This is the 1987 Oldsmobile Aerotech 'Shorttail’ marketing car. The 'Aerotech' project was a series of (5 total) experimental high-speed vehicles manufactured by Oldsmobile between 1986-1992, with work beginning in 1984. At the end of 1984, the development of Oldsmobile's quad-4 engine was beginning, which was a 2.3L inline-4 engine. The engineers behind this engine wanted to demonstrate this cars full capabilities, so with the styling expertise of Oldsmobile Assistant Chief Designer, Ed Welburn, the team set out to design a speed record car over a March 85C CART chassis. The Aerotech project was handled by Bill Porterfield, and it was Bob Norwood who built the later endurance Aerotech cars, and Max Schenkel who was the aerodynamicist for the ST/LT cars. After initial sketches were completed in 1985, wind tunnel testing commenced at the General Motors Technical Center at Warren, Michigan. By 1986 the first of 5 total experimental cars was completed, which became known as the 'Shorttail'. The first tests were carried out b four-time Indy 500 winner A.J. Foyt. They were able to squeeze 1,000+ horsepower out of the 'quad-4' engine by ultimately turbocharging it. In 1987, Oldsmobile completed a second Aerotech this time with a 'Longtail' design and a slightly different twin-turbo inline-4 engine. In the presence of FIA officials, both cars were tested on the Ford Stockton test track. The 'Shorttail' variant resulted in an average speed of 250.919mph. Foyt also tested the 'longtail' that day and achieved a top speeds over 300mph. The next day Foyt set a new speed record averaging 267.399mph. In 1992, a series of 3 new endurance cars with a 4.0L V8 engine that wound up breaking 47 speed endurance records.
How many made? 1 shorttail, 1 longtail, 1 shorttail marketing car (shown here), 1 AJ Foyt Recreation plus 3 endurance cars
Engine: 2.3L Turbocharged Quad-4 with 1,000+ horsepower
Debut: 1987 Chicago Auto Show (marketing car). August 26th, 1987, Ford Stockton Test Track (test car).
Top Speed:
Shorttail: 257mph
Longtail: 300+mph
0-60mph: n/a
Photo credit: @lambolog
Research: @rarecarsonly