Torque vs. HP; an illustration

[Ron LaDow]

120HP (at 5,500RPM) compared to 3,000#/ft torque (at 250 RPM)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWv5_QjLqcs

[Dennis ODonnell]

All of that just to harvest some corn?

[Wes Bender]

I think Ron is trying to debunk the old saying that, "Torque wins races, but Horsepower sells cars."

Cheers,
Wes

[Jim Nelson]

More torque….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eq6fMAkYZE

[Jim Alton]

From Hemmings.com Top Ten Most Powerful Classics:

1924 Doble Model E, rated 75hp

This list is about horsepower, and steam cars don't produce much horsepower. But as the little 15hp White proved back in 1905, boy, do they make torque. A mid-range Stanley was rated for only 20hp, but made over 600-lbs.ft. of torque.

So what could a top-of-the-line steam car do? Doble took a lightweight Model E from zero to 75 MPH in 10 seconds; with four passengers, the Automobile Club of America did 45 MPH in 12.5 seconds while achieving the equivalent of 24 MPG. It was putting a barely credible 1,000-lbs.ft. of torque to the ground; driveline losses meant about 2,200-lbs.ft. at the crankshaft. The differential had a 1.5:1 gear ratio, and it could still spin the tires on dry ground.

Only 50 were built and no two Dobles were quite the same, but all of them made amazing power. Given the steam powerplant's efficiency and output, you could quite legitimately claim the Doble as not only the most powerful classic car ever made, but a contender for the all-time world title--even Bugatti's million-dollar mighty modern Veyron makes only 907-lbs.ft. of torque.

[Alan Hall]

Jim,

Just so this thread has a 356 connection, the last Dobles were built in a building which is across the street from EASY in Emeryville, CA.

They were amazing vehicles.

Alan

[Brian R Adams]

According to the Emeryville Historical Society, Abner Doble moved the business from San Francisco to Emeryville in 1923, where 44 of the Doble Series E were produced until production ceased in 1931. The 'E' could travel 85 mph.

Brian