OK, heres the question: What is the first American car that has a plastic body to be mass produced.

Hint: its not the corvette.

I believe it was the Feiro if that is how it is spelt.

Nope, try 35+ years earlier (and its "fiero")

damn...... ok I will work on it

Well, I hope its not the Corvette, especially since its made out of Fiberglass...... but anyway...

my first guess is the Amphicar (aka boat-car)

Fiberglass counts, its really glass re-inforced plastic. Which is what this car is.

fiberglass does not count.... but anyway...its something made 1966 or earlier so you say, and if its not the Corvette (which you think is plastic), then it has to be made before 1953, cause the Vette was the first fiberglass production car...

ok, I am gonna go with 1952 Glasspar G2 Roadster or the 1953 Kaiser-Darrin Convertible, neither of which I feel count as a "mass production" vehicle, especially since the Glasspar was also a "kit car" and there werent very many made before the Vette came out.

c'mon damnit, REPLY!!!!

Sorry, I was working last night. But I think you're right:alien2:

I will have to double check. It started production in 1952, and several hundred were fully built then sold. They were available in kit form, though.

This info was taken from Automobile quarterly, 1972, no. 4 (or 2, I will check tonight)

Originally posted by Chris
Sorry, I was working last night. But I think you're right:alien2:


its cool, i was just bustin ur chops. I had to look high and low for that info.... :D

The correct answer is the Woodill Wildfire. They also made glaspar kits for stock chassis' (so you can be considered correct) They began production in 1952m with a fiberglass body. They were available as both a kit and a fully completed production car, although several hundred were made this way. It was a low-slung roadster. It used many parts from the Jeep!! It was based on the jeep chassis also, but the 90hp engine could be replaced by a Cadillac or Ford engine on request. Production ended in 1958.

So, the new question is: How many acres of soy beans was Henry Ford growing in 1935 to be used to make car bodies, trim, shock oil, paint ingredients, etc.


Good luck;)

ok, did a little research...

in 1935, Henry Ford was putting approximately 1 bushel of soy in each vehicle.
The 1935 production year totaled 820,253 automobiles.
The 1935 Soy bean crop yielded almost 16 bushels per acre.

Doing the math, 820,253/15.6 = 52,581 Acres of Soy to produce his automobiles.

My source says 12000 acres were being grown by Ford. I will have to check tonight (maybe he had 12000 additional acres planned for new stuff), or it might mention your figure somewhere.

nah, i could be way off. my answer is purely statistical. what ford ACTUALLY used might be something else.... dont start doubting youself

You were so close. He used approximately 1000000 bushels of soy bean in 1935. He did have 12000 acres, but he might have bought some from outside sources, but it doesnt say either way.

Next question: On the Duesenberg model J, SJ, and SSJ, the chassis had a self lubrication system. It would have a light come on telling you that is was having an oil pump lube all of the moving parts, and another light to tell you the system was empty. Another light was used to tell you the battery needed checking. This kept the car in tip-top shape.
So, how often did this system repeat itself?

every 3000 miles :confused:

Not even close!! Remember, this was the dark ages, and to keep stuff going good it needed caring VERY often.

500 miles....just stabbing in the dark:)

Your stabbing the donkeys head when your aiming for the donkeys tail :)

i'll give it a shot on monday. my weekends are too busy.....

The answer is: 75 miles

What is the oldest, unchanged (this is key) brand name used on cars?

Isn't it Oldsmobile?

Thats a pretty vauge question, the way i interpret it Id say Rover but I could be well off.

How about some trivia that isnt american car based

I would say Daimler-Chrysler ior Chevrolet

Chevrolet dates back to 1911..and even General Motors is only a few years older than that (1908). DaimlerChrysler can trace its history back to 1925 (Chrysler), 1914 (Dodge), and about 1890 (Daimler and Benz).

The answer is Studebaker and Marmon. Both companies produced cars (Studebaker from the early 1900s until 1966 and Marmon from the early 1900s until around 1935 even though trucks continued until 1997) and both started operations in the 1850s. Both companies are still in business today.

Hmm.....non-American based trivia.....

Until I come up with an original non-North American based question, here's one for you (borrowed from another source):

What was the first production car powered by a V6 engine?

When Hudson said studebaker, I remembered that they used to make horse-drawn carriages, and they are the right answer.

As for the V6, I have no idea. Perhaps a Buick?

Not a Buick.

And both Studebaker and Marmon date back to the 1850s...I just haven't been able to track down exact incorporation dates for each of them to find which one's older. I've been told that it's actually Marmon.

