How to speak 'car' at Hot August Nights - Reno Gazette Journal
You'd probably be safe guessing '57 Chevy on any two-door sedan with a big huge rounded, brightly colored body, giant chrome bumper and white-wall tires (but check for the Chevy symbol first). Many cars in the 1950s don't include original seatbelts, air conditioning or power steering. It was created in the 1700s to describe the equivalent number of horses it would take to operate a steam engine with the same amount of power. Back in steam engine days, six horsespower was a big deal because not many people had six horses and the steam engine was really powerful. But now, it would take 375 horses to pull a vehicle with the same power as 1969 Chevy Nova SS engine - which is an absurd number of horses. Perhaps engine power should be measured in Chevy Novas. Horsepower gives a car staying power once the car is up to speed. Torque is what gives racing cars and muscle cars their edge over others and these two elements together contribute to top speed (among many other factors). But you’re going to want to talk to a car owner during a show and shine and it won’t be enough to know the right pedal makes a car go and the left pedal makes it stop —let’s not even talk about the mysterious third pedal. Source: www.rgj.com
