Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 16:07:37 GMT From: Johannes H Andersen <johsnospamfitter.com> Subject: Re: Turbos?
Dexter J wrote: > > Salutations: > > On Mon, 06 Jun 2005 11:57:36 GMT, Johannes > <johsnospamblock73546sizefitter.com> wrote: > > <snipped for length - not for spite> > > > > I think the first turbo in a production car was 1973 BMW 2002 Turbo, but > > it > > was considered exotic and only sold in small numbers. > > > > http://www.bmwworld.com/models/newclass/2002_turbo.htm > > > > The 1977 Saab 99 Turbo was the first real mass production turbo car. I > > remember > > reading car mags, the journalists just couldn't believe how fast this > > ordinary looking family salon was. Perhaps that had something to do with > > the > > turbo torque; you didn't have to 'scream' the engine. The car just went > > as if > > an "invisible hand" moved it along. > > > > With 145bhp and a 0-60 time of 9 seconds, it actually beats my 150bhp > > 9000 CSE > > (0-60 ~ 9.5 sec) > > Actually - there was the 60's Oldsmobile Jetfire: > > http://www.ucalgary.ca/~csimpson/Articles/JetFire.html > > .. and the 60's corvair: > > http://www.corvaircorsa.com/turbo.html Damned you got me there! However, these early turbo cars weren't all that successful. I quote: "So complex was this system and so unprepared was the Oldsmobile dealer service network for this technology that Oldsmobile offered a program to its customers that for a fee of $50 they would remove the turbo system and replace it with a conventional carburetor." http://www.nhrasportcompact.com/2002/news/042501.html While others may have dabbled, Saab 99 really was the first to bring successful turbo charging into the mainstream for ordinary mass produced cars.