Hmm .. was it the Lancia Aurelia?

Knowing you though, it's probably a 1903 Doppleganger or somesuch ;)

The Woodill Wildfire was the first production fiberglass car in 1952 manufactured in Downey Cal. by Woody Woodill with body by Glasspar (Bill Tritt) on a Willy's running gear and a willys Fhead inline six. The picture is my 1954 Wildfire this was a kit with Ford chassis and Mercury flathead V8. Found in a barn in upstate NY and rebuilt and restored in 1976.

I would have to say that you are a member with perhaps the most exclusive car here;)

Thanks, I wanted to know what it actually looked like.


PS Hudson, could you please tell us the correct answer?

Thunda got it right..it was the Lancia.

You might be interested in knowing that the prototype Wildfire has been restored in California. It even has the original tires. At the Santa Barbara Concours, a judge said that he could see that they even had the Orginal air in them.

Car belongs to a guy named Fred Roth. who I think lives near Westlake. My two sons were singularly unimpressed at what their grandfather had been up to in the 50's.

Mike Woodill
Santa Barbara CA

"The fastest potato on the table" :smoker2:

:) We have questions about fiberglass cars before the Corvette? Let's clear this one up. Yes there were way more than 300 Glaspar G2's built before 1953 according to the man in charge so the Corvette did not catch up for a while after that. Yes, they were what we would consider "kit-cars" but they were available built up and the "Post frame", that's Shorty Post not Wiley Post, was a Glaspar item not just a Woody Woodill innovation. There was competition history too, west coast races and believe it or not, the Mexican Road Race in 1953. Various degrees of low-key involvement, yes, but they were right there so all you Glaspar owners can feel you have one up one the C-Type Jag guys on the Carrera, your car is real.

Well this thread looks like it died... So, here's a real easy double question for you American car nuts...

After Ransom Olds left Oldsombile, what car company did he form? And what was name of the "best" car he designed for this company?

Originally posted by 2strokebloke
Well this thread looks like it died... So, here's a real easy double question for you American car nuts...

After Ransom Olds left Oldsombile, what car company did he form? And what was name of the "best" car he designed for this company?

"Best"? I dunno. Flying Cloud? Royale? I'm probably missing the 'intended' answer on this one.

Originally posted by tigermiata


"Best"? I dunno. Flying Cloud? Royale? I'm probably missing the 'intended' answer on this one.

I think you're on the right track...but you missed the first part of the question. Ransom Olds formed REO.

REO is the company, I guess I should rephrase the second part: What was his "Farewell" model for REO?

REO is the company, I guess I should rephrase the second part: What was his "Farewell" model for REO?

For the love of Walter P. Chrysler the answer is "REO the Fifth" Rason said that this model marked the limit of his engineering expertise, and that he couldn't design anything better if he tried, and therefore was leaving the company.
New EASY question:

What Chevrolet model, meant to compete with the Ford model T, was named after it's price?

For the love of Walter P. Chrysler the answer is "REO the Fifth" Rason said that this model marked the limit of his engineering expertise, and that he couldn't design anything better if he tried, and therefore was leaving the company.
New EASY question:

What Chevrolet model, meant to compete with the Ford model T, was named after it's price?

Chevrolet 390

Chevrolet 390

Almost - try something a little more expensive though.

Chevrolet Four-Ninety (490).

Chevrolet Four-Ninety (490).

You're correct - your turn to ask a question.

its cool, i was just bustin ur chops. I had to look high and low for that info.... :D
HELLO!is there anybody out there?

ford mustang

or dodge charger

ford mustang

or dodge charger

That's not actually a question, you have to ask one like this: What year did the VW beetle's engine's power output jump from 36hp to 40hp?

Whoever answers that question can ask the next one.

That's not actually a question, you have to ask one like this: What year did the VW beetle's engine's power output jump from 36hp to 40hp?

Whoever answers that question can ask the next one.
August 1965, but since that was the beginning of the 1966 model year, that would mean that only 1966 and on W Beetles would have the new (at that time) 40 hp 1285 cc engine, which had the same crankshaft as the bigger VW 1500 engine. Unlike rover, which never called the Cooper a '1300' VW distinguished the new engine with "1300" badges on the hood. These newer 1966 model year cars also featured the 1500's wheels, and larger turn signal indicators.

The increase from 36 to 40hp happened earlier than that (for export models anyway)

The increase from 36 to 40hp happened earlier than that (for export models anyway)
Specificity in all things! You were looking for 1961, when the compression ratio of the 1200 jumped up to 7:1, and power jumped to 40 hp, wheren't you?

