250 miles per gallon. You read that right.

[ducatiz]

isn't that the car Woody Allen had in the film Sleeper?

speaking of older cars with better mileage, you see old diesel half-ton pickups that get 35-40mpg.  60-70hp but can pull a trailer and still get north of 30 mpg.  go figure.

[Popeye the Sailor]

They used to use 57 Plymouths as cabs due to the fact that with their straight six and 3 speed manual, they averaged 27 MPG....





Btw people MPG = Miles per gallon
MPH = Miles per hour. Being impressed that your 46 ford could do 30+ mph isn't saying what you think it says.

[Bun-bun]

I had a '66 Ford 2-door post sedan that had a heater. That was it for options. Also had an '81 Mercury Zephyr that had little more than that. And they got you there just fine and with remarkable fuel mileage (yes, even the big Ford).

I had a '66 VW beetle. It was fully loaded.
It had the optional heater,the optional passenger side mirror, and the optional AM radio.
I have no idea what MPG it got, gas cost .35/gallon back then. Nobody cared.

[x136]

They used to use 57 Plymouths as cabs due to the fact that with their straight six and 3 speed manual, they averaged 27 MPG....

And if the six used in 1957 was anything like the later Mopar slant-6, it was rated in number of apocalypses that it could easily survive...

[Popeye the Sailor]

And if the six used in 1957 was anything like the later Mopar slant-6, it was rated in number of apocalypses that it could easily survive...

It was a reliable mill as far as I know.



I love me the leaning tower of power though.

[x136]

I love me the leaning tower of power though.

There was a fun article about it in Hot Rod a few years ago.



Someday, I'd like to pick up a 225-powered '65 Dart or a '66 Valiant. That'd be fun.

[BWClark]

I wish i could remember what manufacturer it was - but someone ran a couple turbo diesel race cars last year and got 143 mph at and average speed of 140..

It got 143MPH with an average speed of 140?! 140MPH? That's quite an accomplishment. Sounds like some crazy wormhole timebending shit....!

Ohhhh, you mean MPG!      

From the article...

The naturally aspirated, direct-injection diesel engine employs advanced high-pressure unit injection technology to generate 6.3 kW (8.5 bhp) at 4,000 rpm. This gives the vehicle, which weights just 290 kg, an astonishingly lively temperament.

That's 30bhp/ton. Just focus on the economy. Please don't even pretend that this diesel single-banger is sporty...     

[ROBsS4R]

isn't that the car Woody Allen had in the film Sleeper?

Nah that car was better looking 

[ducatiz]

I had a '66 VW beetle. It was fully loaded.
It had the optional heater,the optional passenger side mirror, and the optional AM radio.
I have no idea what MPG it got, gas cost .35/gallon back then. Nobody cared.

that would have been a 1300 and it probably got about 30-40 mpg depending on how you drove.  the carb was a tiny 32mm PDST and the tranny was only 4 speed.  if htey'd have put a 5 speed on them they might have gotten 45-50. 

then again, your top speed was about 85

optional heater??  all of them came with heat exchangers off the exhaust.  what was the option?

if you bought it new, then the exhaust probably smelt sweeeet due to the lead.. mmmm... lead...

[Speedbag]

optional heater??  all of them came with heat exchangers off the exhaust.  what was the option?

My folks had a beetle when I was a kid. That thing cranked out heat like mad. All the time, especially when it was summer. But not so much in the winter. 

I think there was an optional auxiliary gas powered heater thingy you could get for them. Probably because the engine-based heater was about as effective as farting in a refrigerator for heat.

[ducatiz]

My folks had a beetle when I was a kid. That thing cranked out heat like mad. All the time, especially when it was summer. But not so much in the winter. 

I think there was an optional auxiliary gas powered heater thingy you could get for them. Probably because the engine-based heater was about as effective as farting in a refrigerator for heat.

ahhhh..  i know what you're talking about, they weren't too popular in the US because so many of them leaked and ---well--.. 

I found the heat exchangers very effective, but you had to have your exhaust piping and internal connectors installed correctly.  Moreover, on the bugs they had a long path to get to the front dash and they were blown in by the engine cooling fan.  I just disconnected the front part and plugged it and opened vents where they came in under the back seat.  I plugged the part from the engine fan and put a vacuum fan under the seat.  voila, the car is 90 degrees in deepest winter.

[Bun-bun]

that would have been a 1300 and it probably got about 30-40 mpg depending on how you drove.  the carb was a tiny 32mm PDST and the tranny was only 4 speed.  if htey'd have put a 5 speed on them they might have gotten 45-50. 

then again, your top speed was about 85

optional heater??  all of them came with heat exchangers off the exhaust.  what was the option?

if you bought it new, then the exhaust probably smelt sweeeet due to the lead.. mmmm... lead...

The option was the aux. gas htr already mentioned.
Yup, 1300cc boxer 4, last year for the 6-volt battery and wiring. I had to install a seperate 12v battery and wiring to run my 8-track.
Ran that car for 17 years, unknown miles (The speedo cable broke at 130k), never had any drivetrain issues, just rust.
I don't think I ever got that turtle above 65-68 MPH, even going downhill.

[Rob Hilding]

Welcome to the future.

It must be a bit unstable ..... The license plate is "Wob L"

[Pakhan]

It seats one, might as well put that engine on a MC frame and see what mileage and performance you get then.  That might make a descent commuter bike.

[hay13]

I drive 100 miles round trip each day... In the great state of Washington it rains from time to time.  Don't know if you've heard that before. Anyway... I picked up a '93 Metro XFI for $595 for when I can't ride the bike or the gas in the truck is kicking my butt.  This little thing is averaging 52 MPG right now and that's with me trying to get it to go as fast as my bike.