Automotive History Trivia Part II

edit by Silver S2000: Continued from Automotive History Trivia (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t4934.html)

ok i have a killer question


whom was the man first that invented the key part of the 3 speed automatic, what part of the trans did he invent, whom did he delvelop it for and who was the first to use it.

are you serious? this is getting a little tough...

Awesome question, Olds88!

Well as we all know, the 1st successful automatic was the GM Hydra-matic (was it initially a 3 speed, the 4th added later?) so IF this relates correctly to your question, then didn't the Hydra innovate the torque-converter, be conceived for I imagine the US government, and was 1st used in tanks (the Sherman?). Now only a guess for sure, but was the redoubtable Mr Kettering involved somewhere in there?


While I await the 'Wrong Answer' buzzer, may I add another brain-teaser to the mix, would you mind?

... Worldwide, in the last forty years, (at least) three manufacturers have mass - produced Rotary-engined cars. One brand is no-longer with us, but two significant manufacturers survive, and still produce Rotary-equipped vehicles today.

Can anyone name those three makers of Rotary-powered passenger cars?

Citroen (M35), Mazda (RX-Series, pickup, Cosmo) and NSU (Spyder, Ro80)produced rotary engines. All are with us today, with NSU surviving as Audi. I know that Suzuki produced rotary motorcycles and I know that Mercedes-Benz, GM, and Toyota (as well as quite a few others) tested rotaries but never put them in production.

are you serious? this is getting a little tough...

just a tad

unless you feel like doing a lot of research

hmmm not quite but here it is any ways a man by the name of simpson inventer the "simpson planitary gear set " were the 2 planatary sets shared the sun gear. any ways he was originaly developing it for hennry ford but when ford dubble crossed simpson he booked with the patent and the chrysler touqeflight was the first to be used in production cars. this was befor the war were the goverment used the hydromatic in the tanks . btw hydromatic was a sepret company from gm in that era.

Your saying that Hydramatic was not part of GM?

Very clever indeed, Hudson, especially with the Citroen, of which I had forgotten. Hasn't Citroen a history of making fantastic cars! But wasn't that (M35) based on the weirdly-styled Dyanne, and only made in very low numbers?

NSU as a brand-name is dead though - despite its brave attempt with the beautiful, yet flawed RO-80.

Mazda even made an amazing (production) Rotary Bus, which would've been just the thing for the high-speed school run ..

However, there is one more manufacturer which you missed, that currently makes rotary-engined cars.

Clue: This carmaker produces significant numbers of cars, mostly piston-engined passenger vehicles & 4-WDs, mainly for its home market, and is a dominant player there. Its 2.6 litre-equivalent rotary is optional in at least two of its distinct 'platforms'.

Any guesses?

I know. It is the largest in Russia the automobile company the VAZ. These automobiles are sold only on a domestic market and cost very cheaply 6-7 thousand dollars. But per one year rotary cars it`s made no more than 1000 automobiles.

If u`re interesting/More in here:
http://www.vaz.ru/inside/
Ñïåöèàëüíîå êîíñòðóêòîðñêîå áþðî ðîòîðíî - ïîðøíåâûõ äâèãàòåëåé

DAINTY, you're a LEGEND!

Well done, you deserve a beer for that :flash:

As I undertand it, they are used in the Lada 110, and also the Nova (ex-Fiat 124), in the Police car versions, to keep up with and hopefully outpace the bad guys. Thanks for the production figures, btw.

No. Lada-110 haven`t rotary modification. All cars have piston engines. But there is only rotary Lada-110. It`s B. Maslov`s racing car. But i can`t send pic of this car. Comp writes "The file that you have tried to attach is too big. The maximum size is 102400 bytes." :(

There are only three production rotary car in VAZ-automaker.
Lada-2108, 2109 and 21099.

Lada-2108, etc. are Russian names these cars. Other name these cars are "Nova". (U`re very clever indeed).

I don't think the first auto box was three speed. Didn't it have just 2 forward gears?

ok first

hudson... yes hydromatic was originaly a seprate company from gm. when it was first intorduced they made transmissions for diffrent manufatuers (even a 4 speed auto for damler i think!!!) later in its life gm aquired it.

second

lizzerd king.... yes the original auto transes were 2 speeds w netral and reverse (powerglide as a example) the draw back to a 2 speed was obivous only 2 forward gears. the problem was intergrating a seconed planitary gearset (2 speeds only have one)and simpson succesfuly achived this by taking two independet palnitarys and havinr them share the sun gear to allow for the 3 ratio

... Speaking of old Daimlers, I lerv Wilson pre-selector gearboxes!
Virtually indestructable - used in buses, trucks, even trains! :alien: ... and, because of the instant gear-changes enabled by this unit, quite a performance-enhancer in their day.

