VIKING I



RAISON d'ETRE:

Design Specification: L.A. Urban Car Contest (1972)

Design goal: fuel-efficient urban carr

Sponsors: Toyota of America

First ran: 1971


PARTICULARS

Layout: rear-engine

Chassis: tube frame

Body: fiberglass Color: Fire engine yellow (1971-72) / white (1972 - on)

Front suspension: unequal A-arms, coil over shocks, custom uprights,

Toyota Corolla hubs Rear suspension: unequal A-arms, coil over shocks Brakes: front: disk / rear: drum

Windshield: Toyota Corolla

Passenger entry: gullwing doors

Restraint system: Passive belts activated by door closing

Steering: rack and pinion (Toyota Crown)

Engine access: via rear hatch

Wheels/Tires: front: 13"/rear: 13"

Cooling: front radiator

Weight: 1525 lbs

Transmission: Toyota Crown


ACTIVE

1971-1974


CONTESTS & EVENTS

  • Urban Car Contest, LA (1972)
  • Reduced Emission Device Rally (RED) (1971)


ENDURANCE TRIPS Bellingham WA - Los Angeles CA & return - Urban Car Contest (1972)


ENGINE HISTORY

1900cc turbocharged Toyota four-cylinder; propane


TODAY

Fate: stored 1974 - 2018; restored 2022





VIKING II



RAISON d'ETRE

Design Specification: Student-Engineered Economy Design Rally (SEED)

Design goal: fuel efficient, low emissions, aerodynamic streamliner

Sponsors: Washington State Department of Energy

First ran: 1974


PARTICULARS

Layout: mid-engine, engine and transaxle in longitudinal orientation

Chassis: tube frame with center aluminum honeycomb monocoque

Body: fiberglass

Color: "Fire engine red"

Front suspension: unequal A-arms, coil over shocks, custom uprights, Renault Dolphine hubs

Rear suspension: unequal A-arms, coil-over shocks

Brakes: Disk front / inboard drum rear (later inboard disk)

Windshield: Custom-formed shape; made in Mexico City

Passenger entry: single longitudinal opening hatch (hatch removable; windshield fixed to body structure)

Restraint system: three-point seatbelts

Steering: rack and pinion (Subaru FF-1)

Engine access: via rear hatch

Wheels/Tires: front: aluminum custom cast, 10"; rear: aluminum stamped, 16"

Cooling: lower chassis center intake, radiator at bulkhead, rear hatch exhaust

Weight: 1025 lbs

Trans-axle: Subaru FF-1/Star (1100cc), with VRI-designed free-running fifth gear


ACTIVE

1974-1980; stored 1980 to 2018.


CONTESTS & EVENTS

  • SEED Rally (1975)
  • Three Flags Econroally (1976)
  • Bonneville (as the Viking IV chase car!) 1976/77
  • SCORE Rally at GM Proving Grounds (1979)


ENDURANCE TRIPS

Bellingham WA - Washington DC & return; SEED Rally (1975) Bellingham WA - Washington DC & return; Seat to Sea Econorally (1976) Bellingham WA - Wendover UT & return (Bonneville Salt flats, as IV tow car (1976) Bellingham WA - Wendover UT & return (Bonneville Salt flats, as IV tow car (1977) Bellingham WA - Detroit MI & return; SCORE Rally (1979)


ENGINE HISTORY

  • 1100cc Subaru boxer four-cylinder; propane
  • 1300cc Subaru boxer four-cylinder; propane/gas


TODAY

Fate: stored 1980 - 2018; sold to alumni 2018; in restoration, engine run in 2024





VIKING III



RAISON d'ETRE

Design Specification: Student-Engineered Economy Design Rally (SEED)

Design goal: modification of aerodynamic production car

Sponsors: Toyota of North America

First ran: 1975


PARTICULARS

Layout: front-engine

Chassis: steel unibody chassis

Body: steel

Color: Metallic blue

Front suspension: McPhearson struts Rear suspension: beam axle

Windshield: Nissan Sunny

Steering: recirculating ball Wheels/Tires steel, 13" front/rear

Cooling: front radiator

Weight: 1995 lbs

Transmission: Datsun five-speed


CONTESTS & EVENTS

  • Student-Engineered Economy Design Rally (SEED) (1975)
  • Three Flags Econrally (1976)

ENDURANCE TRIPS

SEED Rally (1975) - Washington DC & return Three Flags Econorally (1975) Bellingham WA - Washinton DC & return


ENGINE HISTORY

Nissan Sunny 1300cc


TODAY

Fate: Returned to Nissan of America 1976, placed in their museum 1976; fate unknown.







