Cross Atlantic pollination: This Adler 2.5 liter model was introduced at the 1937 Berlin Motor Show. Its aerodynamic shape was a design of Karl Jenschke. The bodies were built by Ambi-Budd in Berlin, and lines were influenced by the Chrysler Airflow.
By Gijsbert-Paul Berk
What the Europeans learned from the Americans
In the previous articles we have presented a number of eye-catching projects and aerodynamic studies created by European coachwork builders or car and aircraft designers during the first three decennia of the 20th century.
See Concept Cars and Aerodynamics, Part 2, Part 1
Though it often seems that the Europeans had the edge in design, during the first thirty years of the century a number of American designers and manufacturers became important sources of inspiration for the European car makers. In this chapter we will determine how the Americans inspired and influenced European manufacturers and what they learned or copied from each other.
This historic machine has nothing to do with aerodynamics, but the 1917 Dodge command car, used by the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during WWI, was one of the first with an ‘all steel’ body.