Closed front wheel wells

I keep seeing cars with closed front wheel wells. My initial thought is always how the hell does the wheel turn. I dont normally like the look but at the same time, if you were to build something radical, it would open up a whole new world of possibilities. for example ford were thinking about it in their designs.



and some people do it so it must be able to work but at the same time I figure theres probably reasons why its not common to car design. Why as an idea did it not take off?
I know my questions vague & I dont really have a point its just something I would like to discuss as someone whose p***ionate about 50s design.
What are your thoughts on this? other than durr its ugly.



Truck photo from Legendary Lars album thread http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=714842

 

It ain't always ugly..




Nash had some covered front wheelwells. They just sit far enough away from the wheel so as not to harm turning.

 

I know, I know, its a Vw, it does not belong on here, but it does fit the subject matter

 

I think the earlier cars take ot it better.



I know barris did some weird thing recently, white car where I think he tapped into the axle so the cover turned with the wheel. like floating hubcaps.

 

It was really a Nash thing on general production cars... I think...

handling is a good reason it didn't "take off" the front axle must be narrower, & or turning radius greatly compromised...

I'm a Nash guy, & never really cared for the "traditional" enclosed front wheels... though I'm sure there are a couple out there that don't look too bad... the JD truck for example, or the gorgious black & gold custom

 

Harry Bentley Bradley did a 47 Ford custom that had hinged at the top skirts that opened up at the bottom when the steering wheel was turned... It was rigged to the tie rods, if I recall.

http://deansgarage.com/2010/harry-bentley-bradley-part-2/

 

that was Dave Crooks builld of a Bradley design

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=517378&page=37

found a hamb thread on it.

 

I dig it!

 

You already have a couple of answers, movable skirts or make the body wider than the front track, wide enough to steer (like Nash did) from 1949 to 54. Some custom body European cars had wide bubbled out front skirts.

Straight line race cars (Bonneville) have restricted steering, so do some show cars. Or put the skirts on for show, take them off to move the car.

 

Check decorides.com for a look at some enclosed front wheel cars. The designer had to resort to skinny wheels and tires, and kinda chubby fenders, but I'm guessing it works. Always liked Figoni Falaschi cars . Terry Cook's Bugnotti is a great example.

 

the wheel is turned in this picture....



Dang that's an ugly car. It's almost cute, but not quite.

 

That's one of those where you can't tell if it's pregnant or just fat... so you're afraid to ask.

 

Sometimes it looks just freakin' cool!

 

I've never seen anything appealing about cars like that.................maybe it's because I dont like Grey Poupon or something.

 

here's a diagram of what I meant by pinning it to the axle so it turns with the wheel.
its embarr***ingly **** but gets the point across i hope.
you have to have a little gap either side.

 

You have to have a lot of gap, or recess the cover part. Look at where the pivot point is, and where the cover will move when you steer.

 

yes if u made the sides rounded, because if they were square it would lock up



triangular gaps so its wider behind but the gap at the front looks visually tight.

 

thats the barris car, its not how I thought it was, cant quite figure it out.

 

Me too. (blush)
Tom

 

A design teacher of mine, (can't remember who, maybe Andy Ogden) once commented on something with no wheel openings that I drew, saying "The wheels are the most dynamic part of a car, why would you want to cover them up?"

Mostly he was right, except for, in my opinion- the Phantom Corsair and some Figoni & Falaschi creations- a**** others-

 

how's about having the skirt more.. of a ressesd half ball.. turit style and have it turn with the wheel?

 

Not everything works well, I think because the whole car has to be designed around it, closing them up on a car that wasnt designed to have them closed up will look bad. But when you can totally re-design the car from the bottom up I think you can still create movement in the lines. It interests me as an idea because you can do things that havent been done before.

you get the little bit of bumper infront of the wheel, and you can have something after the wheel like a 62 corvette. but erase the wheel and you can do so much more with that design. lines can flow along the body like the first ford picture I posted or this.

 

Anymore info on this car? I'm really digging it.

I think the front enclosed wheel look only works if it fits the car as a whole. It's not for everything.

 

And how about when the wheel moves upp and down ???????

 

And how about when the wheel moves upp and down ???????

Thats a good point & the reason for this thread, to work out ways you could make it work.

and

Anymore info on this car? I'm really digging it.

I dont know, I know it came from here, maybe someone else will know.

 

What is that? Or, What was that? Or.....Why?

 

im seein a lot that i like.

what about a plymouth prowler style. roadster but the deep skirted front fenders turn with the car...any good?

 

Unfortunately that is not the result of a drunken Photoshop session, it is indeed real.............one of the most heinous creations ever seen on the HAMB.

 

Thats Jason's wife's ride man.