TRENDS OF VEHICLE DIMENSIONS AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTCS FROM 1960 THROUGH 1970

THE PAST DECADE WAS UNIQUE BECAUSE OF THE MANY STYLING AND OTHER ENGINEERING INNOVATIONS, A PROLIFERATION OF NEW MODELS, AND THE EMERGENCE OF THE 2-DOOR HARDTOP AS THE MOST POPULAR MODEL. OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE AND INTEREST WERE THE DRAMATIC INCREASES IN AVAILABLE HORSEPOWER RATINGS AND CUSTOMER DEMAND FOR EQUIPMENT ITEMS THAT ADD SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE SAFETY, COMFORT, AND CONVENIENCE OF DRIVING. IMPORTANT CHANGES WERE MADE IN THE PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS. OUR SURVEY REVEALS THAT CARS BECAME SMALLER, LIGHTER, AND LESS POWERFUL FROM 1960 THROUGH 1962. THESE TRENDS, HOWEVER, WERE REVERSED AFTER THAT TIME. A CONSISTENT REDUCTION DURING THE YEARS IN OVERALL HEIGHT AND CENTER OF GRAVITY AND A WIDENING OF TREAD ACHIEVED IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLE STABILITY. THE AVERAGE EYE HEIGHT ABOVE THE GROUND DECREASED 1.5 IN. TO 43.9 IN. THE MINIMUM EYE HEIGHT DECREASED 3.0 IN. TO 39.3 IN. FROM 1962 THROUGH 1970, THERE WAS A SMALL DOWNWARD TREND IN FUEL ECONOMY. IMPORTANT ADVANCES IN VEHICLE PERFORMANCE CONTRIBUTED TO MORE EFFICIENT USE OF HIGHWAYS.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1972/420/420-001.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309020921
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by Committee on Vehicle Characteristics. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Seger, E E
  • Brink, R S
• Conference:
  • 51st Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1972-1-17 to 1972-1-21
• Publication Date: 1972

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1-15
• Monograph Title: Vehicle characteristics, restraint systems, and inspection programs
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 420
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automotive engineering; Design; Dimensional analysis; Fuel consumption; Horsepower; Motor vehicle bodies; Vehicle characteristics; Vehicle design; Vehicle power plants; Weight; Wheel base
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile bodies; Automobile engines; Dimensional measurement
• Subject Areas: Design; Energy; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00224193
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309020921
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-HS-009 883
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 30 1973 12:00AM