Encyclopedia Hoonatica: Cars with NACA Ducts

Tim Odell

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Ferrari F40

Believe it or not, developing a scoop that’s effective at scooping air in without creating ridiculous amounts of drag is phenomenally difficult. It’s actually quite easy to design a scoop looking thing that barely scoops at all. You could say it sucks…but the problem is it doesn’t.
Luckily, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (the predecessor to NASA) figured it out for us back in the 1940s. As the rocket/jet age took off (har, har…), the NACA duct was born from a need to pull air into jet engines without significantly disrupting the flow of passing air. Semi-ironically, NACA ducts can’t really pull in enough air to feed a jet engine, but they work great for lower-speed cooling applications.
While supersonic road going vehicles remain a Syd Meade-grade product of The Retro Future, the needs for air intake, cooling and aerodynamic slickness continue to increase. This was particularly true in the 70s, as cars went from matching artists’ conceptions of what a rocket car should be to meeting engineers’ design requirements for top speed and fuel economy. Hence, a preponderance of NACA ducts in the ’70s and ’80s.
For today’s Encyclopedia Hoonatica, simply pulling up every JC Whitney-ized Civic you can find on Google image search won’t cut it. It’s gotta be the submerged, curvy beauty that is the NACA duct, and it’s gotta be from the factory.

Just to eliminate another bit of low-hanging fruit, here’s an Espada, which The Missus refers to as “her Lambo”, as she has plans to kill me with six Italian carburetors feeding twelve cylinders sport one as a semi-practical mom-mobile some day.
As always, do please refresh the page and read previous comments so as to avoid duplicates. And here’s how to embed images in the comments.
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57 responses to “Encyclopedia Hoonatica: Cars with NACA Ducts”

  1. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    Shelby Mustangs
    <img src="http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1960-1969/1969-Shelby-Mustang-GT-350-fa-lr.jpg&quot; width=500>

    Reply
  2. TurboBrick Avatar
    TurboBrick

    How about fake NACA duct from the factory?
    <img src="http://www.mach1registry.com/history/photos/p63622_image_large.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  3. Feds_II Avatar
    Feds_II

    280 ZX
    <img src="http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/280zx.JPG"&gt;

    Reply
    1. Sivart_R1 Avatar
      Sivart_R1

      Damn – I knew there was a Z with a NACA, but I thought for sure it was a late 80's 300zx, not early 80's 280….missed the search by *that* much…

      Reply
  4. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    Countach
    <img src="http://www.lamborghiniblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/lamborghini-countach-lp500-s.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  5. skitter Avatar
    skitter

    In chronological order:
    1970 Porsche 917
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/Porsche917.jpg&quot; width="600">
    1974 Lamborghini Countach (hat tip to tonyola)
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/1978_Countach_LP400S.jpg&quot; width="600">
    1987 Ruf CTR "Yellowbird"
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/ruf_ctr-2a.jpg&quot; width="600">
    1990 Mercedes Sauber C11
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/NACADuctMercedesSauber.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
  6. skitter Avatar
    skitter

    Continued:
    1997 Dodge Viper
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/DodgeViperGTS.jpg&quot; width="600">
    1998 TVR Speed 12
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/TVRSpeed12.jpg&quot; width="600">
    2004 Porsche Carrera GT
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/PorscheCarreraGTD.jpg&quot; width="600">
    2005 Ferrar FXX
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/FerrariFXX.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
  7. retro Avatar
    retro

    Porsche 924 turbo
    <img src="http://ploader.net/files/cd5e1de4bd3009e80f33b06b77e87bf2.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  8. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    R34 Skyline GT-R V-Spec II
    <img src="http://www.performancecar.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/nissan-skyline-gt-r-r34-vspec-nur-fqh.jpg&quot; width="670" height="308" />

    Reply
  9. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    <img src="http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2008/ghij/2008-GeigerCars-Ford-GT-Front-Angle-1-1024×768.jpg"&gt;
    If this don't count, I will have sads.

    Reply
    1. Tim Odell Avatar
      Tim Odell

      NACA not found.
      [sad trombone]

      Reply
      1. muthalovin Avatar
        muthalovin

        Hey, you cannot win all of them all.
        I would rather have Mad_Science prove me wrong than jlklulz420 tell me I am a moran for being stoopid.

        Reply
        1. Tim Odell Avatar
          Tim Odell

          Heh…I'm making trouble elsewhere today.

