DIESEL CAR

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 988, 3 June 1930, Page 6

DIESEL CAR

Success Claimed for American Model While European engineers have experimented with Diesel type engines for vehicles with a view to their use as goods haulers, American designers are investigating the possibilities of this type for passenger cars. In a test at Daytona Beacli recently a speed of 7S miles an hour was achieved by a Diesel engined car, the second of two test cars turned out by the C. L. Cummins Engine Company. The first car underwent,severe tests and was driven from Indianapolis to New York, Pittsburg. Toledo and back for a total cost of 3Ss for the 102 gallons of fuel oil it used. The main difficulty of adapting Diesels to vehicle use, their lack of flexibility, is claimed to. have been overcome. The only changes necessary to install the Cummins Diesel in a standard passenger car were slight alterations in the gear ratio. This was increased from 4.69 to 1 to 2i to 1, as the new Diesel is a powerful low-speed motor. At 1,300 revolutions the motor develops 50 horse-power. This is its working output, as a governor which prevents higher revolutions is fitted. The same radiator and transmission were used, but the controls are simpler.