The Oil Crisis of the 1970's - {CLOSED}

[ArnRno]

My guess is three-valve straight six, which is an..... interesting choice.

[Microwave]

Yes, it is indeed an "interesting choice". But then again, so was Ford's decision to put the Pinto's fuel tank in a place where it catches fire in the event of a crash. Welcome to 70s America baby.

It's a poorly assembled 4 with a few extra valves rattling around in the oil pan?

It's an innovative bit of new technology called "valve detachment technology", guaranteed to give extra fuel economy (and a broken bottom end).

[ArnRno]

Aw, Microwave, I've been here all along - 70s shitbox American cars are my bag, baby.

FWIW, that Pinto/Fuel Tank issue was nowhere near as big as the urban legend that followed it.

Long story short, the way I understand it is that the car was pretty much on par with anything else back then as far as safety. The fuel tank was in such a place, that if rear ended at a high enough speed the fuel-filler could break and damage the rest of the tank - if that happened when the left-hand turn-signal was on, whose wires ran past the fuel tank in a certain way, the fuel tank could leak, the wires could break, the broken wires could spark, and the car could catch on fire.

Cars catch on fire everyday all over the world - Same thing with those two or three Teslas that caught on fire, everyone blew it way out of proportion, no one talked about the other Teslas that didn't catch on fire, no one talked about the Chevrolets and Fords and Toyotas that caught on fire that day - media has a huge influence on this stuff.

Ford's BIG mistake was realizing there was a problem, doing the math, and realizing that it would be cheaper to let it's customers burn to death and just pay out the settlements than to fix every single car that might catch on fire. Even though that is a horrible truth, it is definitely a truth, but once the public got wind of it, that was the end of the show.

At the end of it all, according to wikipedia 27 people died from Pintos catching on fire. While I will agree that that is 27 people too many, it's not even a drop in the bucket for automotive deaths. According to that same wiki page, NHTSA reported the same number of people dying in Pintos from "transmission problem," which honestly, piques the hell out of my interest.

/rant.

[Microwave]

Ah, well, the more you know.

[KLinardo]

/rant.

[OT]
Yup. Nailed it. (Except maybe the turnsignal part. Collisions make sparks and that could ignigte fuel spilling from the broken filler neck.) If Ford hadn't managed to leak the memos calculating expected damages, then the Pinto would probably have a fond memory. My dad tells me they would sell every one at the dealer as fast as they were made back then. The problem was that the plaintiff attorneys and juries were so outraged that they started adding zeros onto awards in all of the Pinto lawsuits.

Moral of the story? Don't try to calculate the value of human life in a product liability suit.

[/OT]

[ArnRno]

More off-topic, but I just had to add...

My friend in high school drove a Pinto (I'm not that old, this was like twelve years ago) and that car was awesome. Plenty of room, looked cool... um... didn't catch on fire. Thing wasn't half bad.
We DID used to hit the rear bumper with shopping carts when he wasn't looking, though.

[koolkei]

which was originally????



since i dont have any existing cars in that era.

'ILL START BUILDING MY OWN CARS. WITH BLACK JACK AND HOOKERS'


wait... i just read that

Even though by the end of 1982 Honda engines were already capable of a world-beating 50 miles per gallon (mpg), there would be an effort to improve.

why is today's mileage comparatively the same? even if we are making more power out of it.

[strop]

Because Hondas got heavier. And their engines didn't exactly evolve much after a while

My 9th gen Civic gets 50mpg... If you run it mostly on the freeway. Then again it's also 1330kg dry, the transmission is geared towards helping you completely forget it has ratios (even when you attempt to engage sequential), and the powerband is still all top end, which is great when you want to feel like a touge warrior, but not so much when you're city commuting.

[koolkei]

except for vtec?

[vmo]

Because Hondas got heavier. And their engines didn't exactly evolve much after a while

My 9th gen Civic gets 50mpg... If you run it mostly on the freeway. Then again it's also 1330kg dry, the transmission is geared towards helping you completely forget it has ratios (even when you attempt to engage sequential), and the powerband is still all top end, which is great when you want to feel like a touge warrior, but not so much when you're city commuting.

My VTI never under 8000rpm (in highway or road, in city max 6000rpm.

Vtec for everyday.

[koolkei]

wait. why is cats required again?. i managed an engine that passes it without one at 1950 emissions.


and somehow with the total emissions lower than engine emissions ????? O_o

[VicVictory]

Historical accuracy.

In the US, catalytic converters were required on all gas powered vehicles starting in 1975. Since this is a 1976 scenario, it makes sense.

[EnryGT5]

Did any of you reach 30mpg (US)? I'm trying but... i did it only with insane Turbo MFI engines

[vmo]

Did any of you reach 30mpg (US)? I'm trying but... i did it only with insane Turbo MFI engines

Yep, and more MPG.

[Sebesseg]

I have the feeling I may be priced a bit too high this time around, but premium seats are a must. Who cars if your car gets 40mpg if its terribly uncomfortable? I don't know cause mine doesn't get 40mpg, but its got nice leather and faux-leather cushioning for five with a door for four of them.