Page 6 - The Kellner Affair Sample Pages

CHAPTER 2: LA VOITURE DE L'AVENIR - THE CAR Of THE fUTURE
things off a bit, fairing the fenders, slanting the windshield, adding a sloping rear end and calling a model aerodynamic – and they got away with it, as the general public had no factual understanding of the concept or science of aerodynamics in the rst place.
The Dubonnet Dolphin, 1936
In 1935 André Dubonnet was 38 years old. He had sold his automobile suspension patents successfully, but lost none of his willingness to experiment. To him, the word “aerodynamic” had become a catchphrase that was used indiscriminately by others and quickly slapped on any old design which had been nowhere near a wind tunnel. Dubonnet had noted how aerodynamics was already degenerating into decoration on semi-aerodynamic designs such as the Aéropro l cars by Gaston Grümmer and the Letourneur et Marchand fastbacks. He took exception to what he felt was the frivolous use of a crucial element of engineering, which needed to be handled with the utmost gravity: in his eyes, true understanding of the properties of automobile aerodynamics would be the next big step in the development of the motor car, and he decided to make his own contribution.
Once again, Dubonnet allied himself with Gustave Émile Chédru. Chédru then sought the assistance of Jean Andreau, who had a large wind tunnel at his disposal and could therefore scienti cally
test and improve aerodynamic shapes. Together, they set about developing a true aerodynamic car, which would be a perfect demonstration of the advantages of proper air ow management. The result, which according to Gijsbert-Paul Berk was built by Letourneur et Marchand, was an extreme mid-engined and teardrop-shaped automobile with a huge rear n. Appropriately named the Dolphin, it featured independent Dubonnet-Chédru type suspension all around. A backbone chassis ran down the center of the car and split like a tuning fork to cradle the engine, in the manner of racing cars developed three decades later. The car
The outlandish Dubonnet Dolphin exiting a sidewalk on the Croisette in Cannes – scaring a hapless Renault driver half to death in the process. (Peter Larsen)
Gustave Émile Chédru inside the Dolphin. The silhouette wearing a hat next to him is André Dubonnet. (Peter Larsen) 60