Originally posted by olds88
ok first

hudson... yes hydromatic was originaly a seprate company from gm. when it was first intorduced they made transmissions for diffrent manufatuers (even a 4 speed auto for damler i think!!!) later in its life gm aquired it.


Making transmissions for different companies doesn't mean that Hydramatic wasn't part of GM. Hydramatic supplied transmissions to Ford (specifically Lincoln) for a few years...while Hydramatic was owned by GM. Hydramatic sold transmissions to Rolls-Royce and currently supplies the 5-speed automatic transmissions to BMW...all while being owned by GM.

According to the General Motors (and a few other) website, the Hydramatic Division of General Motors was originally the Detroit Transmission Division of General Motors. Hydramatic was always part of GM. Detroit Transmission introduced the Hydramatic transmission in 1939...the division was later renamed after the transmission itself.

hmmm then my info sorce is wrong i appolojize for the incorrect info

how about some easier questions now???

ok hre is a real easy question what was the first production year of the chrysler LH platform and what were the two engines offerd.

1993 was the first year for the Dodge Intrepid, Eagle Vision, and Chrysler Concorde (the LH cars) and the LHS/New Yorker was added in 1994. The lesser LHs were offered with the 3.3L OHV V6 or the SOHC 3.5L V6. The "senior" LHs, known as LH207, only had the 3.5L.

dang!! i was going to say that!!

1) What was the horsepower rating of the 1985 Grand National?

2) What engine powered Starsky and Hutch's '75 Torino?

3) Which current vehicle set the record for going from concept to production?

True or False

4) Toyota Avalons are manufactured in Kentucky

5) The most legendary police vehicle in the US is the SS4 Mustang

6) Mercury Marine had something to do with the production of the Corvette ZR-1's LT-5

7) The S-10 Blazer 4wd was internally referred to as the T-10 by GM

8) The '94-'96 Impala SS shared componentry with the 9C1 Caprice

9) The 351 in the previous generation Ford F-150 Lightning was a Windsor

10) The top speed of Koenig's Twin Turbo 512BBi was 202 mph


Have fun:D

2) What engine powered Starsky and Hutch's '75 Torino?

I think it was a 351 Cleveland:smoka:

Originally posted by Trigger351
2) What engine powered Starsky and Hutch's '75 Torino?

I think it was a 351 Cleveland:smoka:

Correct! :D

1) What was the horsepower rating of the 1985 Grand National?

235hp, I think.


2) What engine powered Starsky and Hutch's '75 Torino?

Already answered

3) Which current vehicle set the record for going from concept to production?

Dodge Viper

4) Toyota Avalons are manufactured in Kentucky

Georgetown, Kentucky

5) The most legendary police vehicle in the US is the SS4 Mustang

Most legendary?

6) Mercury Marine had something to do with the production of the Corvette ZR-1's LT-5

Yes, they built the engine for GM.

7) The S-10 Blazer 4wd was internally referred to as the T-10 by GM

The "S" was the 2wd S10 and S-Series Blazer while the "T" was the 4wd S10 and S-Series Blazer.

8) The '94-'96 Impala SS shared componentry with the 9C1 Caprice

True. It was a modified police package Caprice.

9) The 351 in the previous generation Ford F-150 Lightning was a Windsor

True. The Cleveland's been out of production for many years.

10) The top speed of Koenig's Twin Turbo 512BBi was 202 mph

It could be. There are very few reliable numbers on "tuned" cars.

What do the Volvo 260, Peugeot 604, Citroen XM, Eagle Premier, and Delorean have in common (besides none of them being in production at the moment)?

Originally posted by Hudson
What do the Volvo 260, Peugeot 604, Citroen XM, Eagle Premier, and Delorean have in common (besides none of them being in production at the moment)? Built in Ireland? (just a guess, since I'm out of my league here anyway ;) )

Nope...only the Delorean was produced in Ireland.

Originally posted by Hudson
1) What was the horsepower rating of the 1985 Grand National?

235hp, I think. (Exactly! The 1986-87 was 245 which was also the same horspeower figure of the L98 Corvette, Iroc-Z 5.7, and Trans Am GTA)


2) What engine powered Starsky and Hutch's '75 Torino?

