, 1937 (1999)
- Adler 2.5 liter Type 10 "Autobahnwagen" from 1939
- Adler Trumpf "racing sedan" from 1936/1938
- Chrysler Airflow from 1934
- DKW F1 Monposto from 1931
- DKW F8 streamlined car, replica, wooden frame model
- Hanomag diesel record car from 1938/2019
- Streamliner K2 prototype from 1940
- Opel Admiral limousine from 1938
- Schlörwagen, body replica 1:1
- Tatra 77 limousine from 1934
- Record motorcycle, body replica without engine
- Model steam locomotive BR01-1088 from 2004
- Airship LZ 17 Sachsen, model, 1981
- Etrich-Rumpler pigeon, model from 1987
- Auto Union-Porsche Type 52, 1:4 scale model
- Wind tunnel model superstructure, 1930s
- Model of the LZ127 Graf Zeppelin, 1930s
The special exhibition can be viewed as part of normal museum admission at no extra charge.
Further information and opening times can be found on the museum's website.
