Auto Corporation of America | 1956-60 ACA Corona

Dorifto_Dorito · 5 July 2017 01:29

Note: No longer canon

#OAM Chevalier 1966

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An original 1966 poster for the OAM Chevalier in Laguna Green

In 1966 OAM revealed their first mass produced car, the OAM Chevalier at the Detroit Motor Show. At the time, OAM were know to produce primarily kit cars, such as the OAM Cavalier Mk1 and Mk 2. With the release of the Chevalier, perception of OAM would shift from a garage company to a fully fledged automotive manufacturer.

However, this wasn’t to say that the Chevalier fared well in the first few months of production. With setbacks and delays on manufacture, the market the Chevalier was aiming for was swamped by other larger manufacturers, leading to poor sales for the Chevalier. It would almost take a miracle for Chevalier to even sell more than 1000 units. But in 1967, there was one…

#The Vice

In August 1966, 6 months following the production of the Chevalier, thousands of unsold cars littered the car park on OAM’s main Indianapolis factory. With nothing to do there but rust, OAM CEO Benjamin Whittingmore attempted to shift at least 800 cars by the end of the month. However, with noone coming to the OAM factory to place an order, the situation was quickly becoming dire.
However, a film director and entrepreneur Nicholas Spencer needed cheap and reliable cars to perform stunts in his latest film, “The Vice”. After being rejected by other manufacturers due to the low prices Spencer wanted, he turned to OAM. Benjamin, desperate to shift cars quickly made a deal with Spencer to provide him with 5 cars as long as the car featured in the film.
Initially, Spencer refused to feature the car, opting to use the chassis to make replica cars, however, Spencer quickly fell in love with the comfort and driveability of the Chevalier, that he decided to give the car a prominent role in the movie, as the antagonist’s car.

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The movie was a massive hit which boosted the sales of the Chevalier and the rest is history.

##Technical Details

CHASSIS
Chassis Type: Ladder Frame
Chassis Material: Steel
Panel Material: Steel
Engine Placement: Front Longitudinal
Front Suspension: Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension: Double Wishbone

ENGINE
Engine: UAC DS Medium Block OHC V8 (90°)
Displacement: 5106 cc
Block Material: Cast Iron
Header Material: Cast Iron
Fuel System: 4 Barrel Twin Carburetor
Fuel Type: 92 RON Leaded
Redline: 5200 RPM
Power: 233 hp @ 4700 RPM
Torque: 387Nm @ 2900 RPM
Weight: 298 kg
Size: 228.1L

TRIM
Drive Type: RWD
Gearbox: 4 Speed Manual
Differential: Open
Tyre Dimensions: F 185/75/15 | R 185/75/15
Brake Type: F: 275/2 Piston Disc | R: 295/1 Piston Disc
Undertray: Semi Clad
Number of Seats: 2+2
Power Steering Type: Hydraulic
Safety: Advanced 60’s
Springs: Progressive
Dampers: Gas Mono-Tube
Sway Bars: Passive
Weight: 1633kg
Fuel Economy: 16mpg (UK)

PERFORMANCE
Top Speed: 136mph
0-100kph Time: 8.47s
80-120kph Time: 5.04s
Quarter Mile Time: 16.39s
Standing km Time: 29.1s
Stopping Distance: 40.5m

#PRICE

$16,770 @ 30% Markup

##More Photos

http://imgur.com/97GUinJ
http://imgur.com/3OQFbeU
http://imgur.com/OTBsyDZ
http://imgur.com/fF3lNHw
http://imgur.com/SxQhtKW

ramthecowy · 5 July 2017 07:26

I have to say, it’s such a good looking car with unique underpinnings and a great story behind it. Love it

Oskiinus · 5 July 2017 08:36

A muscle car that actually turns?
Nice

DeusExMackia · 5 July 2017 09:25

The style has carried over really well in EU4. Back looks really good now.

abg7 · 5 July 2017 15:48

If ever I needed proof that the Chevalier was worth remaking in the UE4 release, this is it. It looks even better than it did previously!

Dorifto_Dorito · 3 August 2017 13:31

Note: No longer canon

OAM Chevalier Gen 2

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_{1982 OAM Chevalier Gen 2 Poster}

Backstory

The 1970’s weren’t a good time for OAM. The 70’s fuel crises and the rising Japanese automotive industry led to poor sales figures. This and the catastrophic failures of the OAM Cavalry and the RoadCruiser showed that the industry was changing. With a new CEO, Audie Whittingmore, OAM had to act fast to change their image and rebrand themselves to keep with the times.

While the 70’s were a commercial trainwreck for OAM, they was a silver lining. Two cars stood out from the rest as a success, the OAM Traveller and Apache. What the two cars had in common with each other was that both were small, both equipped with smaller displacement engines and both were very affordable and easy to maintain. Their success was vital to keeping OAM running and most importantly, was vital in influencing the upcoming designs.

