Lower, Longer & Leaner

[Sixty8panther]

Here we go... this one should be a decent challenge:

This car has 6 wheels, rear engine layout & a central driving position

It was built using a one off, supercharged, fuel injected 12-cylinder, 48 valve motor

Two major "celebrities" of the 20th century were involved in this vehicle's birth

It's sleek styling resulted in an ultra low darag coefficient: 0.18

The car was to be introduced to the world in a spectacular propaganda event on television but it never came to fruition and it now lives in a museum.

[Camino LS6]

First thing that came to my mind was this:

[Z-06]

First thing that came to my mind was this:

That is Tyrrell P34, which by the way has a V8, not a V12. March 2-4-0 was another F1 prototype with 6 wheels which however, never made in fruition. I do not know what engine did they propose for that.

I thought of Panther 6, which had 6 wheels, but also has a Cadillac V8.

[Camino LS6]

Yup, knew about all of those.

Can't figure this one out - it sounds like a McLaren F1 with an extra pair of wheels.

[balthazar]

Covini

[Z-06]

Covini

It has an Audi V8.

[Sixty8panther]

HUGE clue:

It's a car, but it has WINGS, not tail fins, not a spoiler, WINGS.

Also, the power stroke of its' cylinders fights gravity.

[§carlet §wordfish]

I'm guessing it's some sort of flying car. Unfortunately I'm not up on my flying cars.

[Sixty8panther]

It is NOT a flying car.

Three more clues:

1. nitrobenzene

2. 44.5 L

3. Autobahn

[ocnblu]

No way it could be a Trabant, then. I am stumped. More clues, please.

[§carlet §wordfish]

Some sort of Nazi bastard war machine.

[Sixty8panther]

Not a war machine... but it was commissioned by an infamous NAtionalist Zocialist leader.

The OTHER celebrity was a Mercedes Benz engineer who went on to found his OWN company.

The 44.5 liter displacement is the best clue.

[Z-06]

Mercedes T80 - I'll be darned.

[Drew Dowdell]

inverted V12?

[Robert Hall]

Hmmm..IIRC, there was a huge convertible w/ 6 wheels on the cover of Road & Track around 1977. It was a one-off, black IIRC. Don't remember any other details...I still have that magazine from childhood in my stash.

Speaking of this Mercedes T80, never heard of it..will have to research it.

Edited May 7, 2010 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[the_yellow_dart]

I think it might be worth it for Mercedes to restore it and see what they can do for a record...

Would be good publicity!

[balthazar]

Cubi-quizzical ~ >>"IIRC, there was a huge convertible w/ 6 wheels on the cover of Road & Track around 1977. It was a one-off, black IIRC. Don't remember any other details..."<<

Panther 6, Cadillac 500 powered, still around.

[Sixty8panther]

Oldsmoboi:

http://aviationshoppe.com/images/Daimler-Benz_DB-601.png

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/iipcache/127578.jpg

http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/d/da/daimler-benz-db_601a.jpg

http://www.crank-scrapers.com/db601na.jpg

[Sixty8panther]

Best photo I know of the T80's chassis with the giant DB601 inverted V12:

http://www.flickr.co...sta/3042202792/

Look at that Supercharger, it's bigger than a complete Honda Accord drive train!

Edited May 11, 2010 by Sixty8panther