[skykooler]

I was curious, so I ran the numbers on a Toyota Camry. With a mass of 1447 kg, a cross-sectional area of 2.7 square meters, and a drag coefficient of 0.28, it would have a terminal velocity of 391 mph. Other cars which are both heavier and more aerodynamic (e.g. a Tesla Model S) could reach even higher top speeds.

[myself248]

You'd need some sort of drogue chute or fins to keep it pointed nose-down, otherwise it'd tumble like the Beetle in the Top Gear episode just posted.

Or maybe being a rear-engined car put the Beetle at a unique disadvantage, and the Camry would orient itself just fine.

Junkyards are easy, who's got a helicopter-pilot friend and some land?

[snovv_crash]

For it to be aerodynamically stable you need the center of mass to be less than ~25% from one end. I don't think a Camry or Model S will do that, it will need stabilization fins.

[NickNameNick]

For the Tesla, it might help to fill the frunk with water containers. That should bring the center of mass forward and up a little.

[Taniwha]

So drop an old 50's car with big fins and an empty tank ....

[tobmlt]

Ha! Sorry - I hadn’t seen your comment when I started mine. Yeah that engine up front will help I think!

[tobmlt]

Surely this appears quick, but does this Camry maintain ideal orientation all the way to terminal velocity?

Hmmm, one could imagine using the front wheel drive as a flywheel for some attitude control...

Me thinks a drop test is in order.