VIKING IV



RAISON d'ETRE

Design Specification: Aerodynamic research

Design goal: light-weight, aerodynamic streamliner

Sponsors: Washington State Department of Energy, Western Aluminum Producers

First ran: 1976


PARTICULARS

Layout: mid-engine, engine and transaxle in longitudinal orientation

Chassis: aluminum monocoque Body: 0.035" aluminum thin wall sheet

Color: Silver (1976-77), yellow/black (1977 to date)

Front suspension: unequal A-arms, coil over shocks, FIat 124 uprights

Rear suspension: unequal A-arms, coil over shocks Brakes: Disk front/rear

Windshield: Opel GT

Passenger entry: single, longitudinal opening hatch (windshield integral in hatch)

Restraint system: five-point racing harness

Other Safety Protection: Bonneville specification steel roll cage; Halon fire system

Steering: rack and pinion (from Subaru DL) Engine access: via opening rear hatch

Wheels/Tires: front - steel wheels; 13" / rear - pressed aluminum wheels; 16"

Cooling: under chassis center intake, radiator at bulkhead, exhaust through rear hatch

Weight: 1150-1275 lbs

Trans-axle: Volkswagen type I, custom cast side plates, added 5th gear


ACTIVITY

Active: 1976-1990 Fate: stored 1990 - 2018; sold to alumni 2018; restored 2022


CONTESTS & EVENTS

  • Bonneville Speed Week, Wendover UT (1976)
  • Bonneville Speed Week, Wendover UT (1977)
  • SAE SCORE, GM Proving Grounds, Milford Michigan (1979)
  • Bonneville Speed Week, Wendover UT (1979)
  • Sea to Sea Econorally II (2500 miles)(1980)
  • Northwest Econotour (1981)
  • Three Flags Econorally/EXPO86 (1986)


ENDURANCE TRIPS

(From Bellingham WA) To Detroit MI & return; SCORE Rally (1979) To Missoula MT & return; for Western Aluminum Producers (1980) To Washington DC & return; Sea to Sea Econorallye II (1980) To Wendover UT & return (Bonneville Salt Flats); Bonneville Speed Week (1979) Vancouver BC to Tijuana Mexico & return; EXPO86 (1986)


CAPITOL/CITY VISITS

Major Cities/State Capitols visited: Olympia WA, Boise ID, Salt Lake City UT; Cheyenne WY; Lincoln NB; Kansas City SS; St. Louis MS, Lansing MI; Indianapolis IA; Columbus OH, Pittsburg PA; Harrisburg PA; Richmond VA; Washington D.C; Olympia WA; Salem Ore; Sacrament CA; Los Angeles CA; Vancouver B.C.


DISPLAY AND EXHIBITIONS

U.S. Capitol, Washington DC 1980

Battel, Columbus Ohio, 1980

National Geographic Explorers Plaza, 1980

SAE World Congress, 1981

EXPO86, 1986


ENGINE HISTORY

1976 - 1100cc 12B rotary/gas

1977 - 1100cc 12B bridge-port rotary/gas

1978 - 1100cc 13B peripheral port rotary/gas

1979 - 500C 10A-based single-rotor rotary/gas

1979 - 1500cc Volkswagen 4-cylinder turbo-diesel/diesel

1988 - 900cc Daihatsu 3-cylinder turbo-diesel/diesel






VIKING V



RAISON d'ETRE

Design Specification: Aerodynamic research/SCORE Contest

Design goal: aerodynamic streamliner

Sponsors: Western Aluminum Producers, Subaru of America, Subaru of Japan, Canadian Natural Gas

First ran: 1979


FUN FACTS

Viking V only ran the first time the day before it drove to the SCORE contest in Detroit, MI.


