Reconstructing Instead of Restoring: The Obstacles in the First Installment
In a special project, Toyota's engineers have brought back the Toyopet Racer, the company's first racing car, introduced in 1951. The ninth article in this series focuses on the suspension and related components of this iconic vehicle.
Sugimoto, a team member with a background in suspension design, was responsible for this crucial aspect of the Toyopet Racer's revival. He calculated the suspension strength by hand, similar to the methods used in the days of the Toyopet Racer's inception. To ensure accuracy, Sugimoto consulted with Toyota's veterans and recruited experts like Takahiro Tashiro, an expert in structural analysis, who joined the team in 2020.
The team used film footage and contemporary data to estimate the suspension loads during driving. Tashiro led the team in calculating the required strength for the Toyopet Racer's suspension components. Shinya Omura, an expert in materials, joined the team to assist with selecting the right materials for the components. Ding, the youngest engineer, was involved in developing the next-generation Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system and contributed to the project.
The team faced a unique challenge: there were no blueprints for the suspension components of the Toyopet Racer. They had to design and build them from scratch using old photos as references. Despite this, they considered various factors, including material, mounting position, and spring rate, to recreate the original vehicle's ride height, look, and feel.
The calculations showed that the loads on suspension components were greater than expected, demonstrating the original engineers' expertise. The team's approach, combining traditional methods with modern engineering and advanced fabrication technologies, reflects Toyota's commitment to both preserving its heritage and pushing the boundaries of automotive technology.
The revived Toyopet Racer is now on display at the Fuji Motorsports Museum, a testament to Toyota's rich racing history and the team's dedication to restoring this iconic vehicle. The project serves as a reminder of Toyota's innovative spirit, evident even in its earliest models, and its ongoing commitment to excellence in engineering and design.
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