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| The first successful diesel engines were quite large and had no way to be fitted into automobiles. This is the third experimental engine built by Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg which stood over 10 feet tall. In 1897 this engine was able to produce 18 horsepower at 158 rpm's with its complex pneumatic injection system. |
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| Fitting a diesel engine in an automobile would not even be a possibility until 1908 when Prosper L'Orange, head of engine design at Benz & Cie, came up with a solution to eliminate the huge compression system of the first diesel engines – the pre-chamber compression process. |
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| The pre-combustion chamber. In this new process, fuel would be injected into the chamber where a small amount of diesel is burned. This created pressure in the pre-combustion chamber that would push the unburned diesel for the power stroke into the cylinder, atomizing it in the process. |
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Racing in the 20's and war time aero engine development sped up the need for faster more powerful vehicles. In this engine cut-out we see the supercharger (Kompressor) – an innovation that revolutionized engine technology. |
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| The power levels reached by diesel technology allowed for the evolution of the automobile from small personal transportation to industrial duty. |
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| The 1955 Mercedes-Benz “Blue Wonder” race car transporter is a one of a kind hauler built by the Mercedes-Benz testing department. It could travel at over 106 mph! |
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| Jeff is apparently a huge diesel truck fan, cause he insisted I include this picture of a modern German garbage truck. You can ask him why… |