Specificity in all things! You were looking for 1961, when the compression ratio of the 1200 jumped up to 7:1, and power jumped to 40 hp, wheren't you?

Yes I was, and you're correct so you get to ask the next question.

Hmmm. What was the first car to have idiot lights?

That's an incredibly hard question, mabe you should give a hint, like country of origin.

Hmmm. What was the first car to have idiot lights?

Kaiser?

That's an incredibly hard question, mabe you should give a hint, like country of origin.

American.

Kaiser?

No, but that was probably the first company to offer sliding doors on a car.

Im going to guess Duesenberg.....just as a guess, and because they were one of the most advanced cars in the world at the time.

Im going to guess Duesenberg.....just as a guess, and because they were one of the most advanced cars in the world at the time.
If that was really just a guess...it was a damn good one! Duesenberg introduced idiot lights on its Model J in December of 1928 at the New York Auto Show. The car featured lights on the dash that would alert the owner as the the status of his engine's oil (like when it needed to be changed), and the status of the automatic chassis lubrication system (the system would flash when it was being operated, and when it needed oil). All the lights were operated mechanically and were activated by certain mileage points (every 1500 miles for the chassis system, 3000 to change the oil) or resevoirs (as with the chassis oil). Good guess! Now you ask a question.

Now that you've posted that, it pretty much came back to me. The car even had a system which would oil/grease parts that needed it every 75miles, and a light came on when the system needed refilling. Pretty amazing for the late 20's.

My question is a fair bit simpler, but, still a good one:

Which company won the contract to produce the first 'Jeep', by winning the design competetion the US Army had to develop a good general purpose vehicle (there were alot of requirments, and just a few months to make a prototype...kinda nuts, really. And General Purpose, GP, geep, jeep)

Hint, they lost it pretty quickly, and then that company semi-lost it, having to share it with someone else.

Willys-Overland originally won the contract, but soon lost it to Ford simply b/c Ford had much larger production capabilities that Willy's. Willy's did retain the name, patents on design, and did produce a good numbers. I've driven a '44 Wlly's Jeep before, fun truck!

Also, here are some shots of said Jeep:

http://www.supercars.net/garages/Duesey/20v2.html

If I gave you the displacement of an engine, in cubic inches, could you tell me who made it and one car which ran it?

can u help me with a 87 buick park ave

What do you need?

If I gave you the displacement of an engine, in cubic inches, could you tell me who made it and one car which ran it?

If you want to ask a trivia question here, you need to answera question first.

(also answering jrich80): BUT, if you are just looking to get help, start a new thread in the engineering/technical forum, you'll get better results that way.


But, yes, Duesey got it. Willy's won the contract (by a huge margin, as well). They didnt have the production capacity, and the army needed it immediately.
So, they also contracted (cant remember right now, but, it began with a B, I think Bantam) to make it. They couldnt meet demand, and Ford got in on it. So, there were actually 3 manufacturers.

So, Duesey gets another one.......and this will bump the thread up nicely, and maybe others will get in on it (wink wink nudge nudge).

Yeah the Bantam Car Company, that was the other manufacturer

Bantam came up with the idea, called it the Bantam Reconaissance Car, and sold the idea to the Army, which then contracted Willys, and when they couldn't deliver, it went along to Ford as well.

Bantam came up with the idea, called it the Bantam Reconaissance Car, and sold the idea to the Army, which then contracted Willys, and when they couldn't deliver, it went along to Ford as well.
This is true, and somewhat ironic considering that Bantam was the purveyor of America's Austin Seven, a tiny car that looked like a scaled down Packard. Anyhow...trivia question:

In 1932, 3 American car's were built with V16's. Cadillac sold their 452, Marmon their Sixteen, and a third company built a single V16 concept car. What company was it? If you are feeling really smart, what is so unique about it, and what became of the company that made it?

Well, lets see, I'd have to say, well, Dusenberg. The engine was a V-16, but was an aircraft engine, and Fred Dusenberg died, Dusenberg is incorporated into Auburn - Cord - Dusenberg and is eventually dissolved.l

not a duesey, those were straight 8's.

I think I heard something about a Cord having a DOHC V16. I think it might have been the one with front drive (and that super thin, low, front bumper).

As for what happened to Cord, I think they went bankrupt in the recession.

