How to reduce fuel consumption? A great example is the old Opel P1, which was completely redesigned for the purpose of record consumption. How did they achieve such low fuel consumption 50 years ago? The modifications were extreme and can still inspire today.
In today’s world, car efficiency is all about reducing emissions and protecting the planet. However, 50 years ago, during the oil crisis, efficiency mainly meant minimal consumption.
This effort gave rise to unconventional and often unpopular cars, such as the four-cylinder Ford Mustang II of 1973. It marked the beginning of an era known to fans as “the malaise,” when American automakers tried to compete with smaller, more fuel-efficient cars from Europe and Japan.
Against the background of these events, the radically modified Opel Olympia made history by achieving an amazing world record for fuel consumption in 1973, which remains fascinating to this day. How did it achieve an average consumption of just 0.625 liters per 100 kilometers?
The Opel P1, as it was called, was no ordinary car. It was an experimental vehicle designed with one goal in mind – to extract every drop of fuel. Although the Opel car company thus obtained a world record, this historic achievement was overseen by the team of the oil giant Shell.
The test drive was documented by Shell in the book Fuel Economy of the Gasoline Engine from 1977, which describes in detail the modifications made and the course of the record attempt.
Made adjustments to reduce consumption
The road to the record began with the three-door station wagon Opel Olympia Rekord from 1959, known as the Caravan. When transformed into the P1, it underwent extensive and radical modifications to maximize efficiency.
Vaporized fuel engine
The 1.5-liter OHV four-cylinder was supplied with vaporized fuel only through a small lawnmower carburetor The engine and fuel system were isolated to allow the engine to operate in excessive heat (no radiator) without seizing
Modifications of the body and mechanics
The roofline was lowered The rear was reshaped into a utility vehicle (in Australia as a ‘ute’) The rear wheels were moved to the center eliminating the need for a differential Extremely hard rubber tires were used to reduce rolling resistance The windows were removed to improve airflow in the car (after the record attempt, the glasses were apparently installed back)
Drastic Weight Loss – Removed:
Suspension and suspension components Radiator and cooling system Interior elements. Only a single plastic seat remained
Record drive: 48 km/h at the airport
In October 1973, a record drive took place at the airport where the Opel maintained a constant speed of 48 km/h (30 mph) on a straight track. No hills, no stops, just smooth and efficient driving. Result? An amazing 376.59 miles per gallon, which equates to a surprisingly low consumption of 0.625 liters per 100 km.
Opel P1’s record was broken by Duke Electric Vehicles in 2018. However, the difference is that Duke used a hydrogen fuel cell. It consumed less than 1 g of hydrogen per 100 km, which, according to scientific calculations, corresponds to 0.01614 liters of regular gasoline per 100 km. That sounds a bit dubious, especially considering that the Duke Electric single seater can hardly be considered a car.
The Opel P1 thus remains the imaginary champion. He was driving on regular gasoline, i.e. a fuel that is easily available. His record thus became an important milestone in automotive history.
Of course, purpose-built specials cannot be put into operation. Due to the extreme modifications, the Opel P1 probably deserves the title of the least comfortable car in the world. And long-term reliability was certainly a question mark, given that the engine was deliberately running overheated.
After a record attempt
After achieving this remarkable feat, the Opel P1 fell into the hands of the France family, the owners of NASCAR. It was displayed at Talladega Motor Speedway. In 2010 it was acquired by Cosmopolitan Motors and offered for sale. Appearing sporadically on auction sites such as Hemmings and eBay, his exact whereabouts in 2023 are a mystery to us.
The remarkable success of the 1973 Opel Olympia is a testament to the lengths to which engineers and innovators can go to push the boundaries of efficiency. Although the automotive world has evolved significantly since then, the legacy of the Opel P1 continues to captivate.
2023-09-23 07:47:00
#reduce #fuel #consumption #liters #Modifications #Opel #continue #inspire
