"X.P.A.C.
400 AIR CAR"
This car
is a ground effects machine and rides on a five inch cushion
of air and can run on land or water, has no wheels, transmission
or rear end. Plus, no frictional moving parts. Air is drawn
in through the front and rear openings into the open plenum
chamber with outlets through a combination of peripheral jet
inserts. Four inch polyethylene circular skirt is installed
on the lower portion of the body. Frame construction is of 3/4
inch alloy round tubing and the dimensions are 12' long, 6'
wide, and 30" high. Stabilizer fins has an 8' 7" wingspan,
plus 53" high. All panels are hand formed from 040 half
hard aluminum, by Jack Sutton.
Power is two jet aircraft starter motors 24 volt D.C., 4 horse
power that turns 40,000 rpm at 300 amps. This is reduced 8 to
1 to absorb the amount of load combination of horsepower. Balanced
20 inches cast aluminum fans push 11,800 C.I.M. free flow &
under 7/8" static water pressure has 7,600 C.I.M., dry
weight of the car is 422 pounds including all the accessories.
Movement is obtained by a revolving jet nozzle which has an
air thrust to the right, left, forward, reverse and stop. Top
is vacuum formed by plastic dynamics over a male mold using
100,000 butyrate tinted plastic scoop on the top houses a penta
prism rear view mirror which can be seen from the inside of
the cab. The headlight is a curved reflective flourescent triple
tubes which throws out a clear even light over 100 feet in the
front and has no glare on the approaching vehicles. Frys plastic
of LA has 1/8" red translucent plastic with a reflective
backing insert, in the complete rear fin taillight assembly.
Twelve mill ruby red neon lights heated blown to fit the contour
in each fin and lites up the complete area. Frosted white plastic
is fitted into the front headlight for protection with a hand
formed chrome rim and grille combination. White circular suction
cups are installed on the sides of the body for steps plates.
Gold checkered plastic covers are used over the openings of
the large tunnels to the blower for protection from the blades.
Air stream indicators are mounted into the grille to register
the amount of speed while going through the air since there
are no wheels or rear end. contoured curved body formed unbreakable
fiberglass bucket seat is installed in the cockpit with a waist
high safety belt. Air foam is used by Roy Gilbreth to fill the
inside white pearl naugahyde covered seat and white plush rugs.
There is an impact adjustable air foam headrest on a gold coil
spring. The phono-vision, new dial telephone with a vision screen
which enables you to see who you are talking to when dialed
in with the double transfer T.V. camera and microphone. Six
square inch television screen is mounted into the dash and is
operated on any wave length from a transformer. Radar screen
is also mounted on the dash and sends waves to pick up size
of obstruction on the highway. Complete car is operated by sound
waves and will demonstrate the controls by a small push button
box unit 50 feet away from the car. Start, stop, right, left,
and on, off of the neon lighting system is all done by wireless
remote control. All electronics are on circuit breakers, racheted
relays and solanoids engineered by Earl Wilson.
Body paint of nitro cellulose lacquer 35 coats of imported swedish
pearl of essence which is made of crushed fish scales and added
crushed diamond dust, then colored in Kandy translucent red,
white and blue. This car was designed and built to be demonstrated
for the public showing how an air operates and is mounted on
a guide rail for safety. All exterior trim has been gold plated
for added attraction. All engineering and styling on this car
has been used for today's vehicles.