Puzzle #348 - Solved! Jet Cooled Porsche

[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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Thanks!

[grobmotorix]

from the workshop "How to destroy the best design within a minute"...

Is it an american conversion of a pre-A 356?

[Otto Puzzell]

This modification was not cosmetic.

[porridgehead]

You're telling me! 

[superingo63]

Perhaps this one was built by Beutler in Switzerland?

[Otto Puzzell]

I don't think so, but my German is (nor my Austrian) are not so good. The picture was taken in the US, if I recall correctly, during testing of the modifications of which the appendages in this picture were an unfortunate outgrowth.

[SeaLion]

There is only one reason that I can think would need such big exhaust output, and that is if the car was modified with a gas turbine engine.

[Otto Puzzell]

You're on the right track

[grobmotorix]

maybe they needed a higher exhaust pipe to be able to swim with this thing 

[Otto Puzzell]

No, that's not it...

[Tifosi]

I remember back in the '70''s, some lawmakers in Florida attempted to legislate aa height rule for auto exhaust outlets.  The idea was to decrease emissions by regulating the point at which they entered the atmosphere...somehow, if the exhaust entered the air at about 12-18 inches or so above the ground, they supposedly dissipated more quickly and evenly.  Of course, this left the tailpipe vulnerable to damage in the lowest speed rear-end accidents.  I saw a Porsche 911 with a snorkel-type exhaust, and it loioked ridiculous.  It was a wacky idea that quickly died, becuse of the impracticality and lack of hard evidence that it would even have any real impact on the environment.

The car in the pic is definitely NOT a 911...but I'm wondering if somebody tried the same idea back in the '50's...



Dan

[Otto Puzzell]

No, that's not it.

[grobmotorix]

This seems to be one of the earthbound testing vehicles for Mr.. Wendell Fletcher´s"Jet Cooling Engine".

He changed the cooling fan to a system of his own design and started negotiations with Porsche to aide in the project. It was called 'Jet Cooling' and consisted of a venturi through which the exhaust gases flowed. The vacuum produced was fed with cooling air from the engine. The saving´s from the energy required to run the fan. Several racing prototypes were developed using the system. Unfortunately the noise produced was excessive and the system was never used.

This 356 Convertible had chassis number 10139 and was sold in february of 1952. Its body was converted by Maurice Schwartz from Pasadena, California.
Tests seem to have been continued till 1958..


Thank you vey much for posting this, ´cause I´ve always wondered  about the "Fletcher Aviation" sponsor stickers on the 550 Panamericana speedsters - now I do know the story behind!


http://stb.msn.com/i/A3/BD59FC2E2B48263A3D85110C922.jpg

[Otto Puzzell]

Very well done. 

[Allan L]

This seems to be one of the earthbound testing vehicles for Mr.. Wendell Fletcher´s"Jet Cooling Engine".

He changed the cooling fan to a system of his own design and started negotiations with Porsche to aide in the project. It was called 'Jet Cooling' and consisted of a venturi through which the exhaust gases flowed. The vacuum produced was fed with cooling air from the engine.

IIRC Julius Mackerle developed a similar system for a Tatra racing car.
Can't say which was first offhand.