Re: Mobil Economy Run: Specific Packard results?

Posted by Dave Brownell On 2014/12/31 17:49:07

If I'm reading both the 52 and 55 Mobilgas figures correctly, then there are two numbers that really stand out. The 52 Lincoln Capri and the 55 Cadillac. Both had the four speed Hydra-Matics that could beat other transmissions in solid slip-free hook ups and that overdrive fourth gear. And, if my memory is correct, the Lincoln might have been in the first year of the new overhead valve V-8, a year or two before its Mercury and Ford brethren got theirs. Still, these two cars were really ahead of the competition.

My uncle had a new 55 Buick Century hardtop. He maintained that any time he had that car get better than ten mpg was a good day. Then he'd quickly add that if you worried about gas mileage while driving a fine car, then you had no business driving it. Of course, gas was 22 to 25 cents a gallon.

Sometime in the 1950s, I remember reading either a Popular Mechanics or Popular Science article on how Mobilgas supervised drivers in their annual competition. No coasting or switching off the ignition at lights, although a very light feather foot was used by all on the gas pedals. One writer said that Smokey Yunick would listen to the possible Ford vehicles at the end of the assembly line just to get the best sounding valve trains before the Mobil officials picked the car and sealed the hood. I wonder if the Cadillac and Lincoln people did even more to get those numbers?