Photo: SpiritOfTomorrow (Composite)
Everything seems better or, at the very least, more appealing when seen through nostalgia-tinged glasses, and this is no exception. This is the Teardrop or Spirit of Tomorrow, an example of retrofuturism you’ve probably never heard of before.
In 1933, American inventor Buckminster Fuller unveiled the first prototype of the Dymaxion car, which he envisioned as the basis for a land-water-air vehicle that would shape the future of mobility. Just as a bird can walk on land, float on water, and soar through the air, Fuller intended the Dymaxion to be the human equivalent of this, through future iterations.
Rather than imagining an all-in-one future transportation, the Dymaxion placed the utmost emphasis on comfort and safety, even if the latter was only in theory. With a capacity of 11, it was also very aerodynamic and remains, to this day, one of the most outstanding examples of aerodynamic automotive design, so much so that it has started passionate and valid debates about whether the future of automotive is simplified.
One such discussion reached Horace Basil “Barney” Oldfield in Saanich, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Oldfield was a distant relative of American racing driver Barney Oldfield, whose name he borrowed as a nickname, and he was also a skilled builder and a brilliant innovator. And it all started with the Spirit of the Tomorrow car.
Photo: YouTube/Samuele Nocentini
Specifically, it all started with a 1939 newspaper article that theorized that aerodynamic design would be here to stay in the automotive world. Using a 1938 Dodge chassis he had in the shop, he began working on the idea of an aerodynamic vehicle that would shape the future.
Before actual construction, Oldfield made his own contribution to today's wind tunnel testing: he built wooden models of the vehicle and placed each in nearby Tod Creek, studying how the water flowed around the obstacle and using his observations to draw design inspiration and make operational changes.
The resulting vehicle was unlike anything else on the roads at the time. Measuring 200 inches (508 cm) in overall length and 68 inches (173 cm) high, it had a very blunt, almost square nose, but an elongated body that tapered at the end like a falling teardrop. Oldfield called it the Spirit of Tomorrow, but its shape also earned it the unofficial nickname of The Teardrop.
Photo: YouTube/Samuele Nocentini
The old Dodge sedan chassis featured a hand-machined steel and aluminum body and a Ford flathead V8 engine positioned in the rear for better handling.
While working on this project, Oldfield also created countless other vehicles: he built tractors from scrap metal, built bulldozer blades, and designed and built advanced tools for the lumber industry, including a patented lumber truck and portable welding machines. He even built the country's first portable TV antenna.
His skill and experience, as well as his passion for flying (he was a certified pilot), seeped into every aspect of the Spirit of Tomorrow, bringing its execution and style up to the standards of the production series. The avionics-inspired interior, all built from scratch, could accommodate up to seven people, including the driver, as long as the five passengers in the back seat were friendly enough, as his grandson jokes today.
Photo: SpiritOfTomorrow
The Spirit of Tomorrow had electric cornering lights, which was unheard of at the time. It had air conditioning and, at one point, a roof fin for better aerodynamics. It could reach 110 miles per hour (177 km/h) and, while not exactly the easiest car to drive, it proved to be reliable and durable.
Unlike the three-wheeled Dymaxion that preceded and most likely inspired it, the Spirit of Tomorrow was stable on the road and did not tip over on sharp turns. Oldfield used it as his daily transportation for nearly two decades, riding it across Canada and the United States to fairs and on personal pleasure trips.
In 1967, the car received a newer 4.7-liter 299 cu-in V8 engine from a Mustang and continued to be used by members of the Oldfield family as a personal car. After that, it would be reserved only for special occasions, such as weddings and other anniversaries. It was never a parade car, being more suited to cruising due to its 2-speed differential.
Photo: YouTube/Samuele Nocentini
In 1986, the Spirit of Tomorrow was displayed at Expo 86 in Vancouver, British Columbia, receiving a full paint job at the end of its tenure. It has since been displayed at various car museums across the country, but has remained in the Oldfield family. As you can see in the video below, as of 2021, it was still running flawlessly and could easily be taken out for a cruise.
Despite its name, the Spirit of Tomorrow never became the car of “tomorrow,” but that’s not for lack of trying. Needless to say, most predictions never come true, regardless of industry or field. As far as automotive design goes, aerodynamic designs like this one or its predecessor, the Dymaxion, never became the norm.