Well, lets see, I'd have to say, well, Dusenberg. The engine was a V-16, but was an aircraft engine, and Fred Dusenberg died, Dusenberg is incorporated into Auburn - Cord - Dusenberg and is eventually dissolved.l

Well, you aren't COMPLETELY incorrect. Duesenberg DID build a V16, or at least something LIKE a V16, but not under the Duesenberg name nor in 1932. The V16, or more properly, the U16 Duesenberg built was actually designed in collaboration with this little French company you might have heard of...Bugatti. The engine was designed for use in WWI planes, and was ready for production in 1916, but since it was so late in the war, only about 40 of the planned 2000 were produced in the Duesenberg plant. The engine were called King-Bugatti after the guy who helped the design out, Charles King.

http://home.uni-one.nl/bugatti/revue3/rev3-3.htm#king

not a duesey, those were straight 8's.

I think I heard something about a Cord having a DOHC V16. I think it might have been the one with front drive (and that super thin, low, front bumper).

As for what happened to Cord, I think they went bankrupt in the recession.

Cord never did make a V16, they did make a V12 though. Also, all Cord cars were front wheel drive. Finally, Cord went out of business when the Cord Corporation collapsed, pulling Cord, Auburn, and Duesenberg down with it. The only part of the Cord Corp. that survives today is Lycoming, their engine division, which now builds airplane engines.

All front wheel drive....kinda beasts the toronado by 30 or so years!

They made some with superchargers, and Clark Gable owned one, being that he loved superchargers.

Are you refering to the V-16 engined Miller race car? I'm not sure if it was made in 1932 though. I think it was front wheel drive too. Speaking of early American FWD, if you look at George Selden's patented car, which he claimed to have invented in 1877, you'll notice that it's front wheels are the powered ones! I think that beats everything else for being the first fwd car!

Are you refering to the V-16 engined Miller race car? I'm not sure if it was made in 1932 though. I think it was front wheel drive too. Speaking of early American FWD, if you look at George Selden's patented car, which he claimed to have invented in 1877, you'll notice that it's front wheels are the powered ones! I think that beats everything else for being the first fwd car!
No, this was a road car, I am not including racecars here.

No, this was a road car, I am not including racecars here.

Well then. I believe Peerless built a single V16 in 1932, at least I think it was 1932.

Well then. I believe Peerless built a single V16 in 1932, at least I think it was 1932.
Correct. Peerless was the ONLY other American automaker to build a V16 roadcar in 1932. The Peerless V16 was unique for a few reasons:

1) It was gorgeous and glamorous, with a sleek design and a luxurious interior
2) It was powerful, with its 464 ci engine putting out plenty of smooth power and torque
3) This was the most important part, the entire car, engine, chassis, body, was made of aluminum

Peerless teamed up with Alcoa, the aluminum company to build a car that would feature the then rarely used (in cars, at least) metal. The aluminum work was incredible, with the weight being kept down significantly (Duesenberg also employed generous amounts of aluminum in the J, with the heads, firewall, radiator and a few other parts cast of aluminum. If you look at the pictures on the sites link here, you'll notice a silver rim around the fenders. It looks simple, just a piece of metal fitted on the outside, but this is actualy part of the fender, rolled aluminum made to look like it was added afterwards! Having seen this car in person, I will say, it is a beautiful car to behold, too bad there is so little out there on it.
Pictures:
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/trombinoscar/INMIOH/peerless3201.html

Info on the museum it is currently housed at:
http://www.wrhs.org/crawford/default.asp

Also, as far as the fate of Peerless. After making the V16, the board at the company sat down to discuss its future. The depression was in full swing, and market such an extravagant car was sure to be a failure, so the higher ups decided to just pull the plug on ALL of Peerless's auto operations, and turn the company into a brewing company. It is still around today as a brewing company.

OK, 2-stroke, back to you!

O.K. here's a really hard one (I hope) What American designed car was built by a Japanese company that would become Mitsubishi during the 1950s? (for extra credit, what was the name of the company that built it?)

O.K. here's a really hard one (I hope) What American designed car was built by a Japanese company that would become Mitsubishi during the 1950s? (for extra credit, what was the name of the company that built it?)
Chrysler Colt, in 1962?

No, I wrote 1950s (I know my question was stated a little foggilly) I'll give you a huge clue, it bore the name of an American.

Well I don't want to kill the topic with a question that's too hard, so I'll give a clue that will probably give it away...

The American the car was named after was a famous industrialist, who built alot of boats... and the car also bore his name in the U.S. (I just made it too easy!)

Wow, I must be stupid, b/c I still don't have a clue...not much of a boat person.

He built more liberty ships faster than anybody else... I'm practically giving the answer away now. And the car was considered "small" by American standards of the time.

A kaiser....one from the 50's....Im going to go with the manhattan.
Im pretty sure the Darrin was made in the US, since it used a fiberglass body made in the US.

