[99mustang232]

A century ago, Swiss engineer Alfred Buchi was studying steam turbines when inspiration struck: Why not spin the wheel with exhaust from an internal combustion engine and use the recovered energy to force-feed the intake side? It was a brilliant concept, since roughly a third of the energy in fuel is normally squandered out the tailpipe. Buchi applied for a patent to cover his invention in 1905.

The first applications were for airplanes, and the results were promising. In an early experiment conducted after World War I, General Electric engineer Sanford Moss mounted a turbo to a Liberty V-12 aircraft engine and shipped his experiment to Colorado, for high-altitude testing on Pikes Peak. Without the turbo, the V-12's 354 hp at sea level dropped to 230 hp at altitude. Boosted by a ten-inch-diameter turbo, the blown Liberty cranked out 377 hp at 14,000 feet.

1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monsa Spyder


G.E.'s timing was late for the First World War but perfect for the next global conflict. Vastly improved turbochargers gave American bombers and fighters major range and altitude advantages throughout World War II. More than 300,000 were manufactured by G.E. and Ford.

Diesel ship and locomotive applications began in the 1920s. Turbo-diesels are an ideal marriage, because there's no throttle to stall the air delivered by the compressor. Turbochargers hit the road in diesel trucks beginning in Europe in 1949. A year later, Cummins added turbos designed by Buchi-then in his seventies-to American-made diesels. Cummins also sponsored turbocharging's racing debut. In 1952, a turbo-diesel roadster driven by Fred Agabashian qualified on the Indy 500 pole and led for 100 miles before dropping out when tire debris clogged the blower.

Oldsmobile offered the world's first turbocharged production automobile, the 1962 F-85 Jetfire V-8. The F-85 arrived just ahead of Chevrolet's Corvair Monza Spyder (later Corsa), but the Corvair demonstrated more staying power. Nearly 50,000 turbo Corvairs were sold during five model years versus fewer than 10,000 Jetfires delivered in its two-year run.

1975 Porsche 911 Turbo


The Turbo Offy attacked Indy in 1966 and started winning two years later. At its peak in 1973, it generated 1000-plus hp for qualifying, or more than 6 hp per cubic inch. Concurrently, Porsche blew the Can Am series into the history books with its 1100-hp 917/30. Turbos dominated Le Mans beginning in 1976 and one year later invaded Formula 1.

Inevitably, success on the track triggered the modern era of turbocharged production models. BMW launched a 2002 Turbo for Europe in 1973. Porsche presented the first 911 Turbo at the 1974 Paris Motor Show. Buick joined the throng in 1977, Mercedes-Benz (diesel) and Saab in 1978, followed by Pontiac in 1980 and Volvo in 1981.

1987 Buick Regal GNX


During the last quarter-century, the list of those who've turboed is longer than the tally of those who haven't. From backyard tuners to luxury limousine manufacturers, they've all relied on Buchi's turbocharger, the handiest horsepower helper ever invented.

source article: http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...harger_history

[AtlanticBlue99]

i know saabstang will love this. he has a 1984 saab 900 turbo- nice little beast

[1gunner23]

Real nice right up!! :award

[Sa-WaitNoMustang900Turbo]

yeah turbos! mine is going on 244k with no rebuild and still at factory specs

and you forgot a major step in turbo technology SAAB! SAAB is widley recognized as creating the first truely successful turbo charged mass produced vehicle with the 99 turbo in the early 70's. The 99 was an early variation of my same car and its turbo set up is nearly the same as mine (currently going on 244k) just with out an APC system. SAAB is recocnized as being the reason for factory turbo cars becoming so successful

and also only the 900 turbo was introduced in '78 not the first turboed SAAB

THE APC (automatic performace control) SYSTEM

designed in the middle to late 70's by saab engineers it was one of the first electronic control units being used in vehicles. its purpose was to control the charge preassure of a given turbo charged vehicle by taking inputs from a knock sensor and a preasure transducer and then by manipulating a waste gate on the turbo charger. with this system the engine life of a turbo charge vehicle was greatly increased with out having to run low charge preasure. the APC system in conjunction with an a/f controler could also allow for an early version of multiple feul mapping. Almost all of the vehicles using APC systems could run any octane at or above 87 pump rating with only minor sacrifices in the level of boost being able to be maintained after the initial onset of knock. The apc system was used by SAAB in the US from 1982 to present and in the 80's and early 90's APC was present in most turboed vehicles thanks to SAAB and the companies paying SAAB money for the rights to make a true turbo charged street vehicle.

on side note the APC is awesome for modifications; a screwdriver, a soldering iron, charge cooling, and some easy fuel enrichment mods are all that are needed to create a 130+ hp/liter beast from most APCed vehicles