The Myth And Meaning Of Numbers

[WilliamH]

If you were old enough to be interested in cars in the 50s you probably remember the myth surrounding the original Chrysler 300. The myth was that it got 1 HP / cu in. Wow! 300 HP out of 300 cu. in.. But not actually. It was 300 HP out of 331 cu in. But still the first production 300 HP car. And that old 300 HP from 300 cu. in. myth is still out there.

Fast forward 60 years and we have the Elio.
900 cc engine and the first new engine from a start up in 60 years.

But wait, there's more!
900 cc = 55 cu in.
55 cu in = 55 HP = 55 Ft lb torque.
Now those are some interesting numbers!

And 84 MPG US = 100 MPG Imperial.
A little something for everyone.

 

[W. WIllie]

The (1 HP per Cu.In) is the goal of an efficent (sp) engine today, that are NA..
My Insight G1....... is rated at 67 Hp, and 66 ft. lb. .......without the IMA assist.
With the assist, it is 73 HP and 91 ft. lb.torque.
995 cc engine or...........roughly 61 Cu. in.

Enjoy
Willie

.

 

[DAVID BROWER]

A 1950's RUMOR ABOUT THE MESSERSCHMITT WAS THAT THE CARS WERE MADE
FROM LEFTOVER AIRCRAFT PARTS .

THIS WAS A GREAT STORY BUT IT WAS NEVER TRUE .
I STILL HAVE PEOPLE ASK ME IF I KNOW THAT MY KR-200 WAS MADE FROM PLANE PARTS !
ANY RUMOR THAT PERSISTS FOR 60 YEARS JUST MUST BE TRUE .

THE GOLIATH EMPRESS & TIGER OF THE LATE 50's GOT 1 HORSE PER CUBE .
NOBODY NOTICED BECAUSE THERE WERE ONLY 66 CUBES .

 

[Lil4X]

My '96 Civic EX got well over 1HP per CID (1.28 hp/CID, in fact) - but look at the other standard features it offered that were unheard of or had been available on all-out racing cars only a generation earlier:

• 125hp 1.6L 4 cylinder with dual overhead cams, 4-valves per cylinder, variable valve timing
• 29 city / 35 highway
  
• Computer-controlled electronic ignition
• 5-speed manual transmission (5th overdrive)
• Electrically driven cooling fan
• 4-wheel independent coil spring and wishbone suspension
• 4-wheel disc brakes with 3-channel anti-lock
• Dual airbags, integrated seat and shoulder belts with pretensioners
• Power brakes, steering, windows and locks
• AM-FM Stereo, Air conditioning
  
• Engine ignition immobilizer

That was about twenty years ago. Eliminate one wheel assembly, three doors, the power brakes and steering, and you have an Elio that's almost HALF the weight and capable of TWICE the fuel efficiency. Time marches on. Imagine what will be standard equipment by 2025 . . .

 

[CROSSBOLT]

1920's DeLage got 2 bhp per cubic inch. Big and reliable. Very expensive.

Karl

 

[McBrew]

Don't forget that we changed how horsepower is rated in the early '70s. Before then, it was an engine on a dyno with no accessories and different intake and exhaust than the production car.

Here's an example: 1971 Corvettes with the 350cid engine were rated at 270-330hp. In 1972, they were rated at 200-255hp. The only difference was the way they measured horsepower.