What is a Terraplane 8?
The 1933 Essex-Terraplane 8-cylinder cars were believed to have the highest horsepower-to-weight ratio of any production automobiles in the world, and were favored by several gangsters of the day, particularly John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and John Paul Chase, for their lightness, acceleration, handling, and …
What years did Hudson make the terraplane?
Low-priced brands in the Hudson family of cars included the successful Essex of 1919-32, the unsuccessful Hudson Jet of 1953-54 (read our feature here) and maybe the most memorable of the bunch, the popular Terraplane of 1932 through 1938.
Who made inline 8 engines?
Italy’s Isotta Fraschini introduced the first production automobile straight-eight in their Tipo 8 at the Paris Salon in 1919 Leyland Motors introduced their OHC straight-eight powered Leyland Eight luxury car at the International Motor Exhibition at Olympia, London in 1920.
Was the straight-8 a good engine?
The smooth running characteristics of the straight-eight made it popular in luxury and racing cars of the past. However, the engine’s length demanded the use of a long engine compartment, making the basic design unacceptable in modern vehicles.
How much horsepower did the Hudson Hornet have?
145 hp
It had a two-barrel carburetor and produced 145 hp (108 kW) at 3800 rpm and 275 lb⋅ft (373 N⋅m) of torque.
Is a straight-8 engine balanced?
A straight-8 can be designed with balanced engine forces. Crankshaft vibration is present in all engines. The use of a harmonic damper is needed at the end of the crankshaft. Without the damper, the vibrations may lead to engine failure.
Who made the best straight-8 engine?
The most powerful straight-eight on our list, the 1937 Mercedes-Benz M125 Grand Prix engine. A Roots-supercharger 5.66-liter engine, which ran on a dangerous fuel mixture, it made 637 horsepower and 632 lb-ft of torque.
Did Ford ever make straight-8 engines?
Ford never adopted the straight-eight; their entry-level Ford cars used flathead V8 engines until the 1950s while their Lincoln luxury cars used V8 from the 1930s to the 1980s and V12 engines in the 1930s and 1940s.
Is the 1934 Hudson Terraplane still in production?
While it might have been built by Hudson, the 1934 Terraplane carried none of the company’s branding beyond its built plate. In fact, during its lifetime, it was known initially as the Essex-Terraplane, and from 1934, simply the Terraplane. It wasn’t until the final year of production in 1938 that the Terraplane finally wore Hudson branding.
What does the interior of a 1934 Terraplane look like?
For a car that was essentially aimed at the bottom end of the price market in 1934, the interior of the Terraplane features some nice touches. The appearance of the dash is quite luxurious, while the gauges feature nice Art Deco styling. The interior of the vehicle actually looks quite nice for its age.
What is a Terraplane 8 convertible?
The Essex-Terraplane Eight was distinguished by having vent doors on the hood as opposed to all six-cylinder versions that had stamped hood louvers. A 1933 Terraplane 8 convertible coupe set a record for the race to the summit of Mount Washington that remained unbroken for over twenty years.