Rajan Wilcox
The first American car to have fuel injection was the 1957 Corvette, which was also the first American production car to have mechanical fuel injection. The Corvette's fuel injection system was manufactured by Rochester and relied on engine vacuum and fuel pressure demands to operate. Chevrolet wanted to be the first General Motors brand to introduce fuel injection, and it succeeded. The Rochester injection system was not popular, but it was available in mainstream cars.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1957 |
| Make | Chevrolet |
| Model | Corvette |
| Engine | 283 cubic inch (4.6 litre) “Small Block” V8 |
| Horsepower | 283 |
| Fuel Injector | Rochester |
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What You'll Learn
The first American car with fuel injection was the 1957 Corvette
Prior to this, fuel injection had been used in early industrial engines and aircraft during World War II. The first fuel injection system resembling those of today was invented by British engineer Herbert Akroyd Stuart in 1885. However, the technology only started to appear in cars in the 1950s, with the first electronically injected car being introduced by Chrysler in 1958.
The 1957 Corvette's fuel injection system relied on engine vacuum and fuel pressure demands to operate. This was a result of the "Ramjet" project, which was so important to General Motors (GM) that even Corvette mastermind Zora Arkus-Duntov was closely involved in its development. Chevrolet wanted to be the first GM brand to introduce fuel injection, and it succeeded with the 1957 Corvette.
The Corvette's Rochester injection system was not without its issues, however. It had a reputation for being troublesome, especially as the system aged. Nonetheless, the 1957 Corvette represented a significant step forward in the evolution of fuel injection technology, which has since become standard in cars worldwide. Today, it is nearly impossible to buy a new car without fuel injection due to emission regulations.
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The 1957 Corvette had Rochester fuel injection
The 1957 Corvette, equipped with Rochester fuel injection, was the first American car to have fuel injection. This was a significant milestone in the history of automotive engineering, as fuel injection had only been implemented in early industrial engines and aircraft prior to this.
The Rochester fuel injection system in the 1957 Corvette was not without its challenges. It had a reputation for being problematic, particularly as the system aged. Despite this, the Corvette's Rochester injection played a pivotal role in transitioning the automotive world from carburetors to fuel injection.
The 1957 Corvette's engine, a 283 cubic inch (4.6-litre) "Small Block" V8, was a powerful and innovative design. Chevrolet's introduction of fuel injection was a strategic move to be the first General Motors brand to adopt this technology. The Corvette's fuel injection system relied on engine vacuum and fuel pressure demands to operate, showcasing the engineering prowess of the time.
While the 1957 Corvette was a groundbreaking vehicle, it is important to acknowledge that fuel injection technology had been explored prior to its release. The first fuel injection systems were developed for diesel engines, and the idea of fuel injection has been around for over a century. The 1950s marked a pivotal decade for the evolution of fuel injection, with various car manufacturers experimenting with this technology.
In conclusion, the 1957 Corvette with Rochester fuel injection holds a significant place in automotive history as the first American car to adopt this technology. This milestone paved the way for the widespread adoption of fuel injection, which has since become a standard feature in modern automobiles worldwide.
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The first mass-market fuel-injected cars were built by Chrysler
The Electrojector's high cost of $637.20, equivalent to $6,956.13 today, limited its widespread usage. In total, only 16 Chrysler 300Ds, two Plymouth Furys, two Dodge D-500s, and five De Soto Firedome Adventurers were built with the Electrojector system. The system was also not electronic in the same way that fuel injection systems are today, as it did not utilize computers.
While the Electrojector was the first electronic fuel injection system, it was not the first fuel injection system in general. Fuel injection systems had been used in early industrial engines and World War II aircraft prior to their introduction in cars. The first fuel injection system that resembled those of today was invented by British engineer Herbert Akroyd Stuart in 1885. The first fuel injection for petrol engines appeared on the Goliath GP700 in 1952, and Mercedes-Benz introduced fuel injection in their racecars in 1954.