A kaiser....one from the 50's....Im going to go with the manhattan.
Im pretty sure the Darrin was made in the US, since it used a fiberglass body made in the US.

You're so incredibly close, yes a Kaiser - but not the models you listed, it bore his name (other than just his last name)

Henry? John? Kind of funny names for cars:eek7:

What the hell, close enough, nobodies going to get it otherwise. The Henry J. Kaiser was produced by East Japan Heavy-Industries from 1951 until 1954. The Japanese produced Henry Js are exceptioanlly rare.
Chris, your turn.

Alright, this one should be a bit easier....What was the first Ferrari to use disc brakes?

Alright, this one should be a bit easier....What was the first Ferrari to use disc brakes?
1951 Ferrari 212?

Alright, this one should be a bit easier....What was the first Ferrari to use disc brakes?

[wild guess] 156? [/wild guess]

Nope, came in 1959, if I remember teh year correctly...but Im sure of the car.

1959 Ferrari 196 S Dino?

Nope, it was a race car, and now they are easily worth over $1 million

hmmm..... all I could find was that a prototype 250GT Cabriolet given to race driver Peter Collins in 1957 was fitted with disc brakes as a test by the driver himself and that was the first ever, though only an experiment. Soon after, Ferrari converted themselves a racing Testa Rossa to experiment more thoroughly but I cannot find when was the system officially implemented... (possibly the '59-'62 production 250GT Cabriolet w/discs was the first street car)

Wow, long time till a response; the first ferrari with disc brakes was the 250GT SWB (shortwheelbase) models; Ive never heard of the example you gave, have a link to it?

Either way, give a question :D

My link is this: "Classic Ferraris - the legend on the road" by Brian Laban (a book, so can't prove myself!)... however you are right about the swb being the first production car the discs were officially implemented (though it's not strictly a racecar... like most Ferraris in the old days)...

My question... how many chassis of the Ferrari F50 GT were built? (don't rush with the answer pay attention to my wording!)

2 :)

2? no..... it's kind of a tough question I know.... if you check out my recent post in the F50 forum you'll see that F50 GT #3 is currently for sale so the answer is at least three.... remember I said *chassis* though... true Ferrari nuts should have a link to the very comprehensive site that has the info..... :iceslolan

The answer to that is 6. Only 3 were completed into full cars though the other 3 were destroyed before final assembly

http://www.barchetta.cc/english/All.Ferraris/summary/SN.F50.GT.htm

so whats the next question?

OK, heres the question: What is the first American car that has a plastic body to be mass produced.

Hint: its not the corvette.
it was a buick man, a bitchin black buick with suicide doors and the tranny in the back. Aluminum v-8 IR set-up, overhead cams and a 180* crank. that's the one you were talkin' about right. that plastic car?

here is aquestion for you mister mediator. I have heard rumors about a company in the 60's that made custom 90* v-twins out of small block chevy parts please search archives for info, franks helpy.

I've got one. Why do Porsches have the ignition key insert on the left instead of the right?

I've got one. Why do Porsches have the ignition key insert on the left instead of the right?

actually, my porsches ignition key insert is on the right :)

alright fine, there are some that have it on the right, but don't most have it on the left?

I've got one. Why do Porsches have the ignition key insert on the left instead of the right?

came from the days in lemans when drivers had to run to their cars and start them with one hand while putting it in gear with the other

ah, you got it.

ok,um...what was the code name for the ford gt when it was being designed?

is my question that hard?

FordGt, Code Name: Petunia

Good math NJTY... did some research too and you just got it a little way off. Ford was actually using two bushels per car. So with your math, i'd just multiply it to two and voila, youd get the number...

They called the plastic phenolformaldehyde and later found some use for it in making a textile they called azlon. that never made the market though...

I've also seen some news on Ford planting soy on 8000 acres of his land plus some more in Michigan totalling to about 60000 in 1936. Three years after he was harvesting about 100000 bushels.

On how many bushels an acre yields, I got two figures. One says 20 bushels per acre on the average, but a 1994 study showed a whopping 41.4. That pretty much confuses me....

Any of you seen soy jokes.....? saw some....:iceslolan

You might be interested in knowing that the prototype Wildfire has been restored in California. It even has the original tires. At the Santa Barbara Concours, a judge said that he could see that they even had the Orginal air in them.
dosent seem possible...

sorry, i know the rules, but I'm willing to bet that tires wont hold air for that long.



whats the next question?

I think it is Fiero, but you already said it that it is wrong....hmmm..let me think.



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