Why Do Car Companies Fail?

According to CNN.com (the worst news source on the planet), congress is looking to pass an energy bill that would require the average fuel economy of cars to rise to 35mpg by 2020 (from 25mpg now).

Is that possible?

I decided to do some research on the history of gas mileage. This proved difficult since the EPA only keeps records from 1985 on, and the other possible sources (manufacturers, etc) seem very tight lipped on such matters.

For good reason.

From 1936 to 1968 (excluding '40-45) there was an event held annually called the Mobil Economy Run. A 'race' in which new cars competed for overall best gas mileage. How handy!

As a reference point, the EPA currently credits the Honda Accord with the best gas mileage in the full-sized sedan category. According to www.edmunds.com, the 2008 Accord weighs 3,446 pounds and gets an average of 21/mpg. That's the top performer in the class. Present day.

How does that stack up against the cars of yesteryear?

Poorly.

For instance, at the 1953 Economy Run a 2700-pound sedan called the Hudson Super Jet clocked an impressive25.42/mpg. And then there is the Ford Mainline Six, a sedan that finished with an average 27.03/mpg. The top spot went to the Henry J Corsair, with 28.25/mpg efficiency. That was 1953. Pre-Elvis. Before the space program. Before color-TV.

The Ford Mainline Six. Present Day. When new, 27+/mpg.

Well, maybe these cars were smaller than the Accord. Let's be fair. But then, let's also consider the 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan. A 4612-pound luxury sedan that won the Economy Run with an average mileage of 25.5/mpg.

1951 Lincoln. Yeah, that car gets better fuel economy than the new Accord.

Throughout the 1950s, the Mobil Economy Run seemed to post worse and worse scores as the cars got bigger and flashier. One can assume that embarrassment played a part in why the event ended in 1968. A quick survey of the time reveals cars were getting 10-15/mpg and feeling just fine about it.

Barring the Model T, which Ford claims to have gotten 13-21 miles to the gallon, I have been unable to find a single official pre-war figure on gas mileage. It would not surprise me if the reason was because the 1930s cars got amazing mileage. Who knows?

The question is "WHY?"

Why did cars get better gas mileage back then?  Why are auto makers moaning about the cost of researching the new technology needed to reach 35mpg when they were so close to it five decades ago?  Obvious: Conspiracy.

Back when the EPA started keeping tabs on mileage, the 1986 Honda Civic HF got 51 MPG (highway).  The 2008 Prius, in addition to using HIGHLY environmentally unfriendly batteries, only gets 45 MPG (highway). Let's not be too quick to congratulate ourselves about our "green" movement.

Considering all the progress of the 20th century, you would assume the best cars were built AFTER computers were invented. But then, you would be wrong.