Already answered

3) Which current vehicle set the record for going from concept to production?

Dodge Viper

4) Toyota Avalons are manufactured in Kentucky

Georgetown, Kentucky

5) The most legendary police vehicle in the US is the SS4 Mustang

Most legendary? Hudson? I am disappointed. Actually, it's the 375 hp Dodge Monaco with the 440 magnum (The ones that got crashed up in the Blues Brothers) Right behind that is the '94-'96 9C1 and the Mustang SS4.

6) Mercury Marine had something to do with the production of the Corvette ZR-1's LT-5

Yes, they built the engine for GM.

7) The S-10 Blazer 4wd was internally referred to as the T-10 by GM

The "S" was the 2wd S10 and S-Series Blazer while the "T" was the 4wd S10 and S-Series Blazer.

8) The '94-'96 Impala SS shared componentry with the 9C1 Caprice

True. It was a modified police package Caprice.

9) The 351 in the previous generation Ford F-150 Lightning was a Windsor

True. The Cleveland's been out of production for many years.

10) The top speed of Koenig's Twin Turbo 512BBi was 202 mph

It could be. There are very few reliable numbers on "tuned" cars.


:D

True or false:

The current Maxima is an evolved version of the Datsun 810.

The common denominator of the Peugeot 604, Volvo 260, Citroen XM, Eagle Premier, Renault 25, Delorean et al is the engine used, the rebdoubtable corporate 'Douvrin' OHC V6.
Its 90-degree bank angle highlights that this motor was initially conceived to be a V8, but 2 cylinders were hacked off at the last minute (1973 fuel crisis, donchaknow).

BTW: final Ford Cleveland engine production sadly finished at the Geelong, Australia engine plant in 1982, the stockpile lasting until '84 when the last Clevo-powered Falcons and F-series trucks were produced. It was also made in 302 CID form here, and an impressively durable unit too.

ok here is another easy queation what is simmler from the prowler to the 300m??

The Prowler, 1999 and newer, shares its engine and transmission with the 300M. The 1997 Prowler used the previous version of the 3.5L V6.

All of those cars do indeed use the PRV (Peugeot, Renault, Volvo) V6 engine.

What was the top end of an Auburn Speedster?

PrinzII, is this current Maxima derived from the Datsun 710? - the 6cyl version of the great 510?

Trivia: The first ever Jaguar to win a Formula One race had a Ferrari engine in it. I forgot the name though, duh me :(

Can anyone identify this rather attractive coupe?

http://bluestartcarclub.go.coolebiz.com/ceb/images/distributors/e31pacer/bluestarcarclub/ClarkE4901.jpg

I guess its a Valiant Charger (Hemi 6pac)

265 inline 6

BTW Alvin Purple had a nice Charger:D

Well you would know, wouldn't you?

Actually, it's a (gasp) 'Mercury Sliver' 1972 Chrysler Valiant VH Charger R/T Hemi E-49 Six-Pack!
Original to the wheels, and one of only about 250 built, the above beauty only lacks the factory red-line tyres, or the 'homologation-special' Track-Pak option, which featured twin fillers to a 35 imperial gallon (about 38-40 US gallons) gas tank and many other racing mods.

Achieving a remarkable 302hp from 265CID, courtesy of big, deep breathing triple Weber 45 DCOE carbies, these 105" wheelbase E-49s accelerated to 100mph in only 14.1 seconds, while obeying the pitifully low (mis-rated tacho) 5,000rpm redline - some owners of these fantastic cars report seeing almost 8,000rpm in top gear (150mph+!) from this virtually unburstable engine.

For those interested, here's a photo, in 'Hemi Orange', of the 111" wb sedan version on which it's based, the budget-oriented (ie Roadrunner) 1971 Valiant VH Pacer, this with the base 230hp 265CID six & 3speed (15.9 second 1/4 mile)
http://bluestarcarclub.go.coolebiz.com/ceb/images/distributors/e31pacer/bluestarcarclub/Phills_pacer.jpg
For more info here's an excellent link:
http://www.valiant.org/charger.html
and a great photo, especially for Trigger351, of Chargers in action, blitzing a slower Falcon GT-HO 351 down Bathurst's long 'Conrod Straight' in 1971 (no, they didn't win)
http://bluestarcarclub.go.coolebiz.com/ceb/images/distributors/e31pacer/bluestarcarclub/Bathurst1.jpg

No argument outa me they are great cars.

