The M2-F1 Lifting Body is seen here in a hangar with its hot rod Pontiac convertible tow vehicle at the Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA.
EC92-04152
The M2-F1 Lifting Body is seen here in a hangar with its hot rod Pontiac convertible tow vehicle at the Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA. The car was a 1963 Pontiac Catalina convertible, fitted with a 421-cubic-inch tri-power engine like those being run at the Daytona 500 auto race. The vehicle also had a four-speed transmission and a heavy-duty suspension and cooling system. A roll bar was also added and the passenger seat turned around so an observer could watch the M2-F1 while it was being towed. The rear seat was removed and a second, side-facing seat installed. The lifting-body team used the Pontiac for all the ground-tow flights over the next three years.April 15, 1992NASA Photo› M2-F1 Project Description