In 1957, the year before Chrysler introduced the Electrojector system, the American Motors Corporation (AMC) installed the Bendix Electrojector on their Rambler prototype. However, the Rambler never went into production due to issues with cold-weather starting. Chevrolet also introduced fuel injection in their 1957 Corvette, which was the first American production car to have mechanical fuel injection.
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The first electronic fuel injection system was the Bendix Electrojector
The Bendix Electrojector was the first electronic fuel injection system, introduced in 1957. It was the brainchild of Robert W. Sutton, assistant chief engineer of fuel systems engineering at the Bendix Eclipse Machine Division in Elmira, New York. An aviation enthusiast, Sutton drew on recent developments in aircraft fuel systems to meet the complex metering needs of passenger cars.
The Electrojector was an intermittent system, delivering fuel to each cylinder in timed pulses. It featured a high-pressure electric pump submerged in the fuel tank, a common-rail fuel distribution circuit, a central control unit, a throttle body, and a solenoid-operated fuel injector for each cylinder. The amount of fuel delivered to the intake port depended on how long each injector valve, controlled by solenoids, remained open. The system also supported setting the correct idle speed, mixture enrichment, and coolant temperature using additional resistors in the modulator.
While the Electrojector was a pioneering technology, its usage was quite limited. Its primitive electronics and extremely high price restricted its widespread adoption. The system was not electronic in the same way that fuel injection is today, i.e. by utilizing computers. Bendix ultimately shelved the Electrojector program in 1960 due to its high cost and limited consumer value.
Despite its shortcomings, the Bendix Electrojector was an important step forward in the evolution of fuel injection technology. It inspired the development of the Bosch D-Jetronic system, introduced by Volkswagen in 1968, which was a refined version of the original Bendix design. By the 1970s, electronic fuel injection had evolved from exotic technology to a common feature in new cars.
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Fuel injection was first used in military aircraft
Fuel injection was a well-known principle long before the First World War, appearing on the original Wright brothers' engine of 1904 and the Antoinette aircraft engine prior to 1914. However, aircraft engines before World War I predominantly used carburetors due to their lighter weight and simpler design compared to fuel injection systems. During the war, the need for more powerful and efficient aircraft engines led to the development and refinement of fuel injection technology.
In 1927, Bosch, a German company, developed the first diesel injection pump, and by 1936, they had created their first diesel automotive system. During World War II, several aircraft engines, particularly German ones, utilised direct-injection systems. For example, the Junkers Jumo 210, Daimler-Benz DB 601, BMW 801, and the Shvetsov ASh-82FN (M-82FN) all employed fuel injection. The British Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, which powered the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane fighters, initially relied on carburetors, but by around 1943, they had transitioned to fuel injection.
The use of fuel injection in military aircraft offered several advantages, including improved engine performance and the ability to handle more complex manoeuvres without fuel supply interruptions. The post-war period saw the continued advancement of fuel injection technology, with companies like Bosch, Lucas Industries, and American Motors Corporation (AMC) playing pivotal roles in its development for both aircraft and automotive applications.
In the United States, the first mass-produced petrol direct-injection system for cars was introduced by Bosch in the 1950s. This technology was initially used in small automotive two-stroke petrol engines, such as the Goliath GP700 and the Gutbrod Superior. The first American car to feature fuel injection was the 1957 Chevrolet Corvette, although some sources suggest that the 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL, available in the US market, may have been the first.
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Frequently asked questions
The first American car to have fuel injection was the 1957 Corvette, which was also the first General Motors brand to introduce fuel injection.
The 1957 Corvette used a Rochester fuel injection system. This system was not electronic and was known to be rather unreliable.
Yes, the first fuel injection systems were used in early diesel engines. The first fuel injection for petrol engines appeared on the Goliath GP700 in 1952. The first commercially available electronic fuel injection (EFI) system was the Bendix Electrojector, which was installed on the American Motors Corporation's (AMC) Rambler prototype in 1957. However, the Rambler with the Electrojector technology never went into production.
By the 1970s, fuel injection was appearing in mainstream cars. Since the mid-1990s, it has been impossible to buy a new car without fuel injection in Europe. In most countries, it is now illegal to sell a new car with a carbureted engine due to emission regulations.