PARTICULARS

Layout: mid-engine, engine and transaxle in longitudinal orientation

Chassis: aluminum monocoque, 0.035" sheet

Body: fiberglass (copied from Viking IV)

Color: White/Red (1979-87), Silver (1987); Violet (1987-88)

Front suspension: unequal A-arms, coil over shocks, FIat 124 uprights

Rear suspension: unequal A-arms, coil over shocks

Brakes: Disk front/rear

Windshield: Opel GT

Passenger entry: single, longitudinal opening hatch (windshield integral in hatch)

Restraint system: five-point racing harness

Other Safety Features: Bonneville specification aluminum roll cage

Steering: rack and pinion (from Subaru DL)

Engine access: via opening rear hatch

Wheels/Tires: front - steel wheels; 13" / rear - pressed aluminum wheels; 16"

Cooling: under chassis center intake, radiator at bulkhead, exhaust through rear hatch

Weight: 1025-1175 lbs

Trans-axle: Volkswagen type I, custom cast side plates, added 5th gear (1979-1980 (for Yanmar diesel only); Subaru five-speed (1980-1989)


ACTIVITY

Active: 1979-1989

Fate: Canabalized to make Viking 22


CONTESTS & EVENTS

  • SAE SCORE, GM Proving Grounds, Milford Michigan (1979)
  • Sea to Sea Econorally II (2500 miles)(1980) Northwest Econotour (1981)
  • Three Flags Econorally/EXPO86 (1986)
  • Three Flags Econorally/EXPO86 (1987)
  • Bonneville Speed Week, Wendover UT (1988)
  • Bonneville Speed Week, Wendover UT (1989)
  • Bonneville Speed Week, Wendover UT (1990)


ENDURANCE TRIPS (From Bellingham WA) To Detroit MI & return; SCORE Rally (1979) To Washington DC & return;

Sea to Sea Econorallye II (1980) Vancouver BC to Tijuana Mexico & return; EXPO86 (1986) Vancouver BC to Tijuana Mexico & return; EXPO86 (1987)


DISPLAY & EXPOSITIONS

Major Cities/State Capitols: Olympia WA, Boise ID, Salt Lake City UT; Cheyenne WY; Lincoln NB; Kansas City SS; St. Louis MS, Lansing MI; Indianapolis IA; Columbus OH, Pittsburg PA; Harrisburg PA; Richmond VA; Washington D.C; Olympia WA; Salem Ore; Sacrament CA; Los Angeles CA; Vancouver B.C. U.S. Capitol Steps, 1980 EXPO86, 1986 EXPO86, 1987


ENGINE HISTORY

  • 1979 - 1600cc Subaru 4-cylinder boxer four/diesel
  • 1979 - 800cc 2-cylinder Yanmar/diesel
  • 1980-86 - 1600cc Subaru 2/4-cylinder boxer four/gas
  • 1980-87 - 1600cc Subaru VRI designed twin-cam, 4 valves per cylinder, boxer four/gas
  • 1988 - 1600cc Subaru 4-cylinder boxer four/multi-fuel
  • 1988 - 1600cc Subaru 4-cylinder boxer four/CNG
  • 1988 - 50cc Honda single-cylinder
  • 1990 - 2400cc Mercury Marin V6-cylinder two-stroke/CNG




VIKING VI



RAISON d'ETRE

Design Specification: Experimental Safety Vehicle (ESV); built for U.S. Department of Transporation

Design goal: Fuel efficient, lightweight 1250lb. Category ESV

Sponsors: U.S. Department of Transporation; Subaru of America, Subaru of Japan


FUN FACTS

With fully enclosed wheels, this would be the most aerodynamic of the Viking cars.


PARTICULARS

Layout: mid-engine, engine and transaxle in longitudinal orientation

Chassis: aluminum monocoque

Body: fiberglass with fully enclosed front and rear wheels

Color: MK I: black (1979-80), MK II: white/black (1981); blue metallic (1982-present)

Front suspension: unequal A-arms, coil-over shocks, Fiat 124 uprights

Rear suspension: unequal A-arms, coil-over shocks

Brakes: Disk front/rear

Windshield: Opel GT

Passenger entry: single, longitudinal opening hatch (windshield integral in hatch)

Restraint system: passive air belt adapted from Calspan/Chrysler ESV; knee bar

Other Safety Features: built-up aluminum box section roll bar (MK1); aluminum tube roll bar (MK II)

Steering: rack and pinion (from Subaru DL)

Engine access: via opening rear hatch

Wheels/Tires: front - aluminum wheels; 12" / rear - pressed aluminum wheels; 16"

Cooling: under chassis center intake, radiator at bulkhead, exhaust through rear hatch chimney

Weight: 1250 lbs

Trans-axle: Subaru five-speed


VERSIONS

  • Mk I: Crash tested at Dynamic Science, May 1980
  • MK II: The center tub of the crash-tested MK I was undamaged, was rebuilt as "Viking VI MK II"


