Gt frontal area
I have rechecked my calculations for the frontal area of the Ford GT. I had previously reported it at over 21 sq ft. I now come up with 20 sq ft.
At the lower ouside part of the car, the widest portion (not counting the mirrors) is at the rear tires. At that point the car is 76 1/2 inches wide. That width goes up in a straight vertical line to the top of the fender/top of the mirror at 35 5/8 in from the ground. Subtracting out the 5in of tire heigth/ground clearance, the lower portion of the car is 76.50 in x 30.625 in which equals 2342.81 in sq / 144 = 16.27 sq ft.
Above this area is the roof on the top and the angling side window/ body on the sides. The area is 60 in wide and 8.5 in tall, less the area reduced as the side window angles in as it rises, approximately 107 in sq. So 60in x 8.5in = 510 in sq - 107 in sq = 403 in sq / 144 = 2.797 ft sq.
I have read that when calulating the frontal area that only the front tires are to be used. 9" wide x 5" tall (exposed area as the car sits 5 in off the ground) x 2 = 90sq in / 144 = .625 ft sq.
The mirror area is not completly used as the fender width covered about 1/2 of the mirror. 5 in wide x 4 in high x 2 = 40 in sq / 144 = .277 ft sq.
The total is 16.27 ft sq + 2.797 ft sq + .625 ft sq + .277 ft sq =
19.97 ft sq of frontal area.
Sorry for the long calculations, but somebody on the forum wanted to see them. I'm not trying to piss anybody off or act like a know it all. It's just that I haven't seen any published numbers for the GT's frontal area. I used this number plus some information from an a coast down test in Motor Trend to come up with a Cd of .38. I can show my numbers for that calculation also if anybody wishes. If I have made a mistake let me know.
I have rechecked my calculations for the frontal area of the Ford GT. I had previously reported it at over 21 sq ft. I now come up with 20 sq ft.
At the lower ouside part of the car, the widest portion (not counting the mirrors) is at the rear tires. At that point the car is 76 1/2 inches wide. That width goes up in a straight vertical line to the top of the fender/top of the mirror at 35 5/8 in from the ground. Subtracting out the 5in of tire heigth/ground clearance, the lower portion of the car is 76.50 in x 30.625 in which equals 2342.81 in sq / 144 = 16.27 sq ft.
Above this area is the roof on the top and the angling side window/ body on the sides. The area is 60 in wide and 8.5 in tall, less the area reduced as the side window angles in as it rises, approximately 107 in sq. So 60in x 8.5in = 510 in sq - 107 in sq = 403 in sq / 144 = 2.797 ft sq.
I have read that when calulating the frontal area that only the front tires are to be used. 9" wide x 5" tall (exposed area as the car sits 5 in off the ground) x 2 = 90sq in / 144 = .625 ft sq.
The mirror area is not completly used as the fender width covered about 1/2 of the mirror. 5 in wide x 4 in high x 2 = 40 in sq / 144 = .277 ft sq.
The total is 16.27 ft sq + 2.797 ft sq + .625 ft sq + .277 ft sq =
19.97 ft sq of frontal area.
Sorry for the long calculations, but somebody on the forum wanted to see them. I'm not trying to piss anybody off or act like a know it all. It's just that I haven't seen any published numbers for the GT's frontal area. I used this number plus some information from an a coast down test in Motor Trend to come up with a Cd of .38. I can show my numbers for that calculation also if anybody wishes. If I have made a mistake let me know.
