Curves of steel: Sleek, slick and aerodynamic

Phoenix Art Museum's exhibit explores the influence of streamlining and aerodynamics on car design throughout the 20th century. Exhibit to run April 1 to June 3, 2007.

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer

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1952 SoCal Belly Tanker

When World War II fighter planes had to carry out long range missions, their small bodies weren't big enough to carry all the fuel they needed. So disposable "drop tanks" were fitted to their undersides. The tanks had an aerodynamic teardrop shape to minimize their impact on the planes' performance.

California hot rodders serving in the Pacific theater recognized a ready-made racecar body. After the war, a big 315-gallon tank that had ridden under Lockheed P38 Lightnings was fitted with wheels, a V8 engine in the back and a cockpit up front.

This car, one of many "Belly Tankers" that were built, set a land speed record of 195.77 mph on the famous Bonneville Salt Flats. Despite its immense power and speed, the SoCal Belly Tanker had no front brakes. Because it was driven on a wide open landscape with no other cars, there was little need for quick stops and a full set of brakes would have added needless weight.

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