<VV> MPG Hystery

[Padgett]

>FIRST - A stock Corvair delivered a great 27.03 MPG in the 1960 Mobilgas
>Economy Run

Was that with 145 cid engine and 3.08 ratio behind a fthree-speed ? Wonder 
what the tire size was. Long time ago I discovered that keeping the revs 
down, a light throttle ("egg under the pedal"), shifting early, and a lot 
of air in the tires was the key to driving for economy. Tuning for economy 
is another whole story. If you know how to drive on a manifold vacuum gauge 
(were common in the early '60s & became "fuel economy meters" in the '70s) 
that is a big plus.

Is an interesting article on http://www.thompson-motorsports.com/econ.html 
about Mickey and Judy Thompson in 1962 and 1963 both gettiing over 27.3 MPG 
in a Pontiac Tempest "large engine" automatic at an average speed of 42.7 
mph. Can bet it was tuned within an inch of its life though. Suspect the 
Corvair would have done better but had to be pushed pretty hard to maintain 
the average speed.

Things like that are automotive marketing gimmicks even when the rules say 
"off the showroom floor" - there were ways. Remember the Ford ad's in the 
mid-70s about runs from Phoenix to Lala land ? All downhill ?

Now I don't drive that way unless competing but when our 3800 (said I like 
that engine) '92 van with 120k on the clock & fueled with the cheapest 87 
PON I can find can get over 24 mpg on a left lane run from Myrtle Beach to 
Orlando with air on all the way and mostly on cruise, then 30 from a 
Corvair seems reasonable.

Padgett