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A.M.A. - Automobile Manufacturers
Association (United States).
The AMA horsepower figure is based on
the engine's bore and number of cyinders with neither the stroke nor compression
ratio being taken into consideration. In Britain is was called
R.A.C. horsepower (Royal Automobile Club).
In both cases, the rating was used for
tax purposes. In Europe cars were taxed annually on the size of the
engine, and it was decided that this horsepower 'rating' was the fairest and
easiest. Which almost one hundred years ago, when it was first
introduced, it was.
Which is why you see British cars
such as the Austin 7, Morris 8, Ford 10, Wolseley 15/60, etc.
The 7, 8, 10, and 15 refer to the AMA/RAC horsepower rating for that
vehicle. Long stroke engines were the result of such ratings, which
was no problem in Europe back then given the short distances and narrow roads
common at that time.
American manufacturers Essex and
Studebaker (Erskine) attempted to crack the European market with long stoke
sixes in the late 1920's. However, the cars proved too expensive after
shipping and import duties were added and thus were not sold in great numbers
over there. However, back in North America, the long stoke engine proved
to be a disaster with the longer distances and higher speeds. The
long-stroke six for the Essex would prove fatal as sales plunged in 1930-31,
taking Hudson-Essex from 3rd spot down to the bottom of the top ten. The
Terraplane was introduced in 1933 to replace the Essex.
And as for the Erskine, the engine
gave it the kiss of death in its first year, 1927. In 1930 the long-stroke
Continental engine was replaced by a larger Studebaker unit and six months later
the car was renamed the Studebaker Six.
But, I digress.
The Canadian Dodge Custom Royal,
361-cid V8 with 2-bbl carb had a10.0:1 compression ratio and put out 290 bhp @
4600 rpm and had torque rating of 395 @ 3000 rpm.
The same engine was used in the
Canadian-built Chrysler Windsor.
Bill
Vancouver, BC
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 5:24
PM
Subject: [FWDLK] FW: Horsepower
Ratings
This was accidentally
sent to the ?request? address.
My 1959 Dodge CRL (Canadian) has a 361cid "B series"
engine w/2bbl carb. According to my Canadian shop manual, the
A.M.A. horsepower rating is 54.3.
Can anyone tell me what that means in
U.S.
terms?
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