          Reply
    2. smalleyxb122 Avatar
      smalleyxb122

      I'll give you partial credit, since the GT40 had them:
      <img src="http://www.sportscardigest.com/wp-content/uploads/1968-ford-gt40-mk-ii-chassis-1076-main-2.jpg"&gt;
      <a href="http://www.sportscardigest.com/wp-content/uploads/1968-ford-gt40-mk-ii-chassis-1076-main-2.jpg” target=”_blank”>http://www.sportscardigest.com/wp-content/uploads/1968-ford-gt40-mk-ii-chassis-1076-main-2.jpg

      Reply
  10. LTDScott Avatar
    LTDScott

    Courtesy of Jonny Lieberman.
    <img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs052.ash2/35939_460604580119_725095119_6856211_7721493_n.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  11. joshuman Avatar
    joshuman

    I was all excited to throw up pictures of a Peugeot 206 GTI and a Lancia Delta Integrale. Although they both have hood venting/intakes, neither of them have NACA ducts.

    Reply
  12. superbadd75 Avatar
    superbadd75

    It's gotta be from the factory? Well, this one should have been, does that count?
    <img src=http://www.revlimiter.net/mods/pix/scoop1.jpg>

    Reply
    1. muthalovin Avatar
      muthalovin

      Love it. I really wonder what happens when you press the headlight button…

      Reply
      1. superbadd75 Avatar
        superbadd75

        Ah, don't worry about that part!

        Reply
  13. dustin_driver Avatar
    dustin_driver

    Would the 1999 Isdera Commendatore 112i count?
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Isderacom.jpg&quot; width ="500">

    Reply
    1. dustin_driver Avatar
      dustin_driver

      Yeah, probably not NACA ducts. But I just wanted to post the photo. Such an incredible car.

      Reply
  14. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    Er, gotta keep that left headlight cool?

    Reply
    1. superbadd75 Avatar
      superbadd75

      Actually the intake is directly behind the left headlamp.
      <img src=http://image.modified.com/f/26977255+w750+st0/modp_0912_05_o+1994_mazda_miata_r_package+engine_bay.jpg>

      Reply
  15. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    Ferrari 288 GTO Evolouzione, the F-40s Daddy
    <img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ferrari_288_GTO.jpg&quot; width="600/"> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ferrari_288_GTO.jpg” target=”_blank”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ferrari_288_GTO.jpg

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      yep, for some reason it wasn't working for me today.

      Reply
  16. Tim Odell Avatar
    Tim Odell

    The Pantera is straight out of the NACA Duct Golden Age, in dire need of better cooling, but ironically devoid of The Blessed Duct.

    Reply
  17. Tim Odell Avatar
    Tim Odell

    Nope. Not NACA.

    Reply
  18. Balestra Avatar
    Balestra

    The Devil, of course:
    <img src="http://www.supercars.net/carpics/951/1990_Lamborghini_Diablo2.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
  19. Smells_Homeless Avatar
    Smells_Homeless

    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/73-GTO-Wiki-01.JPG"&gt;
    The answer is always "GTO."

    Reply
  20. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
    BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

    Not exactly NACA ducts but still..
    <img src="http://www.sybarites.org/wp-content/spyker.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  21. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
    BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

    Not a car but yes it has NACA ducts
    <img src="http://www.bikeshop-online.be/images/cbr1100xx.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  22. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    Autech Stelvio:
    <img src="http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/04/Autech_Stelvio_Top.jpg"&gt;
    <a href="http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/04/Autech_Stelvio_Top.jpg” target=”_blank”>http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/04/Autech_Stelvio_Top.jpg

    Reply
    1. dustin_driver Avatar
      dustin_driver

      Holy crap. We clearly have a winner. Best/worst use of NACA ducts ever.

      Reply
    2. Tim Odell Avatar
      Tim Odell

      Whoa…that took me a second to notice.
      …actually on a lot of these I've been like "no….OHWAIT, now I see it!"

      Reply
    3. Smells_Homeless Avatar
      Smells_Homeless

      Are those wheels on the wrong side of the car or are they designed to cool the brakes in reverse?

      Reply
      1. skitter Avatar
        skitter

        As far as I can tell, these would neither force air inward nor aid with extracting air to the outside.
        And they are symetrically opposite across the car.

