Monday, April 5, 2021

Gaston Grümmer's 1934-Vintage Streamliners

Gaston Grümmer (1892-1965) was a member of a coachbuilding family who established his own firm in 1924.  He was a Great War aviator and teamed with another, Guillaume Buisson, to design bodies incorporating aerodynamic principles.

There is little English information on the Internet regarding Grümmer's firm and designs.   Some background is here on the French language Wikipedia site. 

I do not know if any of his "Aéroprofil" designs were tested in wind tunnels; I suspect their shapes were "eyeballed" based on the results of others such as Paul Jaray who did do tunnel testing.

Grümmer also incorporated smaller, narrow windows above the windshield and side windows, presumably to create a more "airy" passenger cabin.  These had no aerodynamic benefits.

Grümmer's coach building firm ceased operations in August of 1935, having made around 850 bodies during its 11 years.

Gallery

Grümmer's "Hirondelle" (Swallow) design, here seen on this promotional rendering showing a Hispano-Suiza 46 CV from around 1933.  This style was used on a number of cars his firm clothed.

Another promotional drawing, this of a Torpedo body on a Hotchkiss 620 Long.  Interesting positioning of the spare tire.

This has been called an Aéroprofil, though not in its classic form as seen below.  It apparently was the first of that concept.

Another view of the same car, an Alfa Romeo 6C from 1933.

Peugeot 601 with a four-door Aéroprofil body, 1934.

Two views of a classic Grümmer Aéroprofil body, this on a 1934 Renault Nervasport.

Same car, rear quarter view.

As best I can tell, the car is a 1935 Renault Nervasport, the body abaft of the cowling is Aéroprofil, the front seems to be stock Renault.

Italian coachbuilder Zagato made some bodies with an Aéroprofil flavor during the late 1940s.   This is a 1947 Fiat 100 Panoramica.

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