376 MPG in 1973!
Winner of a Shell sponsored contest and Guinness Book of World Records holder, this 1959 Opel got 376 MPG! At other contests sponsored by Shell, they achieved 49.73 MPG in 1939, 149.95 MPG in 1949 with a 1947 Studebaker, 244.35 MPG in 1968 with a 1959 Fiat 600, and 376.59 MPG in 1973 with this 1959 Opel.
Sources:
Using fully stock production gasoline engine powered vehicles, with engine modifications limited only to changes in fuel
mixture and ignition timing, Shell Oil Company served host to an open competition in automobile efficiency. The fruit of
their forum was sweet indeed as a two-door, full-sized production car was able to drive off with the prize by achieving
376.59 miles in normal driving conditions using a single gallon of fuel. A more heavily modified vehicle was able to
achieve over 1140 miles on a single gallon of fuel. Results like these are truly astounding and beg the question: Are we
really getting all we can in efficiency from auto makers?
Indianapolis (IN) – Using fully stock production gasoline engine powered vehicles, with engine modifications limited only
to changes in fuel mixture and ignition timing, Shell Oil Company served host to an open competition in automobile
efficiency. The fruit of their forum was sweet indeed as a two-door, full-sized production car was able to drive off with the
prize by achieving 376.59 miles in normal driving conditions using a single gallon of fuel. A more heavily modified vehicle
was able to achieve over 1140 miles on a single gallon of fuel. Results like these are truly astounding and beg the
question: Are we really getting all we can in efficiency from auto makers?
Today’s fuel efficiency
Production vehicles at Toyota, Honda, GM, Ford, Chrysler and Nissan typically give the average consumer about 25 to
35 mpg in most high-efficiency full-sized models. Some achieve 40 mpg (or more), but it is rare to see that kind of fuel
efficiency in a stock family vehicle. Even hybrid vehicles, which began to gain quick popularity when fuel topped $4.00
per gallon in the U.S., do not achieve extremely high efficiency when running only on gasoline power (which is required
for long trips) – rarely even 50 mpg.
The Volkswagen Polo gets 60 to 70-plus mpg. And it’s really fun to drive. It’s got a good bit of turbo lag, so you need to keep the revs up for serious power, but once the turbo kicks in, acceleration is frisky. And the lag makes the car feel faster than it actually is. I didn’t wring it out, but over the course of a short cruise through the suburbs, it felt like a car I could gladly live with day in, day out. Fun to drive, just enough room for a family, and frugal as all get out. In Europe, the Polo sells for less than $20,000
BOYCOTT ALL CARS THAT ARE LESS THAN 100 MPG Do you want to see a quick resolution to the energy crisis? The public should boycott from purchasing any vehicle that is less than 100 mpg. That is surely to grab the automobile industry attention worldwide to produce an energy efficient car that does 100 mpg or better on alternative energy – the vehicle must be pollution free. “The ‘big three’ is not the ‘big three’ anymore,” Iacocca told National Public Radio, referring to the falling sales of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. “[They] didn’t adapt quickly enough to the energy problem in this country [and were] not ready with the right kind of cars.” Any big corporation that is too bureaucratic and cumbersome to quickly react to changing market conditions is doomed to failure. In today’s fast moving market conditions and technology – you must be innovative, utilize the cutting edge of technology and produce a quality and economical product. The public has a short memory, all they care is what have you done for me lately. In life we must always live in hope.
if you read fuel economy of the gasoline engine you’d be surprised at what the mileage marathons sponsored by shell put out.( the wheel is centered in the rear reducing the need for additional hp.) also driving a vehicle that is designed to go 170 mph and haul a 2000 lbs trailer requires additional hp. think of driving a thumbtack with a 20 lb sledgehammer. even if your only driving a thumbtack, there is excessive work needed just to operate your tool of choice. build a vehicle with a top speed of 60 mph and reduce the work of the engine by placing a single wheel in rear will triple or greater the amount of mpg.( by the way, fuel economy of the gasoline engine is practically impossible to find) i had a friend scan the book and send me the copy from florida. definitely worth reading.