But notice there is one Charger in front of the GT and 5 behind:D

What was the first US automobile company to put on their vehicles:

Electric starter, electric headlights?

clue: Initials were GMC

Originally posted by Trigger351
No argument outa me they are great cars.

But notice there is one Charger in front of the GT and 5 behind:D

I agree. I envy the Australians because they have some rather cool cars we don't get in the States. I would get a huge kick out of driving a Commodore with the LS-1. :D

Originally posted by tanjwarrior
What was the first US automobile company to put on their vehicles:

Electric starter, electric headlights?

clue: Initials were GMC

Cadillac introduced the electric starter in 1914. Charles Kettering developed it. I don't see "GMC" initials anywhere in there.

Here's a question back at you, the original "General Motors Truck" had its "GMC" logo donated from another vehicle. What did the donor "GMC" truck's initals stand for?

Nope,

The Geronimo Motor Company.

A little known motor car company that burned down and never reopened. I haven't found more than a mention of a sentence or two in any book. They developed the electric starter and lights about 4 years before Cadillac.
Cadillac was second....

I plan on looking this up when I get home, but the only online reference I can find to the Geronimo Motor Company is a quote from a personal journal:

"The Geronimo Motor Company was started in January of 1917. They were shipping the parts in and assembling them, but they built the bodies right here in the factory in Enid [Oklahoma]. I drove one of them for eight years. For those days, they were good."

http://www.harvestcomm.net/org/garfield_genealogy/pioneers1.htm

If this informationi is correct, "Geronimo" was founded three years after the starter was introduced on Cadillacs and with the thought that "[t]hey were shippin the parts in and assembling them" makes me think that they wouldn't have "developed" many new parts for cars, especially not something as advanced as an automotive electrical system. I never take internet information as "gospel," so I will look this up when I get home.

Damn!

If I could only find the tiny bit of reference....

Well, anyway I thought that it burned down in 1917. But there is so little info...

Let's both keep trying. Someone at a car show that I will see tomorrow told me about it because he heard it on "Paul Harvey" radio and I have been trying to dig up more info. The internet is not the best place to find everything as I am finding out.

I haven't even found anything about dates yet. Just a sentence or two mentioning the company. Here in Iowa there is someone who knows just about everything about the automotive world (he has a small museum) so I'm going to try to contact him, Mr. VanHorn is his name.

According to the "Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1805-1942", the company started production in 1917 and closed up shop in 1920. "The Beaulieu Encyclopaedia of the Automobile" backs up this assertion. Both books account that the factory burned down in August of 1920 after production of 143 vehicles. Also, the Beaulieu book calls it a typical assembled car, which backs up my theory that they wouldn't have invented too much.

Heh...looks like Hudson once again prevails as the reigning champ of auto trivia :D:D

My just-acquired-an-hour-ago "The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles" says this about Geronimo:

GERONIMO - USA 1917-1920

Named for the famous American Indian chief, the Geronimo was one of the few makes to hail from Oklahoma. With a factory at Enid, the Geronimo began life as a four cylinder automobile, but a year after its entry into the automobile spectrum adopted a Lycoming six and used it until the end of production. Geronimo never built any closed models; several hundred (perhaps even 1,000) cars were built before the company went to the happy hunting grounds.

OK, what name (make, not model) has been used for 6 different manufacturers?

1. 1901 - England
2. 1913 - England
3. 1915 - USA
4. 1923 - USA
5. 1979 - England
6. 1988 - USA

cirrus...:rolleyes:

pluto? ... uranus?!?! :)

Originally posted by Thunda Downunda
uranus?!?! :)

http://www.plauder-smilies.de/lach.gif

It's the manufacturer name, not model name.

Those dates are the years that the different companies opened shop, and the country is of course the country of origin.

Sorry,

But I said before, not much is mentioned about this little known motorcar company. Don't just get out a book and believe what it says. I know many things about ship's that "Jane's Book of Fighting Ships" is wrong about.

Here's what I've found just on general dates alone and where:

http://www.custom-cruisers.com/Carmake/Carmakes.htm#G
GERONIMO (1917-1921) Geronimo Motor Co., Enid, Ok.

http://junior.apk.net/~ecar/carcomp.htm
344 GEROHIMO 1917 1919 Geronimo M. Co.
Enid Okla. 1917-1919B.

These are the only Net leads or references so far. I'm checking with Museums right now.


How about this:
What is the World's Fastest Truck?



And I had this car show up at a car show that is supposed to be the only example left. Anyone care to guess? It was built in 1904....