ACTIVITY

Active: MKI 1979-1980; Mk II 1980 to 1990

Fate: Stored 1990-2018; sold to alumni in 2018, restored 2023-24


CRASH TEST

Where: Dynamic Science, Phoenix AZ, May 1980

Test: 40 MPH NHTSA frontal barrier crash

Actual crash speed: 41.2 MPH

FMVSS 208 CrashTest Criteria: PASS


CONTESTS & EVENTS

  • Three Flags Econorally (1986)
  • EXPO86 (1986)
  • Three Flags Econorally (1987)
  • EXPO86 (1987)

ENDURANCE TRIPS

(From Bellingham WA) Vancouver BC to Tijuana Mexico & return; EXPO86 (1986) Vancouver BC to Tijuana Mexico & return; EXPO86 (1987) To Subaru Technical Center, Los Angeles CA & return; emissions testing To Subaru Technical Center, Los Angeles CA & return; emissions testing To Toronto, Ontario Canada; fuel economy testing


DISPLAY & EXPOSITIONS

  • 11th Experimental Safety Vehicle Conference, Kyoto, Japan (for DOT) (1982)
  • Subaru of Japan Headquarters (1982)
  • SAE World Exposition, Detroit MI (1983)
  • EXPO86, Vancouver B.C., 1986
  • EXPO86, Vancouver B.C., 1987

ENGINE HISTORY

  • 1100cc Subaru 4-cylinder boxer four/gas 1979-80
  • 1600cc Subaru 4-cylinder boxer four/gas 1980-85
  • 1600cc Subaru 2/4-cylinder boxer four/gas 1985-86
  • 1000cc Subaru 3-cylinder Japanese KEI car specification/gas 1987 to date




VIKING IIV



RAISON d'ETRE

Design Specification: Next Generation Viking Car series

Design goal: Fuel-efficient, lightweight, high-performance sports car

Sponsors: Dr. Seals personal car; funded by two awards by the Western Aluminum Producers


PARTICULARS

Layout: mid-engine, engine and transaxle in longitudinal orientation

Chassis: aluminum monocoque

Body: Kevlar (MK I); Fiberglass (MK II) Color: MK I: black (1982-87), MK II: red (1987 to present)

Front suspension: unequal A-arms, coil over shocks, FIat 124 uprights

Rear suspension: unequal A-arms, coil over shocks

Brakes: Disk front/rear Windshield: Manta/McLaren

Passenger entry: half-doors

Restraint system: five-point harness Steering: rack and pinion (from Subaru DL)

Engine access: via opening rear hatch

Wheels/Tires: front - aluminum wheels; 15" / rear - pressed aluminum wheels; 15"

Cooling: under chassis center intake, radiator at bulkhead, exhaust through rear hatch

Weight: 1250 lbs

Trans-axle: Subaru five-speed


VERSIONS

Mk I: Kevlar body, short-tail MK II: Fiberglass body, long-tail


ACTIVITY

Active: MKI 1982-1987; Mk II 1987 to present

Fate: Owned by Dr. Michael Seal; in the hands of his family after his death


CONTESTS & EVENTS

Three Flags Econorally (1987)

EXPO86 (1987)

Pacific Northwest Autocross Championship (2001-2002)


ENDURANCE TRIPS

(From Bellingham WA) Vancouver BC to Tijuana Mexico & return; EXPO86 (1987) To Subaru Technical Center, Los Angeles CA & return; emissions testing To Subaru Technical Center, Los Angeles CA & return; emissions testing


DISPLAY & EXPOSITIONS

EXPO86, Vancouver N.C., 1987


ENGINE HISTORY

1982 - 1600cc Subaru 4-cylinder boxer four/gas

1988 - 1990 - 1600cc Subaru VRI developed twin-cam, 4-valve per cylinder, boxer four/gas

1990 - 3000cc Ford/Yamaha 6-cylinder SHO/gas more





VIKING VIII



RAISON d'ETRE

Design Specification: Funded Production Viking Car
Design goal: Fuel-efficient, lightweight, high-performance sports car


In 1987 the VRI was approached by investors to build a prototype and production tooling for a low-volume sports car to be assembled in Puerto Rico. The Viking VII design was used as the basis for this effort.


