Word: cars
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1970-1979
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...hydrogen car is quite safe, Mann says, despite the volatility of hydrogen. He dismisses the "Hindenburg syndrome," which makes people associate hydrogen with blazing death because of the famous dirigible disaster in 1937. Disregarding Mann's assurance that putting a bullet through this engine would not cause a fire, the car owner involuntarily takes a step back from the open hood. But he perks up at hydrogen mileage figures. The car "should" get about 60 m.p.g. and, because of the hydraulic accumulator designed to take over during stop-and-go traffic, close to 100 m.p.g. in the city...
There is not much noise-now and then the throaty roar of an improperly muffled diesel, the grating whine of a hydraulic accumulator and sometimes a distant cheer from students who get a cranky car started. Many entries are over in the repair section. Berkeley's yellow, gull-winged two-seater, with students draped all over its chassis, is splayed open like' a turkey awaiting stuffing."A little overhaul?" asks the car owner. "Overhaul, hell!" snaps a student mechanic. &"We're building it for the first time...
Feeling fairly gloomy, the car owner ambles by the Minnesota entry again. He wonders aloud about a row of plastic tabs placed at odd angles just above the rear window of a Plymouth Volare. "Vortex generators," explains a student. The little tabs cause turbulence in the air as it passes over the car, reducing "drag" and saving fuel. "Wanna see another innovation?" pipes another student from under the hood. "How 'bout this clothespin holding on the accelerator cable...
Inside the headquarters trailer, Paisley explains why one-shot experimental vehicles often fall short of the standards required of mass-produced cars. Having to run at least 50,000 miles without fall ing apart is one problem. Another is meeting costly, complex Government require ments that carmakers consider an outrageous cross to bear. "When you think of all the things the industry has to do to get a car on the market, you realize what a gap there is," says Nattress. The words sound more reassuring from an independent academician. Convinced, however, that Detroit is holding out on him about...
...European and Japanese cars have had to be more economical because they haven't had our resources," Paisley replies smoothly. "They probably have a five-or ten-year jump on us in small-car development, but we're catching up." The old challenge and response trick...