2006-09-23 12:23:20 · 4 answers · asked by fonsybbm 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Chevrolet had them optional in their early '60's Corvairs. A few other GM makes also offered them optional for their mid-sized sedans at about the same time. I don't know of an earlier application. Superchargers were used up until then like in the Studebakers and the Kaisers, and as far back as in the late '20's for race cars and luxury cars with a racing pedigree like the Duesenberg.
2006-09-23 12:34:28 · answer #1 · answered by waplambadoobatawhopbamboo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The turbocharger was invented by Swiss engineer Alfred Buchi, who had been working on steam turbines. His patent for the internal combustion turbocharger was applied for in 1905. Diesel ships and locomotives with turbochargers began appearing in the 1920s.
One of the first applications of a turbocharger to a non-Diesel engine came when General Electric engineer, Sanford Moss attached a turbo to a V12 Liberty aircraft engine. The engine was tested at Pikes Peak in Colorado at 14,000 feet to demonstrate that it could eliminate the power losses usually experienced in internal combustion engines as a result of altitude.
Turbochargers were first used in production aircraft engines in the 1930s prior to World War II.
2006-09-23 13:22:44 · answer #2 · answered by monte 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Renault (France) was the first to introduce it into Formula 1. I think it had been around for a while before that in heavy trucks which makes the very first turbos may have been German.
2006-09-23 12:27:55 · answer #3 · answered by St N 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Germany
2006-09-23 12:30:48 · answer #4 · answered by mobilmen59 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