Puzzle #262 - Solved! Chrysler VZ-6

[Otto Puzzell]

Know what it is?

Please, respond below and let us know the make and model designation of the car posted here.

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[grobmotorix]

Dr.Bertelsen in his 1958 Aeromobile?

[Otto Puzzell]

Along those lines...

This was the work of a major automotive manufacturer.

[grobmotorix]

Can only be American or am I wrong?

[Otto Puzzell]

It is an American manufacturer, yes.

[Tifosi]

Was Studebaker involved, after being bought out by Curtiss-Wright?


Dan

[Otto Puzzell]

No sir.

[Motorace]

Sure looks a lot like Piaseki's Flying Jeep, but Piaseki was not a major automobile manufacturer.

[Otto Puzzell]

You're right - not one of those.

[MG]

This is the featured vehicle for Arnold Schwartzenfinger's new movie, Roto-Cop.

[Tifosi]

Well, if it isn't Studebaker, let's try Ford...


Dan

[Otto Puzzell]

Not a Ford.

[GRAYWOLF]

ChryCo?

[Otto Puzzell]

This vehicle was the product of Chrysler.

[GRAYWOLF]

VZ-6

[Otto Puzzell]

Right on.  

The VZ series of hovercrafts were part of a military initiative started in 1957 to replace the jeep with something even more capable of traversing normally intraversable terrain. Chrysler built two VZ-6s and delivered them to the Army in late 1958. Both used 500hp Lycoming piston engines, measured about 21 and a half feet long and five feet high, used eight-and-a-half-foot diameter propellors and seated one.

According to details on the Aviation Enthusiasts Corner, testing began in early 1959, but the Army found the VZ-6 overweight, underpowered and unable to maintain stability.

Indeed, during the course of the first non-tethered "flight" the first prototype flipped completely over. The pilot escaped without serious injury but the craft itself was damaged beyond economical repair.

The Army moved on to the next VZ-series design and scrapped the two prototypes. So for all you futurists complaining about our current lack of flying cars, well, it's not like Chrysler wasn't trying.

[GRAYWOLF]

Here is the specific article:

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