Check out the precise craftsmanship on this Moto GP radiator that was shaped to fit on the bike’s frame and still clear the front tire.

On first glance this beautifully crafted, curved and triangular shaped radiator from C&R Racing looks as if a perfect fit for a custom ’33 Ford grille.

It’s not. But it could be!

Another view of the Moto GP radiator.

Instead, this radiator was designed for a MotoGP bike that required a tight fit and plenty of clearance for the front tire.

“It required a special process to bend the core,” explains Paul Hammond, aftermarket sales rep, adding that the work was developed by C&R’s parent company PWR in Australia. “It’s a very unique process.”

The good news is that a similar design could be duplicated for a custom car with a curved grille, such as a ’33. The bad news is that it is an expensive process. But if you’re trying to win the Riddler Award, this is the type of detail that will draw a judge’s attention.

The thin design of the MotoGP follows a familiar trend in cooling strategy. The benefits of thinner radiators are being exploited on the race track as crew chiefs look for weight and performance advantages. Conventional wisdom had promised that thick cores would provide generous heat transfer through all the real estate available in a deep package.

“But a thick core slows down the air,” says Hammond. “You want to maintain air velocity through the core.”

Showcasing a design trend is a new radiator/oil cooler combo designed for Late Models that race on asphalt.

Showcasing this design trend is a new radiator/oil-cooler module for Late Models that run on asphalt. This 36 mm, double-pass design comes with a Setrab oil cooler and SPAL fan.

“The newer technology lets us put more tube in the same given area,” sums up Hammond. “There’s more coolant contact.”