2025

By Robert Tate. Award-Winning Automotive Historian and Researcher
Images Courtesy of General Motors Media Archives
Published 4.23.2025

A design sketch of the Oldsmobile Aerotech concept (GM Media Archives)

One of the most aerodynamic automobiles during the 1980s was the Oldsmobile Aerotech concept. The Aerotech’s journey started with General Motors engineers’ Quad 4 engine along with the talented automotive designer Ed. Welburn, who was assistant chief designer in the Oldsmobile studio.

A cross section sketch of the Oldsmobile Aerotech concept RESIZED 2 A cross-section sketch of the Oldsmobile Aerotech concept

Welburn’s design was inspired by aerodynamic Le Mans racers, with a cab-forward look along with a long tail rear end. Two versions of the Aerotech were designed, a long tail and a short tail concept. Automotive historians have said that the short tail version is one of the most beautiful, streamlined concepts ever designed.The great-looking Aerotech body design was placed on a modified 84C cart chassis with a turbocharged version of the 2.3-liter Quad 4 engine and a five-speed manual transmission. The Aerotech was a mid-engine rear wheel-drive model.

The Oldsmobile Aerotech engineering studio

For Welburn, the Aerotech was developed under great secrecy. The concept also had design contributions from automotive sculptor Kirk Jones and aerodynamics engineer Max Schenkel.

Ed Welburn with the Aerotech concept

As the Aerotech continued in development, the long tail design was split into two alternates for testing procedures in which one model was used for lap records and the other was used for top speed testing. The short tail concept was sent to Mesa, Arizona for more testing with popular legendary race driver A. J. Foyt.

The long tail and short tail versions of the Aerotech

Foyt drove the Aerotech concept with tremendous results, reaching speeds of 290 mph. Automotive historians opined that the Aerotech concept models were unlike any other Oldsmobile of the past. It was truly remarkable that these Oldsmobile concepts were powered by a four-cylinder engine and not the popular V8s that had been used with Oldsmobiles in the past. In wind tunnel testing, the Aerotech concepts presented great aerodynamics and minimal drag.

Aerotech RESIZED 6 The short tail Aerotech

Some automotive historians have said that the Aerotechs look like the F-16 Falcon fighter planes with their long and short design versions. In addition to Arizona testing, the Aerotech concept had many successful runs at the GM Proving Grounds in Milford.

The Oldsmobile Aerotech at the Detroit Auto Show 7 The Oldsmobile Aerotech on display at the Detroit Auto Show

In conclusion, the Aerotech was a huge success for the GM design team at the Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. In December 1992, a third Aerotech concept was built. Welburn, who was then assistant chief designer in the Oldsmobile studio, would later become GM Vice President of Global Design from 2003 to 2016. His Aerotech idea is now a part of our automotive history books.

Bibliography

McEachem, Sam. “The Making of the 290 MPH Oldsmobile Aerotech Video.” GM Authority, GM News, February 4, 2019.

McAleer, Brandon. “When Oldsmobile Built Veyron.” Hagerty Media, May 15, 2018.

OutrightOlds.com. “Aerotech Early Development.”

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2025

Remembering the Oldsmobile Aerotech Concept by Ed Welburn

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