Gallery: The Bizarre German Car That Was Ultra-Aerodynamic—And Totally Impractical
DLR01Schor 1
The Schlörwagen was nearly 7 feet wide, mostly due to its body panels that covered the front wheels.
DLR02Plans 1
The car was designed by German engineer Karl Schlör, who worked at the Aerodynamic Research Institute (Aerodynamischen Versuchsanstalt, or AVA) in German-occupied Riga.
DLR03Wagen Propeller 1
In 1942, engineers took a 130-horsepower Russian aircraft motor and bolted it to the back of the car for some test runs.
DLR04Parked 2
The Schlörwagen, like other aerodynamically-designed cars of the era, took the shape of an airplane wing or teardrop.
DLR05Wind Tunnel 1
The DLR made a 1:5-scale model using the original plans, and ran it through a wind tunnel to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
DLR06Interior 1
Unlike a modern Toyota Prius, the car could fit up to seven passengers.
DLR07Road 1
The Schlörwagen was unveiled in Berlin in 1939.
