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The TPC (Two-Person Commuter) was the lightest car built by General Motors., weighing 1.070 pounds. Contributing to the car's low weight were the doors, front end, and rear fenders, all of which were aluminum. There were no sharp body lines - everything was smooth and curved, including the side windows, which 'ballooned" outwards. The rearview minors were placed inside the car to keep the smooth-line theme. GM claimed that the TPC's superb aerodynamics could achieve 95 miles per gallon on the highway and 68 miles per gallon in congested city traffic.
The sleek design produced little airstream turbulence, causing the car to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.31. The tires were flush with the wheelhouse, and the glass was flush with the bodywork, contributing to the car's aerodynamic success. The TPC was powered by a small 0.8-liter three-cylinder engine coupled with a five-speed manual transmission and incorporated a four-gallon fuel tank.
Engine & performance:
Type: 3-cylinder
Capacity: 800 cc
Power: 40 hp
Dimensions:
Length: 3261 mm
Width: 1430 mm
Height: 1176 mm
Wheelbase: 2037 mm
Weight: 485 kg
Source: Concept Car Central; allcarindex
Images: GM; Popular Science, Jan-1983; deansgarage.com