        Reply
  23. 35mm Avatar
    35mm

    Isuzu Impulse Turbo RS
    <img src="http://nozama.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/01/05/257490497_57ec19ff17_o.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. Tim Odell Avatar
      Tim Odell

      Weird, the demi-duct.

      Reply
  24. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    AAR 'cuda
    <img src="http://images03.olx.com/ui/1/42/52/2044052_1.jpg"&gt;
    2nd generation Z28
    <img src="http://connectseward.org/shs/students/students10/andrewkoranda/My%20Website/Full%20Sized%20Pics/Camero_79_z28.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  25. CJinSD Avatar
    CJinSD

    [img ]http://www.pfracing.com/29car.JPG[/img]
    NASCAR Impala.

    Reply
  26. CJinSD Avatar
    CJinSD

    [img ]http://www.pfracing.com/29car.JPG[/img]
    One more try. If this doesn't work, how does one post photos here?

    Reply
    1. zaddikim Avatar
      zaddikim

      Too many tags means Nibbles' cousin Hoonibbles is shitting himself.

      Reply
    2. skitter Avatar
      skitter

      [img src="www.website.com/image.jpg" width="600"]
      Except with pointy less-than greater-than brackets
      EDIT: Extended website link, and, weirdly, attempting to correct your link in my browser sends me to the wiki page for HTTP protocol.

      Reply
  27. Texlenin Avatar
    Texlenin

    Yet another strange thing to come out of the NACA labs: http://www.voughtaircraft.com/heritage/products/h…
    "If It ain't right, It's from NACA!"

    Reply
  28. zaddikim Avatar
    zaddikim

    Yes, yes it is.
    "Name a car with a periscope"
    "Name a car with gullwings and MB power"
    "Name a car from a manufacturer with an inscrutable website"
    "Name a car that non-car-nerds will have never EVER heard of"

    Reply
  29. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
    Rust-MyEnemy

    Isdera Imperator
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Isdera_imperator.jpg&quot; width="500">
    One of my favourite ultra-low-volume "what the hell is that?" supercars.

    Reply
  30. scroggzilla Avatar
    scroggzilla

    Ferrari 250 GTO
    <img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1158/4621840651_de43ddfc7d.jpg&quot; width="500" height="325" alt="63 sebring 12hrs ginther-ireland leads bonnier-cannon ferrari 250 gto" />
    Ferrari 250 "Breadvan"
    <img src="http://www.classicdriver.com/upload/images/_uk/12616/img02.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  31. scroggzilla Avatar
    scroggzilla

    Alfa Romeo TZ2__<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2737/4032311718_60c7cc51c0.jpg&quot; width="500" height="305" alt="66 targa florio federico martini alfa romeo tz2" />__Shelby Cobra Daytona__<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4476008681_ed4e4e6372.jpg&quot; width="500" height="304" alt="64 lemans 24 hrs dan gurney bob bondurant shelby cobra daytona" />

    Reply
  32. scroggzilla Avatar
    scroggzilla

    Alfa Romeo 33-2
    <img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4799333414_1a7efe24a6.jpg&quot; width="500" height="331" alt="70 lemans 24hrs piers courage alfa romeo 33-2" />

    Reply
  33. scroggzilla Avatar
    scroggzilla

    Ferrari 312PB
    <img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4752615906_0cee6d8269.jpg&quot; width="500" height="338" alt="Ferrari 312PB LeMans film set" />

    Reply
  34. CJinSD Avatar
    CJinSD

    http://www.pfracing.com/29car.JPG

    Reply
  35. dr zero Avatar
    dr zero

    McLaren F1 Longtail:
    <img src="http://www.qv500.com/McLaren%20F1%20P9%202.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  36. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    1994-1997 Honda VFR 750 (I have one):
    <div style="overflow: auto;"><img src="http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~john/vfr/specs/pics/94-vfr750.jpg"></div&gt;

    Reply
  37. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    Has this been mentioned yet?
    [img ]http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/audi/audi1_avus_09.jpg[/img]

    Reply
    1. Mike Avatar
      Mike

      Ok, that didnt work.
      http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/audi/audi1_avus_…

      Reply
  38. skitter Avatar
    skitter

    Aston Martin V8 Zagato. With bonus useless interior extraction duct.
    <img src="http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt237/jskitter/hooniverse/Zagato33.jpg&quot; width="500">

    Reply
  39. Ruckus Avatar
    Ruckus

    mitsubishi Lancer EVO 3 and EVO 4, possibly more. sorry about the lack of picture

    Reply