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Ten engine designs that made a difference
It took a century for automotive engines to mature from cantankerous contraptions to the smooth, reliable machinery that currently enables our mobility. The following honor roll celebrates the 10 best - those engines that motored far beyond the call of duty to advance the internal-combustion cause.
Ford Motor Co.
Model T Inline-4 (1909)
After eight lackluster designs, Henry Ford finally hit paydirt with his 1909 Model T. Its 20-hp 2.9L 4-cyl. engine was engineered for lowcost manufacturing and shade-tree servicing. Contrary to convention, the T's powerplant combined four cylinders and the upper half of its crankcase in one casting. To save complication, intemal parts were lubricated by gravity and splash; coolant was circulated by a thermosiphon effect.
Reducing the price as production volumes climbed - from an initial $850 to $260 in 1925 - spurred demand for more than 16 million Model Ts and fulfilled Henry's dream of a motorcar for the multitudes.
General Motors Corp. Cadillac V-8s (1915)
Cadillac didn't invent the V-8 - but it was the first to sustain that engine configuration with volume production. The original 1915 "L-head" design yielded 70 hp from 5.lL and introduced thermostatic control of coolant circulation. The addition of a counterweighted two-plane crankshaft in 1924 further enhanced Cadillac's reputation for smooth, quiet running.
In 1949, a horsepower war was triggered by Cadillac's first overhead-valve V-8, which delivered 160 hp from 5AL. That design was tough enough for respectable finishes at the 24 Hours of LeMans and smooth enough to send luxury-class competitors back to the drawing boards. Cadillac's Northstar DOHC 32-valve updates for 1993 and 2000 advanced Cadillac's V-8 rep as a standard-setter for V-S smoothness, quietness and efficiency.
Ford L-Head V-8 (1932)
In the teeth of the Great Depression, Henry Ford rocked the motoring world with speed for the masses: the industry's first affordable V-8. Like his Model T engine, this 1932 65-hp, 3.6L design incorporated the best available materials and notable...