Automotive History Trivia Part II

[olds88]

edit by Silver S2000: Continued from Automotive History Trivia

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.

[S Brake]

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

[Thunda Downunda]

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?

[Hudson]

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.

[hermunn123]

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

just a tad

[hermunn123]

unless you feel like doing a lot of research

[olds88]

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.

[Hudson]

Your saying that Hydramatic was not part of GM?

[Thunda Downunda]

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?

[DAINTY]

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.

[DAINTY]

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

[Thunda Downunda]

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.

[DAINTY]

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."

[DAINTY]

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

[DAINTY]

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