$50 for 25% mpg improvement? Not bad
How much would you pay to bump up your car's miles per gallon rating up by 25 percent? Back in 1974, Car and Driver discovered that just $11 (about $50 when adjusted for inflation) was enough to make a Ford Pinto achieve this increase. The changes, discovered and posted by our friends at Ecomodder, didn't touch the engine and included removing fan blades, installing a front air dam and partially blocking the grill, were cheap and effective. Not all can be performed on today's vehicles, but it just goes to show that even an economy car can be made more so by someone with the skills and a few bucks at hand.
[Source: Ecomodder / thanks to Darin]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris M 4:34PM (3/14/2008)
This would be especially effective during cold weather, as it would help keep the engine closer to optimum operating temps, as well as reducing aerodynamic drag. It also means less time idling for warm-ups. I've even heard of "wintertime grille blocking" being used on a Prius to improve efficiency and comfort.
The downside is increased risk of engine overheating during hot weather. But if the mods were easy to reverse, that might not be much of a problem.
Many cars are now using thermostatically controlled fans, and there have even been some concept cars with louvers on the front that close when cooling isn't needed, thus improving aerodynamics. We may be seeing louvered grilles as a standard feature on some future models.
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Joseph 10:00PM (3/14/2008)
According to the chart show on ecomodder, Car and Driver got about 15mpg from an unmodified Pinto at 70mph. Today a car its size would get at least double while being heavier, faster, safer, and having more features. How times have changed!
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armmat 2:20AM (3/15/2008)
Imagine how well today's cars can do if they actually stayed the same size and weight as a Pinto.
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Bill 10:20AM (3/15/2008)
Block heaters are inexpensive and a popular option with TDi owners.
>less time idling for warm-ups
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cpwallen 9:37AM (3/17/2008)
Imagine all that extra gas in the tank. A bigger boom when hit in the rear!
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Ted Kennedy Is My Chauffer 10:09AM (3/17/2008)
I wonder how much would the Pinto have weighed if it had been required to incorporate all of the safety features modern vehicles have to contain. Seeing as it weighed roughly 2,400 pounds in 1974, my guess is that it would weigh more than the current Focus (2636 lbs) while offering less interior room and get less than half the MPG.
Exterior Focus Pinto
Length 175 in. 170.8 in.
Width 67.9 in. 69.4 in.
Height 58.6 in. 50.6 in.
Weight 2636 lbs. 2434 lbs.
Wheel Base 102.9 in. 94.5 in.
Specs from edmunds.com and fordpinto.com
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Whopper 12:11PM (3/17/2008)
5) As study of The exploding Pinto published in a 1991 issue of The Rutgers Law Review and completely discredited the "exploding Pinto myth". The study found that the Pinto was no better nor any worse than comprable mid-1970's compacts - Chevy Vega, AMC Gremlin, VW Beetle etc. In fact the Toyota Corolla and VW were found to have a higher rate of fatalities.
In typical fashion, the media hypes the horrible burns etc. from accidents but neglects to follow up when more rational minds research the real cause. Much like the Firestone tire failures and resulting SUV rollovers. Heaven forbid we should hold a driver responsible for maintaining proper tire pressure so now we all get to pay for tire pressure monitoring systems.
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