PARTICULARS

Layout: mid-engine Chassis: aluminum monocoque

Body: Fiberglass

Color: Gun Metal Gray (1987 to present)

Front suspension: unequal A-arms, coil over shocks, FIat 124 uprights

Rear suspension: unequal A-arms, coil over shocks Brakes: Disk front/rear

Windshield: Manta/McLaren Passenger entry: half doors Restraint system: three-point seatbelts

Steering: rack and pinion (from Subaru DL)

Engine access: via opening rear hatch

Wheels/Tires: front - aluminum wheels; 16" / rear - pressed aluminum wheels; 16"

Cooling: under chassis center intake, radiator at bulkhead, exhaust through rear hatch

Weight: 1450 lbs

Trans-axle: Chyrsler five-speed


ACTIVITY

Active: Project active 1987-1989; prototype and tooling delivered 1989; moved to Canada 1990

Fate: Whereabouts unknown after 1990; rediscovered in 2024


ENGINE HISTORY

  • 1987 - 2.2 litre Chrysler "Turbo I" turbocharged 4-cylinder/gas
  • 1989 - 2.5 litre Chrysler "Turbo II" turbocharged 4-cylinder/gas
  • 1989 - 2.2 litre Chrysler/Lotus twin-cam "Turbo III" turbocharged 4-cylinder/gas




VIKING IX



RAISON d'ETRE

Design Specification: Minimal sports car/autocross racer; prototype for student built production Viking Car

Design goal: lightweight, high-performance sports car that can be student-built in one scholastic quarter.

First run: 1990


Fun Fact: Likely due to the power to weight ratio, this was the fastest Viking car ever built.


PARTICULARS

Layout: front engine, rear driven axle

Chassis: square steel tube frame

Body: fiberglass one-piece

Color: red (1990); metallic grey (1991 to present)

Front suspension: unequal A-arms, coil over shocks, Fiat 124 uprights

Rear suspension: Mazda RX-2 beam axle, four link with Panhard rod

Windshield: custom flat glass, Brooklands wind screen optional

Passenger entry: step over

Restraint system: five-point racing harness

Steering: rack and pinion (from Subaru FF-1)

Engine access: yes

Wheels/Tires: front - cast aluminum wheels (FIAT); 13" / rear - cast aluminum wheels (MAZDA); 13"

Cooling: front radiator (Subaru FF-1)

Weight: 850 lbs

Transmission: Mazda RX-2 four-speed; Mazda RX-7 five-speed


ACTIVITY

Active: Development 1989-90; prototype and tooling delivered 1990; Student versions built summer quarter of 1990

Fate: Stored 1992-2018; Prototype sold to alumni in 2018; sold to alumni in 2020


ENGINE HISTORY

  • 1989 - 1.3 litre Mazda 13B peripheral-port rotary /1
  • 1990 - 1.3 litre Mazda 13B rotary

/1 deemed to exceed the performance of the chassis






Viking 10-19



RAISON d'ETRE

Design Specification: Minimal sports car/autocross racer; prototype for student-built production Viking Car

Design goal: a simple, lightweight, high-performance sports car that can be student-built in one scholastic quarter

First ran: 1990


FUN FACTS

Viking numbers 10 through 19 were reserved for student-built Viking cars based on the Viking 9 prototype. (At this point the Viking car numbering sequence gave up on Roman numerals and switched to Arabic-series numbering )


PARTICULARS

Layout: front-engine, driven rear axle

Chassis: square steel tube frame

Body: Fiberglass one-piece

Color: molded in white gel coat

Front suspension: Upper and lower control arms, coil over shocks, Ford Pinto uprights

Rear suspension: Mazda RX-2 beam axle, four link with Panhard rod; alternate RX-7 beam axle, four-link with Panhard rod Windshield: Custom flat glass, Brooklands wind-screen optional

Passenger entry: step over

Restraint system: five-point racing harness Steering: rack and pinion (from Ford Pinto)

Engine access: Yes

Wheels/Tires: front - steel wheels (Pinto); 13" / rear steel wheels (Mazda); 13"

Cooling: front radiator (Subaru FF-1)

Weight: 950 lbs Transmission: Mazda RX-2 four-speed; Mazda RX-7 five-speed


ACTIVITY

Activity: Student versions built summer quarter of 1990

Fate: All 11 were accounted for in 2018


ENGINE HISTORY

1989 - Mazda 1.1 litre 12A/B; or Mazda 1.3 litre 13B rotary engine





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