Using those cars design philosophy as a base, a new design team from Japan, led by Yuuichi Tomeo and new technology such as computers and wind tunnel testing, the next generation OAM cars were set to be sleek, aerodynamic and most importantly, fuel efficient.

What would come from this were two cars, both released in 1981, the OAM Chevalier Gen 2 and the OAM Phoenix.

Generation 2 Chevalier

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_{1981 OAM Chevalier Gen 2 V8 in Laguna Green}

Unlike the previous generation, the new “Gen 2” as it was known, was more of a family oriented car. While it retained key elements such as the independent rear double wishbone suspension, the Gen 2 was more sedate, designed with daily use in mind. However, this did not detract from the car’s capability of being sporty. While the 5L V8 was replaced with a 3.5L i6 in the standard model, the more sporty trims retained the V8 in the form of the 3.9L UAC Small Block, found in the Apache. This combined with the new aerodynamic styling and new electronic fuel injection, the Gen 2 was much faster and more manoeuvrable than its predecessor, whilst being larger and heavier.

Gen 2 Chevalier GTi

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_{1985 OAM Chevalier Gen 2 GTi in Midnight Blue}

In 1985, much like the Phoenix, the Gen 2 Chevalier received its a facelift in the form of the GTi series. The chassis was overhauled by ex-Erin engineers who were initial hired to improve the performance of the Phoenix, and were eventually hired by OAM to help design new cars.

First modification made to the Chevalier was the introduction of the new OAM designed “EG170DAT” i6 engine. The all aluminium construction, 4 valve DOHC turbocharged engine was originally developed to be fitted to the Phoenix GTi, was also fitted to the new 1985 Gen 2 GTi. This improved fuel economy and made the Gen 2 GTi as fast as the 1981 Gen 2 ‘Indiana’ with the 3.9L V8.
The next modification came in the form of remolding and redesigning the exterior to be more aerodynamically efficient. With new, more sophisticated computing and wind tunnel testing, the GTi was 20cm shorter and had much better aerodynamic efficiency compared to the 1981 models.

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_{Comparison between 1981 Chevalier Gen 2 (Top) and 1985 Chevalier Gen 2 GTi (Bottom)}

Stats

1981 Standard Model

Price: $17,680 (@ 30% Markup)

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1981 “Indiana V8” Sport Model

Price: $19,370 (@ 30% Markup)

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1981 “Monte Carlo” Premium Model

Price: $22,490 (@ 30% Markup)

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1985 Standard GTi

Price: $19,890 (@ 30% Markup)

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1985 “OverDrive” GTi

Price: $22,490 (@ 30% Markup)

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Dorifto_Dorito · 20 September 2017 21:38

Well since UE4 is now more playable, Ive decided to completely overhaul OAM lore to the point that anything before this post (except the OP) is no longer canon.

bastormonger · 30 September 2017 11:18

Very nice car - the coolest thing about it is the movie poster, though.

abg7 · 30 September 2017 12:56

The Chevalier now looks a lot better… I reckon it would be a real rival to the Maine Imperator on looks alone!

Dorifto_Dorito · 5 October 2017 00:57

Dorifto_Dorito · 5 November 2017 20:54

Note: No longer canon

Several quick Photoshops later…

1938 ACA Corona

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Brief History

Before we get to the car, here’s a brief history lesson on ACA, the Auto Corporation of America.

Founded in 1932 following the Great Depression, ACA was formed from the remnants of three companies, the Lansing Motor Company, Montpelier Luxury Motor Works and Barnhart Tractor Company, all of which filed for bankruptcy during the start of the Great Depression in 1929.

Initially ACA struggled to gain much traction in the market, being beaten by the other major US manufacturers. However, their first majorly successful design would come in 1938. This would be the ACA Corona.

The Car

Originally based of old sketches found in files in the Lansing Motor Company, the Corona was a full-size luxury car made by ACA. The lead designer was John Emery, who previously worked for Montpelier Motor Works and designed some of their best looking cars. With this expertise behind him, Emery completely redesigned the old sketches forming the iconic design of the 1938 ACA Corona.

Underneath the bonnet, was a large block 440CI Short Angle V8. This produced a maximum of 200hp, which was more than enough to move the car in a straight line. Mated to a three speed manual gearbox with a column shifter, the car could reach 0-60 in about 10 seconds, making it the perfect car for mobsters and get away drivers, something the car was notable for.

The interior was plush and filled with places to store wine and cigars. Some models were even fitted with a phonograph. To top it all off, the price for this car was only $18,450 or about $272,683.27 in today’s money.